Archive Page 22

January 2024

Despite efforts to shut down "Golden Visas" in Europe, demand continues in Greece, Portugal, Spain

Expat in Portugal: the significant difference of work/life balance here versus the USA – MSN Business Insider

When I lived in the US, most of my coworkers didn't even take lunch, or if we did, we'd take a working lunch. Back home, the mindset is that if you receive an email, you should reply right away. It's very different here, and while that's mostly positive, it can take longer when you're trying to get something done. In Lisbon, everyone goes outside to the park after work, which is also very different.

The trouble about retiring into Australia: lack of affordable housing

Story at UK Express

InterNations conducted a new study asking expats around the world about livability and costs in their new homes, and "nearly half" surveyed found the cost of living in Australia was too high, and a third of respondents said that disposable income was not adequate to live on in a comfortable way.

Exat guide for London's St John's Wood – Sydney Morning Herald

Japan quite expensive for expats – CNBC

Compensation for expats in Japan is the highest in Asia... but Japan is also one of the two most expensive places for expats.

Best healthcare in the top 15 countries of Europe

Story at Yahoo Finance

Top places millionaires are moving to

Story at Daily News MSN

The top destination is Australia... but the USA is in the top five, also.

The Visa categories for retirement to Thailand

Story at Pattaya Mail

Going to Italy to cure depression and find a better life: the fiction and the reality

Story at MSN Well+Good

Italy has been idealized for decades. Was Audrey Hepburn eating gelato in Roman Holiday the first time we saw how this magical Italian ice cream could free us from the troubles of everyday life? After Eat, Pray, Love, how many women dreamed of feeding their spirit with Italian language, culture, and, of course, pizza?

....But after six months, maybe a year, I settled back into my baseline self, where depression and anxiety were waiting at the table, saying, “Did you think you could forget about us?”

On top of the language barrier and culture shock, other common feelings for expats are isolation and loneliness, but what I found most difficult is the shame that those feelings brought on..."

The article isn't about failure and exiting Italy, instead it narrates how the author worked through various issues and cultivated a fuller life there.

Expat pay in Singapore rises: drops in Hong Kong

Story at Bloomberg

Portugal and the struggle in Europe over the Golden Visa programs

Story at EuroWeekly News

The EC European Commission has serious security concerns over the Golden Visa programs being abused by organized crime and tax evaders. Portugal is moving toward either a program termination or a system with heightened screening processes.

It is a "clean" place, but unfriendly - the problems of going to Norway to retire – UK Express

The Nordic country scored particularly badly on social life, culinary variety and affordability. Almost 40 percent of expats said they didn’t feel at home in Norway...

Expat Banking in Europe

Story about Expat Banking in Europe - Tips and a list of the top fifty banks

12 "cheapest" places to retire with only English language skills – Yahoo Finance

The first spot on this Yahoo list is Belize with an average monthly cost: $1,000 – "Belize is one of the best places to retire for those who speak only English, because it's the official language of the country. The cost of living is just $1,000 per month, making it much less expensive than anywhere in the U.S...".

They also provide a synopsis for: Malaysia, Cyprus, Panama, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, St. Lucia island, Thailand, Jamaica, Vietnam, and the island of Malta island.

Kuwait deports 700 Filipinos

Story at utilities-me

Mexico costs getting too high? – Mexico News Daily

Article examines the benefits of the rising strength of the Peso, but also the problem it causes economically, and the impact it has on international travel, tourism and expats coming to stay in the country.

Raising "third culture" kids

Story at Insider MSN

I'm a US citizen living in Singapore with my wife and two boys. I was previously a high school teacher, working with a lot of third culture kids. When we realized our boys would be raised as third culture kids, I wanted to make sure we were intentional about giving them the tools they need to avoid common problems these kids face — especially when it comes to identity.

The article defines "third culture kids" as children growing up in a locale in which the main culture is not the father's or mother's.

Malta: jewel of the Mediterranean and – UK Express

Article on a recent study of retirement benefits in the Mediterranean and how Malta ranked so highly.

How to eat out in Türkiye – Daily Sabah

I know this may sound strange because a menu is one of those basic necessities one would think a restaurant should have, but trust me, there are many restaurants in Türkiye that don’t operate that way. First of all, many dishes are seasonal, such as the varied mezes on display in many a glass-paned refrigerator or brought to tables on huge platters as well as fish, which honestly depends on what the catch of the day happened to be.

Understanding your tax obligations as a U.S. citizen who is living abroad. – Yahoo

The dilemma of going from San Francisco to Croatia

Story at Business Insider

Dubrovnik is a tourist town. The local population is small, and families who live there have done so for generations. Everyone knows each other, so I really stick out. I'm new, but I'm also Asian. I've experienced what I call "unintended racism." I don't think it's done with ill intent, but I have gotten comments and gestures."

Exiting America to make art – A new book expands the history of the Black Americans who nurtured their creativity overseas. – The Atlantic

The five top "jet-set" retirement locations – Forbes

If you suspect money plays a critical role in "jet-set" places this article wants to dissuade you of this view, listing monthly costs varying by location from $1,500 to $4,400

Jetset retirement destinations are beautiful, welcoming, safe havens that offer exclusive lifestyle opportunities—ideal for discerning retirees who are looking to live large in retirement. An important point of difference between jets et retirement and regular overseas retirement is that budget is not a deal breaker for the former.

Locations talked about are in Montenegro, Deauville (France), Mendoza (Argentina), Phuket (Thailand) and Turks And Caicos islands.

Comparing the cost of groceries in Singapore to Switzerland – Asiaone

Switzerland does not come out ahead.

Ireland paying people to come live on islands, program to revitalize 30 rural islands off the western coast – USA Today

On July 1, the government will start offering $92,000 in funding to those who want to refurbish “derelict properties” into their permanent home or a rental home to meet demand for housing on the islands as part of a three-year action plan called Our Living Islands."

Expat tips for Fiji island

Story at SMH Traveller

What cities have superior air quality?

Environment impacts air quality and that impacts sufferers of Asthma, COPD, Pulmonary fibrosis/Interstitial Lung Disease, among other lung ailments. These urban locations are noted for their better than average air quality.

More, with list: What cities have superior air quality?

Jobs using English in Greece – Media Feed MSN

Article discusses types of work available for people with English language skills (mostly jobs around the large Greek tourism industry, but there are non-tourism jobs mentioned, too). Covers basic list of legal requirements for working and residency.

Retirement in the Philippines – US News

The Philippines offers several competitive retirement programs through its Philippine Retirement Authority. Most expat retirees opt for the Special Resident Retiree's Visa. You qualify if you're at least 50 years old and receive a pension worth at least $800 per month for an individual or $1,000 per month for a couple. In addition, you'll be required to deposit $10,000 into a Philippine bank. You can also qualify without a monthly pension by depositing $20,000 in a local bank. This amount can be put toward a long-term lease or the purchase of a condo or townhouse valued at more than $50,000.

Five countries where English is commonly spoken – The Street

Expats can be a way to understand China and Russia – UK Times

UK Expat explains significant cultural, political and even hygienic differences a visitor to Hong Kong should observe – Insider

Self Employed vs Digital Nomad – Forbes Magazine [English]

As the article at Forbes discusses, one of the major differences between the two categories is simply a matter of tax status reflected by the Visa type a person uses to reside in a country.

Expat real estate investment coming to Kuwait? – Construction Week