Expat interviews
Netherlands
Stuart is originally from England. He accidentally landed in the Netherlands in 2001 following a job offer. He now lives in Friesland with his Dutch wife and daughter.
Italy
Debra comes from Brisbane. She moved to Bagni di Lucca twelve years ago with her husband. Former fashion designer, she now enjoys the Italian climate and working in her garden.
Germany
Passionate about soccer, Jackie left California, her home city, five years ago for Germany. She now lives in Erfurt with her boyfriend, who also plays soccer, and his two cats.
Morocco
British expat, Lynn moved to Essaouira more than three years ago to be with her Moroccan partner. Freelance author and travel writer, she particularly enjoys the sun, the beach and the relaxed pace of life in the country.
Ecuador
US national, CC used to work in the media and casino gaming. In June 2013, he relocated in Quito as a real estate investor. He particularly enjoys the local weather, gardens and parks.
China
Californian expat, Irai settled in China in 2007. She opted for a change in her life and seized a job opportunity. She now lives in Changchun, where she enjoys teaching English.
China
Laurence originally comes from Canada. Basketball coach, he has stayed in several countries before moving to China 12 years ago. He now lives in Chongqing with his Chinese wife.
Australia
Rosy comes from South Africa. She moved to Melbourne six months ago with her husband. She is a dietitian and is currently involved in the sales of medical equipment.
South Africa
Agnieszka comes from Poland. She moved to Johannesburg 8 years ago following a job offer. She particularly enjoys the outdoor scene, green spaces, restaurants and the weather.
New Zealand
Kimberly and Tyler left Southern California for Tauranga three months ago with a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). The particularly like the beaches in the area and the proximity with Auckland.
Spain
Lottie was born in London. She moved to Granada with her husband three years ago following their stay in Indonesia. She particularly enjoys painting, drawing and printmaking.
Belgium
Kerry-Ann comes from Mauritius. She moved to Leuven more than six months ago following her postgraduate studies to be with her boyfriend. She particularly enjoys biking and exploring the city.
Seychelles
Corina comes from Switzerland. She settled in Praslin seven months ago with her Seychellois boyfriend. Corina particularly appreciates the beauty of nature and beaches and the local relaxed lifestyle.
Canada
Melissa comes from Helsinki. She moved to Canada five months ago following her graduation to be with the love of her life. She has now settled in Quebec and enjoys the old town and the surrounding nature.
South Korea
Laura comes from Ontario. She moved to South Korea with her boyfriend more than a year ago. Following their stay in Suwon, they moved to Seoul where Laura is an online English instructor.
Morocco
Per comes from Stockholm. He moved to Marrakech in January 2015 with his partner and their dog. Per is involved in local charity activities. He also enjoys learning Arabic, working out and hanging out with friends.
Hungary
Kevin comes from the US. He moved to Hungary with his Swiss-Hungarian wife in 2007. Fond of vineyards, he has settled in the village of Hegymagas, near Lake Balaton. Kevin enjoys, above all, looking after their vineyard.
Thailand
Shawn and Katie come from Canada. They moved to Phuket in December 2014 following their stay in Cayman Islands and Europe. Both particularly enjoy going to the beach, water sports and the local cuisine.
Other Types
Schools & studies
For many families, choosing where to live means considering the quality of local schools. Some parents, however, take that logic much further and decide to move abroad altogether. Known as educational expatriation, this growing trend refers to families who relocate to another country primarily to secure a different educational path for their children. The motivations vary: a more flexible curriculum, alternative pedagogical approaches, reduced academic pressure, homeschooling opportunities, or simply an environment perceived as more conducive to learning and well-being. Although still a niche phenomenon, educational expatriation is attracting increasing attention as parents rethink what education should look like in an increasingly globalized world.
Everyday life
Living abroad makes birthdays feel a bit strange sometimes, especially when you're far from family and close friends. One of my first birthdays alone abroad, I got myself a ticket to an empty hotel beach and spent the day sitting alone under the sun, wondering if that was the weirdest and saddest way to spend a birthday. But as I started writing this article, I've realized that doing randomly unconventional things for your birthday abroad is actually not that random, and quite common.
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.
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