Expat interviews
Everyday life
Jo Krishnakumar is an Indian transgender feminist and Ph.D. candidate who works for gender equality in India and in the UK. They are engaged in queer fights and share how it is for a trans person to live in the UK and how hard it is to find communities. They also give advice to people from the global south who want to move abroad.
Everyday life
It's been four years since they packed their 10 years together in a few suitcases to move to Abu Dhabi, on the 75th floor of a building overlooking the capital. The Swiss Family Expat, comprising Sandy, Roger, Louane and Novan, talks to us about this unique adventure.
Everyday life
Mathilde moved to the United States for an internship when she was 22 and left with a husband and three children to start all over again in Ecuador. Originally from Grenoble, France, she talks to Expat.com about her uncommon journey.
Everyday life
Originally from Normandy, France, Amel and Marouane are both entrepreneurs. With their two children, they recently moved to Mauritius to develop their business. They talk to Expat.com about expat family life on the island and the entrepreneurial scene.
Everyday life
Italo Del Castillo is an expat from Peru, studying for a degree in business administration in Victoria, the capital of the province of British Columbia or British Columbia. With a love for sports, he shares his experience being a student again and what Canadian life looks like.
Work
Margot has been a nurse and head of humanitarian projects. She has lived abroad for many years in different countries, such as Nicaragua, Iraq, Nigeria, and Colombia, working on humanitarian projects. Today, she provides support and advice to people who want to move abroad.
Everyday life
Originally from France, Clémentine spent her childhood in Madagascar before getting the travel bug. She talks to us about her first experiences of island life as an expat and her recent move to Bermuda.
USA
With her partner, Marie moved five times in 3 years. She arrived in a new country in the middle of the pandemic, went through two lockdowns, and had to start everything from scratch each time (professionally and personally). She talks to us about her journey from France to Los Angeles, passing through New York.
Japan
Eugénie was born to a French mom but grew up in Quebec. She has lived in many countries, including Australia and Paraguay, before relocating to the Philippines, where she met her Japanese husband. Finally, they decided to settle in Japan for a new start amid the Covid pandemic. She talks to us about her life experiences and career.
Everyday life
Madrid is known to be a land of opportunities, and Alice and Emilie cannot deny it. They both moved to Spain in 2018 as trailing spouses. Today, they are their own boss and are part of a network of women entrepreneurs. Alice and Emilie look back on their expat journey and tell us about their everyday life in the Spanish capital.
Brazil
It's been 3 years since Laurence settled in a small village in the northeast of Brazil, where she owns a beach house. After 13 years as sales and administrative manager for a perfume designer in France, a great disappointment made her want to leave everything and move to the other side of the world. She thus embarked on a new life-changing adventure. Here's her story.
Everyday life
Alix was only 18 when she fell in love with New York City. In 2014, the young French expat decided to settle there and start her career in the audiovisual industry. Today, she is married, is a green card holder and is now working as a freelancer. Alix shares her experience with Expat.com.
Argentina
Lorraine has always loved travelling and started living abroad when she was barely 20 years old. However, she had never thought that one day she would be working with horses in the heart of Patagonia. She talks to Expat.com about her adventure in Argentina, from her arrival in Buenos Aires to settling in a small Southern village surrounded by nature.
Everyday life
Asafe Kerven from Paraíba, Brazil, has a passion for football. He has already worked in several sporting events around the globe as a volunteer and today lives in the UK. Coming from a poor region, he shares a bit of his experience moving abroad and how expatriates with low income can succeed in their goals.
USA
Geraldine, who is originally from France, fell in love with the United States when she was very young, and a complicated personal journey led her to move to New York State. She initially wanted to take the time to rebuild herself, but in the end, she never left. Geraldine talks to us about how she obtained the authorization to stay in the USA, what life is like in rural New York State and what she likes the most in her country of adoption.
Everyday life
Arrived in autumn 2021, amidst the pandemic, Hanna Lindl, from Germany, shares her experience as a physics intern living in Madrid. Besides the blue sky, she tells what are the pros and cons of being an expatriate during the Covid-19 pandemic, gives some advice and more!
Everyday life
Alicia has lived in different countries on different continents and had a taste of different working cultures -- which made her realize that she needed to work towards something more meaningful. She has always had a passion for couture, so she decided to earn a living from it. Now an expat in Barcelona, she talks to Expat.com about her journey and the challenges of being an entrepreneur in a new country, especially when you don't speak the language perfectly.
Netherlands
Originally from the Netherlands, Angelique had been an expat in Belgium since 2008 until she moved to Taiwan in 2017. As her husband's two-year contract was renewed, she stayed for two more years until August 2021 when they finally moved back to their home country. She talks to us about the challenges of returning home, especially amid the pandemic, and the positive side of it.
Other Types
Tax
Living in a country without paying taxes: a dream for many expats who choose their destination specifically based on its tax policies. But does a truly "zero tax" country for foreigners actually exist? And what hidden financial risks should you watch out for?
Transport
"Once this war is over, fuel prices will collapse," Donald Trump declared. The U.S. president believes he has "very good chances" of reaching a deal with Iran, while also stating he is prepared to take military action if talks fail. In the meantime, prices at the pump continue to break records worldwide, with variations from country to country. How are expats coping with this situation? How are they managing their daily commutes and travel? The Expat.com community shares its experiences.
Banks and finance
Online banks and neobanks market themselves as the perfect solution for expats: open an account in a few clicks, fully digital, accessible from anywhere… at least in theory. What are the real advantages and limitations of these banking options? And what should expats watch out for?
Everyday life
For decades, the traditional idea of retirement was simple enough. You work until a certain age, then stop. The assumption was that a workplace pension, a state pension, or a private pension, and perhaps a little nest egg, would provide sufficient income to enjoy a good quality of life. However, for some, the new retirement reality is much more complex.
France
This quiet reform barely made a ripple in France's political debates, yet it slipped through largely unnoticed and will tighten the rules for those who combine work and retirement.
Work
Cold emails are a powerful way to show your drive and determination, provided you know how to stand out and reach the right person. Which countries are most receptive to unsolicited job applications? And how do you capture the attention of a foreign company?
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