Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
Freedom of expression is important for most of us. Being ourselves is important. And being able to express our opinions and thoughts freely is a right we hold on to. When moving abroad, however, this can change. Whether because of laws that prevent freedom of expression, or because of unwritten rules which confine one to certain norms… one's freedom to express oneself can change during expatriation. When relocating to a new country, the freedom of expression is closely related to the need for acceptance. The old patterns of identification with the home culture slightly dissolve, and new ways of behavior and thought arise. How do expats deal with this?
Canada
Canada, one of the most popular expat destinations, is set to elect their Prime Minister on the 21st of October. Expat.com chats to a short-term expat living in Canada at the moment as well as a long-term expat who has chosen to run in the elections.
When settling down in a new country, one of the first challenges is mastering a new language and then a whole new cultural setting. The latter will, however, depend on your expat destination and cultural differences between native country and adopted country. However, in general, expats also face common difficulties that are more or less the same regardless of where one goes. Expat.com has compiled a list of the 10 things that are most likely to be difficult for expats to adapt...
Again and again one will hear how living abroad changes you forever and what an incredible experience it is. And yes, expats always have good stories to tell about their life abroad. But it is important to tackle the flip side of the coin from time to time and sometimes, it takes the form of xenophobia. What are instances expats have encountered xenophobia while living abroad and how have they dealt with it?
The Smart City Index 2019 was published last week. It ranks the smartest cities in the world. But what exactly is a smart city? And how much should “smartness” weigh in the balance when choosing what city to settle in?
Have you been offered a job abroad? Do you feel the need to get out of your daily routine? Do you dream of going away? But are you really ready to leave everything behind and move abroad? Here are five questions you need to ask yourself to find out...
Climate is often a decisive factor when it comes to choosing an expatriation destination. Who would not want to move to a sunny, tropical island? Circumstances, however, often mean that you are most likely to end up in a country with harsher weather conditions than that. Here are some tips for choosing your destination and preparing for your new life.
When a couple decides to settle abroad, very often there is the person who leaves for work and the one who follows. And while both partners have usually properly thought through their decision, the entourage is not always very open-minded regarding the role of the “trailing spouse”. What are the questions expat partners get asked all the time but cannot stand?
You want to go abroad or have just settled there. You are wondering how to integrate well and most of all be able to communicate with the locals and other foreigners? Perhaps you are even looking for a job that requires speaking another language.. Learning the local language seems like the most natural thing to do. But a lot of us get discouraged really fast. In fact, after 2 years living abroad very few English-speaking people do speak the local language. For some of us this means, less professional and personal development opportunities. Personally this meant not being hired by anyone when I first moved to the German-speaking part of Switzerland. If you want to make the most of your experience abroad, you are going to need to avoid the 3 traps most expats fall into - including me a few years ago. For each of them I will give you an alternative and well as a concrete action you can take right now for immediate results.
The Friday the 13th superstition is thought to originate from the last supper of Jesus where 13 individuals were present. Today, the superstition is alive and kicking and the fear of Friday the 13th even has a scientific name- triskaidekaphobia. It has given rise to a famous and very successful franchise of movies and it is also known to cause significant loss to businesses in the United States as a lot of people refuse to travel to work. But this is not the only, or even the strangest superstition. What are other superstitions around the world you should absolutely know about?
Announcing your moving abroad plans to your loved ones is no easy feat. Apprehension, fear of hurting them and causing sadness, fear of not being understood… It is often a difficult first step and you will almost always have to deal with a few very simplistic reactions. Reactions that expats could definitely do without! Here are ten things that expatriates hate to hear when announcing their departure.
Brazil
It has been more or less a month since the Amazon rainforest fires have started. While fires happen in the rainforest every year, it has been reported that there are more than 80, 000 fires which is 85% more than what was recorded last year. So, what do expats on ground have to say?
Making the decision to live abroad can be an exciting moment. When it comes time to announcing it to your loved ones, however, sadness or guilt can take over. So how do you say goodbye? This article gives you some tips for managing this situation.
Hong Kong
It has been six months since the unrest started in Hong Kong. Caused by disagreements over an extradition bill, confrontation between protesters and the police have been never-ending since February in the region. Does that mean expats could be considering leaving Hong Kong? It does not look like it just yet…
Gone are the days where the only way expats had to keep in touch with their relatives back home were letters that could take weeks and at times, months. Technology is revolutionising expatriation. In this piece, Expat.com focuses on the mobile apps that you should not miss out on.
Vancouver is the world's friendliest city, according to Big 7 ranking. But this news has not been unanimously welcomed with the pride one would expect from Vancouverites. Here is the top 10 and here is what Vancouverites had to say about the ranking.
Canada
Quebec appears third in the ranking of the world's most secure cities in 2019 by CEO Magazine. Interesting fact: it is the only city in North America in the top 30 of this ranking. What makes it stand out?
You can live for years in a foreign country and still never feel completely at home. And when you go back home, it is not a done deal either. Indeed, it is not always easy to find your bearings and feel like you belong in the country in which you grew up.. Does going abroad mean you will never stop struggling with your sense of belonging? Expat.com tries to answer this question.
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