Features
Everyday life
Moving abroad is a chance to build a new life. You get to learn a new language, meet new people, and adjust to a new culture. But with all the "new" around, some expats can't help but cling to the "old". For some, relocation makes them understand and appreciate the value of their home cultures in a way they never did before.
Everyday life
Combining a new life abroad while practicing your religion is not always straightforward, especially when you choose to wear a visible sign of your faith. It significantly depends on how open the host country is. Many Muslim women who choose to wear the veil say they are particularly sensitive to how their religion is received in a foreign country.
Work
Your expat life might be different from the dream you imagined in a poor workplace atmosphere with poor communication, excessive hierarchy, etc. There's a rift between you and your company, and the toxic environment makes you reconsider your stay in your host country. How can you get through this? Here are some tips.
Formalities
Air travel can be stressful. You need to arrive early, check the size of your luggage, and go through customs. And then there are flight delays. But, apparently, some airports can raise your cortisol levels higher than others.
Children
Rest assured: moving abroad with teenagers peacefully and cheerfully is possible. Forget all the worst-case scenarios involving "rebellious teens". Here are some practical tips for preparation, understanding their needs in the host country, and managing emotions to ensure smooth organization.
Everyday life
The COVID-19 pandemic and the seemingly endless global crises may have appeared to bury moving abroad plans, but today, expats are more than ever present. In fact, foreigners are in high demand in countries facing labor shortages. What does it mean to "move abroad" in 2024? Can we speak of a pre-and post-COVID reality?
Everyday life
According to the United Nations (UN), the number of disasters worldwide is increasing each year. Expatriates may find themselves unprepared in emergency situations. Where and how can you obtain the latest information? How do you register for national foreign advisory services? Here are some practical tips.
Work
Are we witnessing a flexwork boom around the world? From Singapore to the United Kingdom, via Spain, Iceland, Finland, and New Zealand, flexibility is being redefined and expanded internationally. This is a boon for expatriates and prospective expats.
Moving
You're finally heading home (or perhaps gearing up for a move to another country). As your departure date looms, you meticulously examine your possessions. The amount of items you gathered during your stay in your host country can be unexpectedly vast. Whether these items hold sentimental or monetary value—or none at all—you must decide whether to keep, sell, or donate them. Here are some practical tips.
Work
Nurses and doctors, technology professionals, skilled manual workers—these are some professions that have experienced global labor shortages in recent years. In many countries, elementary and high school public teachers are also increasingly in demand. Because of the difficulty in hiring or retaining local teachers, schools are turning to the recruitment and even training of expat teachers.
Everyday life
Expat host associations act as a crucial link between your home country and your new country, and they have proved their utility. Although their services are well-known to beneficiaries, what does it mean to volunteer in such an association? What are the benefits of volunteering as an expat, and how do you get started?
Hong Kong
In early 2024, the Prime Video streaming platform debuted “Expats", a drama series based on the book by Janice Y. K. Lee. It portrays the lives of three women from diverse backgrounds who are linked by a singular drama: Margaret, Hilary, and Mercy, each facing unexpected and traumatic events that upheave their existences.
France
With less than three months until the start of the Paris Olympics, expatriates are feeling a mix of excitement and concern, especially those currently living in the capital or planning to move there during this period. The media predictions are unanimous: the event will affect the daily lives of all residents. But what will the actual impact be, and how can one prepare?
Children
Your thoughts about moving abroad are becoming more frequent, but balancing the needs of your children, your family, and yourself is challenging. Embarking on expatriation alone is daunting. How can you manage it as a single parent?
Work
Yes, it is indeed possible to work abroad with a disability, and yes, there are obstacles, whether the disability is visible or not. However, these barriers do not jeopardize the expatriation plan—far from it. Here are some practical tips for moving abroad with a disability.
Accommodation
You've fallen in love with a home that's incredibly affordable but needs renovation. As an adventurous expat, you're brimming with ideas to turn a modest house into a mini-castle. But what should you consider in this type of negotiation? How can you ensure your dream doesn't turn into a costly nightmare?
Cost of living
Moving abroad for a better life abroad isn't a new idea, but its popularity is surging as global economies struggle with persistent inflation. Economic recessions compel more people to contemplate relocation abroad, highlighting a more significant phenomenon than it may initially appear.
Everyday life
You've likely seen this trend on platforms like TikTok or Instagram. These punchy, satirical videos challenge users to portray exaggerated aspects of their personality, their activities, or the most stereotypical elements of a particular theme. At 天美麻豆, we've joined the fun by sharing a series on our Instagram. Plus, we're unpacking the common stereotypes associated with expat living.
Other Types
Everyday life
Moving abroad is often associated with adventure, discovery, and new opportunities. While it can be a deeply enriching experience, there is often a less visible reality behind the excitement of starting a new life abroad: exhaustion. In my consultations, expats sometimes describe a fatigue that never seems to lift, unusual irritability, a sense of disconnection, or the feeling that they are no longer quite themselves. What I have also observed is that this distress is rarely confined to one person. In expat families, when one parent begins to struggle, the entire family often has to adapt. Partners may feel isolated or lose their sense of direction, while children can pick up on their parents' stress, worries, or emotional fatigue, even when these feelings are never openly discussed.
New Zealand
Since June 1, foreign workers seeking certain work visas in New Zealand have been subject to new English language requirements. The government says the changes are intended to improve migrant integration and help prevent workplace exploitation.
Sweden
Since June 1, Sweden has tightened its work permit regulations. The new rules introduce higher salary requirements, stricter conditions for seasonal workers, mandatory health insurance in some cases, and increased scrutiny of employers.
Belgium
Belgium's latest reforms, which took effect on June 1, bring greater flexibility to the labor market in an effort to support job creation. At the same time, the government has introduced stricter requirements for non-European students.
United Arab Emirates
Foreign residents in the United Arab Emirates should take note: under UAE regulations, residence visas are generally canceled if the holder remains outside the country for more than 180 consecutive days. In most cases, affected residents must apply for a new visa before returning. However, several categories of expatriates are exempt from this rule and can retain their residency status despite an extended stay abroad.
USA
Another blow for foreigners in the United States. On May 22, a memo from the US immigration services introduced a new rule aimed at limiting legal immigration. Apart from a few exceptions, Green Card applications will now have to be filed from the applicant's country of origin. What is the current situation?
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