Lifestyle - Expat Magazine

Peace is a factor that should not be overlooked by people seeking to move abroad, regardless of their motivation. Today, many countries are suffering from a significant deterioration of peace – which without a doubt has an impact on the population and quality of life. Which are the world's most peaceful nations? Where are you the most likely to enjoy a serene expat experience? Expat.com gives you an insight into the latest Global Peace Index to help you choose your next destination.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the international migrant population is steadily growing as the movement has become easier thanks to the digital revolution and more affordable travel costs. In 2015 there were about 244 million international migrants — 89 million more than the number of migrants in the year 2000. In most cases, people are moving to high-income countries for work in the service sector. If done in a humane and orderly way, IOM believes that migration is beneficial for both the society and migrants, and can boost the global social and economic development.

After two and a half fulfilling expat years in Brazil's vast and hectic Rio de Janeiro, Charlotte from Manchester, UK and her Brazilian partner moved to Italy for studies. Starting anew, Charlotte, who is a seasoned traveller and expat, is determined to make the most of her time in Italy. Life in a small Italian town may be quieter, but not without its challenges and stories worth sharing.

Both expat and local entrepreneurs contribute to national economies and the global economy to make the world a better place through unique products and excellent services. But where in the world are the best places to set up your business or join a charismatic team of changemakers? Startup Genome, a solid support system for technology organisations in forward-looking cities, has composed a geographic and sectorial report, which signals the beginning of a new technological era. We present the startup environment in some of the most entrepreneur-friendly cities.

Are you one of these professionals who aspire to work free from the rules of the nine-to-five office environment? Or does the company you work for encourage remote working? Gig economy, which is based on freelance work and short-term contracts, empowers you to apply creativity to your work and lifestyle. If you want to expatriate and experience a new culture while earning a living, you may wish to consider one of the cities below for your freelance career along with some additional information about this satisfying yet challenging field.

Globally, parenting aims at nurturing responsible and productive members of society. But the definition of a kind and successful citizen differs from culture to culture, depending on the ethics and moral values. Is your child-rearing flexible or do you implement discipline? Do you impose your ideas or let your child to discover their talents creatively? Expat.com has put together some of the most interesting parenting practices to show you child raising from a different perspective.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published a report with the most polluted cities in the world based on several-years thorough research. Ideally, the safest way to fight pollution is to prevent it via political, economic, and environmental measurements. However, if you are an expat in a country with high levels of pollution, there are some easy actions you can take to help your body cope with the added stress. But not all cities are polluted — smaller and more conscious cities are offering a healthy environment to their inhabitants.

The annual GDP of a country doesn't only define the economy of a place but also the quality of life and living standards among its population. According to the World Economic Forum and data provided by the International Monetary Fund, there aren't significant changes in the world's leading economies when comparing the current rankings with the rankings of the previous years. The strongest economies are the usual suspects with some emerging markets reluctantly joining the game.

There are more than one and a half billion Muslims worldwide, many of whom greeted Ramadan last Thursday as expats in a non-Muslim country. Also, there are many Western expats in the midst of the 30-day fasting in Muslim countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. Expat.com looks at how both expat groups can enjoy the holy month of Ramadan — whether it is while abstaining from food and water from dawn till dusk or trying to understand the deeper meaning of this experience for the people who engage in it.

The annual Aurora Humanitarian Index is based on the survey of about 11,000 people in 12 countries (France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Argentina, Japan, Kenya, etc.), and their perceptions of global humanitarian issues such as immigration. From those surveyed, 1,053 are British, whose answers show an increasing sympathy towards refugees and immigrants, as well as apparent disagreement with their government regarding the lack of support and legalisation of immigrants.

Ute is a German (and Swiss) “expat-since-birth”, as she likes to call herself. She has lived abroad her entire life, and is currently living with her loving family in The Hague, Netherlands. Ute has moved to different countries several times for study, work, and to accompany her partner, and with every move she had to reinvent herself, to adapt, and to overcome the lows. However, every country has been an adventure she has learned from and an opportunity to thrive and move forward.

If you have been an expat in the same country for a long time, or have been moving to countries that use the same official language, it's likely that you master at least two languages — your mother tongue and the language that is spoken in your host country — and you easily switch between them.

To ensure a successful expatriation and a pleasant expat life, it is very important to become aware of the cultural differences between your host country and your previous location. First and foremost, understand the context of the new culture you are about to throw yourself in. What is the short history of the region? What is the country's climate? What about the economic, social, and geopolitical environment? The answers to these questions will help you wrap your mind around the people's lifestyle, local cuisine, work ethics, and family life. Expat.com gives you some tips on how to collect sufficient and accurate information about your host country to interact successfully with the local population and avoid misunderstandings or even legal troubles.