Maria Iotova

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 Expat.com her aspirations for Mauritius Conscious and her highlights in her adopted island.

We are sorry to have to break the news to you, but the global unemployment rate is expected to rise in 2017, meaning that 201 million people will be out of work according to the International Labour Organization's latest report. If you live in a country with alarmingly high unemployment, you could consider to work abroad — a move that won't only boost your career, but also your personal growth and success.

The way we work, interact with our colleagues and other stakeholders, and the way we think about our skills and how to apply them — are all undergoing transformation. Among the drivers of this revolution in global employment are connectivity, smart machines, and the new media. The Institute for the Future (IFTF) in collaboration with Apollo Research Institute foresee and explain why in a technologically advanced world, the skills that we will be looking for in the next decade will be different. Let's explore together the critical skills for a successful career.

Cloud computing — the evolution of local area networks (LAN) — refers to online servers in the form of an application, which can be accessed at any time, and via any connected device (laptop, desktop, tablet, smartphone). Like every innovation, cloud computing can be looked at with skepticism, or as the ultimate tool to improve one's performance. Expat.com discusses the benefits of this booming technology, and urges employers to assess the objectives of their company before they rush into decisions.

During the past 30 years Perry Yeatman has built the career and life of her dreams. She has worked with world leaders, such as Margaret Thatcher and Bill Clinton. She has been a senior executive at Unilever and Kraft Foods, and has led transformational projects, from Russia's economic reform to developing the World Economic Forum's New Vision for Agriculture. In doing so, she was travelling the world, while making a difference and being a wife and mother. Today she helps others to do the same, and talks to Expat.com about how focus, determination, hard work, and the support of others can help anyone fulfil their career and life dreams.

Professional expats have a lot to consider before moving to a destination for work — the career prospects in their field, salary and taxes, language, and work-life balance are just a few. The latest HSBC Expat Explorer Survey has ranked the best destinations to live and work, and Europe shines as the best region for pursuing an international career.

From having your baby abroad, to moving in a foreign country with one or more children, expat parents have loads to think and plan about — healthcare, schooling, leisure activities, accommodation. We understand that all this is overwhelming. So, we come to your rescue with a list of five blogs managed by expat mothers, who have travelled that road before.

It is this time of the year again — the dispute over the Christmas tree, the endless shopping list, and Mariah Carey's hit in the background. But this year you are more of an observant than a participant in this hilarity. You are away from home — an expat in a foreign country — and when everything around you is about family and the people we love, you feel low and melancholic. Turn off your Facebook notifications (Facebook is argued to boost feelings of sadness and loneliness), and let us inspire you for a very merry Christmas away from home.

Earthquakes, cyclones, floods, droughts, are all legitimate conditions that you don't wish to run into when setting up your expat life abroad. But as nature's power is unfathomable, natural disasters cannot be utterly stove off. However, their catastrophic impact can be dwarfed with the key infrastructure in place, cross-sector coordination, and operative technology. So, before you let fears and misreport put the parachute on your expat ambitions, refer to our recap of this year's World Risk Index, and grasp the difference between exposure and vulnerability.

When relocating with children, the education system in the destination country is something you don't take lightly as a parent. Governments repeatedly make education reforms a priority, but there's nothing like ideal education system — yet. Singapore's students have just been announced the highest-performing in international maths and science tests, while Finland has for four decades been the paradigm of successful education. Your expat children will have to adapt to an education environment that is unique to the country, but don't underestimate the role of cultural and family values.

It was only a generation ago that a successful living was very much defined by a stable job in a well-established company or the public sector. But millennials — backed by the advanced telecommunications industry — take on part-time and freelance jobs, work remotely, and aspire to become entrepreneurs. This shift in employment trends stemming from millennials' traits — open-minded, risk takers, and passionate administrators of their own lives — revolutionises the motives for expatriation and traveling.

The political and social debate on climate change, and the effects it has on all beings, our environment, and health is a matter of shared interest. According to migration experts, climate change will soon give rise to big waves of migration, indistinctively forcing citizens to move to less vulnerable countries.

Travelling is a lot about enriching your personal experience and indulging into adventure. Malta is a destination that has something special to offer to all avid travellers. Built on rich history, cherished with wonderful festivals, and exceptional recreational resorts, the island has something for everyone to see no matter what their taste.

Don't fall for statements that declare the weather as the imperator of our mood — a look at the 2016 World Happiness Report shows that the seven happiest countries in the world are countries with generous wintry weather (Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada, Netherlands). Yet, we all have preferences, and weather can brighten you up, or put your mood on ice. So, if you are planning to expatriate soon, or are already living abroad, Expat.com is here to shelter you from the strong winds, or the blazing sun.

Homeschooling is a viable education option for expatriates and their children, who either don't have access to international schools, cannot afford the fees of private schools, don't applaud public institutions, or are merely supporters of this ambiguous teaching and learning method. Expatriation with children adds on your to do list an extra duty — to arrange schooling for them — that depending on the destination country, can be easier or harder to accomplish. Here we present homeschooling, but it's for your family to decide what's the best way to the children's education.  

While Donald Trump is celebrating his victory, and is laying the groundwork for “making America Great Again”, there's a great portion of American people, who don't want to see him in action. Many US citizens have just been caught unaware, and they are taking their destiny into their own hands — moving to Canada isn't just an option for the future anymore, it's their last hope.

You don't choose who crosses your path, you fall in love with and decide to share your life — it just happens. In a world that voluntarily movement from one country to another and expatriation are becoming more common, intercultural marriage is on the rise.