Colette1958
Introduction
I live in Ottawa wanting to move to Portugal.
I joined expat.com on 18 September 2010.
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Colette1958posted on the thread Getting married in Slovakia
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Colette1958posted on the thread WHATS THE WORST JOB
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Colette1958posted on the thread Doing business in Slovakia
Expat experience
After working and traveling in Switzerland, Spain and Belgium I decided to make Piestany my home for now.
Quaint, quiet well its a Spa town. The town lies in a valley with a large river and reservoir running through town and low forest covered mountains to the East and West. Great mountain and road biking, small local ski hills, water everywhere (kayaking, rowing, swimming, golfing). Piestany has a reputation as a "small Shanghai" given that most people travel by bicycle all year around. Its an international tourist town with many travelers from Europe and the Middle East coming here all year around.
Small town attitudes, everything closes at 10pm as its a Spa town, a few restaurants that despite being French, Mexican, Chinese, etc all serve the same food (fried Slovak over-cooked dishes) or pizza, 1 small cinema that if 15 people don't show up the film doesn't get played, poor shopping facilities, the "town" people vs the "rest of us foreigners', expensive real estate (its the 2nd most expensive city in Slovakia after Bratislava). The spa is out-dated, doesn't get it that they need to attract a younger crowd that is physically active. Local attitude "don't change" which is too bad as all the foreigners here see the huge potential yet the locals refuse to evolve and make the town a "hot" spot.
Moved to work as the Scientific Director of an academic breast cancer research group.
I lived 1 block from the Plaza Catalunya. Great atmosphere, great weather (well I am Canadian), great food, great atmosphere. Good travel connections within Spain and internationally. Lots of Gaudi (just around the corner from my apartment), the Sagrada Familia cathedral, the Olympic Stadium, the harbor with its cruise ships, the beach. CORTES INGLES...shopping at super prices. Fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood.
Cataluyans are friendly but rarely invite you into their homes. They live life out on the streets in sidewalk cafes and restaurants. Too much concrete and not enough green vegetation in the city.
Worked for the HQ office of Hoffman La Roche pharmaceutical company
EVERTHING works and functions like a Swiss clock. Clean, great transportation facilities. Multicultural work environment.
WAY too expensive! Swiss standoffishness. I had only other expats as friends. The stores close a 6pm. Paperwork for living there and once you want to leave. The Swiss pension system...they keep a portion of your pension savings in their state bank.
Came here and took a 2 year work sabbatical. Enjoyed life then got bored so started to work in Switzerland while keeping permanent residency in Piestany.
Studied and worked as a cancer specialist at the University Hospital and also consulted with the Canadian Federal government in the area of regulatory drug approvals.
Clean, Green and Canadian. Beautiful city, international, a bit "government-ishy" but a great place to live all year around.
-40C in February!
I studied medicine and worked as a family doctor for the less priviledged.
Loving, kind and caring people. Great weather 11 months of the year.....hot and dry!. Beautiful sunsets every night over the Sierra Madre mountains. Close to the US border (for a real hamburger and shake on occassion), modern, great food!
nothing...I left my heart there.
Studied at the University of Guelph
Great university, international student body as it is 1 or 2 Canadina Vet colleges and has an international agriculture program so lots of Latin Americans, Africans and other foreign students. Best place on campus: The Bullring.....old pinball machines that I mastered during my studies.
