Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
Many expats are leaving their overseas dreams and returning home for COVID-19 pandemic-driven reasons, including job cuts, affordability, and to be with loved ones. An exodus of migrant workers may have negative impacts on economies already affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, returning expats may need to adjust to a new lifestyle in their home countries all over again, especially after lengthy overseas stays.
Being an expat has many perks, especially for people who like to discover and explore. It is a great opportunity to have new and exciting experiences that may change our lives. However, not every opportunity abroad is a pleasant one. That's when we ask ourselves when is the right time to go back home.
Joanna is a Pole expat who has had a great passion for travel for many years. Today, she is based in Qatar, following her Tunisian husband, who had a job there. She talks to us about that turning point in her life and the lifestyle she really enjoys in Qatar.
Some countries have already implemented requirements for vaccination passports or proof of vaccination from travellers, and some others are going even further by requesting health passports to attend regular day-to-day activities. The health passport requirements may encourage more people to get vaccinated, but not everyone is happy with such restrictions.
Expats in South Africa, even those who live far from major cities, are quite terrified but also in doubt following the recent riots. The arrest of former President Jacob Zuma resulted in several days of violence and nearly two hundred deaths. South Africa is stuck between the pandemic and the social crisis.
If you've just retired or are about to retire, you might have considered a change of scenery for the rest of your life. But retiring abroad isn't all about choosing a destination based on the lifestyle you want to have. In this pandemic era, here are some crucial steps that you probably haven't thought of.
Anna was born in Ireland but spent many years abroad, including in Europe and Asia. She currently lives in Botswana, where she followed her husband who got a job offer there. Anna talks to us about her life experiences and challenges of relocating overseas and adapting to a new culture.
As if the COVID-19 pandemic were not enough, several countries in Europe and America, including the United States and Spain, and even Morocco, are currently facing unbearable heat waves. Expats living in these countries shared their feelings with us.
COVID-19 vaccination is off to a good start for a long-lasting debate with thousands of people around the globe who are against it. Still, many countries are considering different means to boost their vaccination campaigns to achieve herd immunity as they reopen their borders. Among these measures are rewards and sanctions.
Originally from Spain with German roots, Anja has been travelling since her early childhood. Growing up in Kenya, she studied in the UK before relocating to Chile, a country she had good memories from. Today, Anja von Dessauer is an Expat Life and Mindset Coach. She talks to us about culture shock and the challenges of making a new country your home.
Around the world, many people, including expats, are against COVID-19 vaccination, but the rapid spread of the “Delta” variant has become a serious concern for many countries. Some of them are even considering making COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for children as borders are reopening and international flights are resuming.
While COVID-19 vaccination campaigns are being criticised worldwide, expats in many countries are in turmoil due to inequalities. Besides the lack of trust in certain vaccines available locally and others not internationally recognised, thousands of expats have been set aside from the vaccination campaign in their host country.
Athul is originally from Kerala, India. After working for a few years in Bangalore, he flies to Italy for a business project. Years later, a new opportunity leads him to Belgium, where he currently lives with his wife and daughter. He talks to us about his journey.
During the month of June, more than 3000 expats took part in an Expat.com survey on vaccination. Of the 3000 expats surveyed, 49% said that they had already been vaccinated against the COVID-19 while 26% said they intended to get vaccinated in the future.
As of June 30, 2021, living and working in the United Kingdom have only 28 days to regularise their situation and declare their residence. So the countdown has started for those who intend to stay permanently.
Elodie is a curious wanderer who was looking for a change in her life. So she left Paris, where she had stayed for six years, for Montreal on a working holiday visa. But today, she lives in Vancouver, where she is enjoying nature and the sea nearby.
As several countries, especially those in Europe, are gradually reopening their borders to foreign nationals, others are still hesitant. The United Kingdom, for example, has delayed its reopening due to the new Delta variant.
For those planning an international relocation, quality of life is a crucial element to consider. But how important is it to you, and how do you know when it's time to pack your bags and leave? Expats and future expatriates have shared their thoughts with us.
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