Expat interviews
China
Nicole was born in New Zealand but grew up in Australia. Following her studies, she started working as a journalist before her husband's posting in Hong Kong. After a few years, they moved to Xi'An in the center of China. Nicole talks to 天美麻豆 about her life as an expat mom, an avid writer and blogger, and her passion for traveling.
Everyday life
Mark Twain rightfully said that heaven was copied after Mauritius — its mountains, forests, infinite horizons, and underwater life are out of this world. But it's up to us to protect this (and every other) habitat, and to keep paradises around the world alive. Romina, a Mexican entrepreneur, saw in Mauritius more than luxurious resorts and short-term beach holidays — she saw an opportunity to raise awareness among Mauritius' visitors and residents for a conscious way of living and travelling. Romina shares with 天美麻豆 her aspirations for Mauritius Conscious and her highlights in her adopted island.
Reunion Island
Catharine comes from the UK. She first visited Reunion Island in 1990 during an exchange year. After her graduation, she flew back and ever since, she has found another place to call home. She shares with 天美麻豆 her love for the island's lifestyle, its natural landscapes, and the ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity.
Greece
Linda was born in New Zealand. Feeling an urge to move and see the rest of the world, she headed to Europe back in the 1970s. Her love for Greece led her to the Greek love of her life. Today they have two children and five grandchildren. She talks to 天美麻豆 about her life as a retired Kiwi expat on the island of Poros, Greece, and the irresistable beauties of a country with so much history, sun, culture, and many apetizing flavours.
South Korea
We move from one place to another for all different reasons. For Keri the journey abroad started off as a teenage adventure. Her love for K-pop took her all the way to South Korea — where she met her other big love, her husband. Keri misses home in America, but cannot yet bid farewell to the South Korean lifestyle, the culture of kindness and respect, and the spicy food. She talks to 天美麻豆 about the country of temples, mighty mountains, and friendly people.
Work
The Fourth Industrial Revolution brings artificial intelligence and machine learning in the foreground of a changing work environment. To get on the bandwagon, employers have to adapt to mobile internet and cloud technology, update their employees' skills, and look for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) educated candidates.Vesselina Stefanova Ratcheva, Data Analyst for the World Economic Forum, shares with 天美麻豆 her vision of the future of jobs, and gives us some tips to excel in the developing employment market.
Singapore
Milla is a mother to two — a 10-year old boy and an 8-year old girl. Originally from Finland, she moved to Singapore one and a half years ago when she decided to support her husband in his new job. Nowadays, she is a homemaker and an avid blogger.
Moving
The European Union is shaky — Brexit, eurosceptics, rise of extreme nationalism. But Europe can do better than that, and young European people like Elias 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.
Elias is completing a Master's in Business Law in Strasbourg. He has also studied for one year in Leicester, England. In this video he expresses his disappointment over Brexit, but he also shares his hope for a European Union that supports free movement, international career opportunities, and multiculturalism.
Moving
The European Union is shaky — Brexit, eurosceptics, rise of extreme nationalism. But Europe can do better than that, and young European people like Pierre-Jean 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 Law student at the Université Toulouse 1 Capitole, Pierre-Jean has been living and studying in Barcelona, Spain for the past two years. We met him under the catalan sun, and asked him to share his observations on the European Union. He calls for integration, mobility, and job opportunities in Europe -- let's find out why.
United Arab Emirates
Ruth from London landed in Dubai in February 2015 following her husband to his new post. They will be staying for another year before moving back to the United Kingdom. A freelance writer, Ruth shares with 天美麻豆 her everyday life in the United Arab Emirates.
Moving
The European Union is shaky — Brexit, eurosceptics, rise of extreme nationalism. But Europe can do better than that, and young European people like Alice 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 her vision of the Union from the perspective of a well-travelled and curious mind.
In 2011, Alice left her home in Italy to settle in Lyon, France, where she currently studies at the Institute of Political Studies. In perfect French, she shares her thoughts on living abroad, her personal growth, and the future of the European Union.
Cambodia
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.
Moving
The European Union is shaky — Brexit, eurosceptics, rise of extreme nationalism. But Europe can do better than that, and young European people like Rémi 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.
Rémi, a 20-year-old management student is currently completing a six-month internship in Munich. But his European adventure started well before, when he spent almost a year in Germany with the Sauzay and Voltaire programmes endorsed by the Franco German Youth Office. He talks about his life abroad, the benefits, challenges, and his vision of the European Union.
Moving
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.
Moving
The European Union is shaky — Brexit, eurosceptics, rise of extreme nationalism. But Europe can do better than that, and young European people like Lucile 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 her vision of the Union from the perspective of a well-travelled and curious mind.
Australia
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
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
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.
Other Types
Work
Most freelancers agree on one thing: if they went solo, it was to be their own boss, to no longer answer to anyone else, to set their own rules and to be free. The challenge is truly living out that freedom when dealing with local and international clients. Where and how should you set your boundaries?
Work
For many workers, retirement abroad is the ultimate reward after a long career. But an increasing number are making the move earlier than planned. While some actively pursue early retirement overseas, others find themselves leaving work sooner than expected.
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.
Schools & studies
Starting at a new school used to be about standing in lines, printing folders of documents, and going on campus tours. Today, in many schools, the enrollment process looks very different. Lots of things can be done online – and sometimes the first time you and your child will step foot in the new school will be on the actual first day. For expats and their kids, this is a trend that works in their favor. Because now they can explore, apply, interview, tour, and even enroll in a school before they are even there. Here's how it works.
Work
More people than ever are considering entrepreneurship abroad. While securing a visa, funding and the right legal status are important, long-term success depends on much more. Before launching a business overseas, what are the key questions every entrepreneur should ask themselves?
Everyday life
The biggest difference between moving counties and moving continents is the distance. Duh, you might think. But it's not only the physical distance itself. It's also how this distance feels. Moving from Spain to Germany is a big life change. But not quite as big as moving from Germany to Brazil. You are now a Transatlantic flight away from everything that you used to know as home. And even if the culture may not be that different, everything else probably is.
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