Expat interviews

The COVID-19 spreading like wildfire all over the world is taking its toll on the global economy. The unprecedented health crisis is currently paired with an economic crisis with significant repercussions on practically all sectors. Hervé Gindre, a French entrepreneur in Morocco, shares his views about the economic slowdown.

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.

Francine Prewitt is the founder of Prewitt Law, a New York law firm specializing in business law and immigration law. Francine mainly helps foreign entrepreneurs and start-ups to set up their company in the United States.

A bit more than a year after moving back to France, Caroline Szipira tells Expat.com about the process of moving home from living abroad.

Moving abroad on your own is no easy feat. Some might argue that it is particularly hard when you're a woman. So on this International Women's Day, Expat.com celebrates the wonderful women who have made the big move abroad. Here's Lisa… she's a French girl who pursued the dream of studying Film in Los Angeles!

The American professional etiquette bears no secret for Gilbert Croze. Building on his thirty years experience in professional dealings, the French man, who started as an engineer, has even co-written a book on this subject. After a training course at Stanford, Gilbert Croze was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Matra Aerospace Inc. in Washington. Back in France, he specialises in intercultural management and has trained executives from some of the most prominent French companies.

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.

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.

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.

Coming from Toulouse, Marine is a young wanderer at heart and lifestyle blogger. Following her stay in Dublin, she flies to Southeast Asia for a four months vacation with her husband. As an entrepreneur couple, their quest for new opportunities and a better quality of life lead them to Portugal. She talks to Expat.com about her expat experience and entrepreneurship in Portugal.

Born in the Fraser Valley, close to Vancouver, Sharilyn spent some 20 years in Calagary where she worked with the Red Cross before setting up her own consultancy company. Six years ago, she chose to move to Argentina where she got the opportunity to develop an eco hotel inside a wildlife reserve. Sharilyn speaks to Expat.com about her daily adventures in Patagonia and everything she likes about the country, from the amazing landscapes to the warm and friendly people.

Marietta from Greece started her expat journey seven years ago when she went to Denmark for her Master's degree and then to the Netherlands as a research assistant. Today, she is based in Kuopio, a densely populated city in Finland, famous for its beautiful forested area and Lake Kallavesi, which surrounds the town. After two and a half years in Finland, Marietta may still struggle with the cold weather, but she has found joy in outdoor activities and of course, her PhD. 

Paola, a wife and mother of two, lives and works in the tech sector in the capital area of Finland. Besides her full-time job, which she loves, Paola is a dedicated blogger. Today, she talks to Expat.com about her expat life as an Italian in the Nordic world, and her appreciation about Finland's natural beauty, as well as the country's socioeconomic security — aspects which nurture a happy family life.

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.

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.

The tech world, already shaken in 2022-2023, is still in turmoil. As AI continues to develop, other sectors will come under the scrutiny of multinational corporations. What does this mean for aspiring expats? Should this be seen as a risk for international recruitment?

Before enjoying the happy life of an expatriate couple, there might be a few administrative issues to check out. Have both spouses drawn up a prenuptial agreement? Is there a risk that the matrimonial property regime will change with the international move? These questions are even more critical if you have your own assets. Here's an overview of matrimonial property regimes around the world.

The naturalization process in some countries involves a citizenship test in addition to an interview and a language proficiency test. These citizenship tests can be written or oral and check expats' knowledge of the host country's history, laws and core values. Their implementation has been controversial, but these tests have nonetheless become standard across multiple countries – the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and South Korea.