expat
You are currently browsing articles tagged expat.
I’ve long been fascinated by China – probably the result of reading James Clavell’s novels as a kid and my father’s tales of two years spent in Hong Kong in the Fifties! My own trip to Hong Kong 20 years ago further inflamed my fascination with the country and its culture, but a bus ride out to the New Territories to take a peek through the border fence was as close as I came to seeing the country proper.
So reading Alan Paul’s new book on expat life in China has been a real eye-opener.
Big in China
In Big in China Alan reveals a world of sequestered expatdom. The multinational ranks he depicts are cloistered together in compounds boasting well-maintained streets lined by large houses, with clubhouses, gyms and swimming pools. The kids go to the international school together and play at each others’ homes. There are family sports days, barbecues, dinners with friends.
For many daily life is made easy by cheap domestic help – cooks, cleaners, drivers and nannies are par for the course, creating a luxurious lifestyle only a few could expect to have back home.
As Alan observes, it is all too easy to become immersed in this expat bubble – a world of privilege, ease and security.
Yet it is also one of sterility. And to his credit, Alan is determined not to become a prisoner behind the expat gates. Instead, he is keen to find the China that exists for its population. He relates his adventures as he cycles off by himself to explore the local villages and countryside, his journeys into the hinterland, his efforts to learn the language, make friends and taste the ‘real’ China, from its food on up.
The picture of China that emerges is just as complex as the one gleaned from inches of newspaper and magazine columns, with all its beauty and ugliness. Yet it is coloured by great insights into the immense joys and frustrations that life in China offers for expatriates.
Pros and cons
As a growing economic (and political) powerhouse, China presents an extraordinary opportunity for expat entrepreneurs and employees on assignment to make their mark, and a lot of money.
But China has much else to offer besides a step up the career ladder. Its beautiful and varied landscapes, and diverse cultural riches dating back thousands of years are incentives enough for many inquisitive foreigners.
As becomes evident from reading Alan’s book, there are inevitable challenges to living in China too.
For one, there is the language barrier. There are important cultural differences in terms of the structure of society and individuals’ interactions with each to navigate as well – many of which it can be nigh on impossible to fully grasp as an outsider.
Issues such as media censorship and political repression may come as a stark counterpoint to the societal norms to which expats are accustomed.
In addition, there is a real risk of physical isolation and introversion creeping in. As Alan relates in his book, for one thing it is notoriously difficult to obtain something as simple as a Chinese driving licence. Yet without it you lack the freedom of movement we take for granted back home.
China’s notorious pollution, with all the health risks it poses, is another problem that the country is only belatedly trying to tackle.
In short, China is hardly the easiest place in the world for an expat to move to. But what it does promise is one big and exciting adventure of life-changing proportions. Just ask Alan.
Tags: adventure, Alan Paul, assignment, Big in China, book, career, China, Chinese, country, cultural, cycle, economic, employee, entrepreneur, expat, Food, Foreign, friend, health, Hong Kong, house, international, landscape, Language, lifestyle, luxurious, media, money, multinational, newspaper, pollution, Population, School, society, sport, world
Millions of people around the world dream of a new, more fulfilling life by moving abroad. Unfortunately, only a small percentage ever makes it happen.
So what is stopping the rest?
For most, I imagine, it is money. After all, if you are rich enough to live where you want, and can come and go at will, then the world is your oyster.
Most of us are not in that liberating position. Instead, we have to find a way to fund this dream life overseas.
Which is where the challenges start. Questions crop up like …
- Am I eligible for a working visa?
- Will my qualifications be recognised?
- What job can I get?
- How much will it pay?
- Can I get my business idea off the ground?
- What hoops will I have to jump through?
- Is there local demand?
There can be so much uncertainty about making your relocation financially viable that I think many people just give up on the idea.
Seems a shame, doesn’t it?
If any of this has happened to you then Megan Fitzgerald, an expat career and personal branding coach, would love to hear from you. She is conducting a poll of current and aspiring expats to find the answer to an intriguing question: what is the biggest obstacle to building a successful career abroad?
The poll’s findings will reveal the most common problems people face, and hopefully offer some useful insights into how to overcome them.
To take part in the poll go to http://linkd.in/i9pnWY.
Tags: business, career, coach, dream, expat, financial, job, life, live, money, Moving Abroad, overseas, pay, qualification, relocation, rich, success, visa, work, world
I confess, I’ve never actually been there. But the myriad of people I know who have lived in or visited the city all say the same thing: Vancouver is an absolutely fabulous place.
And it has some official backing.
The latest annual ranking[1] by the Economist Intelligence Unit claims Vancouver is the most liveable city in the world.
The survey scores locations according to five factors: stability, health care, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Vancouver topped the poll with 98 out of a maximum 100, as it has done for the past two years. Toronto came fourth, with Calgary fifth.
Mercer’s annual Quality of Living Survey[2] holds Vancouver in similarly high regard – it placed fourth in the 2010 rankings, behind Vienna, Zurich and Geneva.
Meanwhile, this year’s Mercer survey also compiled a list of cities with the best eco-ranking, basing scores on water availability and potability, waste removal, quality of sewage systems, air pollution and traffic congestion. Calgary came out top, with Ottawa in joint third, behind Honolulu.
Canada scores
Indeed, Canada as a whole usually fares well in the various international surveys and rankings.
I may not have been to Vancouver, but I have visited Canada. OK, so a holiday is hardly the same thing as living there (especially as I never experienced the harshness of a Canadian winter). Still, it wasn’t hard to see why the country consistently ranks so highly: huge space … stunning and varied landscapes … diverse recreational activities … reasonable living costs (at least compared to the UK and parts of the United States) … a vibrant economy.
Expat choice
It seems many expats have come to the same conclusion. Canada is the second most popular destination in terms of total number of expatriates from the United States. Among Brits, it ranks fourth.
Expats in Canada seem pretty happy with their lot as well.
HSBC’s 2010 Expat Experience survey[3] asked expats from around the world how they found:
a) Setting up in their new country of residence.
b) Integrating into local society.
c) Their quality of life compared to where they used to live.
Having topped the league in 2009, Canada slipped to second place in the 2010 report. But as HSBC noted, the country “still ranks high for expat lifestyle.”
Not that it is all great, of course. For one, there are those long, cold winters to get through.
The sheer scale has its downsides too – just getting anywhere can take an awfully long time.
(I remember going for a beer one evening during my trip – there wasn’t much to do in the small town where we were staying, so we were driven 90 minutes across the border to a bar in the States!)
And while Canada boasts a host of attractive cities, they can’t boast the same cultural riches as those in Europe and Asia.
Still, nowhere is perfect.
Tags: Asia, Brit, Calgary, Canada, city, country, culture, eco, Economist, economy, Education, environment, Europe, expat, Geneva, health, HSBC, lifestyle, live, liveable, living, Mercer, Ottawa, quality, survey, Toronto, UK, United States, Vancouver, Vienna, winter, world, Zurich
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and emigrate. Congratulations! Your next question should be how are you going to make your move a success?
Many people decide to emigrate in order to provide a better quality of life for themselves and their family – the thought of year-round sunshine, more time with loved ones, different leisure opportunities. But whatever your motivations, it is crucial you put yourself in the best financial position possible if you are to get off to a good start in your new country. And to do that, you need to give serious thought and planning to the issue of currency exchange.
OK, so it may not seem as fun as researching all about the sun, sea and sand you can look forward to enjoying. But getting a good currency exchange rate can make a huge difference to the success of your move. And if it helps maximise the budget you have to spend on your dream home abroad that has to be time well spent.
Getting the biggest bang for your buck
For some people, currency exchange may be a key factor in their choice of destination. For instance, countries in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe with relatively weak currencies can offer great opportunities to make your savings go further.
Alternatively, among those soon-to-be-expats who have already picked their dream location, the issue will be more a matter of how to get the most from your money.
Take buying property abroad. For many expats it means exchanging your savings into the local currency of the country to where you are moving. Exchanging large amounts can be an expensive exercise though, and isn’t to be taken lightly. Therefore, many expats employ a foreign exchange broker to guide them through the process. Others simply bide their time, research the currency market, and exchange when the rate is particularly favourable.
Money matters
Foreign exchange rates are a huge factor when moving abroad – so make sure you address it as soon as possible in the decision making process.
The best advice is to do your research thoroughly. If you want help, consider using a foreign exchange broker. And if not, ensure you shop around to get the best exchange rate possible.
Tags: Abroad, Africa, Asia, broker, budget, buy, country, currencies, currency, destination, emigrate, Europe, exchange, expat, family, financial, Foreign, home, leisure, life, location, love, market, money, move, moving, property, quality, rate, saving, success, sun
Last weekend’s shootings in Arizona have trained the world’s attention once more on America’s attitude to guns, and its charged political atmosphere.
To many outsiders, me included, America’s fixation with its guns – and the ease with which people can buy them – is incomprehensible.
Gun advocates, meanwhile, argue their case by referencing America’s frontier past, their constitutional rights and the defence of freedom.
Bridging the Cultural Divide
This divergence of opinions on the issue of gun control illustrates the cultural divide expats often have to bridge when trying to make a new country their home.
For those heading to the US, the actual question of gun ownership is one aspect. But it is understanding and living with the underlying beliefs that support such positions which are likely to prove the bigger test.
Personally, I loved living in America. I loved the landscapes, its space, the optimism and can-do attitudes. And I met nothing but warm, generous, friendly people.
Nevertheless, the country’s political environment, its commitment to capitalist economics, and prevailing sentiments around healthcare, education, religion and a host of other factors may prove insurmountable obstacles for some.
Global Challenges
And it is not just America. Such political, economic and cultural considerations should feature in your decision, whatever your intended destination.
For example, Europe offers an abundance of cultural delights, with untold historical riches, beautiful architecture, and a culinary smorgasbord from which to sample. But can you cope with Italy’s red tape, French workers’ proclivity to strike, or the famous British reserve?
It is never easy to know until you are on the ground in a country, facing the life it offers day after day.
But if you ask yourself the testing questions on how suited you are to a life abroad before you go you will be better equipped for the changes ahead.
Tags: Abroad, America, Arizona, Brit, capital, Constitution, country, cultural, destination, economic, Education, Europe, expat, freedom, French, gun, healthcare, home, Italy, life, political, religion, Shooting, States, US, world
It is exactly a year now since we repatriated from Spain to the UK. It was lovely to return in time to have Christmas with family, but looking back I wouldn’t do it the same way again. For rather than enjoying those magical weeks in the run up to Christmas, we had to spend them up to our ears in boxes, sorting and packing belongings.
Having moved several times before, we knew how much work was involved. Still, it’s amazing to discover how much “stuff” we had managed to accumulate, and how long it takes to sort.
The question then is always what do you do with it?
Which are the essential items you absolutely must take with you when relocating? Which bits can be given or thrown away? And the biggest quandary, what do you do with the rest? You know, the stuff you want to keep, or that you think might come in useful “some day.”
Unless a friend or family member is happy to give up their garage or attic indefinitely so you can jam it full of your belongings, the only real solution is to use a self storage facility. They come with several advantages:
1) It’s cost effective
For one, it is inexpensive these days to rent storage space. In addition, there are no long term contracts. That means that as you settle into your new place you have the flexibility to collect your boxes when you are ready for them.
2) It’s safe and secure
Any self storage facility worth its salt will have effective security measures in place to protect your property. Look for 24hr CCTV and individual alarms on the storage rooms.
3) It’s convenient
Self storage has become more and more popular in recent years. As a result, there is probably a self storage facility[1] close by.
Where possible it is best to look for facilities near both your old and new homes. That way you always have the option of keeping any overflow you’re not sure if you want or have space for safe.
4) It’s flexible
Unless you’re relocating to a place where the weather is pretty much the same all year round, you may also want to think about storing all that stuff you only use at certain times of the year – for example, skis or scuba gear. That way you won’t have it cluttering up the house the whole time. And that can do wonders for your state of mind!
[1] For example,
Big Yellow Self Storage has over 70 sites across Britain. You can see their facilities and locations at
http://www.bigyellow.co.uk/.
Tags: belonging, box, Christmas, cost, expat, facility, family, friend, home, house, inexpensive, move, pack, property, relocating, rent, repatriate, room, safe, secure, security, space, Spain, storage, UK, weather, work
If you’re considering moving abroad then you want to do it right from the off. Your happiness depends on it. And that means making sure you head for a destination that best meets all YOUR requirements.
So here are some of the key issues to contemplate when deciding where to live:
1) Education
For any parents, the quality of education available to their children – whether in the local state system, a private institution or at an international school – has to be a crucial factor.
If a country’s educational options are poor, think again. Your child’s future is too important.
2) Language
Which languages do you speak? Where in the world will you find it easiest to integrate, and feel most comfortable living, as a result? Which languages will prove most beneficial to your prospects going forward?
At the gates of my daughter’s school here in Britain I hear many foreign accents. One big attraction for these parents of raising their children in the UK is the English fluency they are achieving. As the world’s dominant business language at present that will stand them in good stead in the years to come.
3) Quality of life
Definitions of quality of life vary from person-to-person. But common considerations include the location’s relative cost of living, the climate, career opportunities and earning potential, access to leisure activities, the country’s political freedoms and cultural mores.
For instance, the UK is renowned for its high cost of living and poor weather. However, HSBC’s latest Expat Explorer Survey[1] ranked it the top country for entertainment, and reported that it is an easy place for expats to integrate.
The important thing is to determine which quality of life factors matter most to you.
4) Social network
It is great to have family support and contact. Yet for many people living abroad often means having to do without that.
In such situations, it is important to be in a location where there are plenty of opportunities to develop a strong circle of friends who can offer emotional support, and with whom you can share the good times.
5) Future prospects
Looking ahead, what sort of life will your location offer?
Does it hold out the prospect of attractive career opportunities, for you and any children you may have?
If you are considering retirement there, is it affordable? What sort of social life can you expect? How do the healthcare system, and healthcare costs, stack up?
Answer these crucial questions before you leave home and you have a much better chance of finding happiness and contentment when you arrive.
[1] Expat Experience is the second of three reports from HSBC’s 2010 Expat Explorer research series,
http://www.offshore.hsbc.com/1/2/international/expat/expat-survey/expat-experience-report-2010
Tags: Abroad, Britain, business, career, child, climate, comfort, cost, country, destination, earn, Education, English, entertainment, expat, explore, Foreign, freedom, friend, happiness, health, home, HSBC, integrate, Language, leisure, live, living, location, moving, parent, politic, prospect, quality, Retirement, School, survey, UK, weather, world
I have just started reading Andre Agassi’s autobiography, Open.
The book starts with Agassi playing his last tournament before retiring, the 2006 US Open.
He is in New York with his wife, tennis superstar Steffi Graf, and their two young children. For the duration of the tournament the family stay in a suite at the Four Seasons hotel in Manhattan. A “lovely suite,” he says, yet it remains another of those places that are what he terms “Not Home.”
Rather, home is Las Vegas. For all the evident pain of his childhood, the constant pushing of his father and resulting hatred of his profession, Agassi remains wedded to the city where he was born and raised.
Relocating for love
As a result, it is Germany’s Steffi Graf who has made the move abroad.
Like any relationship where the partners hail from different countries, one or other has to give up their homeland. For some that may be a welcome move. For others, a painful sacrifice. Yet if they are to survive as a unit there is no other option.
I’m no trained relationship counsellor, so I’m not trying to be an Agony Uncle on this. But over the years I have seen a lot of couples wrestle with this location issue, with varying degrees of success. Some have continued happy and strong. Others, unfortunately, have not.
So what lessons can these sporting idols offer?
1) Knowing the lingo
Graf has perfect English, which is a huge benefit.
Knowing or learning the local language is crucial when moving abroad. But it is even more important when moving to a partner’s country. Seeing as they will be jabbering away with extended family and friends in that tongue, you must be able to join in if you don’t want to get isolated socially.
2) Partner’s understanding
The home country native also has responsibilities, not least to ensure they include their partner.
That means taking them places, introducing them to friends, giving them the freedom and opportunity to make their own social circle and interact with it, supporting them through any bouts of loneliness and homesickness. Understanding and support will be critical to prevent/repair any divisions.
3) Affirm the decision
Why did Agassi and Graf settle in Las Vegas, rather than Germany or somewhere else?
Both partners need to be clear about why they have picked that particular location, rather than another.
You need to decide why, on balance, your choice of town/country offers the best quality of life for all concerned. Why does it have to be that person’s home, rather than the other way round?
If you aren’t both in agreement on this point, resentment and subsequent rupture can easily result.
4) Love-all
It’s a book, so there is always potential for the writer to put a gloss on things. Nevertheless, what comes through in Agassi’s autobiography is evidence of a couple that adore each other.
Staying together in a long-term relationship is hard enough as it is. Trying to do it as an expat is next to impossible unless there are strong bonds of love, respect and friendship.
Ultimately, it is the love you have for each other that will keep you focused on what matters most, and get you through the inevitable difficulties arise.
Tags: Abroad, Agassi, Children, city, countries, country, couple, English, expat, family, freedom, friend, Germany, Graf, home, homesick, Language, Las Vegas, life, location, loneliness, love, Manhattan, move, moving, New York, partner, profession, quality, relationship, social, tennis, US
What are your biggest worries about moving abroad?
Is it finding or settling in to a new job? Making your retirement savings stretch far enough to provide a decent quality of life? Having a healthcare system that is up to scratch? Getting your children into good schools?
According to Expat Experience[1], the latest report in HSBC’s Expat Explorer series, the top concerns keeping expats awake at night prior to relocating are:
- Being able to re-establish a social life (41%)
- Feeling lonely, and missing friends and family (34%)
The survey also found these worries affected female expats significantly more than men.
Meanwhile, missing family and friends is a particularly big concern for expats based in Australia (49%) and Canada (46%) – not surprising, since the majority were from the UK originally, and so the distances involved make regular face-to-face contact difficult.
Overcoming concerns
Such emotive issues have an obvious link – if you are worried about establishing a social life in your new destination then you are more likely to miss the existing network of family and friends you have back home.
On the flip side, if you can form strong friendships and develop a bustling (and satisfying) social life once you move abroad then you are less likely to be lonely and dwell on what you have left behind.
In short, once you land in your new location you have to make a concerted effort to get out, meet people, make friends and take advantage of whatever exciting lifestyle opportunities the country has to offer.
It’s not always easy to do. Sometimes you may have to force yourself to step out of your comfort zones. But the success of your expat venture depends on it.
[1] Expat Experience is the second of three reports from HSBC’s 2010 Expat Explorer research series,
http://www.offshore.hsbc.com/1/2/international/expat/expat-survey/expat-experience-report-2010
Tags: Abroad, Australia, Canada, Children, country, destination, expat, Expat Experience, Expat Explorer, family, female, friend, healthcare, home, HSBC, job, lifestyle, location, lonely, men, move, moving, quality of life, Retirement, School, social, survey, UK, worries
Living abroad has become so much more viable as the cost of travel plummeted.
The rise of the budget airlines, and the need for other travel operators to slash prices to compete, means moving overseas is no longer the one-way journey of old.
Instead, expats within a short-haul flight of home have suddenly been able to afford to pop back for regular weekends to catch up with family and friends. And those who relocated to another continent can make their annual pilgrimage home without needing an investment banker’s salary or a second mortgage.
For those expats flying to or from the UK though, the November 1 rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD) may shift the balance.
The new rates mean a family of four flying from the UK to Europe will pay £48 in APD when travelling economy class. For journeys to the US the family will be charged £240, to the Caribbean or South Africa £300, and to fly to Australia it will cost them £340 in tax (a rise of 55%).
Add in the actual cost of the ticket, plus the inevitable wad of spending money, and face-to-face contact with old friends and family looks a lot less appealing.
Tags: afford, Air Passenger Duty, airline, APD, Australia, budget, Caribbean, economy, Europe, expat, family, flight, friend, home, journey, living abroad, money, overseas, price, relocate, South Africa, travel, UK, US
Recent Comments