Children - Expat Magazine
For many expats, the excitement of moving to a new country and upgrading our career is lessened by the concern for the family we leave behind — especially aging parents who are more likely to be dependent on us. So how can we chase our expatriation dream while making sure our aging parents receive the love and support they deserve? I have been an expat since 2007 and lucky enough to have self-sufficient and healthy parents. However, since I am planning to continue my expatriation journey, I am continuously thinking of better ways to strengthen my relationship with my parents in spite of the physical distance between us and see to it that the older they grow, the more care and comfort they will get.
Birth control: definitely not the first thing you would think of when moving abroad. However, regulations around contraception are different in different regions of the world so it is important to know what to expect to be able to take the necessary precautions...
Japan
The current legislation in Japan is of concern to some of the highest international authorities. So much so, that foreign embassies have even started warning expats wanting to start a family in the country. Indeed, in the case of a divorce child custody can only be given to one parent in Japan. This has given rise to several cases of “child kidnapping”.
Growing up abroad is one of the best childhood experiences kids can have. This will give them incredible skills that will shape them to be open-minded adults. How does one raise children from mixed marriages? How do you make sure that both cultures will be interspersed with their upbringing, along with their host country? Whether your child was born into your home country or abroad, here are a few tips...
Malaysia
He left his office job to become a stay at home dad in Malaysia while his wife is a teacher in an international school. And he has been pretty busy since: from following people into supermarkets because he might have spotted new friends for his young daughter, to his very first dress up day… David tells us about being able to take his children swimming everyday and about the difficulty of not being the breadwinner anymore, among others.
Since the 9th of October, assisted reproduction is legal in France for all women. Therefore, heterosexual and homosexual women, as well as married and unmarried women, will be entitled to this alternative. Expat.com takes stock of this decision. Also, whether you plan to expatriate to be able to have a child by assisted reproduction or whether this option is important in the choice of an expatriate destination… here is a tour of countries and what their legislation say about assisted reproduction.
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.
Work, curiosity, quality of life (or all of these combined) are excellent reasons to move to a new country. But expatriating with a child brings some legit, culture-related points to the equation of the expat life. How does raising a child in an environment that is unfamiliar even to you as a parent impacts their upbringing and cultural identity? Read through to find out ways to help your child navigate through the culture of your host country, and make the most of being a Third Culture Kid.
Having a child is, in itself, quite an upheaval! So, here are a few things to keep in mind if you're, in addition, living this adventure while far from home.
Will New-Zealand reopen the parent visa category? The New-Zealand government could be making a decision in favor of this very soon. Indeed, according to the NZ Herald, there is a backlog of approximately 6000 applications dating back to 2016 when this category was closed. What is a parent visa and where else in the world can you apply for one? Let's find out.
You are all about the expat life and have always wanted to move abroad, but now that you have children, you have a lot more to consider before making the leap of faith. You cannot just leave it to chance. If you are looking for countries where your children will benefit from quality education and childcare at a reasonable price, HSBC Expat Explorer has put together just the list you need.
Regardless of the reason why you're choosing to move abroad – whether it's for work, study or merely travelling – such a decision requires appropriate planning. Some cities stand out both in terms of opportunities and social life. Have a look at some of the best cosmopolitan cities for integration around the world.
Malaysia
What led Philippine to Malaysia is a job opportunity she could say no to. Coming from the Vosges region in France, she flew to Kuala Lumpur with her family. Both Philippine and her partner work for the same company under a local work contract. Happy about her new life in the heart of the bustling and multicultural metropolis, she talks to Expat.com about her everyday life as a mum and part-time employee far from where her home is.
China
After graduating in Northern Ontario, Carmelo wasn't very happy about career prospects in Canada. His quest for a better job led him to China where he works as a teacher. He talks to Expat.com about his new adventures and everyday life as the father of a newborn son in what he calls the "Millenials' paradise", and his passion for his work.
Australia
Wendy comes from Mississauga, Canada. After travelling around Europe, including France, the UK and Sweden, she finally moved to Australia where she is a teacher, with her husband. Today, Wendy is a happy mom of two children: Ella who is three and Oliver who is six months old. Wandy McNoble Down Under is her blog where she talks about her day to day life and travels around the land down under.
Chile
Meet Nina, serial expat who been living out of a suitcase since she was 18. With a background in luxury travel, she was thrilled at the opportunity to move to one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Chile. Here she shares her experiences on expat life in Santiago and beyond.
After a successful and challenging career as a Psychologist in the area of trauma and abuse, and helping others survive their situations, Stefanie met her French husband in her home country Australia and decided to follow him back to Europe. Although excited about the new adventure, the arrival of their 2 children often left Stefanie struggling with missing her career and being a stay-at-home mum, which led her to taking a less stressful and demanding job. Below, she details some of the challenges that people face when sacrificing their careers for their partner and family, whether they changed to a new profession, or stopped working completely.
Mexico
It's been nearly twenty years since Jill first moved to Mexico for a study abroad semester. There, she met the love of her life which brought about the irresistible desire to come back and settle in Mexico. Jill talks about her journey and her everyday life as an expat on her blog. If you have always wondered what life in Mexico is all about, here we go!
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