Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a wonderful week. Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
Choosing Between Making Money & Doing What You Love (HarvardBiz)
http://bit.ly/HpmDVU
Do Expats Need To Balance The Fun Of Now With The Security Of Later?
http://on.ft.com/H3VDJo
10 Things To Know Before Traveling To South East Asia
http://bit.ly/H0h1Oq
New Australian Magazine "International Traveller" Is Looking For Travel Story Contributions (Prizes To Be Won)
http://on.fb.me/IJ6wSk
Living In The UK? New Subscription-Based Group For Professionals Relocating To London
http://www.provisita.com/
20 Business Lessons Learned While Riding Across Africa
(by sometimes-expatriate-sometimes-repatriate Kiwi Natalie Sisson)
http://bit.ly/HF72QJ
Take A Look Around The World's Most Expensive Apartment
http://shar.es/r3VTn
Travel Friends, Forever Friends
http://bit.ly/H1ZFSW
Expat Case Study: How Long Would Your Money Last If You Retired Today?
http://bit.ly/I98eKS
Meet The Expat Chefs Who Left Their 5-Star Jobs To Set Up Their Own Restaurants In India
http://bit.ly/HvnzpE
Are Expat Women Safe in Kuwait?
http://bit.ly/JXg8gt
World's Strangest Theme Parks [In Pictures]
http://bit.ly/Iobnu2
A Sad One... Isolation Takes Its Toll On Expat Execs
http://bit.ly/HuUDzv
One from us... If younhaven't yet downloaded a sample from our Expat Women: Confessions - 50 Answers to Your Real-Life Questions about Living Abroad, just click here and happy reading!
Videos of the week (not expat-related, but brilliant)...
A Day Made of Glass (by Corning):
Video 1 http://bit.ly/Ki1uuj
Video 2 http://bit.ly/Iz4Fgr
And finally, a quote that I adored from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie this week...
"Everything will be alright in the end. And if it's not alright, it's not yet the end."
***
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (April 30 edition)
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (April 26-27 edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope you have enjoyed a fabulous week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
How Expat British Cook Rachel Khoo Got A Taste For Life In Paris
http://tgr.ph/IlnRVk
Clements Worldwide Announces Global Launch of its 4th Annual Expat Youth Scholarship
http://bit.ly/JuI9qM
5 Ways To Stay In Your Expat Bubble Abroad
http://bit.ly/INAYgq
Finding Love When You Least Expect It: An Expat's Story
http://bit.ly/IllKB6
Get Up Close Personal With "Expats" Author Chris Pavone
http://bit.ly/HSmzkz
Tips For Integrating Successfully Into A New Way Of Life Abroad
http://bit.ly/HJ1u6a
Can You Help An Honours Student With Her Survey?
Expatriate Stress & Coping With An Overseas Assignment
http://bit.ly/IBRrPu
Win An Entire AirAsia Plane Flight (Sydney to Kuala Lumpur) For You & 302 Friends
http://bit.ly/HwVbGw
5 Lessons Learned at 2012's FIGT Conference
http://bit.ly/HsnPof
April's Worldwide ERC Mobility Magazine
http://bit.ly/H5KhVs
Architect's Plan To Connect NY Buildings Via Bridges In The Sky
http://bit.ly/H5HOtZ
8 Mistakes Expats Make That Can Leave Them Feeling Disconnected
http://dld.bz/aXpF6
Repatriates Needed To Help @suziefinnie With Online Survey
http://svy.mk/HcBCBB
And a quote for the week...
"Most people don't have you on their mind. Move forward and stop analyzing what you think they are thinking."
by @teracarissa via @talentdiva
***
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (March 27-28 edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope your week has started really well! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
How Many Expats Are Living Beyond Their Means?
http://bit.ly/GEnMux
How To Work In Someone Else's Country
http://tgr.ph/GThat2
The THNK Tank: Why Amsterdam Wants Your (Creative) Brains
http://is.gd/uV4jVc
My Top 3 Tips For Moving Abroad & Then Repatriating
http://bit.ly/z6Ny6V
The Logistics Of A Dual Career Search
http://bit.ly/GWh5RE
44 Countries in 44 Years: What’s Your Travel Philosophy?
http://bit.ly/HfQ9fy
The Decision To Move Is Never Easy
http://bit.ly/GEKWM9
International Schools: >3 Million Children Now Get A Global Education
http://tgr.ph/GRh5EN
Jo Parfitt Interviews Dr. Lisa Pittman and Diana Smit
(Authors of Expat Teens)
http://bit.ly/GDRHPH
Luxembourg City is 66% Expats?
http://vsb.li/X4O7rf
Deloitte's Global Mobility Report
http://bit.ly/GzwSU9
Pros & Cons Of Expat Life in The Netherlands
http://bit.ly/xI5WFB
Telegraph Expat has launched an International Schools Directory
http://tgr.ph/GzwR6x
And finally, a quote for this week:
“Always believe something wonderful is about to happen"
Lisa Messenger
***
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
10 Things Not To Say To A Depressed Expat
Hi Everyone, Over the years, I have received many emails from expatriate woman who admit to feeling depressed. For this reason, I am sharing a wonderfully honest article I found on a blog by Noch Noch (an expat in Beijing), that I hope might help anyone coping with their depression (or the depression of loved ones close to them). Warmest wishes, Andrea.
Background: I stumbled on Noch Noch's article after I read her Forbes article, 7 Secrets To Success As An Expat Executive. She also wrote the Forbes article, Against All Stereotypes: Stress, Depression, Recovery, and Then?
10 Things Not To Say To A Depressed Person
by Noch Noch
 |
| Noch Noch |
...A few weeks back, a friend wrote to me and said she just found out that a family member of a friend has depression. But her friend did not know what to say or how to encourage the depression sufferer. She asked me if I had any recommendations. It got me thinking.
I can’t give medical advice, and I think what to say is very dependent on the personality and situation of the oppressed. However, what I can offer is my take on what not to say to someone in depression. Hopefully this can help you empathize where we "weirdos" are coming from, and for you to be more sensitive to our plight.
And on that note, please don’t ever ever, ever again say the below in bold type to me in whatever circumstances if you consider me a friend....
Do NOT say:
1. “Remain Positive”
I think: Duh! I know, but how? To me, my reality is that the world has already caved in. What is irrational to you makes utmost sense to me. I’m so angry / upset / sad / lonely / devastated / hopeless / in despair… Why can’t you understand me?
I feel: I recoil further into my shell to avoid future contact and meaningless advice because you never told me how to remain positive.
2. “Don’t think like that”
I think: Why not? What’s wrong with thinking like I do? It’s an honest opinion. I really think this. It’s negative all right, but that’s what I think, so what’s wrong? So how should I think instead? Like you? But I don’t agree with you, and then I become you if I think like you…?
I feel: I did something wrong for thinking a certain way, and you reprimanded me for thinking so. Thus, I withdraw, and berate myself for thinking the way I do, and spiral further down into depression due to self-criticism.
3. “Pull yourself together” / “Snap out of it”
I think: How? Snap out of what? I don’t want to be like this either. You think it’s fun?
I feel: ...completely useless and hopeless that I’m incapable of holding myself together and getting better. Depression snowballs with this sense of incompetence.
4. “Why do you need to be depressed?”
I think: Umm… I don’t know, I wish I knew. Doctors said it’s because of some imbalance in serotonin in me. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.
I feel: ...accused of committing a heinous crime to be depressed. Confused because I don’t know what happened to make me depressed and how it all happened. I feel lost since I don’t know how to get out of depression. I feel inferior and worse about myself, so I hide from you as well, because I don’t want to feel inadequate.
5. “Look at how lucky you are already! Be thankful.”
I think: I am thankful for what I have. But what does that have to do with depression? Doctors and every website I’ve read say depression is an illness and has biological factors. Depression needs to be treated as any other sickness...
I feel: ...misunderstood as a spoilt, ungrateful little girl, when I’m not. Frustrated for being misunderstood. I cry. I wail. I feel sad. I retreat into my hiding place, again.
6. “Go do something and you will feel better”
I think: Go do what? I can’t be bothered. I’m tired. I’m not interested. I have no energy. I just want to sleep. Doing something won’t make me feel better. Leave me alone.
I feel: ...tired and lethargic, and I have no energy to think about what to do. I feel harassed because you keep telling me to do something.
(Note: What did work, was instead of telling me to do something, my fiance simply made me put my clothes on, slid me into my boots, and dragged me out of the house for a walk, talking about random things on the way, not once mentioning anything to do how I was doing or asking if I felt better.)
7. “What’s wrong with you?”
I think: I wish I knew. I wish I knew. Oh how I wish I knew. Can you tell me? Can somebody tell me? I don’t want to be like this. Why am I like this?
I feel: ...absolutely hopeless because I don’t know why I became like this, and I was unable to find out the reasons behind my depression. Very belittled and angry at myself. Can’t deal with this. I might as well die.
8. “You should do this…” or “You should not do this (such as kill yourself)…”
I think: Why? This is my life, I’m allowed to end it if I want. Why should I eat? I’m not hungry.
I feel: ...patronized by your condescending tone (even if you didn’t have one). I feel rejected for not doing what you think I am supposed to. I feel another bash to my already dwindling self-confidence, so you just succeeded in making me feel more desperate and more depressed.
9. “See how others suffer even worse, and have no food to eat. Be grateful for what you have.”
I think: But you told me not to compare myself with others, when I told you I was envious of others who have achieved more than me. So how double faced is it that just because others are less fortunate, I should compare myself with them? I know you are trying to tell me I should count my blessings – I do, trust me, I do. But how does this solve my depression? I still feel that life is not worth living despite being grateful for what I have. I am too tired to carry on and try.
I feel: ...baffled as to why sometimes you say don’t compare, and other times you tell me to do so. I don’t understand how being thankful makes me feel better, because what I have now has no meaning and no value to me. I just want to die. Maybe if I die, there’d be more food for those who don’t have any. Proceed to jumping out the window from the 30th floor.
10. “It’s all in your head…”
I think: It's not! But I know. How do I change my head? It’s not my fault. I didn’t want this. I can’t control it. I’m trying, but I can’t!
I feel: ...furious at myself for not being able to control my head and thinking. Inept at everything I'm trying to do, and worse, for disappointing you. I feel alone that no one can understand me. I alienate myself. I feel doomed to fail and might as well die…
Final Words
You might consider our reactions and emotions to what you say extremely unreasonable. I will not argue about it. Nevertheless, bear in mind that someone affected by depression does have a lot of “irrational” thoughts by standard of the norm. Yet, it’s our reality and we completely believe it, irrational or not. So don’t try to debate or convince us otherwise. You will only push us further down our bleak track.
My contention is that, the wrong thing said, can unknowingly push a depressed friend over the edge. Not to be fatalistic, but 60% of suicides in the world are associated with depression. Go ask the World Health Organization if you don’t believe me.
Please, give us a break. If we all had a choice, I don't think any of us would want to linger in a state of depression. If you don’t know what to say, don’t say anything. Just sit with us, let us cry, kick your shoes or whatever. That’s maybe all we need for now. Leave the lecturing to a medical expert such as a psychologist who can do it skillfully.
Author's Bio
Brought up in Hong Kong and Australia, Noch Noch was a young, overachieving executive for an international corporation. After seven years of living the life she dreamt of, or so she thought, she suffered a serious stress-related depression that turned her life upside down. As she battles with depression, Noch Noch is on a quest to be the wake-up call for others in similar plights in her blog, Be Me. Be Natural, where she jots down her reflections on living with depression and self-awareness. She is also the creator of Bearapy and she kindly gave us permission to republish her article on this blog.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Relocation Policies: Are We Being Set Up To Fail? by Expat Rachel Yates
Hi Everyone, Rachel Yates of Defining Moves: The Art of Successful Relocation wrote this great post for us, that we would like to share...
Relocation Policies: Are We Being Set Up To Fail?
We have lived in San Francisco for over a year, and I have yet to sign on with a doctor. I simply haven't had the time to find one whose opinion I trust, and I have had other priorities. I have been investing my time and energy in establishing a support network, ensuring that my children's educational needs are met, and recently spent 4.5 hours getting them admitted to a dental practice. Which is why I am convinced that the latest policies for improving spousal 'happiness' by investing in employment counseling are inherently flawed. We are being set up to fail, and here's why.
1. Time. The considerable time commitment that relocating and establishing a functioning household takes. The 'employed' partner is typically given between three and seven days to facilitate a move, but 63 percent of relocating households have one or more children, and move every three to five years. Thus the tasks that needed to be completed in any relocation (such as finding and furnishing housing, applying for documentation, establishing financial services, locating and enrolling with health care providers, finding appropriate education services) as well as time spent traveling, getting vaccinations and medical assessments, completing health, education, residency and legal checks, and of course the actual time spent moving house, fall to the accompanying partner.
The process is long term, and can up to six months to fully complete, leaving those on shorter term assignments destined for an endless cycle of tedious but essential research, driving and form-filling. Where destination support is offered, the limited time allocated means that housing and schooling are priorities, while services deemed less essential (such as waiting at home for utility engineers, establishing financial services, or finding medical care) are left to the accompanying partner to establish.
2. Invalid certification. Revalidating professional credentials takes a significant amount of time and effort and there are often delays in accessing the necessary courses. The shorter the assignment duration, the less benefit there is to be gained from the revalidation process, and where there is an additional cost implication, the overall 'return on investment' of recertification for career purposes is poor.
3. Inability to commit to new employment. Your resume may be stellar and your references glowing, but most employers are looking to recruit stable long-term team members. As an accompanying partner, you are unable to offer guarantees - you have already taken the decision to relocate to further your partner's career, and any future career decisions will almost certainly continue this trend. So if your partner's corporation decides to transfer, repatriate or terminate the contract, your dependent visa status means that you will be leaving too, regardless of how vital or fulfilling your new role is.
What Should Relocation Policies Be Focusing On?
1. Establishing realistic expectations. Far too many of us have embarked on life as an accompanying partner without fully understanding what we are signing up for. Including both partners in assignment planning meetings makes expectations clearer and more realistic. Is the move really a one off, or if it is successful, will the corporation be expecting further overseas postings? Is the time frame set, or is it likely to change according to the needs of the transferring employer? Answering these questions at the outset means that any plans made by the accompanying partner will be realistic over the entire expatriate time frame, rather on a single short term transfer.
2. The idea/option to work on a virtual basis. A great deal of work is outsourced or carried out remotely, so there may well be a way of maintaining your professional role from the new location. I know a CFO (Chief Financial Officer) who lives five hours from their former office, a real estate agent who uses Skype to give them a London office number but is actually taking the call in rural Wales, and a PR (Public Relations) agent who 'works' in the Heathrow area from a farm in Herefordshire. If career packages included identification of more flexible working opportunities and training in how to use remote networking tools, we could potentially make a smoother transition between locations, without having to change careers.
3. Encouragement and education around the idea of creating a new flexible career (as the accompanying partner). It may well be time to reinvent yourself. You have taken the decision to relocate for a reason, and it usually involves improving your family's quality of life and/or experiencing the wider world. Take it seriously, and invest time and energy in achieving those goals, and less time worrying about what you have left behind. If you are not simply taking a career break, but are intending to become a serial expat, reframing how you generate income and job satisfaction can open doors to opportunities that can move with you. Experts like Jo Parfitt and Robin Pascoe provide guidance on both a personal and professional transition to a new career and identity, and there are many online resources available, both for continuing education, career counseling and life coaching.
The good news is that we have far more flexible working opportunities than ever, and employers are increasingly outsourcing a huge range of tasks and roles to freelance workers and independent contractors. Web based job sites such as Elance, Monster and Craigslist feature thousands of opportunities that do not require residence in any particular location, and Ebay and Etsy provide a flexible way of running a retail business.
Final Words
Not every relocation policy lacks these ideas, but from anecdotal discussions with other expats, I suspect most do. What I suggest to the makers of relocation policy is that, as expat families, we could really benefit from a greater understanding of what options are open to us, and the tools to reframe our professional identity in a way that is congruent with the expatriate life, rather than in conflict with it. Do this to help us, and it's highly likely we'll stay longer on posting, and help you in return.
Rachel Yates, an expat trailing spouse from Wales, who has spent the last ten years turning relocation disasters into a worldwide traveling circus. Currently living in San Francisco, she has spent the last ten years routing through London, Nairobi, and Los Angeles, complete with two kids, two dogs and three cats. She has only once been upgraded on a flight. Current goals include making it into Virgin First Class, learning HTML and locating a perfect Lemon Drop Martini.
Monday, March 19, 2012
FAWCO (Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas) Conference Kicks Off This Week
Hi Everyone, Given that one-third of our readers are American, some of you might be interested in the following FAWCO (Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas) press release this week.
I am not American, but I was fortunate to speak at their conference last year in Marrakech, Morocco, and was impressed by both the welcome I received and by the extraordinary volunteer/charity efforts reported by each of the FAWCO clubs in attendance. I wish FAWCO every success for this year's conference and I applaud their ongoing volunteer/charity work. Andrea.
FAWCO Conference Kicks Off in Dublin on March 21 (Extracts)
"Over 200 members are expected to participate in FAWCO’s (Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas) Interim Conference in Dublin, Ireland on March 21-24, 2012. Local and international speakers, including Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, will cover a variety of global and club-level issues..."
"Conference attendees will also learn about a variety of other issues facing Americans living abroad as well as receive updates on FAWCO’s global initiatives. The 15,000 FAWCO members not attending the conference may view videos of sessions and speeches online via the FAWCO YouTube channel. Photos and newsletters will be posted daily, as well as PDF copies of presentations and handouts. Anyone can follow FAWCO on Twitter at @fawco2012, tweet using #fawco2012Broadcasts or find FAWCO on Facebook."
"FAWCO delegates will be welcomed on March 21 by Minister Jimmy Deenihan, current Irish Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Dr. Mary Henry will speak on Women’s Health in 2012 during the morning session of March 22. Dr. Henry is deeply committed to improving health care, especially for women, and to encouraging women doctors to continue their professional careers. President Michael D Higgins, the ninth and current President of Ireland, will be the keynote speaker in the morning session of March 22. President Higgins is a passionate political voice, a poet and writer, academic and statesman, human rights advocate, promoter of inclusive citizenship and champion of creativity within Irish society."
"To celebrate the 15th anniversary of FAWCO’s ESOCOC status at the United Nations, Peggy Rigaud (American Women’s Group Languedoc-Roussillon) will speak on FAWCO’s history with the UN during the March 23 morning session. Ms. Rigaud was first vice-president of FAWCO from 1993-95, - when FAWCO realized that the time had come for the organization to emerge more clearly onto the world stage by becoming a “recognized” NGO (Non-Governmental Organization). The keynote speaker on the evening of March 22 will be Dr. Pat Wallace, Director of the National Museum of Ireland. Dr. Wallace’s work has earned him an international reputation, due to his involvement in the largest Viking age urban excavations ever undertaken in western or northern Europe at Wood Quay."
"A panel discussion entitled Stop the Violence – Ireland is scheduled for the morning of March 23, which will explore the causes and impacts of violence against women and children in Ireland. The panel will include Senator Ivana Bacik - Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology at Trinity College Dublin, a Senior Lecturer and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin, and a practicing barrister; Ms. Sarah Benson- Director, Ruhuma; Ms. Margaret Martin - Director of Women’s Aid; Paula Mayock - Lecturer and a Senior Researcher, Trinity College Dublin; Ms. Susan McKay - award winning writer and journalist; Ms. Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, N.T., H.Dip. Ir. Folk., M.Litt, Dip. IGA (Lon.) - CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre."
"A variety of workshops will also be available for delegate participation throughout the conference, including:
· Women in the 1911 Census - Ms. Catriona Crow, Head of Special Projects at the National Archives of Ireland
· The Polysemic Role of the Curator - Dr. Barbara Dawson, Director of Hugh Lane Gallery
· A Suitcase Full of Words: Using Creative Writing to Chase Away Your Expat Blues - Ms. Robin Goldsby, American International Women’s Club, Cologne
· No Excuses! Breaking down barriers that surround the education of learning-differently for people at home and abroad - Ms. Susan van Alsenoy, American Women’s Club, Antwerp
· Americana – American culture for children with Ms. Elinor LeBaron, American Women’s Club, Quatar
· Water: Ancient Culture, Sacred Rite and Women's Rights - Sarah Franklyn, co-founder of Natural Capital Services
· US Tax Workshop: The Life of An American Abroad - panel of representatives from US Tax and Financial Services."
"Founded in 1931, FAWCO is a global network of independent volunteer clubs and associations. There are more than 75 member clubs in 40 countries, with a total membership in excess of 15,000. FAWCO serves as a resource and channel of information for its members, promotes the rights of U.S. citizens living overseas and contributes to the global community through philanthropy and global issues task forces. A not-for-profit New York-based corporation, we are also a UN-accredited NGO with Special Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council. The philanthropic arm of FAWCO - The FAWCO Foundation - is an independent entity, which has donated more than $1,000,000 in education awards and development grants since its inception in 1967."
FAWCO: Serving overseas Americans and the international community since 1931. You are invited to subscribe to FAWCO news at www.fawco.org.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (March 13-14 edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a wonderful week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
Why "Expat" Is A Misleading Term For Multicultural Couples
http://bit.ly/AaxCpt
7 Secrets To Success As An Expat Executive (Forbes)
http://onforb.es/zTNAzw
Expat Life: Italian Lessons Left My Head In A Spin
http://tgr.ph/zCzfBw
Top 6 Tips For Expat Women
http://bit.ly/A8yp1L
Is Doha The Ideal Expat Destination?
http://tgr.ph/xbXjoo
Have You Ever Slept in a World Heritage Building?
by British Expat Annabel Candy
http://bit.ly/wRLFL9
Worldwide E.R.C.'s March Mobility Magazine Online Now
http://t.co/TcfrbLkM
Can You Help? Short Online Dual Career Survey For Accompanying Spouses/Partners Of Expats
http://bit.ly/yh5wGM
W.I.N. (Women's International Networking) Conference Goes To Tokyo, 18 May
http://bit.ly/AdF4W4
Got A Favorite 'Blog About Blogging' To Nominate For This A-List Blogging Competition?
http://bit.ly/At6X1Y
Final Reminder: F.I.G.T. (Families in Global Transition) Conference March 29-31
(I highly recommend this conference. I attended in 2007 and 2009 and found the attendees incredibly friendly, genuine and collaborative. Keep up the great work, F.I.G.T. team!)
http://bit.ly/9wo6VZ
And finally, a quote for this week:
"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
George Bernard Shaw
***
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Expat Women Talk To A Laptop Entrepreneur
Expat Women: Nick, let's start at the beginning... what made you move to Spain nine years ago?
Nick: I was working as an equity trader in the UK and my company wanted to open up a European office. It sounded like a great opportunity, so I moved to Valencia with my wife and children.
Expat Women: How did your children cope with the move?
Nick: Amazingly well, given that they spoke no Spanish and went straight into full time Spanish education! In fact, one of the great triumphs of our move has been to help our children become international. They speak Spanish fluently now and my son is now at Valencia University on an Erasmus course in Turkey. So, they have left the constraints of the UK far behind and have developed a pan European outlook, which I think will stand them in good stead.
Expat Women: So, did you effectively swap equity trading for writing?
Nick: Yes, these days I am, more or less, a full time writer (although I also have a small estate agency dealing in properties local to my area in Valencia).
Expat Women: Why did you (and Graham Hunt) write Laptop Entrepreneur?
Nick: We wanted to write a problem-solving book for a time of problems. Increasingly, job security is being lost amidst the dreadful economic problems that have surged around the world. This has caused real hardship and I know, as an expat, how difficult it can be to earn money when you have no immediate support system available. This, I think, is a common experience for many expats.
Expat Women: Is the Internet the answer?
Nick: Well, it is certainly one answer and it has great advantages over starting other businesses. The overheads can be negligible, the risks almost absent and it is strategically sound, as the Internet is constantly expanding and is here to stay. Perhaps best of all, there are so many different ways of using the Internet to make money that virtually anyone can adapt their existing skills to cyberspace and make it work for them.
Expat Women: Where should someone start?
Nick: That is actually a very good question! Indeed, if anything, there is too much advice around, much of it very confusing and contradictory – which is one of the reasons my co-author and I wrote The Laptop Entrepreneur. What we wanted to do was to produce a clear accessible ‘road map’ for people who want to use the Internet to earn an income, which explained everything in simple terms. I think we have achieved this and produced a book that not only shows you how to use the Internet to make an income but also has excellent advice from very successful entrepreneurs who have done so.
Expat Women: Can people really make a living using the Internet?
Nick: Yes. Whilst there is no guarantee of success, it is not unheard of for a part time Internet business to quickly develop to such a point that it can become the main source of income for a family. This can be fantastic and, of course, because you can work worldwide, it means that the family also gains tremendous freedom. Furthermore, apart from the potential financial rewards, it can be great fun.
Expat Women: What tips can you give, for example, for someone who wants to start an income-producing blog?
Nick: Again, there are no guarantees, but six sound guidelines to help you on the right path for this would be:
1. Find a niche, and one that has commercial viability, that will enable you to enter a marketplace effectively, whilst providing something different and ‘eye-catching’. Try not to do what everyone else is doing.
2. Get your own domain name, your own hosting (thus being totally independent) and an excellent publishing platform (such as WordPress – which is user-friendly, powerful and ideal for blogging).
3. Publish frequently. The more you publish the better, initially, as you need to get ‘granularity’ and build up the content and ‘depth’ of your site.
4. Be consistent with your quality and develop a compelling style that is authoritative. Blogs work well when they are personal. So, write in the first person, present tense (wherever possible) and hold opinions (ones you can defend – however controversial).
5. Search Engine Optimise (SEO) all your posts carefully. Use relevant and well researched search terms, tag your posts properly and SEO all your images.
6. Sustain your blog. Even if you are successful instantly but most blogs take time to gain momentum and ‘traffic’. Keep publishing, be determined and check your statistics for what appeals to your audience and try to give them what they want – an interesting and reliable information stream, whether polemic, fun or useful. That way, over time you will gather a loyal readership who will trust you and who will then buy what you are selling.
Expat Women: Thank you very much for your time Nick and best wishes for Laptop Entrepreneur (Amazon affiliate link).
Thursday, March 8, 2012
KONY 2012 - An Incredibly Powerful Video & Campaign - Please Share?
Hi Everyone, I just watched the full 29 minute video below (or click here please, if the video is not displaying in your inbox). Generally, we do not put political causes on this blog. But this video was just too powerful and the effort from those behind the campaign just too impressive, that I couldn't not help this cause. Please share with as many people as you can too. Many thanks, Andrea.
Millions Watch and Share Film Aiming to Stop Ugandan LRA Leader
KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (March 6-7 edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope you having a wonderful week! I'm back from last week's trip to Japan and wanted to share some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
A Beautiful Look at Pinterest From Expat Travel Writer Christine Gilbert
http://bit.ly/x6Lbiy
Women Move Into Asia’s Corner Offices: NY Times Talks To The Female CEO of Ogilvy Greater China
http://nyti.ms/xcspF9
Telegraph Expat Talks to Expat Ali Meehan, Founder of the Costa Women Network in Spain
http://tgr.ph/zBRb4A
New Trailer For Expat Film: Shanghai Calling [Video]
http://bit.ly/wFePxb
Looking for a Job Abroad? Learn from American Expat in Sweden, Kate Reuterswärd
http://bit.ly/wCpesx
How Expat Annabel Candy Got Headhunted for a Jaunt to Japan
http://su.pr/ABpgzN
Consultants Help Turn Frequent-Flier Awards Into Tickets
http://t.co/yhYtULIS
New Off-The-Beaten-Path Tour in N.Korea Comes With Big Price Tag
http://bit.ly/wURu4P
Why Do The UAE's Expats Know So Little About The UAE?
http://tgr.ph/xLGEAo
Last Chance! Explorer Publishing's Competition for UAE Residents:
"Could You Be The Next Ultimate UAE Explorer?"
http://bit.ly/w1DWFM
Not related to being an expat, but my favorite video from last week:
The CIA Loves Facebook [Brilliant Tongue-In-CheekVideo!]
http://bit.ly/z2oLbM
And finally, some expat wisdom from Expat Lingo's Jen Brown...
"There are always hard days,but here’s the secret no one dares tell the ones back home: we’re the lucky ones"
***
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (Feb 15-16 edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope you having a wonderful week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
Can You Live On Social Media Alone? These Two Travelers Swap Cities To Find Out
http://tnw.co/z1zxZK
Expat Belgian Guy Finds Tasmania (Australia) An Unlikely Market, But An Excellent Source Of Ingredients For Chocolate House
http://on.ft.com/yOjcCH
Notes On No Longer Feeling Like An Expat
http://bit.ly/A3oARm
Thinking Of Volunteering To Build Houses In Cambodia? Read Robin Pascoe's (aka Expat Expert's) Report
http://bit.ly/xNEJrK
Big in Japan: A Look At Some Of The Most Popular Western Exports To The Land Of The Rising Sun
http://tgr.ph/zRChuB
When Expats Become Trapped Abroad
http://bit.ly/yW89zK
U.S. Proposing Wide Ranging Plan To Curb Expat Tax Dodgers
http://on.wsj.com/z6SiH0
Expats Flock to India Seeking Jobs, Excitement
http://nyti.ms/yuTEN8
Our Friend Adrienne Graham (aka @talentdiva) Has Turned Her Popular Article "No, You Can't Pick My Brain, It Costs Too Much" Into A Book - Check It Out
http://bit.ly/xjbUFJ
A Powerful Video (For Parents Everywhere, Not Just Expat Parents)...
Photos, Smart Phones And Social Media - A Terrifying NBC Report (2010) - And How You Can Change Your Phone's Settings
http://bit.ly/xCrdOD
New U.S. State Department Warning Maps Out Unsafe Areas Of Mexico
http://lat.ms/xoNhqF
Reminder: Competition for UAE Residents:
"Could You Be The Next Ultimate UAE Explorer?"
http://bit.ly/w1DWFM
Reminder: Expat Partners Wanted To Complete Questionnaire/Research On Career Choices/ Aspirations Whilst Overseas
http://fb.me/1jXycz62D
Reminder: Expat Women In Dubai And Abu Dhabi, UAE: Interested In Part-Time Work With SIRVA Relocation?
http://bit.ly/zwKYbb
And our quote of the week...
“We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”
Whitney Houston
***
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Expat Hanoi Jane's Elka Ray Shares Her Writing Tips
Hi Everyone, Today we would like to introduce Elka Ray - the author of the newly-released (August 2011) book Hanoi Jane. Elka is a Canadian writer and illustrator who lives in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She is the author of one novel and three children’s books.
Expat Women: Elka, what took you to Vietnam originally?
Elka: I spent six months backpacking in South East Asia after high school and found the region fascinating. Following university, I came to Vietnam in 1995, planning to find a thesis topic for higher studies. Instead, I started writing freelance, fell in love and never went back to university.
Expat Women: You have now been in Vietnam for 16 years. What made you stay? And what can you tell us about the other expats you have seen 'come and go' in Vietnam?
I stayed because it was exciting, I had interesting friends, and I could work part-time as a magazine editor and pursue my true passion – writing fiction. Since my husband’s family business is based here, I do not think that we will be moving any time soon. Although I do want my kids to spend their summers where I grew up, on Canada’s Vancouver Island.
Expat Women: Your first novel, Hanoi Jane, was published by Marshall Cavendish last year. What does it take to succeed as a writer?
Elka: I am still working on that one! I meet a lot of people who tell me, “Oh, I want to write a book!” but they do not sit down and do it. If you truly want to write, you will find some way to do daily. If you are really talented and lucky, your first book might get published - but that is unlikely. It is more probable that you will have to write for years without praise or financial reward before you have learned your craft and someone gives you a break. If and when you do find a publisher, you have to put in the time and effort to market your work. You need a great imagination, empathy to be able to create emotionally complex characters, discipline, and the ability to keep writing despite countless rejections.
Expat Women: Do you have any advice for other aspiring fiction writers?
Elka: I think that no matter what, you should write what moves you. However, if you want to get published by a traditional publisher (as opposed to self-publishing), you have to remember that their main concern is to make a profit. It is not enough to write a “good” book. It has to be sell able, so research the market.
If publication is your goal, before you start, I would advise you to write the promotional blurb that would go on your book’s back cover. Publishers want straightforward stories that can be summed up in a few lines. They want one clear, consistent point of view, and a lead character to whom readers can relate. The toughest market segment at the moment is that of kids’ picture books, especially rhyming ones. That being said, I have just finished a funny rhyming kids’ manuscript called Princess Nelly Was Smelly, for which I have high hopes. In the end I think that you just have to write what you love, and hope that some key editor will also love it.
Expat Women: Hanoi Jane tells the story of a young American reporter who, after moving to Vietnam and being dumped by her fiance, embarks on a wild adventure to rebuild her life. Was this story was based on your personal experiences?
Elka: The plot, which has Jane investigating a charity fraud, getting arrested by the secret police, and busting a gem smuggling ring, is absolute fiction. The characters are also inventions. The “real” elements in the story are the setting of northern Vietnam, which I know very well, and the emotions experienced by Jane — homesickness, confusion, doubt, heartbreak and ultimately a sense of pride that she is able to stick it out and find happiness in a place that was totally alien to her. I think that all expats have these feelings, which is why the book has resonated so well with them.
Expat Women: Elka, thank you very much for sharing your insights and experiences. We wish you and Hanoi Jane nothing but success this year. Congrats!
To follow Elka’s blog, which chronicles her often hilarious attempts to balance writing, motherhood and living in Vietnam, click here. To buy Hanoi Jane on Amazon, please click here (no affiliate link).
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (February 7-8 edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope you enjoyed a lovely weekend! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World
http://bit.ly/y2645f
New Expat Novel by Chris Pavone Launching March 6 But Already Receiving High Praise. Expats, Espionage, Deceit... Sounds intriguing...
http://amzn.to/ygNnlr
Expat Competition: Win A Place At The London International Youth Science Forum
http://tgr.ph/yUYPol
On Facebook? Join The Expat Youth Page To Get The Latest Details (Coming Soon) On This Year's Expat Youth Scholarship
http://bit.ly/wr2Eim
2012 Indie Travel Challenge on Bootsnall
http://bit.ly/w7cMeJ
Expatica's Expat Education Fair in The Netherlands is March 24
http://bit.ly/wVX51h
25 Reasons Google Hates Your Blog
http://bit.ly/wEGtj1
How Do You Live Inside A House The Size Of A Parking Space?
http://bit.ly/ytJjco
Competition for UAE Residents:
"Could You Be The Next Ultimate UAE Explorer?"
http://bit.ly/w1DWFM
Expat Show Beijing, China, Scheduled for 28-29 April 2012
http://bit.ly/wOu19H
Interview with Social Media Director of Families In Global Transition's Judy Rickatson
http://bit.ly/zQSGrQ
And A Reminder... Registration Now Open for FIGT (Families in Global Transition) Conference, 29-31 March, Washington DC
http://bit.ly/xJnS7k
Enjoy!
***
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Expat Women in Dubai & Abu Dhabi, UAE: Interested In Part-Time Work With SIRVA Relocation?
Hi Everyone, If you are based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, or know someone who is, and you/your friends are interested in a great part-time work opportunity with SIRVA Relocation, please read on...
Introduction from SIRVA Relocation
Global relocations are on the increase and we are actively recruiting Relocation Consultants. We offer the right candidates a great part-time opportunity to use their expat living and moving experiences and be a part of our dynamic team to help our clients' international employees and their families settle into Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Main purpose of the Relocations Consultant role
• Work closely with the SIRVA in-house team of Global Assignment Consultants
• Accompany our clients’ expatriate assignees on their: Look-See / Pre Assignment Trips; School Search; Home Search; and Settling-In Program
• Complete an end-of-program report
Ideal candidates would possess the following attributes:
• Personal experience and/or knowledge of international relocation industry
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Initiative, independence, well organized
• PC literate with good knowledge of MS Office
• Must have and maintain up to date knowledge of the local and expatriate living and life style issues within the UAE’s international community with schooling information in Dubai or Abu Dhabi
• Languages a distinct advantage
• Real Estate knowledge and contacts is essential
• Training will be offered to the right candidates.
Please urgently send your resume to: Kashish.Navlani@Sirva.ae
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Thank you.
SIRVA, Inc. is a leader in providing relocation solutions to a well-established and diverse customer base around the world. The company has redefined the relocation industry by offering innovative ways for customers to achieve their individual business goals, while providing global end-to-end relocation services, including program development and management, home purchase and home sale services, household goods moving, and mortgage services.
SIRVA conducts more than 300,000 relocations every year, transferring corporate and government employees and moving individual consumers. The company operates in more than 40 countries with approximately 2,600 employees and an extensive network of agents and other service providers in over 175 countries. With our global reach and local expertise, people trust SIRVA to listen to their unique needs and deliver seamless relocations every day.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Expat Writers: Interested in Submitting Your Story to Caravan Press?
Hi Everyone, Are you an expat writer wanting to have one of your stories featured in a new book? If yes, then please read on...
Caravan Press are a group of expatriate women writers based in Brussels, Belgium, since 2010. They are currently compiling a collection of stories for their forthcoming book and would like to invite submissions - from all over the world.
"We are currently seeking original, unpublished tales of interesting, funny, serendipitous or barely thinkable (but mostly true, of course) expat observations and experiences. Topics may include, but are not limited to the following: Culture Shock (classic or "reverse"); Food; Travel & Adventure; Friendship; Language; Life Experiences; etc.
Submissions should be limited to 1,500 words and sent via www.caravanpress.eu by May 15, 2012. All authors of selected stories will be notified by Caravan Press prior to mid-July 2012.
Kind regards, Bena Mattagne, For The Caravan Press Team."
Expat Research Results & New Requests: Can You Help?
Hi Everyone, Firstly, thank you to those who last year helped Regula Sindemann by completing a survey related to her Masters thesis on Cultural Intelligence. Regula kindly shares her main findings below.
Secondly, we have a two more researchers today looking for help with their expat-related research. Please help if you can. Many thanks! Andrea Martins
Research Results from Regula's Cultural Intelligence Research:
"Last year, I finished my Master thesis on the concept of Cultural Intelligence and its relevance for expatriate spouses/partners. (Thanks to everyone who helped!) We had 153 data sets, which allowed me to run meaningful statistical analysis, and I wanted to share my main findings here:
In case you are wondering what Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is: 'CQ is the capability to function effectively in culturally diverse situations' (Ang & van Dyne, Handbook of Cultural Intelligence, 2008). Basically, it predicts and explains why some people thrive and some struggle in culturally diverse settings. It consists of four complementary capabilities or dimensions: CQ Drive, CQ Knowledge, CQ Strategy, and CQ Action.
Main findings:
If you would you like to learn more about CQ and the possibilities of developing it, or you have comments, please let me know. I am also happy to share ‘my knowledge’ and to refer you to some interesting books or web pages on this topic.
Whilst my project focused on CQ and its relevance for ES, I do believe that the concept of CQ shows strong promise of being valuable to all global citizens. It is a framework that fosters cultural understanding and respect; a mind-set beneficial to individuals, organizations and nations alike. Best wishes, Regula Sindemann."
New Research Request: For Repatriates
Thekla Wesche is currently conducting research for her Masters thesis, with the Human Resource Management department of the Radboud University Nijmegen, in The Netherlands. The topic of the thesis is related to repatriation. The supervision is by professor Dr. Beate van der Heijden.
"Repatriation of expatriates is often neglected by organizations. Research has shown that employers often do not optimally value new experiences gained abroad. This, in turn, can cause serious problems while readjusting in the home country. Therefore, it is important for organizations and management to get more insight in perceptions expatriates might have after their international assignment.
The specific objective of this study is to get an understanding of how perceptions of the psychological contract of repatriates influence their organizational commitment. The focus of the research is on expatriates who have returned to their home country recently.
The survey takes about ten to fifteen minutes. Thank you in advance to anyone who can help. Warmest regards, Thekla Wesche."
New Research Request: For Expatriates in Israel
Dani Kranz is a social anthropologist in the Institute of Area Studies Transnational at Erfurt University (Germany). Her current research project concerns expatriates and their families in Israel. The project centres on how expatriates experience Israel, how they structure their social relationships, and if they form a community of expatriates. She will be conducting fieldwork in Israel in February and March 2012.
"I am specifically seeking for expatriates, who would agree to an interview and/or letting me take part in their daily activities. I am happy to discuss my project, and provide further details. I also seek contact to former expatriates, expatriate spouses or children who used to live in Israel. Full anonymity and full confidentiality will be granted. Your support would be very helpful for me. Kind regards, Dani Kranz."
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (February 2-3 edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope your week has been fantastic! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
The 10 Types Of People That Drive Flight Attendants Nuts
http://bit.ly/A7SjnQ
Great News For Expat Partners In Europe:
"Non-EU skilled Workers: Common Rules To Ease Intra-Corporate Transfers"
http://bit.ly/wKhEu1
The Expat Chick-Lit Author Who Followed Her Heart To London
http://tgr.ph/xSA6n9
Write An Essay About Australia To Win $6,500
http://bit.ly/A9DrUX
Behind An Expat's Wine Startup Success
http://bit.ly/wD0qkX
Google To Start Country-Specific Censorship for Blogs
(... and how to manually redirect)
http://on.mash.to/zIER3q
Twitter Has Refined Its Technology To Censor Messages On A Country-By-Country Basis
bit.ly/AaooOf
Expat Entrepreneur Laurie Villarreal (in the Netherlands) Talks About Her Marathon Training Camps
http://bit.ly/AkyPUP
Santa Fe Relocation Invites Global Mobility Professionals To Complete Their 2012 Survey
http://linkd.in/yvac30
“My Gutsy Story” By Pamela Sisman Bitterman
http://bit.ly/ycrc42
20 Ways To Annoy A Swede (Expat Blog Post)
http://bit.ly/yQLjci
New Zealand Introduces Retirement Visas From 29 March 2012
http://tgr.ph/z9XmKM
And one from us...
Like Freebies? Here's a (generous) sample from our Expat Women motivational book!
http://bit.ly/mZmTXP
Enjoy!
***
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Meet Annabel Candy – Expat, Web Designer, Copywriter and Travel Fiend
Meet Annabel Candy – Web Designer, Copywriter & Travel Fiend
Expat Women: Annabel, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Annabel: I was born in the UK and I have lived in France, Laos, Zimbabwe, the USA, New Zealand, Costa Rica and now in Queensland, Australia. I have been a web copywriter and web designer for 17 years, and currently run an Internet marketing company called Mucho (with clients in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and Africa).
Growing up, I always dreamed of living in a hot tropical place by the sea and I am so grateful I actually do. I work from home and live with my husband and our three school-aged kids. It is quite chaotic, but the beauty is that we can always escape to the nearby beach when we need some down time.
Expat Women: How did you come to be living in Australia?
Annabel: My husband and I owned our own web design and copywriting business in New Zealand and our three kids were born there. But we are both travellers and yearned to hit the road again. It took us a while to pluck up courage, but when our youngest child was two, we sold our house, along with most of our belongings, and moved to Central America.
We did not speak Spanish at first and had never been there before, so most of our friends thought we were crazy. We lived in the jungles of Costa Rica for 18 months with no Internet. We loved it but schooling the kids was hard (we had to buy desks for the classroom) and of course we could not do any web design work without the Internet! It was a great experience but in the end we decided to move to Australia instead - it had the warm weather and the Internet.
Expat Women: Why did you start blogging?
Annabel: I started because I wanted to learn about blogging and have a creative outlet for my writing (that was not anonymous like my normal web copywriting work was). I started blogging before I left New Zealand (but the blog was understandably on hold while I was without Internet in Costa Rica). It was 2006, and in my first blog post I wrote that I was going to: "Stare fear in the face and overcome my fear of being read, the fear that my writing would be judged." I never wrote another blog post for three years!
Expat Women: So what inspired you to pick up blogging again in 2009?
Annabel: I decided to give it another go. This time, I was determined to stick with it, even though at first, it was depressing because no one was reading my blog. However, slowly but surely, I started to connect with readers and get subscribers.
I started guest posting on other people's blogs and that helped grow my blog faster. Then, after I had been blogging for one year, Coca-Cola got in touch and paid for me to go to a social media conference in Shanghai (!) because they liked my writing. That was a real breakthrough moment because finally I felt that all the effort I had put into my blog was being recognized.
Expat Women: But is guest-posting just giving away your best content for free?
Annabel: I have learnt to stop thinking of guest posting as "giving away" my best work and start thinking of it as free prime time advertising. I am proud to say that my writing has now been featured on some of the biggest blogs on the Internet, like Problogger, Copyblogger and Zen Habit - and that has helped me grow my blog more than anything else. It has also been an excellent way for me to connect with new readers and raise my profile.
Expat Women: Do you make money from your blog?
Annabel: My core business is web design and copywriting, but blogging has helped me get clients all over the world, which is a huge benefit because I live in a holiday area with limited business opportunities otherwise.
In New Zealand I could never get a job unless I met the client. But blogging has helped me get clients all over the world. Not because of my qualifications (I do have an MA in Design for Interactive Media) or experience, but because of the personal experiences and stories I shared on my blog.
Now, I also sell my own e-book about blogging and promote other people's products, so blogging has allowed me to increase and diversify my income in these ways as well.
Another benefit: I can now also pick and choose what work I do. I have reached a point where I only do jobs that I enjoy and work with people that I like, which is a real luxury. For example, I just got a travel writing job for our local tourism board, where I go for a massage or try a new beauty treatment, then write about it for them. How good is that? :)
Expat Women: Do you have any advice for other bloggers and writers?
Annabel
But success with anything depends on perseverance, so my advice is stick with blogging, if you enjoy it, even when you want to give up.
Do not expect to see any results for a year or so, but promise yourself that you will keep updating your blog at least weekly. Blogging is an art, not a science. So keep blogging, keep experimenting and have fun with it!
Annabel Candy shares her travel stories and personal writing at Get In the Hot Spot. Or find her blogging tips and blogging book at Successful Blogging.
Thanks Annabel! Andrea
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Expat Women February 2012 Features
Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a lovely week! Please take a few minutes to read, enjoy, share and tweet about our new February home page features below. Thanks so much and I wish you a wonderful week! Andrea
Success Story
Irmgard Lafrentz
President, Globalpress Connection
Germany's Irmgard Lafrentz moved to Silicon Valley with stars in her eyes, hoping for a job with Cisco, Sun or Intel. With no job offer forthcoming, Irmgard started her own business as a global matchmaker between U.S. high technology companies and the international trade and business media. Now, her business turns over six (and sometimes seven) figures...
Read More
Business Idea
Beaded Lily
Lily MordÃ
In 2001, Americans Lily Mordà and her husband Timothy James took a two-month trip to Italy, and never left. Since then, Lily and Tim have built a thriving bead business in the Oltrarno – Italy's artisan area in Florence. Students travel from all over the world to learn in their studio, and their beads are bought by the likes of Chanel, Ferragamo and Escada...
Read More
Mothers
Moving Your Children Overseas After A Divorce
Ewan Cambell MacDougall
If you have started a family (or moved your family) overseas but your marriage did not turn out to be the happily ever after you hoped for, you might be feeling like it is time to go back home, or maybe start afresh in a new country. But beware: taking children overseas without the consent of their other parent can be considered child abduction...
Read More
Money Matters
U.S. Expat Taxes in 2012 – What's New?
IJ Zemelman, EA, Taxes for Expats LLP
If you are an American who needs to pay U.S. taxes, this article lets you know about about recent requirements for Foreign Investment Account Reporting (FATCA), gives information for securities and business owners, touches on gift tax dodging and IRS investigations, and highlights increases to IRS auditing measures...
Read More
Expat Confession
Intercultural Couple
Extract from Expat Women: Confessions
Recently I moved to my partner's home country, Japan. I myself am from Denmark, which is where we met. However, ever since we moved to Japan four and half months ago, our relationship has been having problems. It seems that the man I fell in love with has transformed into a different person...
Read More
Meet the Author
No Chopsticks Required: My Family's Unexpected Year In Shanghai
Katrina Beikoff
In 2008, Katrina Beikoff and her partner Gary Smart accepted one-year expat assignments with the Shanghai Daily. What followed was a very busy year involving major events such as China's massive snow storm, the devastating Sichuan earthquake, the Tibetan uprising, the Beijing Olympics, and the melamine-tainted milk scandal...
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!
Should You Start A Franchise Business in 2012?
Hi Everyone, We recently asked MyDestination.com (one of our valued ExpatWomen.com sponsors) about why 2012 might be a great year for franchise businesses. If you have ever thought about becoming a franchisee, you might be interested in their response...
Neil Waller:
"The beginning of every year sees many different types of resolutions being made, from quitting smoking, to taking up the gym. Starting your own business is one resolution that is frequently heard, but all too often not followed through. The planning required, financial considerations and the likely success of a new venture, all tend to put people off. However, investing in a franchise business can negate many of these considerations; you can be your own boss and have all the benefits of having your own business, without many of the stresses and strains. Here is why 2012 might be your year for investing in a franchise...
When considering starting a business, the fear of failure leads most people to stay safe and plod along in their current jobs, even though they have a burning entrepreneurial desire. Investing into an already successful and prosperous franchise business will hopefully reduce your stress that the business might fail. If you are already joining a business that is profitable and proven, your franchise should benefit from the authority and reputation of the business you are buying into, significantly reducing the risk of failure.
Entrepreneurs will undoubtedly need much assistance when starting a business, as it is impossible to have adequate experience in all areas of business. When you join a franchise business, you are able to access this experience and expertise needed to grow your franchise, through a centralised support structure that will be in place. As a new franchisee you should be provided with assistance and advice on all areas required to succeed in becoming a successful franchisee (including marketing, advertising, sales and so on).
After all, it is in the interest of the franchise company that as a franchisee you develop your franchise as much as possible. This reduces the risk of making mistakes in developing your franchise, as you will always have a support structure to guide you through the many challenges you will face.
Purchasing a franchise is also significantly cheaper than starting your own business, where overheads often become extortionate very quickly. The main outlay will be the fee you pay for your franchise; this will depend on the size of the franchise that you are buying and what destination it is in. However, for this you should receive all that is necessary to start your franchise, such as a website if it is an online franchise, a restaurant, a shop or maybe some office space. The access to the already mentioned support structure is also invaluable.
In economically uncertain times, franchising does represent a fantastic opportunity to run your own business. The fact that banks and venture capitalists are highly reluctant to invest in start-up businesses, means that you will need to raise most of your business capital yourself these days. So, investing in a franchise could reduce your initial costs, and help to bring benefits to you faster.
Whether you franchise or start solo, I wish you all the very best with whatever you start in 2012! May it be a fabulous year for you.
Warmest regards, Neil Waller, Co-Founder, MyDestination.com."
MyDestination.com is a franchise based network of travel sites, powered by a diverse community of local experts on the ground, providing local knowledge and local deals.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (January 25-26 edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope your week has been fantastic! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
Self-Published (Former Expat) Author Gets Movie Deal After Being Discovered On Twitter
http://bit.ly/AqIunA
Invent Your Future Job: Be Unique, Be Social, Be Global - by Expat Coach Anne Egros
http://bit.ly/wdglBS
5 Most Common Expat Injuries in China
http://bit.ly/yiXRLA
Is America Shutting The Door On Expats?
http://tgr.ph/Az9u4X
Delhi Journal: The Expat Experience (Wall Street Journal)
http://on.wsj.com/AbnBkU
Expat Selena's Observations On Her New Life In the UK
http://bit.ly/zuDviJ
Britons Rush For Australian Visas
http://tgr.ph/ynU41x
Interview: Expat Writing Mentor Jo Parfitt talks to Expat Author Matt Krause About His Turkish Love Story 'A Tight Wide Open Space'
http://bit.ly/yDewJp
Middle East, Africa & Eastern Europe: Best For Expat Pay & Packages
http://tgr.ph/zNu4MB
American Expats: 10 Year IRS Statute of Limitations: How Long Can The IRS Collect From You?
http://bit.ly/zHt2uS
U.S. Military Kids Now Have Their Own (Official) Social Media Playground To Help Deal With Challenges Of Deployment
http://ht.ly/8F4Oz
6th Annual Overseas & Military Voting Summit (Washington & Online) 27 January 2012
http://bit.ly/zD7fIZ
And one from us...
Like Freebies? Here's A (Generous) Sample from our Expat Women Motivational Book. Enjoy! http://bit.ly/mZmTXP
***
To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
Expat Entrepreneur Success Story in Russia
Hi Everyone, Here is a wonderful expat success story from Russia. A premium bakery chain that turns over $2 million each month. Incredible!
Hint: If you cannot see the video in your email feed, try clicking on the Russia Today page: http://rt.com/news/prime-time/story-success-pain-quotidien-605/
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Insights from Robin Pascoe, who Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Her First Book for Expats
Hi Everyone, Our wonderful friend Robin Pascoe, well known for her books about expat living, recently celebrated her 20th anniversary of the publication of her first book for expats (congrats Robin!). She reflected on this milestone on Facebook recently, and kindly gave us permission to republish her insights here for your easy reading...
From Robin Pascoe on 12 January 2012:
"I’m always telling people not to ignore important milestones in their lives, but did I mention I rarely take my own advice?
It’s the 20th anniversary of the publication of my first book for expats, indeed an anniversary of the first expat book that told wives it was OK to be angry and resentful of their husbands and to wonder, who the hell am I anyway?
Originally published in 1992 as “The Wife’s Guide to Successful Living Abroad”, in 1993 as “Culture Shock: A Wife’s Guide" but finally, under my own Expatriate Press, re-issued and updated in 2009 and given the title I wanted for it all along, “A Broad Abroad”, it was so much fun to put into words and print what so many women were feeling but no one was saying!
So today, in acknowledging this important milestone in my life (you always remember your first!) here are five great memories I associate with this book:
Of the many rejections I received when sending out the manuscript, my favourite that made me laugh out loud was from a Hong Kong publisher who wrote to me and said: “Expat wives have servants. Why do they need a book?”
The night the publisher in Singapore called me. We were living in Beijing and it had been months since I had sent them the manuscript. The managing editor apologized for just finding it, but she wanted it. I cheekily suggested there should be a follow up book for parents and the editor said, “start writing that now.”
My Chinese cook (yes, ok, I had a cook) came to where I was sitting at the phone, completely unravelled with joy, carrying a tray with a double shot of scotch and a cigarette for me. (No cook, no smoking and actually, no drinking anymore since I lost my fear of flying and no longer need to be fuelled by vodka).
The day the books arrived in Beijing I had a choice: I could go to the airport and be the first to open the boxes containing my new baby. Or I could attend a piano recital of my first baby (an 8-year-old Lilly). I chose my daughter and never regretted it.
My first speaking tour: Husband Rodney said, “You should go to promote the book in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore since you have friends in all three places who would be sure to help you.”
Me? “You mean: alone???”
Never mind that he pushed me out of the nest and my comfort zone, it was in Tokyo that I attended a lecture given by Dave Pollock whose Third Culture Kid bible was still years away from publication. I gave Dave a copy of my new book (since he’s quoted in it) and when he got up to speak to the school audience, the first words out of his mouth were: “I have just been given a book that I know everyone in this room will want to read.” A great friendship and mentorship was born. Like so many people, I still miss him.
Weeks after that first tour: I was sitting at the dining room table in Beijing with my then 3-year-old-son Jay reading a three week old Hong Kong paper, the South China Morning Post. Scanning the book page, I was, as the Brits say, gobsmacked.
“Mommy has the #1 bestseller in Hong Kong, Jay. Eat your carrots.” It was the beginning of leading a life I didn’t participate in (or know about) most of the time.
I realize I could probably write a hundred great stories associated with this book but won’t bore everyone to death. However, I have saved one last great memory that I cherish the most: The countless women who came up to me during my years on the road and said, “Thank you for writing this, Robin.”
Remarkably, the book (and all of the ones which followed) are still selling after all these years!
Find yourself in my books, as I used to say..."
Note: Robin retired from expat writing last year, but her books and videos are still available on her website, ExpatExpert.com.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Happy Birthday Expat Women!
Hi Everyone, Just a quick but sincere post to thank you for your support, feedback and testimonials over the past five years that ExpatWomen.com has been online.
I was just about to log out for the night (it's nearly midnight here) when I realized that today is the birthday of our site's launch five years ago, on 16 January 2007!
Thank you for 'being there' and for 'spreading the word' for us. Incredible to think that we now have more than 2,000 self-submitted Expat Women blogs on our directory, more than 1,000 quality content pages (country and expat club information, motivational articles and more), 300+ readers' stories, 5 years' worth of high quality newsletters, and much more.
I hope ExpatWomen.com has helped you and I appreciate in advance that you please keep spreading news of it to your friends and networks. Thanks so much, and enjoy January 16! Andrea x
Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (January 16 edition)
Hi Everyone, I hope you are having a fabulous start to 2012! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...
The World's Most Walkable Cities
http://bit.ly/ypO4Po
The Highs and Lows of Expatriation
http://fb.me/sECmUFGY
Expat Liz Visits a South Korean Cat Cafe
http://bit.ly/A3VcJz
Registration Now Open for FIGT (Families in Global Transition) Conference, 29-31 March, Washington DC
http://bit.ly/xJnS7k
Is Hong Kong's Pollution Driving Expats Away?
http://tgr.ph/A17DiR
It's Easy to Break the Law in Dubai Without Realising It
http://tgr.ph/wghGT5
Note: After I tweeted this, someone wrote to tell me that a poppy seed on bread could lead to arrest! And another person advised that vanilla essence could do the same! Wow. Be careful, Everyone.
US Migration Study Results Released by United Van Lines
http://bit.ly/xaTo3E
Top 15 Girlfriend Getaways (includes a water slide in a shark tank!)
http://bit.ly/wtYF7a
Expat Author Interview: Russell Ward Talks to Jack Scott about His New Book, Perking The Pansies http://bit.ly/wS0bkk
Expat in Israel? Dr. Dani Kranz in Germany Needs Your Help for A Research Project
http://linkd.in/xkTeeL
How To Work From Home Like You Mean It
http://bit.ly/w0RkjQ
Anyone Interested in The Casting Team Contacting Them for House Hunters International (U.S. version) is Invited to Contact @BlondeinAround via Twitter
Before you clear out your old expat paperwork, send it to the Expat Archive Centre
http://www.xpatarchive.com/
And one from us...
Here is where you can see the latest self-submitted blogs on our Expat Women Blog Directory - Enjoy!
http://bit.ly/igeWXc
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To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.
