Features
Is it a soda, a fizzy drink, a soft drink? Are these pants or trousers? And what even is the loo? While it is spoken universally, there are still differences in English in different parts of the world. Let's take a little tour.
They had been planning their move for over a year. It was finally coming together. It was real: they sold their house, they quit their jobs, the children left their schools. But then, borders closed. Now, they are stranded in their home countries without a house, without jobs but most importantly, with growing uncertainty.
Work
To boost its tourism industry and revive its economy following the COVID-19 crisis, Indonesia is working on a new strategy to attract digital nomads to Bali. This was announced by Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime Affairs Management last week. Estonia, for its part, recently launched its first digital nomad visa, thanks to which you can work remotely for a company or as your own boss for a whole year. While the looming economic is having a significant impact on employment around the world, even for freelancers and digital nomads, here's what you can expect as many countries around the world are lifting their border and travel restrictions.
Everyday life
The impact of the global health crisis on couples and families cannot be ignored. Today, thousands of expats are still stranded abroad and desperately waiting for border restrictions to be lifted so that they can reunite with their loved ones. Love Is Not Tourism is a group that was set up to support couples and families that have been separated since the past few months by advocating reunification with governments of different countries. Let's have a look at what's happening around the world.
Portugal
“I travel, write, eat and talk too much”. Rossella has been living in Lisbon for the past four years now. The young content writer decided to remain in the country after her Erasmus experience.
Leisure
“The hardest thing was not being able to hug my grand-mother”. Lucrezia, an Italian expat living in Scotland managed to fly home for the holidays this summer. She tells us about how different visiting home in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis was.
Everyday life
He met his now wife eight years ago. Three months later, he moved to Buenos Aires with her. Jerry Nelson, an American expat in Argentina tells us about moving abroad for love.
Leisure
Assumption Day will be celebrated in many countries around the world on August 15th. In general, this festival is marked by a traditional mass and processions are organised by parishes, followed by a family meal and fireworks. Assumption Day is also a public holiday in many Catholic countries, especially in Europe. Although celebrations will be different this year with the COVID-19 crisis, here is an insight into the biggest festivals that will be observed in the coming weeks and months. While this might enrich your cultural knowledge, you can also seize the opportunity to spend some quality time with your dear ones even though they are far away.
Moving abroad is about to become very difficult. Indeed, the chances of finding a job abroad are decreasing with the post-COVID economic crisis. So, what are your options if you really want to move abroad?
Work
During these trying times, a lot of people have lost their jobs. In an attempt to find anything to support themselves, people are turning to temporary jobs. But what are your options as an expat living in a different country?
South Korea
Anna has been living in South Korea for nine years and Laura left after a year of living in the same country. What is it about South Korea that makes a 19 year old want to leave everything behind for? And on the other hand, what is it about the country that makes someone else leave after a year? Anna and Laura tell us their stories.
Everyday life
Jerry Nelson, an American expat in Argentina gives us a few tips about dietary habits to avoid Montezuma's revenge in new expats!
Everyday life
If you are living in the Northern Hemisphere, summer is upon us! And very high temperatures have been recorded this week in Europe, especially in France, Spain and the United Kingdom. And this means one thing: people will be outside. By the beach, at the pool, or just hanging out in parks, everyone will be trying to escape the -likely unbearable- heat of the indoors. What does this mean for the spread of the COVID-19? How to remain protected while enjoying the outdoors? And finally, what are some safe activities you can consider.
Banks and finance
A study by Allianz Care found that financial priorities of 52% of expats interviewed had changed as a result of the crisis. More than half of them stated that health and well-being was now a priority for them. Family also weighs more in the balance these days, expats say.
Everyday life
If you've lived abroad long enough, you definitely have a few funny (or maybe even not so funny and totally awkward) stories of misinterpretation of certain nonverbal cues. Indeed, body language and gestures are not perceived in the same way across the world. In some cultures, making eye contact is considered a sign of confidence and shows that one is engaged and interested in the conversation while in others, it is downright impolite. So let's try to decipher body language across cultures, shall we?
Argentina
Jerry Nelson is an American expat writing his way through life in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This week, he tells us a little about the challenges he has faced as an expat and how he has dealt with them. Transport, shopping, language... Argentinian punctuality (or lack thereof!). Here are his keys to living a stress-free expat life!
Denmark
An Oxford research group looked into what makes Denmark such an amazing country for expats. The happiest country on Earth attracts expats from all over the world. While 50% of them come from European countries, 34% come from Asia, North America, Oceania, etc., and the rest from other Nordic countries. If you've always wanted to discover the legendary “hygge” and are looking to relocate to Denmark after the COVID-19 crisis, here's what you should expect.
Everyday life
The situation in America is more than alarming, with more than 4.3 million COVID-19 cases and nearly 150,000 deaths in the USA, followed by Brazil with more than 2.4 million cases and over 87,000 deaths. Citizens of these two countries are currently banned from entering many countries, especially in the European Union. This is a major concern for expatriates living there while governments are advising them to return at the soonest. Some expats in the USA and Brazil share their views about the crisis and talk to us about their new routine.
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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