Lifestyle - Expat News

Lifestyle - Expat Magazine

Spending Christmas away from home can be fun

It is this time of the year again — the dispute over the Christmas tree, the endless shopping list, and Mariah Carey's hit in the background. But this year you are more of an observant than a participant in this hilarity. You are away from home — an expat in a foreign country — and when everything around you is about family and the people we love, you feel low and melancholic. Turn off your Facebook notifications (Facebook is argued to boost feelings of sadness and loneliness), and let us inspire you for a very merry Christmas away from home.

Cambodia

From Colombia to Cambodia: The dream life of a missionary in Kep

Albeiro comes from Colombia. A digital communications specialist, he moved to Cambodia 16 years ago after joining a missionary group. Nowadays, he is a teacher in Kep Province, and enjoys archeology.

Many nations, one home: Fran莽ois' vision of the European Union

The European Union is shaky — Brexit, eurosceptics, rise of extreme nationalism. But Europe can do better than that, and young European people like François see in the continent not mere countries but their home. Europe has opened the horizons of its young generation, as it has facilitated travelling from one member country to another. 天美麻豆 hosts a vivid representative of Europe's bright future, who talks about his vision of the Union from the perspective of a well-travelled and curious mind. A French law student, François took a year abroad to complete a Master's degree in Cambridge, UK. In this video, he talks about how this one year in England has benefited him, and how it has formed his view on the European Union's future.

Natural disasters: How do countries respond to emergencies

Earthquakes, cyclones, floods, droughts, are all legitimate conditions that you don't wish to run into when setting up your expat life abroad. But as nature's power is unfathomable, natural disasters cannot be utterly stove off. However, their catastrophic impact can be dwarfed with the key infrastructure in place, cross-sector coordination, and operative technology. So, before you let fears and misreport put the parachute on your expat ambitions, refer to our recap of this year's World Risk Index, and grasp the difference between exposure and vulnerability.

Bilingual employees: An asset for global organisations

How much does the official language of the destination country affect your expat plans? And what does the communication language of multicultural organisations mean for international employees, and businesses' efficiency? Intercultural communication is one of the key elements involved in expatriation, and globalised workplaces are reforming — some faster than others — the ways they interact in order to defeat language barriers and to expose international talent.

Australia

Distance learning: The world is your classroom

Living abroad can be a great adventure — especially when you are young. Moving to a foreign country comes with many challenges and rewards — an original lifestyle, new friends, unique culture, and new habits. It's also an excellent excuse for you to discover the contemporary way of learning (aka distance learning), and prepare from wherever with access to the Internet for your future job in who-knows-where. Find out more about distance learning from Aurelien, a French expat and digital student in Australia.

Philippines

From the US to the Philippines: A retired American expat in Tagaytay

Gary comes from Southern California. He retired in 2013 after serving in the US Army Signal Corps and occupying several corporate executive positions in the private sector for over 35 years. Nowadays, he is enjoying a relaxed lifestyle in Tagaytay, Philippines.

Malaysia

Dutch retired expat couple living the adventure in Kuala Lumpur

Frank and Francien come from the Netherlands. In 1986, Frank joined an American multinational in South Africa, and for 35 years he was enjoying the prosperities of an international career. Since his retirement in 2015, Frank and his wife Francien have been living an exciting adventure in the vibrant capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

Malta

How to develop a social and professional network in Malta

Sunny weather, relaxed lifestyle and entrepreneurial mindset — Malta is well on its way to becoming one of Europe's top expat destinations, attracting affluent foreigners, expats, and well-travelled professionals looking to not only reside permanently on the island but also develop a professional network.

United Arab Emirates

An American expat in Abu Dhabi: The life of a travel writer in the Middle-East

To follow her husband, Christine decided to leave the dynamic city of New York, and head to Abu Dhabi, UAE. It's been two years since she has been living in the Middle-East, and she definitely doesn't regret her choice. She shares with 天美麻豆 her expatriation experience in this eminent emirate.

England

From the US to the UK: A retired American and writer in Cornwall

Born in New York, Ellen lived for a long time in Minnesota. A retired editor and teacher, has been driven by her passion for writing since she moved to Cornwall. Discover with 天美麻豆 the everyday life of a novelist in the UK.

Germany

From Switzerland to Frankfurt: A British expat in Germany

Originally from the UK, Oliver spent a few years in Switzerland before moving to Frankfurt following a job offer. He shares with 天美麻豆 his love for the city's liveliness, far from bustling Munich and Berlin, and his appreciation of Frankfurt's nice weather.

How to move abroad when you are young, wild and free

Moving abroad when you are young can be the best present you have ever given yourself. Youth — as your parents usually say — is all about first-hand experience, learning about the world, meeting new people, exchanging passions and ideas, and defining your career aspirations. Every year, thousands of students, graduates, and first-time employees choose to move abroad to satisfy their curiosity, and to build their personal brand.

Climate change and global warming: How do countries respond

The political and social debate on climate change, and the effects it has on all beings, our environment, and health is a matter of shared interest. According to migration experts, climate change will soon give rise to big waves of migration, indistinctively forcing citizens to move to less vulnerable countries.

Working Holiday Visa: All you need to know before applying

If you have been dreaming about moving abroad to discover new cultures with the possibility of working, the Working Holiday Visa (WHV) could be meant for you. Discover the benefits of the WHV with 天美麻豆 if you are aged 18 to 31.

Weather conditions: How to master the weather when living abroad

Don't fall for statements that declare the weather as the imperator of our mood — a look at the 2016 World Happiness Report shows that the seven happiest countries in the world are countries with generous wintry weather (Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherlands). Yet, we all have preferences, and weather can brighten you up, or put your mood on ice. So, if you are planning to expatriate soon, or are already living abroad, 天美麻豆 is here to shelter you from the strong winds, or the blazing sun.

Mexico

Testimony of an American expat and active mom of four in Mexico

Tina arrived in Mexico with her husband and her four children to experience the slower pace of life in the country. She shared with 天美麻豆 her feelings about life in Mexico, as an American mother of four children.

USA

Sarah in Texas: Life of a British expat in Texas, USA

Sarah moved from Northern Ireland to Houston, Texas, three and a half years ago. The British expat shares her everyday life in the USA with 天美麻豆 and talks about what makes Houston a good place to live in.