New expat resource directory
There's a new site called Empowered Expat that functions as a resource directory where people can also post reviews about vendors and service providers. They seem to cover everything from schools to moving companies to tax services. In their words: The EmpoweredExpat.com is a tool for expats, and soon-to-be expats, to both share their experiences with products and service providers and to see company reviews from other expats. The site launched only recently, so there aren't many user reviews yet. But it's a good directory, although it is for expats from all English-speaking countries: US expats may need to wade through the listings to find services that address their specific needs. Empowered Expat has some paid services, and prices are in British pounds, so the site appears to have been created by someone, or some company, in the UK. It would be good if their About page told a little bit about them--I think the site would inspire more trust and engagement if it had a personal … [Read More...]
“Clueless” expats in the UAE
An Arab Emirates publication is publishing a report that says that 72% of the expats in the country are ignorant of the language and culture. Although I'm used to "clueless" expats (China is full of them), I'm still shocked by this high number. A massive 72 per cent of expats living in the UAE don't understand the country's customs and traditions, potentially leaving themselves open to breaking the law, a new study has revealed. A survey by 999 Magazine, the official English-speaking … [Read More...]
India: The next big Expat destination?
I've lived in China for over three years now, and during this time I've read many, many articles about Americans and Westerners going to China for jobs and adventure. Now, the New York Times has an article called Expats Flock to India Seeking Jobs, Excitement. Does it indicate that India is the next major destination for international expats? Mr. Mehwald is part of a growing number of expats flocking to India in the last few years eager to tap into the opportunities the country has to offer, … [Read More...]
Great advice for renewing your driver’s license while living abroad
I need to renew my driver's license, and so I've been trying to figure out what the laws and regulations are. As usual, despite the high number of American's living abroad, the laws and regulations assume that all American citizens only live in the US, always. Unless they're part of the military. While doing research, I came across this funny blog post from an American living in Spain, entitled How Not To Renew Your Driver License In Your Home Country If You Are An Expat. He has the best and … [Read More...]
Ignore the smog, and exercise
Most of us expats live in cities, I suspect. I doubt you'll find very many Americans hanging out in the rural areas of China, India, Russia, South America, and Africa. The big opportunities are mainly in cities, even if just to network. That means we have to deal with pollution. Air pollution, especially. You can drink filtered water, but no matter what else you do to safeguard your health, you've got to breathe the air. A question we expats often have is whether or not it's healthy for us … [Read More...]
Interview: Gerardo Robledillo of Expatistan
Although he's not an American, Gerardo has created a very useful site for American Expats: Expatistan. The site collects pricing information for large cities around the world and lets you compare costs. It's not perfect, but it gives you a quick grasp of whether your cost of living will increase or decrease, and by how much. Another great thing about the site is that the price information is crowd-sourced, which means that the site should get more accurate the more it is used. Where are you … [Read More...]
Tip: Take probiotics for digestive health overseas
Delhi belly and Montezuma's revenge are bad enough when you're on vacation. But if you're an expat living in a developing country, concern about food safety becomes a daily worry. If you get sick, you might miss work and important meetings. And you're not going "back home" in a week or two, where the food is generally safer -- you're staying, and might get sick again. Plus, when you're on vacation, you're often more prepared: When you go travel in a poorer country, you take your medicines with … [Read More...]
Interview on Expat Alley
There's an interview of me on Expat Alley, my favorite expat blog. Tom Frost, an entrepreneur who lives in Uruguay and Argentina, writes the blog and I enjoy his writing for its wit and insight. I read a lot of blogs that are information based, about technology, marketing, China, and so on. Tom is one of the few personal bloggers I like to read, just for his thoughts and observations. He often makes me laugh: I need to get pissed off and need to get pissed off now. Then I look out the window … [Read More...]
An amazing story
This isn't about life as an expat, but it's too damn good not to share. In 1971, Les Braunstein, who was the original singer for the band that became Blue Oyster Cult, crossed through the Khyber pass on horseback -- and lived to tell about it, obviously. It was 1971. I'd been traveling in Asia for several months, and to have an adventure, and to impress a girl, I'd bought a horse named Herat so that I could ride through the Khyber Pass from Kabul, Afghanistan, to Peshawar, Pakistan. This was … [Read More...]
New fees for consular services
If you need extra passport pages, or need anything else done at your nearest embassy, hurry. Fees will be changed on July 13, 2010 -- with most of them being raised. Some of them a lot. Here's the full list: What especially annoys me is the new fee for having pages added to your passport. US $85! That's up from zero. I can understand needing to charge something, but hey: It's just a few slips of paper. They often add them on the spot while you wait, I believe. They say these fees … [Read More...]
How to have a better vacation
I really enjoyed a recent article from The Boston Globe called The best vacation ever. Drake Bennett, the author, writes about the scientific research into happiness, and how that can be applied to taking a vacation. Basically, think of your vacation as having 3 phases: 1. Planning before the trip 2. The trip itself 3. Your memories afterwards Something surprising to me was the finding that people are often least happy during the trip itself. That's because you're dealing with all … [Read More...]
Outsource your cost of living
Just returned to China from a week in Bali. While there, we met with the father of a friend of mine, who retired in Bali a couple years ago. He loves it, and it's not hard to understand why. Besides the fantastic weather, the friendly people, the international culture, the great restaurants, and the beautiful scenery, Bali is inexpensive. You know how much he pays for his 3-bedroom house with a swimming pool? Three thousand US dollars per year. Wow. I'm sure there are all kinds of … [Read More...]
Great advice for renewing your driver’s license while living abroad
I need to renew my driver's license, and so I've been trying to figure out what the laws and regulations are. As usual, despite the high number of American's living abroad, the laws and regulations assume that all American citizens only live in the US, always. Unless they're part of the military. While doing research, I came across this funny blog post from an American living in Spain, entitled … [Read More...]