Hi Everyone, I hope you have been enjoying a fabulous week! Please take a few minutes to read, enjoy, share and tweet about our new September home page features below. Thanks so very much, Andrea.
Success Story
Lisa Rutledge and Rachel Ogg
Co-Founders and Directors, KiwiOz Nannies
In 2000, New Zealanders Lisa Rutledge and Rachel Ogg conquered their entrepreneurial fears and resolved to join forces to start their own childcare business. The pair headed to London in 2001, and, inspired by the market they saw for a young, friendly company to place Australasian nannies in the United Kingdom, they founded KiwiOz Nannies. In 2011, with combined global turnover approaching US$1 million, Lisa co-runs the business from Auckland and Rachel from Sydney...
Read more
Business Idea
The Pajama Company
Ellie Badanes
Running a business that she loves, being able to wear her pajamas all day "for research", and having a portable career that she can take anywhere – this is the tale of how American Ellie Badanes reinvented herself from retail buyer to online entrepreneur, after accompanying her spouse on expat stints in Copenhagen, Denmark; and London, United Kingdom...
Read More
Healthy Living Abroad
How to Beat the Expat End-of-Summer Blues
Dhyan Summers, MA, Licensed Psychotherapist
For many expats, August/September is a particularly poignant and difficult time, as we are frequently returning from time spent in our home countries with family and close friends. When we return to our host country, it is not uncommon to find ourselves feeling depressed, lonely and a little out of sorts. Here are six tips for regaining equilibrium and moving from end-of-summer depression to full engagement with our lives abroad...
Read More
Expat Confession
No Money Left
Extract from Expat Women: Confessions
In a few months' time, my partner and I will be returning to home base. We have enjoyed postings in Madrid, Berlin, Santiago and now Cairo. We have indulged in amazing holidays, eaten at spectacular restaurants and basically had a lifestyle that was second to none. The problem now is that this upcoming move home has made us realize we have no more than two months' salary saved in our joint bank account...
Read More
Job And Careers
7 Tips For Juggling A Portable Career With Your Household Abroad
Rhiannon Davies
The list of portable career options could be almost endless – from dive instructor to photographer, writer to consultant, life coach, counsellor, teacher, estate agent, nanny, web developer, graphic designer, Internet entrepreneur, and more. But how can you juggle a portable career with your household abroad? Here are seven tips to help...
Read More
Not a Member Yet?
Just a reminder that our blog is separate from our main site, so if you are reading this blog post online or you are only subscribed to our blog, you will not automatically receive our Expat Women monthly newsletters.
To receive our monthly newsletters and to go in the running to win our monthly prize of a complete set of Explorer Publishing Mini-Guides, please sign up today to our main site, ExpatWomen.com. When you join, you will also receive a link to download our free e-book of Winning Stories. Thanks for your support!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Expat Women Home Page September 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (29-30 August edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a great start to your week! Here are some expat-related links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you. Best wishes, Andrea.
6 Women Tell Us How it Really is to Live a Life of Travel and Adventure
http://bit.ly/oYusC3
Interesting: Thinking of Working Abroad? Asia/China experience is Increasingly Important for Careers
ow.ly/64aCn
225,000+ Young Americans Soon Depart for Study Abroad Programs
go.usa.gov/Kur
From Expat to Native: 20 Years in Moscow
tgr.ph/raxFXz
What's It Like to Be an Expat CEO in India? Read about Jacques Challes of L'Oreal in The Economic Times
http://bit.ly/rk97Ep
American Expats: "To OVDI or not to OVDI, part 2" by Taxes for Expats - Regarding IRS and Expat OVDI Tax Program
http://bit.ly/qwRkbA
Expat Careers article by Megan Fitzgerald - Are You Managing Your Career Abroad?
ow.ly/62jbt
4 Bloggers' North-South-East-West Expat Dispatch posts
http://bit.ly/q5ShWf
http://bit.ly/pZkigD
http://bit.ly/otGiPf
http://bit.ly/qiKyYy
As Oil Prices Climb, Rethinking How We Fly
http://bit.ly/mRGmLV
Want to Speak at the 2012 FIGT Conference? Proposals Due 9 Sept
http://bit.ly/nk1PDV
Expats - Repatriating? Overwhelmed right now? Simple But Timely Advice
http://bit.ly/oEtJt8
27 Years of Nomadic Living
bit.ly/jLO02a
How I Devoted my Expat Life to Helping Spain's Abandoned Animals, by Chris Marshall
tgr.ph/oUrNXD
**
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (21-22 August edition)
Hello Everyone, I hope you enjoyed a lovely weekend! Here are some more great expat-related links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you. Best wishes, Andrea.
New to Expat Life? Some Basics about Culture Shock
http://bit.ly/pS2f0R
Very Interesting: How to Raise Global Children
tinyurl.com/6zvs9cy
Does a Part of You Die When You Relocate?
http://bit.ly/qSdPrX
Want to Speak at the 2012 FIGT Conference? Proposals due 9 Sept
http://bit.ly/nk1PDV
Looking for Big in China author Alan Paul's Expat Life columns on WSJ?
http://ow.ly/5NJyj
Interview with Julien Faliu, Founder and CEO of Expat Blog
http://bit.ly/o2LoU7
Learning to Deal with Continual Change: A Help When Going Through Expat Transitions?
bit.ly/nVVs0c
5 Ways Expats Can Grow their Brand on Google Plus, by Expat Life Coach, John Falchetto
bit.ly/qyJib1
Preparing a Will in Japan
ow.ly/1e2YV1
My First Ramadan in Abu Dhabi
http://huff.to/njcMQ3
World Women Economic Forum, KL, Malaysia, Sept 19-20
http://bit.ly/n37qB7
An Expat Life as a Mother - from Libya to Qatar
http://bit.ly/pyQkew
10 Tips for Expats who are Vegetarian/Vegans
http://bit.ly/rpzIeu
Suffering from Jet-Lag These Summer Holidays?
bit.ly/oKxNqY
Distance Does not Herald the End of Melancholy Sundays
tgr.ph/qWI94o
Can the IRS Find My Real Estate, Bank Accounts and Other Property?
bit.ly/nKEvws
**
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (12-13 August edition)
Hello Everyone, Here are some great expat-related links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you. Enjoy! Andrea
Finding Opportunities and Creating Meaning, by Expat Life Coach, John Falchetto
http://twrt.me/ih35w
Follow Your Dreams and Find Yourself - Melissa Adams (A Divorcee's Good-News Story: She left the U.S. for Europe)
http://bit.ly/ovgepS
American Expat Abroad? FAWCO says 31 Aug is deadline for IRS OVDI program (for unfiled tax returns since 2003)
http://bit.ly/nkJQbv
Best Countries for Adventure Travel
twrt.me/u867e
Any Other Expats Feeling Alone?
http://bit.ly/q7meVz
Identity Crisis: The Traveller Who Isn't Traveling
is.gd/kqSQkw
Expat Finder Launches in German
http://bit.ly/p5tpea
New Site: Expat Workforce: Aims to Link Employers with Expat Talent Abroad
http://bit.ly/qdQqHh
How Expats Holiday Differently: New Blog Post from Chelsea Girl in China, on the UK's Telegraph Expat site
fb.me/E3qqWXxZ
Your Relocation Could Help Charity Projects
bit.ly/nha5KY
64.5 Ways Location Independent People Earn a Living
http://bit.ly/nOvbJw
Travel Photo Contest - Win Free Air Asia flights with the Koolred Colourful Photo Contest (Ends 26 August)
bit.ly/nX918z
Survey: Can You Help? Masters Student at Strathclyde Business School: Survey about Working Conditions Abroad
bit.ly/o0sNhY
Working Expats: Can You Help? Psychology Student at Bielefeld University in Germany: Survey about Job Satisfaction and Adjustment
http://bit.ly/mXVsXf
Expat Women - Can You Help? - PhD Student's Survey RE Expat Women and Cultural Intelligence
http://bit.ly/mWi5pe
**
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
August 2011 Edition of Mobility Magazine Online
Hi Everyone, If you are in the expat, global mobility and/or relocation industries, you may be interested in the August 2011 edition of Worldwide ERC®'s Mobility Magazine, which features the following:
Multicultural Mavens: Getting Savvy about Buyers and Business
By Anita Brienza, GMS
DOA: Death on Assignment
By Erin Fitzgerald
Moving Families to Asia? Caution: Think Schooling First
By Liz Perelstein
The Case for Cross-Cultural Training
By Brenda Bellon
Leveraging Effective Communications in Multiple-Culture Business Environments
By Lorelei Carobolante, GPHR, SCRP, SGMS
BRICs? So What? What Now?
By Gary Dittrich, GMS
Destination Profile: India
By Anne Dean, GMS, and Anita Krishnaswamy
Tackling the Issues of Hiring NRIs
By Aseem Juneja and Jennifer Kumar
Recruitment and Retention in India: Finding Snakes and Ladders in the Darkness
By Ranjini Manian
Smart (and Smarter) Communications
By Tabitha Parker
Happy reading! Andrea
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Welcome To Our Newest Expat Women Sponsor - MyDestination.com!
Hi Everyone, As a reader of our blog, we wanted you to be the first to know about our newest Expat Women Sponsor - the award-winning MyDestination.com - and their exciting franchise opportunity for people passionate about their current location and interested in a genuine business opportunity.
The Company
MyDestination.com is a global travel resource site powered by a diverse community of local experts on the ground, who can provide unrivaled local knowledge and seek out unique local deals. Through this specialist local information, MyDestination.com franchisees aim to make travel experiences more enriched, more enjoyable and quite simply, better. Initially starting with only one destination (Marbella, Spain), MyDestination.com now covers over 100 destinations around the globe, with their community spanning all of the major continents worldwide.
Travel Franchise Opportunities
MyDestination.com are currently looking to expand their destination offerings via more local partners (franchisees) who have a real love for their destination. The company's local partners make up the life, soul and expertise of the company – and have greatly contributed to the company's impressive success since launch in 2006 by young entrepreneurs Neil Waller and James Street.
MyDestination.com franchisees come from all ages and backgrounds and are committed to providing the best value for money for their customers, working closely with both global players and local businesses alike – allowing the choice of what suits the individual best. As local experts, they produce comprehensive destination information with unique travel articles and guides, insider tips, videos and panoramic virtual tours which allow visitors to personalize, share and inspire their travel experiences.
Are You Interested?
MyDestination.com is specifically on the lookout for anyone who is passionate about the travel industry and has a little entrepreneurial spark. Does this sound like you? If yes, and you would like more information about MyDestination.com's Travel Franchise Opportunities, please click here. To see what other franchisees have to say, please click on this video from MyDestination.com's Franchisee Conference Dubai 2011.
Thank You
Thank you very much Everyone, and thanks for your sponsorship support, MyDestination.com! If it were not for the generosity of our sponsors, we would not be able to run such a comprehensive site, free to our readers, so thank you! Andrea :)
Monday, August 8, 2011
School Choice International is Still Looking for Part-Time Consultants in Mumbai, India: Interested, or Know Anyone Who Might Be?
Hello Everyone, If you are based in Mumbai, India (or know someone who is) and you (or they) are interested in part-time, contract work for School Choice International, a leading educational consulting firm that helps families relocating worldwide, please read on…
School Choice International
School Choice International, Inc. is an educational consulting firm. They work with relocating families to help them find the best school match for their child(ren). Their headquarters are in White Plains, New York and their team consists of over 100 worldwide professionals. They hire educational specialists to work with families moving to the consultant's city or country. Please click here to see the caliber of their current consultants and their locations. School Choice International offers paid training and competitive remuneration.
School Choice International's Educational Consultant Position in Mumbai, India
Ideally, they are seeking a candidate who is on-the-ground in Mumbai, knows the local and international schools and who may also know the schools in Bhopal and Chandigarh. The successful candidate will be working with expats as well as Indian nationals repatriating back from their assignments. Candidates should also have some understanding of curriculum differences and be able to work through the admissions process.
Job Description
* Reports to Field Supervisor who reports to V.P. of Client Services
* Conducts intake interview with parents according to company intake form
* Ensures Client fills out School Choice Questionnaire
* Collects appropriate report cards from family to assist in assessing the children
* Develops a list of appropriate school matches for each child
* Contacts schools to check availability, discuss families/goodness of fit, and books tours
* If requested and approved by Client, accompanies families on school visits
* Follows through with families through the application process and/or as needed
* Maintains local knowledge of schools, possible school research project
* Blogs monthly
* Engages in referring new business
* Refers candidates for other consultant positions needed worldwide
* If requested, participates in School Choice webinars and meetings
* Consultant may typically work from home with computer access
* Hours will vary
Job Specification
* Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in education preferred
* Work experience in education or corporate arena
* International experience or experience living in another country preferred
* Knowledge of local schools both public and private
* Has worked with children and families personally and/or professionally
* Must have good judgment, problem solving skills, empathy
* Excellent communication skills - both verbal and written
* Excellent interpersonal skills
* Excellent organizational skills
* Moderate to high technical skills (including computer skills, research skills, ability to be trained to utilize SalesForce)
* Responsive - 24 hour response to school search preferred via e-mail or phone
Metrics
* Use School Choice email address and tag in all correspondences
* Track contact with clients through SalesForce
* Post all correspondences and recap all phone conversations in SalesForce
* In SalesForce, ensure child(ren)'s names, birth dates, and schools selected are documented. School data to be entered according to required template.
* E-mail or phone clients on a weekly basis
* Successful matches
* Time per project at or below standard
* Follow up survey results at or above 8 out of 10
Salary
* Compensated at an hourly rate - US$30 per hour, to start
* Referral bonus of US$250 for new business
Interested?
If you are interested in working with this fine company while you are living in Mumbai, please urgently email your resume/CV (preferably in PDF) and cover letter to Karen Mah (and please mention "Expat Women – Mumbai candidate” in your email’s subject line).
If you would like to read more about School Choice International's founder, Elizabeth Perelstein, please visit the School Choice International website and/or read the interview with Elizabeth on our own Expat Women site.
Many thanks Everyone and best wishes to all who apply! Andrea :)
(Feel free to forward this to your friends and networks in Mumbai as well, if applicable.)
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Are You An American Expat Abroad?
Hi Everyone, If you are an American expat, here is some important information released this week by FAWCO (Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas), with regards to tax returns and the IRS.
We would not usually highlight tax information for any one specific nationality, given we have members from 175 nationalities. However, one-third of our members are American, and this did seem important. Please ignore this if it does not apply to you. Thanks.
From FAWCO:
"Under the US tax system, US persons - citizens, green card holders and residents - are required to file annual US income tax returns reporting worldwide income. It is a legal obligation to ensure that "true and accurate" returns are filed with the IRS in a timely way to avoid risks of numerous penalties and, potentially, criminal prosecution.
Recently, the IRS has sent a strong message to US taxpayers residing abroad who may not yet have complied with their US income tax obligations. Taking advantage of the recently announced IRS "Overseas Voluntary Disclosure" program can potentially help taxpayers reduce penalties and avoid prosecution.
Note that OVDI is not the best solution for all US persons and not all US persons are eligible for the program. As always in the past, FAWCO strongly recommends that you consult a tax professional but, given the August 31 deadline for OVDI, you should do so quickly!
What is OVDI?
The 2011 OVDI is the latest in a number of efforts by the United States Government to encourage US persons who have not complied with their various US tax and related reporting requirements to become compliant.
The IRS has stated that the 2011 program is the non-compliant taxpayer's "last best chance" to come forward with an element of "certainty" on the amount owed to the US government. After this, the implications are that the IRS will use its full arsenal of penalties, and the possibility of criminal prosecution, to aggressively find and "punish" the non-compliant taxpayer.
What is required under OVDI?
The taxpayer must file all delinquent or amended returns and additional reporting obligations for 2003 through 2010 calendar years.
The taxpayer must pay all taxes, penalties and interest charges.
The deadline for participation in OVDI is 31 August 2011. This may be extended by 90 days if a request is submitted by this date.
What are the benefits of OVDI?
Under OVDI, individuals accepted into the program can avoid criminal prosecution. Costs, penalties and interest charges are clear and the individual has the peace of mind of being fully up to date and compliant. While there are alternative disclosure procedures, OVDI may provide the best opportunity for the lower fixed penalties for becoming compliant.
Click here for the full article on the FAWCO website, prepared with information for which we very much thank US Tax & Financial Services Ltd in London.
Please share this information with others around you..."
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Missed Some More Great Expat Links on Twitter? (4-5 August)
Hello Everyone, Here are some great expat-related links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you. Enjoy! Andrea
TripAdvisor Releases List of Most/Least Expensive Cities to Travel to.
http://bit.ly/rePMqH
Expat Friendships: Do they survive the return home?
http://bit.ly/qWCJ8L
Top 10 Expat Destinations According to Google (UK)
http://bit.ly/o519XN
Great to See! Berkeley Program Aids Expat Spouses Lost in Translation
http://bit.ly/p0xlnf
Expats: When You Know You are Relocating, Do You Tell or Not Tell?
http://tgr.ph/ncoUVP
Feeling Sad about Your Relocation
http://bit.ly/nxzcPp
Campaign by Telegraph Expat for Expats who have Fallen Victim to Corruption and Confused State of Property Law in Spain
ow.ly/5H6IS
Staying Put, For Now: Expat Postings, Indecision, Settling-In
http://bit.ly/n9LQQk
Stretching the Expat Dollar
http://buswk.co/qtqFCy
Clements Honors U.S. Foreign Service Youth Making a World of Difference Abroad
http://bit.ly/qx3YTd
Telegraph Expat's Chelsea girl in China on the 90 years of communism celebrations
http://ow.ly/5DiYo
The Little Travelers now has 5 (!) lovely kids travel DVD
http://bit.ly/roGgVK
Great Way To Shop Online for What You Miss - and Have it Sent to You Abroad by US Global Mail
http://bit.ly/l8QVrc
Reverse Culture Shock: A Holiday in the UK sent one Hong Kong expat's World Upside Down
http://tgr.ph/rqaYUj
10 Ways to Feel at Home as an Expat
http://bit.ly/mScFZx
The Winners: Expatica’s Best Blogs 2010/2011
http://bit.ly/pQ4UWZ
$500m Floating Resort the Amphibious 1000 to Take Luxury to New Level on Coast of Qatar.
http://bit.ly/qvQKyQ
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Would You Like To Vote in the Clements Worldwide 2011 Expat Youth Scholarship?
Hi Everyone, The judges have narrowed down the video entries to six in each age category, for the Clements Worldwide Expat Youth Scholarship (EYS), and are now inviting votes to pick the final winners. Voting will be open until 31 August 2011.
To support this great annual initiative, please cast your vote by:
1. Clicking "Like" the Expat Youth Scholarship page on Facebook;
2. Then accessing the "Vote Here" tab;
3. Then click "Like" for your favorite video in each category; and
4. Be sure to click "confirm" after you click "like", to make sure your voted are counted.
Thank you very much for supporting the EYS Scholarship! Andrea. :)
The EYS Scholarship is a unique scholarship program for expat youth, sponsored by global insurance provider and Expat Women Silver Sponsor, Clements Worldwide. A total of US$10,000 is awarded to students annually. This is the third year of the scholarship. For more details, please click here.
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (2-3 August)
Hello Everyone, Here are some more great expat-related links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you. Enjoy! Andrea
Mercer: Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2011 – City Ranking
http://bit.ly/oOGO6i
Women Say Working Abroad Improves Their Career Prospects.
ow.ly/5MjSK
When It’s Over: Regret and the Post-Expat Life
**
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
