Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
Indonesia is the closest place there is to heaven on Earth. Through incredible biodiversity, warm climate, turquoise beaches and greenery, it is one of the most amazing places to visit. Together with its jewel Bali, the whole country was closed to tourists during Covid. But now, it is slowly opening up, allowing tourists to visit after almost two years of restrictions.
As millions of US citizens are taking their booster dose at home, some American expats are looking for their first vaccine against the coronavirus abroad. Unfortunately, many countries still need vaccines or put expats at the end of the line.
The Covid-19 pandemic has taken another dramatic turn with the Omicron variant. South Africa, Zimbabwe, the United States and Russia are panic-stricken, and things are hardly any better in Europe. While Asia looks better on the surface, there are substantial disparities between countries. Most of them are pleading for full vaccination and the booster dose. But until this can be achieved, health restrictions are reintroduced and reinforced in some countries. So what will the end of the year look like?
Border reopenings have become a crucial factor when it comes to international relocation. Still, despite the pandemic, many expats are happy in their host countries. So what should aspiring expats expect in 2022? Do the once top expat destinations still look appealing?
Has the UK come a long way? 2020 has been a dark year with the pandemic and Brexit, leading to an expat exodus. But the British government reassures that 2021 has marked a slow return to normal, according to official figures.
Diagnosed with calpainopathy at the age of 14, Irina has always been thirsty for adventure. Enrolling for Erasmus, she first flies to Ireland. After that, she lived in London and California before returning to France. Today, she shares her experience of moving abroad with a disability.
Moving abroad requires a lot of energy, optimism, self-confidence, and independence. While it can be one of the most adventurous life decisions of a person, it comes with a long list of stressors. That is to say, the dream to live abroad as an expat can turn into a nightmare when the end of the year comes around.
With the new pandemic wave worldwide, vaccination against Covid-19 remains a major concern. The booster dose adds to the ongoing debate. States are stepping up their vaccination campaign, with some considering making the booster dose a mandatory entry condition. Others prefer to reserve this third dose for vulnerable categories of people.
Who would have thought that Covid-19 would strike back so brutally this year? November 2021 sounds like a sad reminder that the virus is still omnipresent. The recent discovery of the new Omicron variant is shaking the planet. Caught in its 5th wave, Europe is tightening health and sanitary restrictions.
Named "Omicron" by the World Health Organization (WHO), the new Covid-19 variant revives the traumas of 2020. According to experts, the 5th wave of the Delta variant, which is likely to be more severe and to last longer than the previous ones, could be even more tragic with Omicron.
Xi Jinping is determined to impose his vision on the world. Economic, political, diplomatic leader, or of the future according to Xi Jinping. Utopia or realistic project? Still cut off from the world with its zero Covid policy, does China still have the means to achieve its ambitions?
Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Greece, Poland... Countries are tightening their restrictions to fight against the resurgence of COVID-19. Their target: the non-vaccinated. Filling up hospitals, they also display the most serious symptoms of COVID-19. Where in the world is it the hardest to not be vaccinated ?
Moving abroad usually takes a lot of challenging steps, like learning another language. Expats who are interested in studying or working abroad might have companies and institutions requiring a language proficiency test if they aren't native speakers of the new country's language.
Roxana has had wanderlust since a very young age. While Zanzibar has been the land of her dreams, she finally ended up in Mexico after staying in New York. A single expat mum, she keeps herself busy in taking care of her daughter and an educational initiative dedicated to making linguistic education accessible for marginalized communities.
The global health crisis has plunged women into alarming insecurity and uncertainty. The situation is similar in most countries, with a rise in the rate of violence against women, precariousness, etc. Some States have even regressed in terms of women rights.
Although Carmen misses Hong Kong, her home country, she is not ready to go back. She actually took the leap to Madrid, Spain, for a better future for her son, who was only two years old at that time. Her quest for a better life took her to the land of her dreams, where she is an entrepreneur and remote worker.
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.
On October 27, the US dollar was depreciated compared to the Canadian dollar, the euro and the yen. The announcement was made by the Bank of Canada. Tiff Macklem, the governor of the Central Bank, announced a series of measures, including keeping its key rate (short-term interest rate set by a central bank) at 0.25%. How do these fluctuations affect expats plans?
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