The magazine for expats
Health system
Adjusting to new food abroad involves more than just overcoming a psychological barrier or embracing an adventurous spirit. Your body may be sensitive and resistant to unfamiliar foods. How can you take care of your health while adjusting to a new culinary landscape? Here are some tips.
Transport
Moving abroad often serves as the perfect moment to change your habits: expanding your social circle, improving lifestyle choices, and altering your modes of consumption and transportation. Have you been primarily dependent on cars until now? Why not take the opportunity of moving to a new city to make a radical shift towards better health and the environment by adopting walking and biking? These modes of transportation are increasingly popular in large international cities and are indeed driving their development.
Sponsored
Center for U.S. Voters Abroad
All U.S. citizens are eligible to vote absentee while living or traveling abroad and a new organization is making that process much better. Here's how.
Expat news
Accommodation
The current housing crisis is exacerbated by inflation, which, despite easing in sectors like food and energy, keeps driving up rental prices. Foreign investors are cautious or capitalizing on market attractiveness to execute their financial ventures. However, as locals and expatriates with modest incomes face an increasing cost of living burdened by continuous hikes in housing prices, governments are taking steps to regulate the market.
Schools & studies
Will students soon have to give up on studying abroad? In their efforts to control immigration, popular countries are implementing measures that are challenging students' plans to move overseas. How do visa restrictions and increased fees impact universities and education? How can students consider studying abroad in this context?
Luxembourg
Luxembourg is a highly cosmopolitan country, with nearly 47.3% of its population being foreign nationals, representing about 170 different nationalities (government data). Despite its small size of only 2,586 km², the country offers ample opportunities for those seeking professional growth and an excellent quality of life. The Luxembourg Parliament has recently passed a law making it easier for third-country nationals to enter and stay in Luxembourg for highly qualified jobs. So why should you consider moving to Luxembourg?
Content from our partners
Sponsored
BGL BNP Paribas
Opening a bank account in Luxembourg is one of the first things on your to-do list during your move, essential for managing your salary, expenses, and administrative tasks. Our business partner, BGL BNP Paribas, has written this practical guide to easily opening a bank account in Luxembourg, either in-branch or online, even before you arrive.
Sponsored
Translayte
Moving to a new country is exciting, but it also comes with lots of challenges, especially when it comes to paperwork. As an expatriate, among loads of paperwork you need to fulfill, you will likely need certified translations of various documents. This process can be different depending on the country you are in and the country you and/or your family are moving to. In this article, our partner, Translayte, explores how certified translations are done in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Canada, Austria, Spain, and Turkey. They also talk about why you cannot compromise on who does your translations, getting them done by professionals and how Translayte can help you.
Sponsored
Surfshark
Living abroad as an expat can be a life-changing experience, yet it has its challenges. Whether adjusting to a new job, learning a new language, or trying to find the best grocery store, having the right tools to ease your transition can make all the difference. Here's a list of must-have tools for expats that will make your experience abroad more enjoyable.
Features
Health system
One of the main concerns when moving abroad is what kind of medical follow-up one can expect. Health systems vary (private or public insurance) and offer different medical follow-up and prevention services. So, how do you navigate these to ensure you won't miss any steps, from vaccination schedules to routine exams and recommended consultations for specific age groups?
Work
International students are desperately seeking ways to earn a living. Although essential for their daily survival, part-time jobs are becoming increasingly scarce. In major destinations, international students are being penalized by restrictive reforms and a job crisis. So, how can you find a student job in this context, and what types of jobs can you expect?
Work
So you've decided to embark on a digital nomad adventure. You've chosen your destination and completed the formalities. You can already picture yourself as an adventurer for a day. But primarily, you're there to work. What kind of workspace should you choose? How should you choose it? Here are our top tips.
Moving
Have you ever loved a destination so much that you found yourself dreaming of moving there? It happens more often than one might think. You arrive in a new country. You spend a week going to the beach, discovering bold street food flavors, and meeting fun, carefree people. And then, before you know it, you are looking at real estate ads and rates for international moving companies. But should a vacation ever turn into a relocation? Let's explore.
Work
How can companies worldwide attract and, more importantly, retain foreign talent? How can they ensure they have the desired workforce at the right time? The competition is fierce in the international recruitment market. Companies, still adapting post-COVID, are implementing new strategies to increase their competitiveness and appeal. Developing workforce planning is part of these strategies. How does it facilitate the recruitment and transfer of employees internationally?
Everyday life
While planning your move to a foreign country, you may wonder about your host country's sign language. Whether you are deaf or hard of hearing, you might question how to communicate using sign language there. It's often emphasized that learning the local language is essential, and by “language,” this includes both spoken and visual languages, such as sign languages. Here's a comprehensive guide to learning them while living abroad.
Expat interviews
USA
Umberto's journey from the serene town of Bolzano, Italy, to the bustling streets of New York City is both inspiring and captivating. With roots tracing back to Naples and a familial connection to Brooklyn, Umberto's path to America was driven by a profound desire to connect with his heritage and make his mark in the land of opportunities.
USA
Get ready for a coast-to-coast American adventure with Marine and Sylvain, a dynamic French couple! They ditched the charming landscapes of Alsace, France, for the vibrant shores of Los Angeles and then Miami's Latin flair. Their story, unfolding over the past six years, is a captivating tale of embracing challenges and seizing opportunities.
Netherlands
Join Laura's journey as she explores life in Scotland and the Netherlands. Discover her experiences, challenges, and the key to finding her ideal quality of life. This interview is packed with valuable tips for anyone considering expat life, whether you're drawn to charming Edinburgh or vibrant Amsterdam.
Insights from professionals
Everyday life
Moving to a new country won't solve your problems, but should you do it anyway? Well, it depends. It depends on you and your mindset. It is easy to imagine that relocating overseas will transform us into better versions of ourselves.
Work
The first day at a new job is always daunting. Stress, exhaustion, loneliness and nervous excitement are all common emotions but add on top of that, culture shock, language barriers and trying to settle your family into their new life abroad, it can all get overwhelming.
Everyday life
Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a source of discomfort for expatriates, not only because of the distance from their loved ones but also due to lockdowns and health restrictions. Emanuela Brusadelli, a Professor of Clinical Psychology and the Deputy Director of the Professional and Clinical Psychology Programs at Wollongong University School of Psychology in Australia, tells us more.
Expat stories
USA
As the year 2021 comes to an end, we're hoping for this very stressful period for expatriates all over the world to be over. Expats living in the USA on an E2 visa have been faced with a particularly complicated situation. In addition to the pandemic's impact on their businesses, they will also have administrative difficulties obtaining visas or even their renewal.
Everyday life
From October 1, 2021, South Africa moved to Alert Level 1 after multiple Covid-19 peaks, and life is slowly getting back to normal. Hannah, an expat from the UK, was lucky enough to relocate to Cape Town in September following her husband's intra-company transfer. She shares her views about expat life in the country she now calls home.
Everyday life
Does being an expat mean always being the outsider? Not quite at home in your host country and a little bit of a stranger to your home country. Stephanie discusses how she navigates this identity as a Brit living in Paris.
Moving
Expatriation started as a necessity when I was looking to progress with my academic studies of a Master's degree in England. However, it was earlier in my life, when I began travelling for leisure, that I figured out moving countries is a lifestyle I would like to revel in. Since 2007, I have lived and worked in five countries in Europe, Africa, and East Asia, and I am currently preparing for my next expatriation project. I may find it easier to board a plane and start all over again than deciding what to have for dinner, but the journey is not anxiety and sorrow-free. So, if you are interested in how a life away from everything you take for granted is, please don't ask me (or any other like-minded expat for that matter) any of the following questions — here's why.
Moving
I have always been very thoughtful about the things I own, and how I organise them in my space — whether it's the tiny studio in South Korea, the shared-flat in Ghana, or the two-floor house in Mauritius. I love change, and I see moving to a different country as an opportunity to reset my reality and rediscover myself; living abroad helps me look at things with fresh eyes and get rid of preconceptions. Packing is a big part of the whole moving process, and when you have to limit your belongings down to two suitcases, you reconsider the value of possessions. Here's how I learned to put my life on the scale and hit the 23 kg target.
Expat of the month
Everyday life
Angelica is originally from Verbania, Italy. It's been nearly ten years since she moved to the UK, hungry for independence and new experiences. She has also spent a year in Germany for her studies before going back to the UK and is currently in the process of obtaining British citizenship. She talks to us about living in London as an expat between Brexit and the Covid pandemic.
Articles from our local editions
Mauritius
Construction in Mauritius has always been a dynamic and rapidly expanding sector. However, in August 2024, the sector will face a new surge in the prices of construction materials, affecting both large projects and small renovations. This price increase is due to a series of global and local factors, leading to significant repercussions for expatriates and residents planning construction projects on the island.
Mauritius
This week in Mauritius, price surge for construction materials, growing disenchantment with democracy in, Air Mauritius flights to Rome suspended and much more.
Mauritius
This week in Mauritius, rising shipping costs, price hikes on imported fruits, foreign investment in real estate and more…
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Articles to help you in your expat project
Everything you need to know as an expat woman in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia can be a challenging destination for women. As a strict Islamic country, Saudi Arabia imposes a lot ...
Driving in Saudi Arabia
Driving in Saudi Arabia is the easiest and most convenient way to get around. That being said, foreigners in Saudi ...
Working in Taiwan
Working in Taiwan depends on your skill set and the job you seek. Expats can find a wide range of jobs around the ...
Getting married in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a country that holds marriage and family as one of its core values. It is a privilege to get ...
Getting married in Qatar
Getting married in Qatar could be a hassle for newbies. However, knowing the right procedure and information can ...
Working in the Dominican Republic
If you are looking for a job in the Dominican Republic (DR), here are some tips and suggestions. Job hunting can ...
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