Lifestyle - Expat Magazine
Most of the time, moving abroad means discovering new cultures, traditions and lifestyles – which involves not only open-mindedness but also respect towards differences. Expats often find it difficult to adapt, especially when they don't know what to expect. Expat.com gives you some tips to help you adjust to a new culture abroad and show consideration for your expat destination.
The dream of leaving our country behind in search of exciting adventures abroad can seem unachievable, especially among the younger crowds who are finding themselves with a newly acquired degree, little to no work experience, and a limited budget. Expat.com is here to tell you that it is still possible to move to another country no matter what your circumstances are.
Portugal
Kev is an English teacher hailing from England, but has lived in many countries prior to moving to Portugal in 2014. He is thoroughly enjoying his life in Lisbon, given the quality of life, sunny days year-round, excellent food, and low cost of living. Aside from spending time with his wife and cat, he enjoys writing and traveling.
Moving abroad is something that many have considered, but perhaps with a tad of hesitation as it is a big decision to make with plenty of repercussions. There are of course many sides to expatriation, with a lot of pros to consider. Below are six reasons to help you get started.
The continent of Africa is as diverse as it is large, and with 54 countries full of interesting cultural traditions, cuisine, and constant innovation, there are many opportunities for expatriation. If you're interested in learning more about the continent and specific advice regarding certain African countries, check out our list of expat bloggers below.
USA
Jenny spent most of her life in Quebec before she started feeling the need to explore other parts of the world. It was only after giving birth to her second child that her and her husband decided to move to California. Being a stay-at-home mom doesn't mean she's bored. With an online boutique, a blog, and lots of family activities, she is kept busy. Now that she has obtained her Green Card, she's reminiscing about her journey with Expat.com.
At some point in our lives, many of us seek some adventure and cultural enlightenment. Maybe you have always dreamed of living in another country and having new experiences. Assuming that you aren't a day trader nor bought bit coins back in 2007, you are going to need to support yourself while living abroad. One of the most popular options is to teach English.
Have you just completed high-school and you are looking into starting your first degree? Or have you decided you want to further progress with your studies, and enrol into a Master's or a PhD? Studying abroad is a very enriching experience despite the challenges you might face. Being away from familiar grounds, rewards you with a ton of benefits, which will have a positive impact on your personal and professional growth. Here are five reasons why studying abroad might be the best decision you ever made!
Canada
Laurene comes from Marseille. Passionate about discovering new cultures and photography, she decided to move to Montreal where she has been living for four years now on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). Laurene is quite happy with her new life in Montreal – even though she's had a couple of hard times – and speaks to Expat.com about her plans to become a permanent resident.
Getting by with your native language is possible, but if you want to obtain a first-class education, thrive in business, or international relations, or simply expand your horizons, English language is your best bet. English serves the world's need to connect and exchange information in a universal language, which is one of globalisation's and international mobility's most important tools. Thus, EF has measured and created a quality index of the English proficiency of adults from 80 countries where English isn't the native language, and Expat.com looks into the results.
You wish to make a home away from home, but what you should consider when choosing your house abroad? Many criteria such as the city's or town's cost of living, quality of housing, rent prices, neighbourhoods, etc. have to be taken into account – whether you're moving alone or with your family. Here are some useful tips to help you make the right housing choice.
Portugal
2017 has definitely been Portugal's year, with its thriving startup ecosystem holding the front page of tech and business news. While the country is still recovering from 2011's economic and social crisis, and high unemployment rates challenge its youth, entrepreneurship is an opportunity to reimagine Portugal via revenues, jobs, and a prestigious profile as an international startup hub.
For the three-quarter of those who have chosen to move overseas for better prospects, healthcare, education, and well-being, global mobility seems to be a good thing. But does moving abroad mean that your life will be a cinch? The 2017 Cigna 360 ° Well-being Survey gives an insight into the main concerns of people living abroad.
South Africa
You have opened Google maps, and you are scrolling the globe, up and down, left and right, looking for an answer to “what's next?” If you are ready to expatriate and you are keen on taking up a new challenge, we are giving you five excellent reasons to consider Cape Town — South Africa's Mother City.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so instead of reading up about life in your destination of choice, have a look at some of our bloggers who have shared a wealth of photographs to help you discover what life in their country is really like.
Denmark
Moving to Denmark is likely to be a thrilling experience – especially when you're aware of the basics such as the language, lifestyle, etc.. To help you understand Denmark better, Frederik Drost has compiled some surprising facts about his country.
Italy
Alexandra from Russia, first moved to Italy to study the language and to join her many Italian friends. Ever since she has been living in Verona with her Italian husband, and has been enjoying a balanced life that allows space for big gatherings, good food, yoga, and cycling.
How free are we? From dictatorships to democracies, there have been different levels of freedom in different countries at different points in history. Freedom House has come out with its 2017 report into world freedom, with a particular look at autocrats and populists. We've looked at a few popular expat destinations considered to be 'countries to keep an eye on' this year to see just how the level of freedom may be changing in them.
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