Hello,

I'm a 28 year old male researching study abroad (and hopefully eventual permanent relocation) options.

Right now I'm a little frustrated at the lack of surface information available to somebody with my hopes and needs.

I'm basically looking for advice to help me narrow down my potential destinations to a manageable few.

This is my wish list so far (it may shrink as my research continues):

1. Progressive/tolerant political and social environment.

2. Innovative, fertile and supported local music scene. The ability to join/start a music project that has some sort of audience (despite its relevance to surface trends - or lack of) is of extreme importance. (My tastes include Free-Jazz, Math-Rock, Avant-Noise, Experimental, Post-Punk...fugazi, mr. bungle, john zorn, the minutemen, mark ribot, fred frith, sonic youth, shellac, mogwai, godspeed, mike patton, secret chiefs 3...).

3. Friendly, warm, open and educated populace (accepting of outsiders/expatriates).

4. Friendly (and perhaps somewhat forward) dating environment (just in case I am single at that time). Somewhere where my shyness will not be a henderance or liability.

5. Good underground art/film scene. Hopefully this will also include many good film/media studies programs/schools. I would like to find a good support network within which I can nurture my documentary filmmaking habit.

Once the list is down to a manageable few, I'm going to a variety of schools in the listed cities and let that determine my fate.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!

Dave