Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
Things are pretty uncertain in Hong Kong following the new Covid wave in March 2022, added to social and political tensions, increasingly significant influence from China, etc. International media have constantly been reporting a brain drain and an expat exodus over the past year. How do expats in Hong Kong feel about this situation?
Living abroad as a Muslim expat should not be a challenge, even if your host country does not historically and culturally include, for example, Ramadan in its way of life. As we are currently in the first week of Ramadan, here are tips for preserving your religious traditions as an expat in a non-Muslim country.
Asafe Kerven from Paraíba, Brazil, has a passion for football. He has already worked in several sporting events around the globe as a volunteer and today lives in the UK. Coming from a poor region, he shares a bit of his experience moving abroad and how expatriates with low income can succeed in their goals.
While most countries in the world are recovering from the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and have been easing anti-covid measures such as opening borders, eliminating masks and reopening schools, Hong Kong faces an outbreak of Covid-19, and expats find themselves in uncertainty.
The war in Ukraine with Russia shelling in urban and rural areas all over the country has obliged nationals and expats to seek asylum for their security. But, the humanitarian crisis that has already been challenging for locals has put a spotlight on alleged discrimination. The concern: immigrants from Africa and other people of colour are facing hate at the borders.
USA
Geraldine, who is originally from France, fell in love with the United States when she was very young, and a complicated personal journey led her to move to New York State. She initially wanted to take the time to rebuild herself, but in the end, she never left. Geraldine talks to us about how she obtained the authorization to stay in the USA, what life is like in rural New York State and what she likes the most in her country of adoption.
Hong Kong is an extremely active megalopolis with around 7.482 million inhabitants. Unfortunately, following a new Covid-19 peak in mid-February, the number of new cases has broken all records. To date, more than 200 deaths are being reported every day, and as of mid-March, more than 10,000 people are tested positive per day.
Would you rather move to the other side of the world or to the country next door? Intra-continental immigration has always been a step ahead of long-distance relocations, and the Covid pandemic has only reinforced this trend. Which are the easiest countries for intra-continental immigration, and what are the benefits?
Arrived in autumn 2021, amidst the pandemic, Hanna Lindl, from Germany, shares her experience as a physics intern living in Madrid. Besides the blue sky, she tells what are the pros and cons of being an expatriate during the Covid-19 pandemic, gives some advice and more!
The pandemic has impacted expats with international partners, as travel restrictions imposed long-distance relationships for many of them. Being apart led some couples to end their relationship or to strengthen by managing to see each other through digital tools and social media. Australia and New Zealand were some of the most strict countries in terms of Covid-19 travelling measures to control the disease. Now they are opening their borders between them and for expats overseas, and couples feel relief.
Germany
Germany's approach to contracts is known for being un-customer-friendly. It usually takes consumers three months to be able to cancel services, for example. But, the German Federal Parliament, Bundestag, has passed through a new law that seeks to reduce minimum contract terms and shorten notice periods to facilitate consumers' lives.
Australia
Expats living on the Southern Australia coast must be very scared. The New South Wales coast has been hit by dangerous weather with heavy rains and strong winds in the last week leading to severe floods on the Australian coast. The Bureau of Meteorology in Australia has expanded its warning zone for towns and communities, stretching Coffs Harbour south towards the Victorian border. The NSW State Emergency Service has warned of dangerous conditions and asked for evacuation at large parts of the coastline, including Sydney.
Alicia has lived in different countries on different continents and had a taste of different working cultures -- which made her realize that she needed to work towards something more meaningful. She has always had a passion for couture, so she decided to earn a living from it. Now an expat in Barcelona, she talks to Expat.com about her journey and the challenges of being an entrepreneur in a new country, especially when you don't speak the language perfectly.
When companies send their employees abroad, it is usually still the men who are asked for these projects. Despite ubiquitous discussions, it is still mostly women who leave their own job and follow their partner abroad for his job.
Most countries currently have their borders open to people vaccinated against Covid-19. To contain and fight the pandemic, they also require quarantine, PCR tests, tracing applications, health declaration, etc. Still, no country is safe from another epidemic outbreak - which is why other vaccines (against hepatitis, rabies, etc.) remain essential for travellers.
Thursday, February 24, 2022, will be a memorable day for Ukraine and the rest of the world. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa and Dnipro are attacked by the Russian military forces. The Russian president decided to ignore the warnings of the UN Security Council (convened to resolve the crisis between Ukraine and Russia) and announced the beginning of a military operation while the Ukrainian president called for peace. The rest of Europe condemn an unfair war started by Russia. Locals and expatriates in Ukraine are plunged into uncertainty and fear. One week has gone by, and the population prays for peace. Here are some testimonies from members of the Expat.com community.
New Zealand is reopening its borders to international travellers but in five stages. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern presented the reopening plan on February 3. So who can now travel to New Zealand, and under what conditions? When will expats be allowed into the country?
Love is one of the strongest feelings in the world. It is a game where heroes show that they are stronger than time, distance and adversity. This occurs every day, even if we don't know it, but now it happened on a large scale as a consequence of the pandemic. The closed borders and the difficulties to see our loved ones made this situation almost unbearable for many, but the protagonists in this story, nothing less than heroes, work hard to overcome the difficulties and are here with their valuable testimonies.
Make your relocation easier with our expat guides
Retiring in Tunisia
Sun, a relaxed lifestyle, traditional souks, incense, modernism, an effective health system, etc. All these are ...
Getting married in Bahrain
For expats, moving to Bahrain often involves navigating new experiences, and marriage is one of the most ...
Getting married in Morocco
If you want to get married in Morocco, there are different steps and a variety of procedures to follow. These can ...
Getting married in Panama
If you dream of getting married in a tropical paradise, Panama may be the spot. Even non-residents can tie the ...
Getting married in Qatar
Getting married in Qatar could be a hassle for newbies. However, knowing the right procedure and information ...
Marriage in Brazil
Brazil can be a romantic country, and you may want to marry here. Perhaps you even want to remain in Brazil ...
Open a bank account that suits you
Discover the best international banks to manage your money securely.
"