Veedushi B

It's been more than a decade since Marcie, a US expat, has been following her spouse around the world for his career. The COVID-19 pandemic has got her stuck in California as her husband prepares for a solo move to Shanghai. Marcie talks to us about her adventures around the world and a book she recently wrote about marriage and compromise for trailing spouses.

For Sarah, an American expat, being a trailing spouse is far from being a boring life. She is an art director, designer, illustrator, photographer and all-around creative guru based in Austria, where she relocated in October 2020. She talks to us about her new life in her host country amid the pandemic.

Lin is originally from China. She relocated to Belgium in 2009 on a student exchange program and fell in love with the country. In spite of the language barrier and cultural challenges, she made it and shares her expat experience with Expat.com.

It's been more than a decade since Laura, who is of Spanish origin, relocated abroad. She currently lives in Australia, a country she fell in love with during a trip from New Zealand. Today, Laura is a Purpose Coach & Expat Mentor in Sydney. She talks to us about her new expats adventure amid the pandemic.

Alexandra is a Romanian expat who followed her spouse to Berlin for his career, but that doesn't make her a trailing spouse. A diplomatic spouse rather, who is always busy volunteering, writing books and articles, and taking care of her family. She talks to us about her reality.

A new increase in the number of cases of COVID-19, Janssen vaccine considered for children and a new anticyclone in the region ... Here's what's happening in Mauritius in this last week of July.

Joanna is a Pole expat who has had a great passion for travel for many years. Today, she is based in Qatar, following her Tunisian husband, who had a job there. She talks to us about that turning point in her life and the lifestyle she really enjoys in Qatar.

Anna was born in Ireland but spent many years abroad, including in Europe and Asia. She currently lives in Botswana, where she followed her husband who got a job offer there. Anna talks to us about her life experiences and challenges of relocating overseas and adapting to a new culture.

Originally from Spain with German roots, Anja has been travelling since her early childhood. Growing up in Kenya, she studied in the UK before relocating to Chile, a country she had good memories from. Today, Anja von Dessauer is an Expat Life and Mindset Coach. She talks to us about culture shock and the challenges of making a new country your home.

Athul is originally from Kerala, India. After working for a few years in Bangalore, he flies to Italy for a business project. Years later, a new opportunity leads him to Belgium, where he currently lives with his wife and daughter. He talks to us about his journey.

For those planning an international relocation, quality of life is a crucial element to consider. But how important is it to you, and how do you know when it's time to pack your bags and leave? Expats and future expatriates have shared their thoughts with us.

Navine Eldesouki is the amazing soul behind Coffee with Expat Women, a group providing support to expat women around the world. As an expat woman who built her life and family in different countries, leaving Australia at the age of 20, she is more than aware of the challenges faced by expat women around the world. So she decided to create a space where they can express themselves, share experiences, and get support and advice. 

Helen is a happy wife and mum of two grown-up children and has always been passionate about travelling. But it's only in 2020 that she could make her dreams come true despite the pandemic. With her husband Adrian, he now lives in the rural countryside of Central Portugal.

The pandemic has made living abroad even more challenging for trailing spouses. Many of them are still struggling with their daily stay-at-home routine and lockdown restrictions, while their significant other is having an almost regular routine. Here's what Kate, an expat coach in the USA, has to say to trailing spouses.  

Andre calls himself a wanderer. His experience of travelling in more than 50 countries and living in some of them turned him into an author recently. He talks to us about his book and gives out some tips for growing into your best self as an expat.

Claudia is originally from Potsdam, Germany, where she was the chief editor of German movie website. Today, she is a relocation agent in Paris, the French capital that became her new home in 2014. Claudia talks to us about her love for Paris and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on everyday life, housing, etc.

Things seem to be getting worse for British expats within the European Union. Following the Brexit, many of them are losing jobs and are being denied healthcare, higher education and even bank accounts, according to international media. But here's what the Withdrawal Agreement, which came into force on February 1, 2020, says about all this.

Marina is an adventurous expat from Russia. Mum of two bi-cultural children, she has travelled and lived in many countries before relocating to French Guiana in January 2021, amid the pandemic. She talks to us about her quest for a better life for her family and herself.

Sheila, a young Mauritian, has always been passionate about poetry. A former teacher, she now works in finance in Toronto, Canada. Sheila recently released a new French single “T'es un homme exceptionnel”, and talks to us about being an artist abroad.

A former high school teacher from the US, Kelly recently went back to school to study marketing. Mum of two and married to a Dane, she currently lives in a small town in Denmark. Here's her story.

Shahin and Sarah are a young French couple. Their curiosity and thirst for new cultures led them to Iran, where they are currently studying calligraphy, poetry and the Persian language. Originally from Reunion Island, they talk to us about how and why they made Iran their new home.

Her Excellency Dr Kate O'Shaughnessy is the fifth consecutive female Australian High Commissioner to Mauritius and Seychelles and Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros. On the occasion of International Women's Day 2021, we asked her thoughts about women in the diplomatic world and in decision-making.

Originally from Russia, Pyotr has been travelling the world since he was a baby. Today, he lives in the US after visiting some 80 countries around the world. What's special about Pyotr is his concept of sustainable living as an expat.

Thilini is originally from Sri Lanka. Despite a thriving financial career in her home country and in Australia, she was looking for a change. Today, Thilini lives in Mexico with her partner and is pursuing her dream as a writer and remote entrepreneur. She talks to us about her journey and her struggles to find inner and outer freedom as an expat.

Candice Smith is originally from Ohio, in the US. Her journey as an expat started at a very young age. Since then, she has been travelling the world, exploring cultures and learning languages. Today, she lives in Istanbul with her mum and daughter, with a rich career as an entrepreneur and beauty professional. She is also the author of two published books "The Black Girl's Guide to Being Blissfully Feminine" and "A Girl's Guide to Being A Lady in Waiting". Meet this passionate and determined Afro-American expat woman.

Job: Check. Accommodation: Check. Visa: Check. How about your finance? Carefully considering your banking options before moving abroad could save you money and time. Depending on your reason for moving abroad and the duration of your stay, you could be tempted to use the bank account from your home country or open a local bank account in your home country. But have you thought of an international bank account? Here is why you should consider it and what you should look out for.

Last week, Thailand's Cabinet approved a draft bill aiming at recognising same-sex civil partnerships. If this bill is passed into law, Thailand would be the second country in Asia to back same-sex unions after Taiwan. Russia, for its part, publicly announced the prohibition of same-sex marriages. But how does it feel to be a same-sex couple abroad? Al, an American expat in Brazil, talks to Expat.com about LGBT rights and his everyday life in his host country.

Born in Newport, Vermont, in the USA, Tamara Jacobi was raised in Canada. Today, she lives in San Pancho, Mexico, where she owns an adventure business, managed by her family, in the heart of nature. An avid writer, she is the author of Wildpreneurs, a guidebook for turning your passion into business. Tamara talks to Expat.com the best ideas to have right now to become a successful expat entrepreneur in the post-COVID-19 era.

The USA is one of the most affected countries by the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 1.4 million cases and a death toll of over 83,000. While the lockdown is being eased in many countries, it doesn't look like the situation is getting better anytime soon. Anna, a Bulgarian expat, who lives in Chicago, shares her views about the pandemic with Expat.com.

While local authorities are taking strict measures to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 infections, life is slowly getting back to normal in China. Four expats in China talk to Expat.com about their experience during the lockdown and how they are expecting things to be in the coming weeks.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought many expatriates around the world on the frontline in various fields. Nilesh Sewpaul is a Mauritian doctor practising in Birmingham, UK. He talks about how the UK has been dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak and shares his personal feelings, away from his family.

As China officially announced that the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak has been reached, the situation is slowly getting back to normal. Sumayyah Hosany, a Mauritian expat living in Wenzhou with her husband Hamad Abdul Zahir from Pakistan, talks to Expat.com about her feelings about the pandemic. Both are doctors who have been volunteering in the Ouhai district in Wenzhou.

Many expatriates neglect proper planning for the event of passing away in their new country of residence. Some do not at all contemplate, neither plan for such an event. Even if there are a lot more exciting things to plan for when deciding to settle abroad, expats would avoid unimaginable problems and misery for their next of kin, friends, or embassies and consuls that have to deal with their passing away in their host country if they planned for the worst case scenario when going abroad.

Parliament has been suspended by Boris Johnson and whether Brexit is a deal or no deal remains to be seen. Keep an eye on the news to find out more about recent developments and what they could mean for the future of UK and EU relations. 

How to traveller is about the life of David, an Irish expat blogger who moved to Spain looking for new pastures. A job opportunity drove him from Malta to Costa del Sol after spending some time in Czechia and Malaysia. To those who are looking to travel or move to Spain, he speaks about his experiences and gives out some tips.

From breathtaking firework shows and lively street parties to live music and parades, New Year's Eve across the globe is about finishing off the year in high spirits. Here, we have put together a list of the best destinations in the world to start the new year countdown. As clocks will be striking midnight, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you the best of success with your 2019 expatriation projects!

December is all about excitement, anticipation, and high levels of energy, which are required to get us through all the shopping and cooking frenzy of the festive season. Then, Christmas Day comes and along with it the pick of our happiness. Wherever we are, and whoever is surrounding us, we are doing our best to make our Christmas special. But the day is over, and on the 26th we wake up underwhelmed. If we have spent the holidays in our host country, far away from family and close friends, this is usually a day of nostalgia and heavy symptoms of homesickness. Don't shut your emotions down, but do small things instead to boost your spirits again. After all, you have the New Year to get you going.

You have so many options for your Christmas shopping — from bursting department stores and cosmopolitan shopping streets with spectacular festive window displays, to local boutiques and the internet, of course. However, for fairy-tale-like Christmas shopping experiences, we encourage you to head to the closest Christmas market, where you will find anything from handcrafted toys and ornaments, to fashion items and food (so much food!). Let the sounds of Christmas carols and the aromas of warm mulled wine, gingerbread, and roasted chestnuts guide you to one of our favourite European Christmas markets, and indulge into the holiday spirit!

A new business opportunity is what made Adrian, a British expat, want to move to Bermuda. Passionate about travelling and sailing, he decided to take the leap of faith with his wife and kids. Bermudian Life is his blog where he talks about his everyday life as an expat and things to see and do in Bermuda.

After graduating in Northern Ontario, Carmelo wasn't very happy about career prospects in Canada. His quest for a better job led him to China where he works as a teacher. He talks to Expat.com about his new adventures and everyday life as the father of a newborn son in what he calls the "Millenials' paradise", and his passion for his work.

During the World Cup this past summer, Stefanie, a Belgian/Australian dual national (a "Belgalian" or "Austrelgian" if you will) had to divide her time and support to, not one or two, but three countries. Now living in France and married to a Frenchman with two little ‘Fraussie' children, the challenge of being a citizen of more than one country was no longer limited to the football fan-zone. Stefanie tells us some of the challenges of dual nationality that span beyond choosing which team to support.

Wendy comes from Mississauga, Canada. After travelling around Europe, including France, the UK and Sweden, she finally moved to Australia where she is a teacher, with her husband. Today, Wendy is a happy mom of two children: Ella who is three and Oliver who is six months old. Wandy McNoble Down Under is her blog where she talks about her day to day life and travels around the land down under.

Meet Nina, serial expat who been living out of a suitcase since she was 18. With a background in luxury travel, she was thrilled at the opportunity to move to one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Chile. Here she shares her experiences on expat life in Santiago and beyond.

After a successful and challenging career as a Psychologist in the area of trauma and abuse, and helping others survive their situations, Stefanie met her French husband in her home country Australia and decided to follow him back to Europe. Although excited about the new adventure, the arrival of their 2 children often left Stefanie struggling with missing her career and being a stay-at-home mum, which led her to taking a less stressful and demanding job. Below, she details some of the challenges that people face when sacrificing their careers for their partner and family, whether they changed to a new profession, or stopped working completely.

It's been nearly twenty years since Jill first moved to Mexico for a study abroad semester. There, she met the love of her life which brought about the irresistible desire to come back and settle in Mexico. Jill talks about her journey and her everyday life as an expat on her blog. If you have always wondered what life in Mexico is all about, here we go!

Rebekah is an avid traveler and blogger, born in Dublin, Ireland. After growing up with her parents in the UK, she lived in Germany, the Greek Islands, and South Korea. Back to Europe, she met her Spanish husband, and they got married in New Zealand. Today, they live in the Netherlands with their two kids. The author of Write Now Rebekah speaks to Expat.com about her expat experience and passion for blogging.

International employees are usually assigned to manage a project abroad by their company back home, and this is how they find themselves undertaking the adventurous journey of expatriation. However, if you have decided to become a self-initiated expatriate because you wish to boost your career, gain new life experiences, or start over again in a whole new country, read below to find out how to create a game plan for your overseas employment.

Izabella comes from Sønderjylland, in the South of Denmark, but has been travelling since she was five. After spending years in England, she met her prince charming and decided to move to Texas, in the USA when she turned 19. Hyggjaa, her blog, is about her wanderings, her struggles to find her place and her pursuit of the American dream. Have you ever wondered what life in the USA is all about? Find out through the adventures of a Danish country girl in Texas who spends her time between writing, acting, sailing, and her passion for music and photography.

Born in the Fraser Valley, close to Vancouver, Sharilyn spent some 20 years in Calagary where she worked with the Red Cross before setting up her own consultancy company. Six years ago, she chose to move to Argentina where she got the opportunity to develop an eco hotel inside a wildlife reserve. Sharilyn speaks to Expat.com about her daily adventures in Patagonia and everything she likes about the country, from the amazing landscapes to the warm and friendly people.

A lot of money is spent worldwide on purchases which accelerate one's self-confidence, appearance, and sense of superiority and prestige. According to the Bank of America Merrill Lynch report conducted a couple of years ago, vanity capital (or the money spent on beauty products and services) is estimated at about 4.5 trillion American dollars! How much attention does your expat destination pay to new shades of lipstick, anti-ageing creams, health supplements, and youth elixirs?