Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
This year's World Happiness Report links together the happiness of two groups of citizens — the migrants and the local people — and assesses how the levels of happiness of each group interact and affect one another. In the past 25 years, international migration has raised by 91 million people. Reportedly, migrants are more productive at work, earn higher income, and feel safer in the host country. But which countries lay the groundwork for a happy life for migrants and locals alike?
Your expatriation project is soon coming to an end. During your expat life, you acquired new skills; experiences changed you; you made new friends, and have possibly established new priorities. Now, it's time to pack again — but this time to go back home. We recognise that repatriation can be as challenging as starting afresh in a new country. Thus, we have composed a step-by-step guide to successful repatriation.
Your employer has just placed you on an international assignment, and you wish to know what living standards to expect in your new city. Mercer, the largest human resources consulting group, ranks the quality of living for 2018 in 231 cities based on different categories — from the political and social environment, economic conditions, healthcare, and education, to public services, housing, natural environment, recreation, and availability of goods. Expat.com presents the five most competitive cities in the world when it comes to good quality of life and attraction of global talent and foreign investment.
Türkiye
Leonard, a writer, an educationist, a history-lover, and an avid reader and traveler, has found everything he needs to lead a fulfilled life in Turkey — where two opposite cultures meet and thrive together. He established his new home in Turkey in 2008 by some quirk of fate, and today, ten years later, he knows that his future is tied with Turkey. To find out more about his expat life in this magical country, follow us as we unfold Leonard's story.
The human population is growing at a fast rate, resource demand is increasing, polluted water is wasted, and climate change aggravates droughts and floods. This year's World Water Day is about finding nature-based solutions to overcome the current water challenges. Reforestation, restoration of wetlands, and sustainable management of freshwater and wastewater can rebalance the water cycle and improve billions of immediately affected people's well-being worldwide.
To make the most of your expat project, it is very important to stay healthy in your host country. Depending on where you are settling, there are different health risks to consider and preventive measures to take. For example, in Ghana, you should beware of malaria and in the UK of colds and the seasonal flu. However, we have composed a universal guide to good personal health. So stop procrastinating your new healthy routine and enjoy your expatriation while you are in the best of health.
In the past five years, the global cost of living has dropped from 85.5% to 74% — great news expats and expats-to-be, isn't it? How ever, before we cause a stir, we would like to point out that even though during 2017 the world witnessed the fastest economic growth since 2011, the cost of living is fluctuating depending on various indicators; and it's often quite unpredictable. This article looks into the ten most expensive cities for 2018, stemming from the Worldwide Cost of Living report, which has studied 133 cities and the prices of 160 products and services. Money, they say, don't bring happiness. What if, in some cities, they do?
USA
Mitra is a French national who moved with her husband and children to Blacksburg, Virginia. She tells Expat.com about her new life in the US, the cultural differences between her home country and the American way, and how she's adapting to her new life.
South Africa
After having spent many years living in London, Cambodia, and Singapore, Mei now calls Cape Town home. Coming from a mixed background herself, Mei has always had a deep interest in exploring other cultures, and loves to discover new places. She tells Expat.com about her life in the Mother City, her observations of South Africa, and the abundance of leisure activities at her doorstep.
France
Nicole grew up in California where she had a successful career in finance, before realising that she wanted to become a pastry chef. She enrolled in a pastry school in Paris, left her life in the U.S. behind, and has now created her own little family in the Basque Country, where she is enjoying the finer things in life. She shares her experiences with Expat.com.
Career prospects, costs of living, quality of life, and leisure are only some of the various factors taken into account by those planning to move abroad. To help you choose the best destination, Expat.com gives you an insight into the world's best cities for expat careers and in terms of affordability, education, culture, and leisure, according to the latest HSBC Expat Explorer Survey report.
Qatar
Zarina is originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, although has she also lived in Mozambique and Portugal for quite a few years. Currently, Zarina lives in Qatar, and she tells Expat.com about her expat life in the Middle-east.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. What about wellness, especially when you're living thousands of miles away from your home, your family, and everything that used to be part of your everyday life? Expat.com had a look at how expatriates define wellness according to a study carried out by Aetna International insurance.
USA
While more and more Americans are tempted to move abroad, the USA still keeps attracting expatriates from all around, including professionals and trailing spouses, for various reasons. Our top five bloggers in the USA share their experience and talk about what the life of an expat looks like in the USA and what they like the most about their new city.
A successful move abroad generally involves having a better understanding of your new home from a historical point of view. For those who are passionate about history, going on an adventurous trip to discover historical sites and monuments will probably be a part of your plans. Before you get started, Expat.com gives you an insight into some of the countries with the richest histories.
Canada
Charlene comes from a small town next to Nantes, in France. She flew to Quebec a long time ago to visit her family, and twelve years later, she decided to go back to Quebec with her husband on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). Charlene has now been in Quebec for over seven years and is enjoying a good life with her little family. She shares her experience with Expat.com.
Learning a new language is often part of the challenge for expats seeking to move overseas. If you're feeling apprehensive about how to adapt, engage in conversations comfortably, and deal with all the paperwork, why not consider moving to a country where English is widely spoken? Expat.com gives you an insight into the best destinations for English-speaking expats.
Whether a country is strongly democratic or not can have a significant impact on your move. Have you ever wondered which are the countries that care the most about their citizens' rights and freedom? Expat.com gives you an insight into the Democracy Index 2017 released by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
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