Moving - Expat Magazine

Millennials demand flexibility at work, push off marriage until they have established their career and have become financially stable, and are more interested in experiences than homeownership. These digital, entrepreneurial, and well-travelled young people cherish change and are keen to take up the challenge of relocation. But where do Millennials flock to, and what are their criteria for liking a place? Nestpick, a global accommodation website, has ranked 110 cities based on professional opportunities, good quality of life, tolerance, and recreation. Here are the five most popular urban centres among Millennials for this year.

With the development of the commercial aviation industry, non-stop flights have become longer — no one could have imagined back in the 1950s that the journey from the UK to Australia which was made of nine layovers would become a 17-hour direct flight. As an expat, you are probably travelling more often than the average person; it's therefore important for your mental and physical well being to know how to manage discomfort during eight, ten, or seventeen hours of flying.

It's never easy to move abroad alone, leaving your friends and family behind, regardless of the reasons for your expatriation. Even though the idea might seem intimidating at first, being a solo expat has many benefits you perhaps have not even thought of. To help you get started, Expat.com lists some of the perks of being a solo expat.

Moving overseas will initially fill you up with excitement about the adventures to come, and gradually may bring up worries about practical matters. Regardless of how easy or tough the reality is during your time abroad, expatriation will be for sure a growth experience, from which you will learn a tone of things about yourself and your interaction with the world.

Marietta from Greece started her expat journey seven years ago when she went to Denmark for her Master's degree and then to the Netherlands as a research assistant. Today, she is based in Kuopio, a densely populated city in Finland, famous for its beautiful forested area and Lake Kallavesi, which surrounds the town. After two and a half years in Finland, Marietta may still struggle with the cold weather, but she has found joy in outdoor activities and of course, her PhD. 

Hadas first left her home country, Israel, to study fashion business in New York. Ever since, she has visited more than 25 countries and has lived as an expat in France and England where she pursued a Master's degree and is currently planning to get married. Hadas is a genuinely creative person, whose passion for exploring the world and fashion is evident in her three-year-old blog The Fashion Matters  — an endless source of inspiration for stylish travellers.

Have you just heard the news of an awesome job offer abroad? This is everything you wanted to progress your career and rediscover yourself through the challenges and rewards of expatriation. Thankfully, you aren't alone in this project; your partner is determined to travel the extra miles and start anew with you. However, evidence shows that overseas contracts are very likely to break due to the accompanying spouse's and the dependents' lack of adjustment. We believe that with an honest pre-departure conversation and ongoing support during the assignment, expat life can be accommodating and exciting for everyone involved.

Are you trying to decide on your next expat destination as a digital nomad? Or have you just been offered a job in Germany, and you wish to know more about your future host country? Germany is split into 16 federal states, each of which has its policies and laws regarding education and culture. Europe's largest economy is a major exporter of heavy equipment, vehicles, and chemicals, and has a highly-skilled labour force. Despite the low fertility rates and increase in immigration, Germany can still afford a generous social welfare. Expat.com shares the top reasons you should move to the country of Goethe, Bach, and Beethoven.

Paola, a wife and mother of two, lives and works in the tech sector in the capital area of Finland. Besides her full-time job, which she loves, Paola is a dedicated blogger. Today, she talks to Expat.com about her expat life as an Italian in the Nordic world, and her appreciation about Finland's natural beauty, as well as the country's socioeconomic security — aspects which nurture a happy family life.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the international migrant population is steadily growing as the movement has become easier thanks to the digital revolution and more affordable travel costs. In 2015 there were about 244 million international migrants — 89 million more than the number of migrants in the year 2000. In most cases, people are moving to high-income countries for work in the service sector. If done in a humane and orderly way, IOM believes that migration is beneficial for both the society and migrants, and can boost the global social and economic development.

After two and a half fulfilling expat years in Brazil's vast and hectic Rio de Janeiro, Charlotte from Manchester, UK and her Brazilian partner moved to Italy for studies. Starting anew, Charlotte, who is a seasoned traveller and expat, is determined to make the most of her time in Italy. Life in a small Italian town may be quieter, but not without its challenges and stories worth sharing.

After spending 12 rewarding years in Dubai, Arni and her family decided to move back to the Philippines and "set up their nest". Today, and after a decade of a hectic career-oriented lifestyle in the Middle East, Arni and her French husband run their business in the Philippino countryside. With every opportunity, Arni steals some time for blogging — what started as a journal filled with travel and culinary tips, expanded to be the record of an eventful life journey. Are you ready to join Arni in her adventures and get inspired?

Expat life can be equally intimidating and interesting. You are filled with motivation to start afresh in a foreign land, which is exhilarating and stressful at the same time. Sometimes, you may even think about moving back home, either out of homesickness, or after having spent a considerable time abroad exploring new cultures and experiences.

How exciting — you are about to seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity abroad with all its challenges and rewards. But you are not alone in this expatriation journey; your four-legged friend is family to you and is joining the adventure. Before you get your pooch a passport and make the first steps towards your dog's transportation, take a look at the list we have prepared with some of the world's greatest places to be a dog.  

Moving abroad may mean changing almost every aspect of your life, depending on how far your host country is from your home culturally. Adjusting to a different lifestyle and bringing in your day-to-day a new etiquette and mode of operation requires an open mind. However, at Expat.com we understand that tolerance isn't always enough, and often, regardless of your willingness to adapt to your new environment, it may just be impossible or not as easy as it was during your previous expat project. On average, you should be able to say whether you feel comfortable or not in your host country after the first half of a year's stay. Use our checklist to see how far you are in your adaptation process.