Children - Expat Magazine
A hefty salary doesn't necessarily mean that you can save a ton of money at the end of the month, or that you can afford big expenditure on leisure activities and luxury items. Cost of living has a direct impact on all of the above. Starting with the least expensive, we present to you America's ten most expensive metropolitan areas, where a six-figure annual salary for a family of three isn't enough for a comfortable lifestyle. After paying their taxes, debts, housing, and transportation, a family earning $100,000 a year is still struggling to get by in certain US cities.
Choosing your next destination, whether you're moving with your family or planning to have kids abroad, involves a lot of reflection. Children's rights and your responsibilities as parents; the environment; as well as access to education and healthcare are some of the criteria to be considered. Expat.com gives you an insight into the world's most child-friendly countries according to a study by KidsRights, an international NGO.
Once you have settled abroad, whether alone or with your family, you might find yourself wondering how to spend your time. Is there a better feeling that reconnecting with nature to become a mindful expat and, at the same time, rid yourself of the stress that comes with moving? To help you discover and enjoy your host country's natural wealth, here is an overview of the world's greenest cities, including parks, gardens, woods, and forests, according to TravelBird Index 2018.
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.
Philippines
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?
Pregnancy can be a fascinating process yet a very stressful one. Preparation is key to ensure a smooth and uneventful birth and to welcoming your child merrily. Delivering in a foreign country can cause further anxiety due to the many unfamiliar circumstances. Check out our compiled guide to giving birth abroad, and get organised well in advance for the most important event in your life.
Globally, parenting aims at nurturing responsible and productive members of society. But the definition of a kind and successful citizen differs from culture to culture, depending on the ethics and moral values. Is your child-rearing flexible or do you implement discipline? Do you impose your ideas or let your child to discover their talents creatively? Expat.com has put together some of the most interesting parenting practices to show you child raising from a different perspective.
In spite of the fact that families around the world have unique structures and are affected by different socio-economic environments, they are the basic unit of every society. On the United Nations' International Day of Families, Expat.com presents the best countries to raise a family, as revealed by the latest HSBC Expat Explorer survey. Find out where you get high-quality childcare, education, and healthcare to secure a glowing future for your family.
When you find yourself in an international group of expats, conversations tend to turn into some competition about whose country has the best national dish and which is the most hardworking nation. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) debunks any myths that expats may have created with a thorough survey, which has measured the annual working hours in 35 OECD member states. Most of the countries ranked are developed, and some fall under the category of developing countries.
If you have travelled to your new destination only with your e-reader due to its practicality, but you are missing flipping through ink books, we have composed a list of the world's coolest bookshops in five urban expat destinations. You don't have to be the typical bookworm to enjoy the benefits of a nice bookshop — you may go for the good coffee, to meet other expats, or to do your work.
You and your partner are in a secure and loving relationship, which has to undergo a temporary physical separation due to set objectives for career growth or personal development. It is true that this sole expatriation, which can be anything from a few weeks to many months, can bring some uncertainties and unexpected difficulties in the relationship. However, we believe that true love doesn't know geographical boundaries, and expat life can be a valuable experience for both — the one who departs and the one who stays behind.
Expat life is professionally and personally rewarding, but it can also be emotionally overwhelming. Homesickness is a feeling of anxiety and distress, which can stop you from making the most of your experience abroad. It is important to understand that feeling lonely, confused, and unable to adjust to the new lifestyle and environment is normal. However, the symptoms of missing home, along with the security and the routine that come with it should not be ignored or suppressed because they will devalue your expat project. We give you nine tips to overcome homesickness and start enjoying a fulfilling life abroad.
France
Nicole grew up in California where she had a successful career in finance, before realising that she wanted to become a pastry chef. She enrolled in a pastry school in Paris, left her life in the U.S. behind, and has now created her own little family in the Basque Country, where she is enjoying the finer things in life. She shares her experiences with Expat.com.
Moving abroad with your family is a daring project that requires proper planning. Quality of life, education, safety, health, leisure, work-life balance, etc., are some of the criteria that have to be taken into account. To help you choose your next destination, Expat.com presents the top 10 cities for expat families according to Homeday's Family Index 2017.
The continent of Africa is as diverse as it is large, and with 54 countries full of interesting cultural traditions, cuisine, and constant innovation, there are many opportunities for expatriation. If you're interested in learning more about the continent and specific advice regarding certain African countries, check out our list of expat bloggers below.
While you might think of joining a gym or a sports team to keep your body in good health when you move abroad, mental health often gets overlooked. While an emotional toll is to be expected, you can take some steps to keep your mind healthy and positive during a potentially tumultuous time.
When you first move abroad to live as an expat, you are probably too thrilled with your new life to bother with what other people think about expats — misconceptions are unfortunate but who says you cannot break them? Here are some of the most common myths around expat life that you may notice passing from person to person, and the reality behind them. Don't let misinformation distract you from moving abroad and achieving your expat goals.
China
China is a vast country with culture and cuisines that vary among regions, provinces, and cities. Wherever you are thinking of moving to in China, we have selected some of the most helpful blogs from expats who have already set up shop there. With everything from advice on expat life to living in China as a multicultural family, you're sure to find something for you.
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