Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
The meaning of power has changed through time, and nowadays, in the era of digital diplomacy, in which diplomatic objectives are achieved through the internet, the stronger country is the one that collaborates, builds networks beyond geographical borders, and influences others.
On International Nelson Mandela Day, we are taking action and contribute our part to the world by making an impact — on our neighbour's child, our community, country, or, why not, in a different country. For 67 years, Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of post-apartheid South Africa, was advocating human rights, defending peace, and promoting social justice. In recognition of Mandela's heroism, simplicity, and resistance, Expat.com explores the opportunities of charitable work around the world, and ways to pass the messages of reconciliation and peace through actions. From making a new friend abroad to serving a humanitarian cause, “it always seems impossible until it's done”.
France
Commemorating the French National Day, July 14 is a public holiday in France. So if you have just landed in France, you would not want to miss the fireworks – which by the way are quite impressive – or the massive military march. What could be a better way to discover the French way of life than mingling in the celebrations, just like the French do?
While some people may be seeking the biggest and most modern cities to relocate to, other expats are searching for a different kind of city life — one that allows them to step back in time. If you are looking for a city with an enticing past to discover, as well as museums and ancient ruins to wander around, look no further. We have put together some of the most historical cities, where you can experience the past while living in the now.
Thailand
If you are a tea aficionado in Thailand, fear not, as it turns out Thailand has a unique tea culture — from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, there is no shortage of places and types of tea to experience. As the adoration of tea is spreading worldwide, popular culture has come to embrace teas such as the matcha green tea and the Taiwanese speciality bubble tea-based beverage. John, an American expat in Thailand, guides us through Thailand's tea culture and gives us tips on where to find the finest teas in the country.
Germany
Thinking about moving to Germany? You have probably started your research about the country already — the climate, the job market, the formalities, and the leisure activities. But here's some fascinating information about Germany that you may have missed (and will boost your decision making).
For Debbie, moving to her husband's home town of Senta, Serbia from Canada after her retirement seemed like an obvious choice. As she says, retirement doesn't just mean the end of full-time employment, it also means the freedom of adventure. She tells Expat.com about her adventure in Serbia and what it has been like so far.
Where is everyone moving to, and why? Anyone thinking of moving abroad will, of course, have their own reasons for moving – according to MoveHub's report on global moving trends, 30% of respondents think that cost of living is the most important thing to consider before moving, with 50% claiming they moved for better employment opportunities. We look at the most popular destinations to move to.
Europe is full of cities on the move, be it improving infrastructure, to heightening inspiration. Savills Investment Management's measure of the most dynamic cities in Europe highlights the cities with the best prospects for commercial investment, though it is a good indicator of a city's development for anyone hoping to move there. London topped nearly all five of the metrics used by Savills to take the overall top spot, and the UK as a whole features strongly across the different categories.
As you're sitting in an office on a rainy day, your thoughts may drift to relaxing on a beach with a cocktail in hand, but not just for a holiday – what if that was your life? Though many of us have dreams about packing up and moving to a paradise island, here are some of our bloggers who have made the dream a reality.
Hungary
Matthew was pleased to discover (upon moving from the US to Hungary) that Budapest is incredibly child-friendly, as he and his wife moved from Bellingham, Washington to Budapest, Hungary with their three young boys. Here he tells https://www.expat.com about life in Hungary so far, and his favourite things about the country.
Sometimes cycling in a city is not only an environmentally-friendly and healthy way to get to work, it can also be the quickest way to get there. Whether you just love cycling, or are looking to get to work without having to deal with public transport or the inevitable rush-hour traffic, here are some of 2017's most cycle-friendly cities, according to Copenhagenize.
Are you wondering about the ins and outs of raising your children abroad with one or more new langauges? Chontelle Bonfiglio is an ESL teacher who is raising multilingual children after moving from Australia to Italy. She created 'Bilingual Kidspot' to help parents who want to raise their children as bilingual, and she talks to Expat.com about her experience.
Though you may not move abroad for a country's climate alone, it can definitely be one of its most attractive features. For those coming from colder climes, warmer year-round temperatures can seem very appealing, while anyone living in extreme heat may see the appeal in a more temperate year-round climate. Here are some of the places with the best year-round climate.
While the yogis around the world are taking their positions on International Yoga Day, Expat.com speaks to Nathalie, a body and mind yoga and fitness instructor, about the benefits of yoga and her decision to move to Mauritius. After having lived in Belgium, France, Spain and Singapore, Nathalie decided to come to Mauritius and discover her roots while she's praising a holistic approach to health and life.
Ghana
Italian journalist Antonella decided to move to Ghana and set up her own business. She also blogs about her day to day life as well as broader issues affecting the country and the broader Sub-Saharan region. She tells Expat.com about how she finds life in Ghana so far.
Türkiye
We most often talk about learning a foreign language and the challenges we face, but what about learning foreign numbers? Sounds familiar — that time at the till in a foreign country when we are expecting the cashier to punch in the amount we have to pay and turn the calculator so we can see. Jason, an American expat in Turkey, speaks to Expat.com about his slow-paced life in Izmir, Turkey, the benefits of being your own boss, and his application, 'Foreign Numbers'.
As the global trends towards health and fitness have picked up over the past years, with a vast population who won't stop talking about their clean eating journey, CrossFit classes, and seven-day-detox plans, it's hard to suppress the urge to become more active in our day-to-day lives. One of the easiest ways to get active is to shake up our commuting routine — after all, there must be more productive ways to use our time than staring at our phones on the bus or the subway.
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