Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
The Liberal Party led by Justin Trudeau was re-elected on September 20 with a minority government. This vote can be defined as the trust of Canadian residence in the Prime Minister. In this pandemic era, the support of the whole nation for another new four-year mandate is crucial. Other political parties have been talking about their ambitions regarding immigration, but it looks like the Liberal Party won the hearts with its proposed policies.
Post-Brexit immigration has become a major issue over the past months. Things that looked pretty straightforward initially are now getting more complex, especially with the Covid-19 crisis. So with the labour shortage, a crisis in the fishing industry, disillusionment with mixed couples, what will immigration in the United Kingdom look like in the coming months?
This September, many countries reopened their borders (Canada, Senegal, etc.); others are planning to follow suit (United States, Australia). It is indeed great news for people who were looking to move abroad. The new world map shows a majority of countries open to vaccinated travellers, but with certain restrictions. But immigration still largely relies on government announcements. In such circumstances, considering the pandemic, is it still possible to plan international relocation?
Thailand has been hard hit by the economic crisis brought by the pandemic. Still, to trigger growth, the country looks determined to get back on track, first by containing the pandemic and then by bringing back foreigners. Current results are encouraging. The contamination rate has gone down, and vaccinated foreigners are now allowed into the main Thai tourist spots.
For more than a year, it has been assumed that the global health crisis would have a negative impact on international relocation. But it looks like Japan has reversed the situation. Ranking consistently as one of the world's most expensive countries (with a high cost of living in Tokyo, especially), Japan also stands out for its high expat packages. Is that supposed to be good news for foreign workers?
Diego was born and raised in the province of Verona, Italy. Two years ago, he relocated to Georgia, in the United States. He currently works as an electronic engineer in Atlanta. Diego talks to Expat.com about his adventure abroad.
Faced with the threat of the Delta variant, the measures are toughening up: compulsory vaccination, selective reopening of borders... The populations are divided between support for government measures, fears for the future, and sometimes violent demonstrations. Economic imperatives, climate emergency, international tensions ... Global news remains marked by great uncertainty, while the Covid-19 continues to prevail.
The end of the "Travel ban" has finally come. After being closed for a year and a half, the United States is reopening its borders in early November 2021. This is another sign, for expatriates and international travellers, that things are slowly getting back to normal, but with certain control. For now, only fully vaccinated people will be able to travel.
Nobody wants to be divorced. But after many conflicts and unbearable misunderstandings, it is better to separate. If you have made up your mind, there has to be a good reason for it, and therefore you, as an expat, should know your options in order to organise properly and overcome this unpleasant moment.
Expenses such as moving, settling down, renting or buying a new place, insurances and the cost of studies are usually some major concerns for international expats. However, travellers might be surprised to know that in relation to salaries, the cost of food can be a new challenge when considering a country to live abroad, as food prices are increasing worldwide amidst an economic crisis worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Portugal
Biagio is originally from Turin, Italy. In 2020, when he retired, he chose to relocate to Portugal. He currently lives in Viseu, a particularly clean and well-maintained city that he appreciates a lot. He tells us how he made new friends and, a few months ago, started volunteering at a local vaccination centre.
Respect, whether for individuals, the society, the laws, is a universal value. While it is usually the norm in your own country, it tends to be secondary when you move to another country. As an expat in a new place, you will try to forge a new status and identity. But while observing the people and the culture, it is quite natural to fall into the trap of systematic comparison. So how can you be respectful of the culture of your expat country without feeling superior to the locals?
Since March 2020, the whole world has been transformed by the Covid-19 pandemic. With variants and epidemic peaks, "quarantine" and "lockdown" remain in news highlights. Today, the first thing to check is whether you are allowed to travel overseas depending on your current situation (where are you are travelling from, the purpose and duration of stay, visa and entry requirements, etc.). We might think that quarantine only impacts short stays abroad, but the truth is that international relocation plans are also affected.
For the first time in years, the U.S. population increase has dropped and grew at the second-slowest rate since the founding of the country. The declining fertility rate (almost 20% since 2007) and the reduction in immigration seem to be the main cause for the increase, with a global pandemic surely not helping. As environmentalists might support the idea of having fewer polluters in the world, the decrease in population is considered to be a serious economic concern for the country. And possibly an opportunity for expats in the future.
We have all heard of the term “culture shock” before and probably have experienced it ourselves at one point or another when arriving somewhere new. That sense of being out of place and far away from your routine and familiarities can be fun and exciting. It can, however, also graduate to an uneasy feeling, where you catch yourself longing for the things you were accustomed to before. For some, this feeling might last a couple of hours. Others will have to deal with it for days, weeks or even months, depending on the destination and situation they find themselves in.
Moving today, in times of a pandemic, seems like a risky idea bringing doubts even to the most eager of expats. While sometimes it is better to stay or return home, in some cases moving abroad now is an important decision that can lead to better and safer living conditions. Here are some common reasons to decide to move abroad now.
Since September 7, Canadian borders have been open. The country, which is very popular with expatriates, needs skilled labour. With its wide open spaces and amazing beauty, Canada is the world's second-largest country after Russia and continues to attract new immigrants. While many expats usually head to big provinces and cities such as Quebec or Vancouver, more and more of them are now choosing less popular provinces where they can get equal or even greater benefits.
According to the IMF (International Monetary Fund), Switzerland is one of the countries that showed greater resilience during the pandemic, with a stable economy and low unemployment rate. The country is currently hiring and spreading the word. For expats, it is the opportunity for a radical change of life, with a significant rise in purchasing power. Switzerland still conveys this image of a country with high wages, and moving there to become rich is a dream for many. But what does it take to make this dream a reality?
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