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This week, we have tips, tricks and ideas from South Africa-based expat Lexi Mills, on how expats can get the most out of their time abroad.                               A Guide for Expatriates
Source: Creative Commons/Inky Bob
Living abroad doesn’t have to lead to homesickness after relocating if you are aware of certain facts about a country. This is something I learned the hard way when I moved from South Africa to London when I was 18. I was young and forced to move by my parents for a job, so I didn't know what was in store. For example, I wasn't prepared for city life, finding that the tube system was much more confusing that I anticipated. Similarly, I wasn't prepared for how cold Brits are compared to South Africans.
Moving abroad is a transition for anyone. I wouldn't wish the same experiences I had on anyone else, so I thought I'd share my suggestions to ease the transition. So here are tips, tricks, and ideas for expats who are hoping to get the most out of their time abroad.
Do your homework Sure, once you learn you will be moving abroad you probably start searching about everything imaginable on the web. But are you searching for useful information that will ease your transition, or are you perusing the nightlife scene in the area?
Extensive research will prepare you for life in your new home. This includes everything from exploring the housing market to familiarising yourself with the languages spoken in the area. 
Here are some of the most important topics to research before your move:
Documentation Maybe you're one of the lucky expats whose employer sent them to a new destination, taking care of all the legal documents required. However, you might be one of the many who decided to take the leap and try your hand at living in a new country. Good for you! If this is the case, though, make sure you know what legal documents are required and obtain them before you arrive.
Too often I hear of people trying to wing it. For example, I had a friend from the States just fly into Amsterdam in hopes of finding work once there. Bad move. He was detained in the UK airport and now can no longer travel to Great Britain for up to 10 years. His dream was cut short, but yours doesn't have to. Know how you can become a legal expat, because trust me, you don't want to deal with an "illegal alien" brand for the rest of your life.
Housing Many people go to a hostel and try to find housing once they arrive. While this isn't the most horrible idea, you should definitely have an idea of where you want to live before arriving. Look extensively into the different neighbourhoods and research facts like safety, transportation, vibe, and so on. One great way to find out from a local is to connect with local bloggers. They are easy to find on the Internet and usually love engaging with new people, so ask away to find the best neighborhood for your needs.
Banking First, you should have a minimum of three months living expenses and one month emergency expenses before arriving. Do not just wing it financially, especially if you don't have a job secured beforehand. You may have to prove to the country patrols that you have sufficient funds by bringing a bank statement from your local bank.
Language You may be one of the fortunate expats to be in a country where your native language is spoken. However, you may be one of the expats who are faced with the culture shock that comes with not being able to communicate effectively.
This happened to me while studying abroad in Madrid – I expected everyone in Spain's capital to speak English, only to realise once I was there that they didn't. I'll never forget the cryfest I had while trying to purchase a mobile phone my second day there. So make sure you know which languages you can expect to hear. If you aren't familiar with them, at minimum make sure you have a way to translate important phrases, such as "help" and "hospital."
Healthcare The healthcare system may be very different where you are going than it is back home. Know how to go about getting coverage and get it as soon as possible. Do not risk injury while uninsured in a foreign country where you may have no support system.
Similarly, make sure you know which vaccinations are required for your new area and get them before leaving. If you take long-term medications, make sure you know what it is called in the new country and how you will go about refilling your prescription.
The Job Market Regardless of if you have a job or not, stay up to date with the job market. You don't want to have to come home because you couldn't find a job. In some countries, immigrants can only hold certain jobs so as not to affect the locals' job security. Be aware of trends and have a game plan. And while you're at it, consider staying up to date with all local news, including everything from local elections and weather/safety warnings. It will not only make you better prepared, but it will help you feel more assimilated quickly.
Support System Do you know anyone where you are going? If so, make sure you know their contact details. If not, consider finding local support systems before leaving, including your country's embassy and organisations populated by your country's citizens. The last thing you want to do is to get to a country and not have a way to quickly find help when you need it.
Disconnect once you're there Living abroad, while challenging, is one of the most rewarding experiences. So don't waste it. Immerse yourself in the culture. That means sign up for local interest groups, chat up everyone you meet, and be available. Don't wallow in your flat and Skype with family and friends from back home. In the most extreme cases, you may even want to hold off on installing Internet in your home, which will force you to make your way to local coffee shops or libraries to connect – meaning you might happen across your new best friend or significant other.
Embrace the differences No matter how well adjusted you will eventually become, you will notice differences right away. Rather than approach it with negativity and cynicism, embrace the differences as a learning experience. Try everything and learn to let go of little annoyances, like not being able to find your favorite candy bar in your new home. If it helps, band together with other expats (find them on the Internet if you don't know them already!) and support each other. For example, to this day I find it difficult to let go of my cravings for some local packaged delicacies from South Africa. Thus, I looked for a way to spread awareness and get facts – where can I find these foods and am I the only one like with these cravings?
How did I do this? I was fortunate enough to work at an agency that represented a South African business. I rallied my client South African Hotels to conduct a study compiling what foods South Africans in London miss the most. I found it extremely therapeutic, and it helped me connected with like-minded expats from back home.
You may not have the same resources at your disposal as I did, but this shouldn't stop you. Scour the Internet for the food you are jones-ing for, and if you can't find it turn to forums to connect with other individuals with the same sentiments. You never know, you may be able to petition a local store to get them to carry your favorite native delicacies.
Remember, the expat experience is one you will never forget. It is an amazing experience that has its ups and downs, but with these tips, I hope you are equipped to take the journey with as little hardships as possible.
About the author
Lexi Mills is a PR professional in London via South Africa. When not connecting with interesting individuals, you can find her exploring London's culinary scene, looking to fill the gap that is missing in her typical South African diet.

Continuing the “FT View from” series, supported by HSBC Expat, this week we take a look at expat life in Shanghai - a city that is as great for business as it is for socialising.




Source: Yoshinari Yoshikawa
Providing the perfect mix of the past, the present and the future, Shanghai has become home to thousands of expats in search of a new life. The booming Chinese economy means that it is a great place to do business and a city where creativity can flourish without being dampened by financial worries.

Journalist Josh Noble, describes Shanghai wonderfully saying:“Wandering through the back alleys and side streets of Shanghai’s former French Concession, it is easy to forget that one is in China. Along the tree-lined boulevards sit wine bars, coffee shops, and small designer boutiques.”

Shanghai also fares well for those bringing up a family abroad. Expats living in Shanghai feel that it is an extremely safe place to live and for kids to grow up. In our own Expat Explorer 2011 findings, China ranked 5th for raising children abroad. Expats in China are slightly more likely (22% vs 21% average) to have seen a reduction in the cost of raising children, and at the same time are more likely to have seen an improvement in the quality of childcare (56% vs 48% average).

There is also a feeling that there are many fewer social obstacles when meeting people and making friends. From this audio slideshow, Where China bends to meet the world, it is clear how much expats enjoy life in Shanghai.

We’d love to hear about your experiences – have you lived in this incredible city? How did you find it?

Image source: Awards Daily
Those who have seen George Clooney's “Up in the air” will be familiar with the storyline.
In the film, Clooney plays the charismatic Ryan Bingham, who travels a more than 320 days a year for his job, flying from one city to another. He has perfected the art of packing a carry-on bag, breezing through airport security, and collecting membership points with the ultimate goal of hitting 10 million miles.
Expats who have moved abroad for work might find themselves flying frequently, be it to and from home for weekend breaks (if the distance is not too far) or making short trips to other countries for meetings and conferences. Whatever the reason, having one carry-on bag can shave off hours at check-in and waiting at the luggage carousel, allowing you to sail through airport lines and reach your destination.
So what should you pack? We came across this interesting article on the FT, suggesting that the best way to have a range of outfits for various occasions fit in one carry-on is to get the basics right.
“Packing a wardrobe that will produce the most versatile arrangements is the trick,” says one New York fashion designer.
To help business travelers pack the right amount for short trips, we’ve compiled some essentials for every suitcase, both for the ladies and the gents.

For Men
The FT article suggests that for male business travellers, you typically would want a medium-to-dark grey, three-button, single-breasted suit and a navy or black blazer and a pair of jeans thrown in the mix to have a smart outfit, a smart casual outfit and a more casual outfit for evenings.
A stylish, but fun t-shirt can help tone down an outfit for more informal events. The article also suggests that taking one pair of black loafers will suffice as they go with everything from jeans to a smart suit.
For Women
For the ladies, a little black dress never fails to impress in the day time when teamed with a smart blazer for meetings, which can be easily transformed into evening attire if you get the accessories right. A simple necklace and pair of earrings can add instant glamour to any outfit. Get the necklace right and it can double-up as a belt for day time outfits.
A well-fitted shirt or blouse with the blazer adds another variation to the work wardrobe, along with a pair of smart trousers.
Shoes can be tricky but two pairs are more than enough to survive a three or four day business trip- a pair a trusted heels, black and pointed never goes out of style and comfortable flats can see you through the day and night.
  Image source: Creative Commons/ BiggerPictureImages
A pashmina, in light and neutral tones and a more colourful work dress can add further combinations to smart, casual, smart casual occasions. Think pashmina+ dress, blazer + dress, shirt over dress + belt... The combinations are endless!
With the right pieces of clothing packed in your carry-on, the variations can see you through any trip you make, George Clooney style.

This is the second of Gillian Kemmerer’s three-part series on Expat Explorer. Gillian is the founder of Ready Set Jet - a fantastic resource geared towards Generation Y expats and looks at common concerns of expats under-29 encounter. This week, Gillian shares some top advice for young people to keep safe whilst studying and working abroad.
Top 3 tips to keep safe abroad
Source: Creative Commons/ houy.in
1. How do you look? 
Image isn’t everything, but it certainly counts for something.  Regardless of whether or not you are consciously aware, foreigners attract attention.  Whether it’s your clothing, language or mannerisms that give you away, be aware that you may be under watch simply for walking through the door.  That being said, what type of behavior do you want to exude?  Expats are often stereotyped as affluent (in particular, to be carriers of large amounts of cash) and unaware of local language, customs and laws.  If you are behaving in a way that suggests you are alone, those stereotypical depictions could invite the wrong type of attention.  Be slightly more aware of your behavior while abroad to ensure that anyone pegging you as naïve (regardless of how much you know of local lifestyle) will not also view you as incapable of self-defense. In the same vein, avoid going out alone.  The larger your group, the less attractive you are to someone who is up to no good.


2. Top-Up Your Phone
Pay-as-you-go cell phones are not common practice until you spend a period of time abroad without a local cell plan.  Many students find themselves struggling with the fact that their texts are limited and their minutes require constant monitoring.  If you are living in a country where topping-up at a local cell phone store or kiosk is common practice, make sure that you top-up your phone before you head out.  You never want to be caught in a situation in which you cannot reach friends, family or the police.


3. Know landmarks, Not just addresses
Suppose you are living in a city such as Moscow where cabs with shady reputations are more prevalent than their legitimate counterparts. Or perhaps you are caught in a situation where there is no transportation to be found on a busy night.  Knowing your street address may not be enough information to navigate home, particularly if you live in a student residence or non-commercial area.  Be aware of the landmarks and major streets that are located within a five-block radius of your home.  When entering a cab, make it a point to write down the license plate number or taxi code, and pay attention to the route.  If you know your landmarks, you’ll be able to determine if you are being taken in the right direction (as opposed to an expensive and unsolicited city tour).  If you are ever in a situation where you must walk—and, as we would tell you abroad or at home, never walk alone—do not rely on someone else for your navigation.  Be personally responsible regarding your surroundings, and carry a pocket map whenever possible.



About the author
Gillian Kemmerer is the founder of Ready Set Jet, a resource geared toward Generation Y expats. She loves to hear from young people living out their dreams abroad on the RSJ Twitter (www.twitter.com/RSJblog), and is both an avid compound archer and rabid FC Barcelona fan.

Can your host country ever feel like home? How long before you stop exploring your new environment and call it “home”? 
Laurel Robbins, our guest blogger this week shares with us her account on settling in and settling down, and how she plans to keep the adventure of being an expat alive.
The next stop is… Closer to home  Source: Creative Commons/ LenDog64
I was so excited when I moved to Germany. I spent my first year as an expat in Stuttgart where I extensively explored my new home. After learning that there were 400 castles in my state, I vowed to see them all. I failed miserably, but did make a pretty valiant attempt if I say so myself. Much to my husband’s chagrin, I dragged him 100km south to see Germany’s only Easter Egg Museum. I also insisted that we visit the world’s largest Pig Museum – which lucky for me was located right in my city and remains one of my favorite museums! And I can’t count the number of weekends I dragged him to see a castle or a castle ruin that even most locals hadn’t heard of. 
We moved to Munich my second year in Germany, where I now live. As an avid hiker, I’ve done a decent job of exploring the Alps and continue to do so, but I can count the number of castles I’ve visited on one hand in the last six months and I haven’t been to a castle ruin in months. Frankly, I couldn’t even tell you where the nearest castle ruin is too Munich. Nor have I explored most of the medieval towns all a short drive (by Canadian standards) from Munich.
What happened? Life? Well yes, I’ve been busy, but we’re all busy. I’ve settled into the pattern than many of us fall into when we feel at home. I’ve stopped exploring. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still an avid traveller and have a ton of travel plans this year, that isn’t the problem. The problem is I’m not making the time to see everything that is right in front of me. You know, the sights that I don’t have to get on a plane to see. I love living in Germany, but perhaps I’ve gotten complacent, or castled out along the way.
This is not how I want to live my life. I don’t want to be one of the locals who just assumes that “one day” they’ll make it to such and such a sight – the one that every tourist who is visiting manages to visit despite their short time here. “One day” may never come if you leave it to chance.
So what to do? I’m drawing inspiration from my German comrades who love to plan and am planning for that “one day” to be today. Starting in 2012 I have planned to visit at least one museum per month and am three for three so far. Now that the weather has warmed up, I’ve made plans with other expats, who have also become complacent to visit some of the medieval towns that are only an hour away by train. 
When it comes to traveling locally, my “one-day” will be today. 
When was the last time you visited a local sight?
About the Author Laurel Robbins is a Canadian freelance travel writer and travel blogger based in Germany.  She writes about exploring Europe and beyond for outdoor adventures, off-beat locations, local cuisine and monkeys at Monkeys, Mountains and Maultaschen.  You’re most likely to find her hiking on a mountain somewhere or diving with sharks.

We’re excited about this week’s guest blogger, Ashley Thompson of Surviving in Japan – a blog sharing many valuable tips for expats living in Japan. Ashley’s blog offers an unconventional how-to guide for living in Japan, including navigating through its complicated transport system, freelancing in Tokyo and deciphering Japanese food labels. Here, Ashley shares with Expat Explorer readers…
How to survive in a country when you don’t understand (or can’t read) the language

Stepping off the plane and navigating through Narita Airport, Japan’s largest airport, for the first time, I felt fairly confident with my basic knowledge of Japanese. I could order food from a restaurant; asking for directions was no problem; and I could read hiragana and katakana, two of the Japanese character “alphabet” sets, and about 80 Chinese characters, otherwise known as kanji. I had a long way to go, but it was a decent foundation.
At least, I thought so, until I had to do things like request a package redelivery from the post office, read the ingredients on items at the supermarket, or find products such as hydrogen peroxide or canker sore (mouth ulcer) medicine. In your native language, these are all (generally) simple tasks. However, in a foreign language, even if you know the basics, the task is suddenly a giant mountain in front of you that you lack the tools and experience necessary to climb.
So in those first months I often found myself requesting help from native speakers to accomplish some of these daily activities. As an independent person, I knew moving to Japan would require me to rely on others more - something I needed to learn how to do. Except that I soon felt like I was burdening those around me with my many questions, despite the fact I tried to do as much as possible on my own.
This resulted in me attempting to do nearly everything without help (with the exception of critical issues such as medical problems or immigration matters). Granted, I still needed help (and still do) with these complicated issues, I just gave birth in Japan last year and though I could manage much of the process alone, there was plenty I couldn’t do by myself.
So the next time a postal worker left a redelivery notice in my mailbox, I went online to the national postal service website, opened the Japanese-English dictionary on my Mac, and set to work copying and pasting words until I found the redelivery section. Then I copied and pasted my way through the entire redelivery request online. When the confirmation email came, I stared at it for a minute (one, because I couldn’t read most of it, and two, because I couldn’t believe I had actually done it correctly).
It took me a few hours to do, but each subsequent time became easier and faster, and within a few months I could do it quickly without needing to translate any of the words. Not that the spoken Japanese to arrange a redelivery is that difficult, but at the time I could never understand what was being said to me over the phone, so the online request was easier.
As health-conscious as I usually am, I felt frustrated that I couldn’t read the ingredients at the store. So I downloaded some smartphone apps and one in particular, Shinkanji, was most helpful. I drew kanji I didn’t know from the ingredient list on the input area of the app, even when I had to stand in front of that item for 15 minutes. Doing this every time I went to store eventually resulted in me learning how to decipher a myriad of ingredients at a glance, making shopping faster, easier, and reassuring that I knew exactly what I was getting.
Though every country differs as to what resources are available, here are a few tips that have helped me, and might help you, survive wherever you might be in the world, or at least give you some inspiration.
1) Determine what you can do online, if this is at all possible, both in English (or your native language) and the country’s primary language. While you should still practice speaking the language as much as possible, I found that doing things online made me feel more functional. My reading ability and vocabulary have also improved as a result. I’ve learned that I can request redeliveries, order veggie boxes, find products not available in my local stores (that don’t also require being shipped in from abroad), look out for new or helpful Japanese products, and read more about what the locals do in various situations.
Web browser tools such as Google Translate or another translation tool (though the phrase translations are not always accurate/perfect), online dictionaries or your computer’s dictionary, or any other language-reading tools available in that particular language is most helpful for this. For example, Chrome and Firefox both have extensions that allow a user to scroll over Japanese kanji while the English translations pop up next to the cursor.
2) Use apps. If you have, or can use, a smartphone in your country, take advantage of it and downloadsome apps that help you with translation or understanding. Whether it’s a language dictionary, the use of Google maps, or an app that translates words from images, use them as survival and learning tools.
3) Learn food and personal product ingredient translations. At the very least, you’ll know what you’re eating and what you’re putting on your body. It can be nerve-racking to try a product like toothpaste or shampoo if you have no idea what’s in it (Will this actually clean my teeth? Will this bleach my skin?), but depending on what country you’re in, you might be surprised that the products are not all that different from those in your home country, and some might even be better. If that’s the case, you’ll save money not having everything shipped from home.
4) Learn commonly used keywords or phrases. Especially if you know what “finder,” “locator,” “search” and “dictionary,” or similar terms, are in your host country’s language. The goal is to figure out what the locals actually use versus what the books teach you. Doing this I’ve found helpful websites in Japanese such as an internet cafe finder, a women’s site with reviews and lists of doctors, restaurants, schools and kid-friendly places to go across the country, various stores to order hard-to-find food items from within Japan (in English and Japanese), websites to look up Japanese over-the-counter and prescription medication, a medical Japanese-English dictionary, and many other helpful resources, all by knowing certain terms. Also, simply by searching for something on Google, the auto-fill or alternative search terms often tell me what the commonly used words or phrases are.
All that said, of course, when you’re stuck, it never hurts to ask one of the locals or other expats who have been there a while. However, though it may seem daunting, it is possible to be independent in a country where you can’t read or speak the language well. You never know, it might even be simpler than you think.
About the author
Ashley Thompson writes valuable step-by-step how-to guides and provides useful resources for expats living in Japan on her site, Surviving in Japan (without much Japanese). You can also follow her on Twitter for important Japan-related news, resources and other information, @survivingnjapan.

A re-cap of the most popular posts on Expat Explorer this month:

1. How to make a long distance relationship work - Making long-distance relationships work is tough, but not impossible. In this post, we share some advice to overcome the obstacles of trust, communication and distance.
2. Guest Blogger Series: Introducing… Ashley Thompson – Navigating a completely new country can be daunting, especially if you don’t understand the language. One expat shares her tips on how to get around the language barrier.
3. Are you an expat entrepreneur? – We’re looking for expats who have set up their own businesses abroad to contribute to a new series on Expat Explorer. Get in touch if you fit the bill.   4. Expat Excellence featuring Chris Pavone - Tips for expats moving to Luxembourg and New York with guest blogger, Chris Pavone - author of international thriller - “The Expats”  
5. Expat Entrepreneurs – Five top tips for prospective expats thinking of setting up their own businesses.
6. What is culture shock? – The four stages to culture shock every expat should be aware of…
7. Expat Explorer nominated for a Webby Award – Expat Explorer was nominated for the prestigious Webby awards due to take place later this month. The voting is now over and we came third overall for the People’s Vote award. Thanks to all those who supported us!
8. Expat Entrepreneur: Pierre Waters, founder of moving2madrid – The first in our series of Expat Entrepreneurs, Pierre Waters answers our questions on what it takes to run a successful business abroad.
9. The Rise of the Expat Mummy Blogger – We’ve enjoyed the laughter and tears of bringing up children abroad with these mummy bloggers. In this post we look at some of the best expat mummy blogs on the web.
10. Guest blogger Series: Introducing… Brittney Strange - Guest blogger, Brittney Strange of Life of an Expat Parent explores the concept of finding your sense of home and draws upon her own experiences of being on the move.

Last year’s Expat Explorer revealed that one in ten expats (10%) worked in the marketing, advertising and creative sectors, compared to nearly one in three (29%) in financial services.
Whilst working in the arts may not be the immediate choice for people moving abroad, we came across some inspiring stories from expats on their experiences of working in the creative sector. Source: Terence J Sullivan Claire Pamment, a theatre practitioner from England, for example shares a fascinating story of how she ended up working in a thriving grassroots theatre industry in Pakistan. In October of 2003, Claire was taken on by Beaconhouse National University to teach in their newly inaugurated theatre, film and television department. It was here where she fell in love with the flourishing theatre scene and decided to stay for long term.
Other avenues where expats have immersed themselves in the arts include those who go into writing or publishing. Serial expat, Jo Parfitt and writer, Chris Pavone are great examples of this. Chris recently completed his novel, The Expats during his time abroad and Jo is the author of nearly 30 books already, drawing from her life experiences in more than five countries.
In another example, Davina Garrido De Miguel from Russia turned her passion into her job having transformed her house into an artistic workplace. In the video below, from RT.com, Davina talks about her life as an expat in Russia and her love of Russian art and culture.


What sector do you work in and what have your experiences been? Leave us a comment below!

In a new series supported by HSBC Expat, the FT discovers what life as an expat living in Moscow is like and why some expats describe this enigmatic city as “heaven”.
Source: Creative Commons
Moscow is a city with deep historical and cultural roots. In this week’s audio slideshow, “Life on the edge of history”, six Russia-based expats talk about their experiences of living in this captivating city. 
Recounting the time when he first arrived back in 1994, Isaac Correa, a restaurateur from New York, says living in Moscow is truly a character-building experience. Despite the numerous ups and downs he encountered with his restaurant business, Isaac is still there after 17 years. Alberto Ponti, a helicopter manufacturer representative from Italy, feels the same. Enchanted by the city’s cultural appeal and attractions, Alberto feels mesmerised by Moscow’s unique qualities, which can take time to uncover. 
Often, the perception of Moscow for newcomers is that it can be very old-fashioned and backwards. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Once you get past the long, dark days and the cold weather, expats who settle in Moscow find a certain charm to the city, with many citing that it’s becoming an easier place to live. 
Alberto has some sound advice for those wishing to take up residence in Moscow, saying that people really need to understand the dynamics of the city to fully take advantage of the opportunities available.
The slideshow gives an interesting insight into life in this mysterious and enigmatic city which is fast-becoming a popular expat destination. 
What’s your perception of Moscow?
Let us know in the comment box below, or tweet us.

You may have seen our recent postings on the gap between what expats expectations and reality, or the one on how to survive repatriation back home. You may even have seen the post Stephanie Katz wrote on underestimating culture shock. But what, exactly, is culture shock? Creative commons: Bonde de Santa Teresa
There are four stages to culture shock that expats should be aware of going through; the honeymoon phase, the negotiation stage, the adjustment phase and the mastery phase.
Honeymoon Phase: When the world is seen through rose tinted glasses, the new country is fascinating and there are many new, positive discoveries to be made.
Negotiation Phase: How long this phase takes to kick in depends on the individual, but for many it is around the three-month mark. Stark and unfavourable differences between “home” and “host” countries develop and a sense of isolation occurs.
Adjustment Phase: The host country starts to feel less hostile, and the expat begins to be able to “predict” the outcomes of situations that may have previously felt strange and unfamiliar. The culture begins to make sense and negative situations have less of an emotional impact.
Mastery Phase: The newbie is comfortable to participate and be proactive in the local community and has started to comfortably combine their new and old cultures.
Does this match up with your experience of culture shock? Do you have any tips for getting accustomed to the local community? Leave a comment below, or message us on Twitter.
For more information on moving abroad, click here.  

Expat Entrepreneur is a brand new series on Expat Explorer that invites founders and CEOs who have set up businesses abroad to offer their advice and insight for fellow expats thinking of going down the start-up route.

The first in our series comes from Pierre Waters, the founder of relocation service Moving2Madrid.



Source: Creative Commons/ Fellowship of the Rich
Why did you decide to become an expat entrepreneur?

I first chose Madrid because I believed - and still do - that it's the best place out of the entire Spanish-speaking world that offers the best balance between quality of life and business opportunities for foreigners.

After 2 years working as a strategy and management consultant, I decided to launch my own business in Madrid because I did not see in the market what I needed to make my move to Madrid zen. I believe in challenging the status quo and bringing new simple and human solutions to foreigners moving to Madrid. 

If you could give one piece of advice to other expats setting up their own businesses, what would it be? 

It is often said that Spain is often a cycle behind entrepreneurial innovation and quality standards in the US.

My advice would be to leverage your experience from working in other countries with higher quality standards and innovation and aim to work with the highest ambitions here. That way you raise the bar naturally and prevent yourself from getting too complacent with the norm in your host country.

What challenges did you encounter when setting up your business and how did you overcome these?

The obvious challenge is the language. My recommendation is to go full immersion to truly pick up the language. Living with three Mexican flatmates, playing rugby with a 100% Spanish team and studying in a Spanish university and always trying to only work in the language, meant that within 6 months I was fluent enough to land a top consulting job at Accenture Management Consulting.

The less obvious, but most important challenge, is procrastination. My advice is do not delay launching your product just because you think you need more time. Just do it, ship your product and see what the real world feedback (sales) is. For me, that's the only way to go.

The other challenge I encountered was the administrative challenge. The administrative and legal framework may not be helpful in Spain for entrepreneurs but get over it! Remember that this is the barrier to entry for not-so motivated entrepreneurs.


What common mistakes do expats, in general, make when setting up their business?

I would say, don't say “yes” to all clients. Choose them because you have aligned values and expectations.

Listen to your gut feeling. Read “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell if you don't believe me. Of course, we all procrastinate some way or another, but if some part of your business is killing you, outsource or ditch it.

Do what you love. Read “Crush it” by Gary Vaynerchuk. Not because it is a great quote to say to friends, but because passion is the main fuel entrepreneurs work with. You have to love what you do, or you will not be able to really crush it.

In my case, 3 months after starting, I realised one part of my business was doing great and I was dreading the other part. What I learned was to change my assumptions of my business and “pivoted” to focus on what worked well. I'm now happier and more profitable. 

What resources did you find useful or tapped into to get your business off the ground?

I relied on these three essential sources to get my business of the ground. In fact, it will be more correct to call them sources, rather than resources, and these are aspiring leaders in the industry, fellow entrepreneurs and my partner whom I draw my source of passion and knowledge.

My entrepreneurial heroes, whose books and ideas fuel my passion and entrepreneurial practice include:

- Seth Godin author of Purple Cow, Tribes
- Gary Vaynerchuk -Crush it
- Tim Ferriss - 4Hour workweek
- Simon Sinek - Start with why
- Eric Ries - Lean Startup
- Jason Fried - Rework

For me, instead of looking for a mentor, I have heroes and I read and learn from them!

Secondly, I tapped into my group of entrepreneurs. As you know, studies show you're as successful as the people of your close network. That's why you have to find a group with the same values, and see those guys often.

I was lacking such a group in Madrid, so like any entrepreneur would do when they want something that does not exist, again a bit like my business, I created it: The Guiripreneurs (Guiri means foreigner in colloquial Spanish) - www.guiripreneur.com

It’s been absolutely brilliant creating a close-knit community here. We now have over 160 members in the group and growing, have meetups every other week and obtained the backup of the economic development agency of Madrid, “Madrid Emprende”.

I also belong and help organize a group of French-speaking entrepreneurs: Franc-Risqueurs.

Both these groups bring me motivation, friendships, knowledge and business.

Finally, my partner in life, Florence, supports me in everything I do, gives me sound advice and reminds me why I became an entrepreneur in the first place.

What would you do differently if you could do it again?

Two things. I would test as many ideas as possible with side projects earlier and learn to design and code, instead or while going to business school. 

About Pierre

Pierre is a French and British entrepreneur living in Madrid since 2008.

He believes in challenging the status quo to enable expats and entrepreneurs to live the life they want.

That’s why he created Moving2Madrid, the first "human" relocation company in Madrid, the first one to propose an all-inclusive personal relocation package with transparent pricing to make your move to Madrid easy.

Pierre loves to play rugby 3 times a week and discover new places and foods. He shares his life with Florence, French also, also from Paris, also an entrepreneur, whom he met in Madrid dancing salsa!

If you would like to connect with Pierre, email him at pierre(at)moving2madrid(dot)cm

We’ve got some exciting news to share with readers of this blog - Expat Explorer has been nominated for a Webby award! 


Source
Described by The New York Times as “the Oscars of the Internet”, the Webby Awards are the highlight of the online awards calendar and is the “leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet”.
Being a Nominee means that HSBC is in the top 3% in over 10,000 entries worldwide and now in the final, running up against Mint, CNN Money, Wikinvest and Wonga in this category.


We’ve come a long way since the Expat Explorer survey was born in 2008. From basic PDF reports, the research results were developed digitally and last year became a highly interactive online resource, making it easier than ever for expats to find out about how their host country fares in terms of economics, experience and raising children. Today, it remains the largest global survey of expats.
The overall winners of the Webbys will be announced on the 1st May but for those who wish to support Expat Explorer for the People’s Voice Award, you can cast your votes here: http://pv.webbyawards.com/ballot/42
The closing date for votes is Thursday 26th April 2012.

This week’s Expat Excellence features author of international thriller - “The Expats”, Chris Pavone on his inspiration for the novel and experiences as an expat abroad.
Q&A with Chris Pavone
Source: http://www.chrispavone.com/ What inspired you to go to Luxembourg?
I moved to Luxembourg to follow my wife’s job back in the day. Before then, I had never lived anywhere other than New York City, except for college in the 1980s. My younger brother had lived in China, but for me, I’d never even considered trying the East Side of Manhattan, let alone another country. I regretted this hole in my life experience, this long-term act of low-level cowardice and I was excited to overcome it when we decided to relocate.
What inspired you to write a book based on your experiences abroad? When we moved, I left behind not only my career but also much of my identity to follow my wife’s job. It was a complete change for me, where instead of doing what I’d been doing for my whole adult life—living in New York City, editing books mostly—I was now doing laundry and cleaning, tending to small children and living in a new household in a strange land, while my spouse worked constantly. I found that it was within these circumstances, one needed to reinvent oneself. It was this real-life circumstance that inspired the book: the possibility—sometimes the necessity—of self-reinvention, which is one of the defining aspects of living abroad.
Do you have any plans to move abroad again, or was it just the one posting? At present, we are not planning on moving abroad again. But then again, we weren’t planning on it the first time, so who knows what will come our way…
What advice would you have for expats moving to Luxembourg? I strongly recommend the American Women’s Club for expats moving to Luxembourg. It is a wonderful organization, filled with friendly, helpful people who create a supportive environment for expats. It’s easy to meet like-minded individuals at the various events they run: wine tastings, cooking classes, tennis… and whatever else that takes your fancy. You’ll learn a lot of what you need to know, and meet a lot of people who are all in your situation.
What was your favourite moment as an expat? We were in Paris for the weekend (something we did regularly) having dinner with our five-year-old boys at the beautiful Le Petit Zinc, in St-Germain. Near the end of our meal, an old man stopped by our table; we learned from the waiter that he’d been a regular for decades. He leaned down to my wife, and told her in French that our children were very well-behaved. That compliment from a stranger, given to Americans (!) who had brought their schoolchildren (!!) to a white-tablecloth restaurant, made me feel that we’d turned a big corner.
What advice would you have for expats moving to New York? New York is a giant mass of small communities—of micro-neighborhoods that are just a few blocks square, consisting of the few hundred parents in a primary school, of people who work in a range of businesses, of ceramicists and tennis players and cellists and novelists who sit in downtown cafés with laptops. Whatever your passion or interest, you can easily find people who share it, and help to build a foundation for your new life when you first move. Don’t be afraid to pursue that passion and find your people.

About the author Chris Pavone grew up in New York City, and worked at a number of publishing houses over nearly two decades, most notably as an editor at Clarkson Potter, where he specialised in cookbooks. He is the father of twin schoolboys named Sam and Alex, and an old cocker spaniel named Charlie Brown (he’s brown), and the husband of Madeline McIntosh. He lived in New York City for his entire life, except for college and the year and a half that we lived in Luxembourg, where he started writing The Expats in the cafés of the cobblestony old town. 

In the second instalment of the FT View from series, supported by HSBC Expat, the FT explores Buenos Aires, one of South America’s most historic and energetic cities.

With its gorgeous architecture, vibrant café culture and colourful artistic and literary scene, Buenos Aires offers a seamless blend of tradition and abundant opportunities for foreigners seeking new beginnings. This may be the secret behind why so many expats are attracted to the charm and enchanting qualities of this Argentinian city.

Source: Creative Commons/ Carlosoliveirareis
People who live in Buenos Aires are often referred to as porteños, meaning “person of the port”. We came across this article on The Real Argentina where the writer describes “porteño is more than just a geographical indicator, it’s a way of being. Porteños have their own slang (‘Lunfardo’), their own fashion, their own complex psyche and their own attitude.”

It is not surprising that expats in Buenos Aires tend to agree that the city offers a perfect balance of a modern and more relaxed lifestyle as experienced by Lisa Lazenby, a health food store manager. In this FT View from article, Lisa highlights the difference between the way of the life where she grew up in and the way of life where she now finds herself in:

“In America, we’ve been trained that efficiency is the utmost ideal and I think that is second or third for Argentines,” she says. “It teaches you lessons about other ways to live.”

Have you experienced life in Buenos Aires? We’d love to hear what it is like. Feel free to get in touch in the comments box below, or send us a message on Twitter. 

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Since many Gen Y expats are studying abroad, or at least living alone for the first time in a foreign country, they may experience more specific fears and interests associated with spending time overseas, compared to serial or silver expats.
Part one focuses on the topic of overseas education and qualifications.

International University Accreditation Standards


(source: Oxford-Royale)

The study abroad twittersphere took a collective sigh of relief when Rick Steves wrote a January editorial forUSA Today entitled, “Study abroad is necessity, not luxury”.  Many experts and educators were shaking their heads in a collective, emphatic yes. Study abroad has become a way of life and integral learning experience in today’s hyper-globalised world; it has morphed into a requirement rather than an extended vacation.

It is no surprise, then, that many under-29 expats across the globe are leaving their homes in search of educational pursuits abroad. Studying is a natural, well-planned, and applauded way to gain international experience while sharpening skills and being exposed to varying viewpoints. Though employers and educators alike heavily applaud these opportunities, I find a common concern that sweeps this demographic is: “How will my international degree translate when I return home? Will employers recognise it as prestigious, and is it a smart investment of my money?”

For anyone considering pursuing a full-fledged degree abroad, I give heaping encouragement with a few words of caution. The United States is hot on rankings, particularly when it comes to education, so it is natural to tend toward international institutions with recognisable names. Think: Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD. These rankings can, at times, blindside our sensibilities and encourage us to pursue opportunities based on brand name alone. I suggest that anyone considering an international degree look to these important factors before hitting the world rankings.

1.     Is your international university accredited?
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If you are concerned as to whether or not your international degree will be “accepted” upon return to the United States, your first step must be researching the accreditation standards of the institution itself. International accreditation standards are rigorous and necessary evaluations of an institution’s offerings; while I am the first to recommend taking “rankings” with a grain of salt, I would never suggest attending a university that does not have a legitimate accreditation.
International accreditation standards vary from country to country. Any university abroad that claims to have “American” ties (example: The American University of Cairo) should be checked through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (www.msche.org) for their accreditation. In other cases, check out the Committee on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)’s list of international education evaluation systems. Once you locate the evaluating body in the country you are interested in, you can verify whether or not your graduate degree is deemed “up to snuff” on home turf.  This is the first indicator of how your degree will be “received” by employers or graduate schools once it is awarded.
2.     Who are you trying to impress?

When a student asks me whether or not I’ve heard of the international university they’re attending, I always ask if they’ve put the same question to their future employers. If your end goal after receiving a degree is to land a certain job or enter a profession, the best people to ask about your international experience are the people who will hire you someday.

Not everyone has heard of the leading departments in your field. There may be incredible educational opportunities—ones that surpass their American counterparts, for example—located abroad within your profession. Make an appointment to speak with a potential future employer or academic in your field and bounce ideas off of them. They may know better than you the best international experiences to suit your passions.

3.     Sometimes it’s about what you learn, and not where you learn it.

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Have you ever heard of IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain? Employers in the finance world may or may not be aware of this superstar institution—ranked in The Economist’s Top 10 MBAs—but they will regardless be incredibly impressed with your fluency in Spanish upon graduation. IESE requires all students to be business proficient in Spanish before leaving Barcelona, and employers will certainly value that prime asset alongside your rigorous exposure to the case method.
Whether or not your future employers, professors, or colleagues have heard of your international institution, they will admire the exposure, language skills, and interesting perspective you bring to the table. An international degree suggests a certain level of resilience and curiosity that is highly attractive in fast-paced corporate environments.  You may not have attended a university with the same name recognition as Harvard or Yale, but you will boast experiences that are both valuable and in-demand. 

About the author
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Gillian Kemmerer is the founder of Ready Set Jet, a resource geared toward Generation Y expats. She loves to hear from young people living out their dreams abroad on the RSJ Twitter (www.twitter.com/RSJblog), and is both an avid compound archer and rabid FC Barcelona fan.

Source: Creative Commons/ Fukecha Nabil
HSBC Expat is supporting the new FT View from series on the Financial Times website, which looks at expat experiences in some of the most pulsating cities around the globe. In this week’s issue, the FT explores Hong Kong, the vibrant gateway to the East.
In one of the articles, “A life less ordinary: Is emigration alluring or alienating?” - columnist, Edwin Heathcote helps to dispel some of the myths of expat life, saying:
“The expat experience combines a cocktail of the thrill of the new and the ennui of global alienation, of displacement and dislocation. At its best, though, it can open up not only new places and peoples but also new ways of seeing.”
One of the key issues that come up time and again when discussing life abroad is the balance between integrating into the local community and creating a network of expat friends. The article highlights the difference between living in a city with a large expat population, such as Doha, and living somewhere that is much less tried and tested by expats.
Many people expect expats to live, work and socialise in close-knit, expat-only groups. Of course, being friends with other expats is a great way to feel supported and know that other people are in the same boat as you, however, expats who break away from the expat bubble benefit from being able to fully experience and immerse themselves within the local culture and surroundings.
To truly immerse yourself into a new culture for all its differences and interesting quirks and qualities, the locals hold the key, having lived and breathed the country all their lives. Being part of the culture means living life as part of the community, rather than seeing yourself (or anyone else) as different, which can fuel feelings of isolation.
Expat Daily News Latin America has a great list of top tips to help combat expat isolation:
1. Learn the language 2. Get comfortable with being awkward 3. Accept your limitations 4. Join in with the expat community, but don´t hide there 5. If you are here surrounded by your spouse’s family you are lucky to have that connection
Do you have any pointers on avoiding expat isolation that you would like to share with the community? 
Is your support network mostly expat, local, or a mixture?
Leave a comment in the box below, or tweet us @ExpatExplorer.

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2. Guest blogger Series: Introducing… Brittney Strange - Guest blogger, Brittney Strange of Life of an Expat Parent explores the concept of finding your sense of home and draws upon her own experiences of being on the move.

3. Guest Blogger Series: Introducing... Chelsea Christensen – Discover from our guest blogger, Chelsea Christensen on how she made an expat romance work. 

4. The Rise of the Expat Mummy Blogger – We’ve enjoyed the laughter and tears of bringing up children abroad these mummy bloggers shared on their blogs. In this post we look at some of the best expat mummy blogs on the web.

5. Expat Entrepreneurs – We share some of our top tips for prospective expats thinking of setting up their own businesses.
 
6. Is the grass greener on the other side? ­– People move abroad for different reasons. When we asked our community why they became an expat, the response was so great that we had to share with readers of our blog.

7. Are you an expat entrepreneur? - We're starting a brand new series on Expat Explorer called Expat Entrepreneurs  and we’re looking for expats who have set up their own businesses abroad to contribute. Get in touch if you fit the bill.
 
8. How to prevent the culture shock of repatriation and feel as if you’ve never left – Expat Explorer shares five steps on how to minimise reverse culture shock

9. The Expat Expectation Gap – It’s natural to have expectations and ideals of a country before moving there. No matter how much research you do before hand, nothing compares to the reality of actually landing, living and settling into your new home. This post looks at some of the expectations expats have before moving.

10. At Home Abroad Series: An (Un)Settling comparison? - For many expat parents, how their children will fare in a new country is one of the top worries that they come across when taking the plunge. But who finds it easier to adapt to a new life: parent or child? And who settles in faster?

“Reluctant housewife; mother; domestic goddess; frustrated career woman; and lover of fine handbags” reads Mrs Dubai’s Twitter biog, who incidentally is this week’s guest blogger.
Having featured her in our recent mummy bloggers post, we were intrigued by the idiosyncrasies of raising a child abroad and got in touch with Mrs Dubai to tell us more about…
Bringing up children in Dubai
Source: Creative Commons/ Holger Zscheyge
Last week my seven-year-old daughter asked me a “knock-knock” joke taken from an English joke book.
“Who’s there?” I asked. “Ahmad,” she replied, using the correct guttural pronunciation of the name, “Akh-mahd.” “Ahmad who?” “Akh-mahd a mistake,” came the reply, followed quickly by “Mummy, I don’t get it?”
I explained that, while she said the name the correct Arabic way, an English person – for whom the book was written – would pronounce it “a-mad”, as in “a-mad a mistake”.
One of the things I love about bringing up children in Dubai is the exposure they get to so many different cultures. While nearly 200 nationalities live in the UAE, inter-racial antagonism of the sort you might get in the UK is rare.
My daughter’s classmates and close friends come from India, Pakistan, South Africa, Australia, France, Germany, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon, as well as from the UK and UAE. She thinks nothing of peppering her speech with words and phrases in Arabic, Hindi, German and French, and falling back on gestures whenever language breaks down. And, because she’s learning the languages from native-speaking children, it doesn’t feel like learning, and her pronunciation is spot-on.
Another way in which I notice my daughter’s attitude to different races and cultures is when she’s describing a person. When I was a child we used to describe other children in terms of hair and eye colour, then perhaps height, build and clothes.
One of the first things my daughter wants to know, however, is, “What colour is her skin?” and it’s not a racist thing. Her descriptions of skin are not literally black or white, but include all shades in between. She might describe a child as “really white-white with really pale hair”, “sort of creamy-white”, “pinky-white”, “light brown”, “medium brown”, or “sort of coffee-coloured, like from the Philippines.”
Since she was able to speak, my daughter’s been able to differentiate the colour variations between an Arab, Indian, Filipino and Caucasian skin. The product of a mixed marriage, she once asked me, aged three, “Why do daddy and me have brown skin but you have white skin?”
I very much like this celebration of and respect for others’ differences. I feel like my children are true global citizens – and I wonder if that would be the case if we’d stayed in England.
About the author Mrs Dubai has lived in Dubai for 14 years. She’s currently trying to write a book while bringing up two small children, which any mother will know is utter madness. She blogs at http://mrsdubai.wordpress.com and you can follow her on Twitter @MrsDubai

Last week we had some Tuesday fun and asked our Twitter followers to play a fill in the blanks game with us:


The response we had was so great, with answers ranging from wanting a change of scenery to moving abroad for love, from pursuing a career change to satisfying a hunger for adventure, that we wanted to share some tweet-bites of expat responses here:

Cathy Mac, proud Scouser expat who has been living in Spain for 14 years, replied:

Ana Silvia O’Reilly, travel blogger and International marketer said:

Briana Palma, serial expat originally from Boston, now in Ireland said:

Megan Fitzgerald, expat life coach living in Italy said:

U. Lemmin-Woolfrey, writer and serial expat living in Dubai and off to Australia next said:

Regardless of whether the grass is greener on the other side, there are always adventures to be had, friends to be made and lessons to be learnt. If nothing else – you come back from the other side of the fence a worldlier person.

If you would like to play along with our game, just fill in the blanks in the comments box below or on Twitter: I became an expat because_____.

Switzerland, up close and personal with this week’s guest blogger, Rachel Southern @farfromhomemama on life in Zurich.
Organised perfection

Of all the countries that I have passed-through, visited or lived in, Switzerland is the one that is most definitely ready for its close-up, Mr. DeMille-style. So picture-perfect, so clean, so safe, so harmoniously run, it’s the on-earth contender for Avatar’s Pandora. 
One of the richest countries in the world with its largest city - Zurich, a regular top 10 contender in  Mercer’s Worldwide Quality of Living Survey, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s a place conjured up by the best of Hollywood’s scriptwriters. But it’s not. It’s a place where my husband, son and I live.

On paper, Switzerland and Zurich specifically, have everything a family could want. Parks, museums, amazing healthcare, excellent schools, a safe haven for children to play outdoors and walk to school by themselves (from as young as 5 or 6 would you believe). Mountains on hand for winter sports, a lake so clean you can drink from it, for summer sports. Public transport that runs frequently and on time and a train station that you actually want to spend time in. And if you’re lucky enough to be in the city for the Züri Fäscht festival (every 3 years with the next one in July 2013), you’ll be amazed at the amount of people who take to the streets to party until the early hours of the morning and then how quickly the city returns to its spotless self. By mid-afternoon the following day, the clean litter-free, bottle-free streets will have you thinking the whole thing was a dream.

Have I convinced you to move out here yet?

We arrived as two, from Wales, with the intention of completing a three-year work assignment (the company I work for has its European headquarters in Zürich) and then returning home. We are now a family of three and have over 5 years under our belt. 
Life wasn’t always easy though. It took my husband a year to find work – limited language skills and experience beyond working in sales proved to be difficult obstacles to overcome. Tenacious searching and applying finally paid off but in the meantime, time well spent in the gym and in the kitchen improved his health and both our diets. 
For all trailing spouses who arrive in the country and want to work, a simple Google search will unearth countless opportunities but it’s a competitive market and language skills are often required. Switzerland has four national languages – German, French, Italian and Rumantsch – and although many Swiss speak English, proficiency in at least one these is often required.   As a young couple without children, we flourished in Switzerland. Dinner, at sunset, overlooking the lake – there’s very few places more perfect. With a newborn in 2010 added to the mix, things have changed. We’ve started to miss home comforts. Okay, I’ll be honest; we’re missing those wonderful beings called grandparents. An expat couple of only a few friends and no family around is a couple that doesn’t get out that much. A couple that doesn’t get to spend that much time together without their cheeky little monkey. We’ve talked about heading back home to Wales and know that it will happen at some point in the future. However, if we have to be somewhere other than home, then Switzerland is the best place to be.
About the author Rachel is originally from North Wales but is currently trying to eat Switzerland out of chocolate. With her one year old having been born in the seven-day stay luxury of a Zurich hospital/hotel, she regularly blogs about the highs and lows of navigating her way around one of the world’s most expensive cities with somewhat limited language skills, pram in tow. Find out more by subscribing to her blog threeyearsandonestonethenhome.com or by following Rachel on twitter @farfromhomemama