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Everyday life
Digital nomadism is a lifestyle that attracts more and more people who are looking for an escape from their monotonous routines. This trend is especially popular with bloggers and other content creators, social media influencers, etc., and inspires many to dream of such a lifestyle. Have you ever wondered how to offer yourself travel and freedom of movement while earning your living? For the past few years, the rise of remote work and the democratization of digital technology have boosted the number of digital nomads around the world. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Everyday life
Throughout history in different parts of the world, the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another, has been part of the culture and search for power. Expats who have been victims of some sort of discrimination shared their feelings with us.
Canada is with no doubt a top expat destination. However, it is a direct competitor to other destinations such as Switzerland, which ranks first in the latest edition of the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey. Australia and New Zealand come in second and third, while Canada ranks 13th. Besides, according to a recent study by the Institute of Canadian Citizenship, 30% of newcomers to Canada plan to leave within two years. Does this mean that Canada no longer retains expats?
Everyday life
In 2020, the pandemic took everyone by surprise. Scientists and doctors put efforts together to find a vaccine. This became a global priority. Vaccination campaigns started as soon as the first vaccines were developed. At that time, countries focused on progressive vaccination, starting with the elderly and those at risk, but populations were in a hurry to get vaccinated. Two years later, things have changed. Vaccination against Covid targets new groups.
Finland
Is Finland about to become another top expat destination? The country is making efforts to gain popularity internationally. As soon as it reopened its borders in 2021, this small country has been competing with giants like the United States, Canada, Switzerland, etc. Why is the country so keen on attracting global talent, and what are the benefits of moving there?
Everyday life
Fuel shortage is having drastic consequences in Sri Lanka. At petrol pumps, waiting lines are getting longer. People are gathering in the street, and peaceful demonstrations call for President Rajapaksa's departure. Sri Lanka can no longer afford fuel and is facing the worst economic crisis since independence.
Everyday life
Amidst the war's consequences on the Russian economy, some expats had quietly left the country. Businesspeople, academics, and students who stayed rethink their stay after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and others take advantage of the country's labor shortage to stay as the war has barely impacted Moscow.
Everyday life
Travel and moving abroad plans are back on track as summer approaches in many countries. However, health restrictions seem to be a heavyweight in the balance for many. While some have delayed their travel plans until better days, others simply gave up. Why would they move to a country with so many restrictions when their home country lifted its restrictions?
Banks and finance
World Bank Bilateral Remittances Matrix has continuously placed the UK as the fourth largest remittance sender in the world. The latter source lists India, Nigeria, and Pakistan as the main destinations of remittances from the UK. In addition, according to a report from the United Nations' education agency, migrant workers in the UK, many in low-paid jobs, are sending £8bn a year to support families in their home countries, a transfer known as a remittance.
Banks and finance
The US is one of the countries with more immigrants in the world. It is actually on the list of the top 10 Countries with the highest number of immigrants — 50.6 million. And Americans are also expats, according to the Association of American Residents Overseas, 8.7 million Americans (excluding military) live in 160-plus countries. Every migrant chooses to leave home for different reasons, but many do to contribute to their families and communities in their country of origin by sending money home, a transfer known as a remittance.
Everyday life
On March 16, at 11:36 p.m. local time, tremors of a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale were recorded in Japan. The epicentre was 60km deep, under the Pacific Ocean, off the province of Fukushima. A tsunami alert was immediately given, bringing back the painful memory of the 2011 events with a death toll of 18,500.
Hong Kong
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong has introduced strict entry conditions like a three-week quarantine on arrival in huge quarantine centers and hotels requisitioned by the authorities. Meanwhile, residents are finding their living conditions even tougher living conditions, being isolated since a fifth wave hit the city. According to EU representative Thomas Gnocchi, 10% of Europeans have already left Hong Kong last February, and figures have been rising ever since.
Everyday life
Time passes and looks alike in Shanghai. As in the rest of China, life seems to have come to a standstill since March 2020. The government isn't ready to abandon its "zero Covid" policy while most countries around the world have reopened their borders and eased their health restrictions. The Chinese population is desperate, and so are expats in Shanghai who are more than ever ready to relocate overseas and escape their suffocating everyday life.
Everyday life
In most countries, people seem to have got used to living with the Covid. In fact, most of us yearn to get back to a normal life. Still, Covid cases start rising again as soon as we drop the mask. There are many causes of this situation, such as people refusing to get vaccinated, non-respect of barrier gestures, carelessness, etc. Many experts believe that normal life will no longer be what it used to be. In some regions, people have started wearing masks once again, fearing new contamination.
Work
"The Great Resignation" is a phenomenon that has shaken the United States for more than a year now. The latest peak was reported in November 2021, with more than 4.5 million resignations. Fortunately, this trend hasn't spread to Europe, but entire sectors are currently facing a labour shortage. At the same time, more and more workers are looking for a change of career within a company having values that match theirs. So what if The Great Resignation was questioning the whole world of work? How important should company values be for expats?
Everyday life
The rise in oil prices around the world is affecting all economies, starting with the transport sector. Pessimistic experts are forecasting an increase to 200 dollars per barrel by the end of the year, but this would be an unrealizable disaster scenario for others. Since the early days of the pandemic, airline companies have been warning of a possible rise in flight ticket prices. Repeated crises bear a cost that they cannot fully absorb. Unfortunately, consumers at the end of the supply chain have to take the brunt. How does all this affect moving abroad plans?
Work
Medical workers are in demand in Europe, Asia, on the American continent and have decent wages. With an exceptional medical education, a list of successfully passing exams like NCLEX-RN, and experience of 2 years or more, it is possible to get a job as a nurse abroad.
Everyday life
Things are pretty uncertain in Hong Kong following the new Covid wave in March 2022, added to social and political tensions, increasingly significant influence from China, etc. International media have constantly been reporting a brain drain and an expat exodus over the past year. How do expats in Hong Kong feel about this situation?
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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