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Top festivals around the world this JanuaryTop festivals around the world this January

Author siddlobo  Date 04 January, 2010 13:18

The New Year has begun. It’s freezing cold in many parts of the northern hemisphere but that doesn’t stop people from having fun. Here’s a round up of some of the festivals making a splash from around the world this January.

Ati-Atihan Festival, Philippines
14th -16th January
Held every third Sunday in the month of January, this festival is a cross between Thanksgiving and Mardi Gras, Philippino style. It is one of the biggest events in the cultural calendar and a must visit for travellers in the region. Expect much singing, dancing, music and food.

World Buskers Festival, New Zealand
21st – 31st January
This is the meeting of the world’s best buskers. For 10 days, the streets and pavements of Christchurch are transformed into stages for the public. This open air street fest is crammed with entertainment and music for the entire family. With over 450 live shows planned for the upcoming event, you can say goodbye to a boring day at home.

Thaipusam, Malaysia
30th January
Thaipusam is a day of penance and Thanksgiving for Hindus in honour of Lord Muruga. Main celebrations in Malaysia are at Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. After a period of fasting and abstinence, many devotees can be seen in trance as they flock to the temple on Thaipusam. Most of them carry ‘kavadis’ or ornate frames with spikes that are hooked onto the body or some have spears pierced through their tongues. It is said that devotees don’t feel any pain and nor is there any blood shed. Close to 800,000 people throng to the temple to watch and join the celebrations.

World championship cockroach racing, Brisbane, Australia
26th January
Yep, you read it right. Described as ‘the greatest gathering of thoroughbred cockroaches in the universe’, this race is just that… a cockroach race. The fastest roach wins. Or rather the human owner who dragged him out from under the fridge wins. The race itself is set in a boxing ring style set up and all proceeds from the event go to charity.

Kumbha Mela, Haridwar, India
14th January – 28th April
Described as the largest gathering of people for a religious purpose in the world, the Kumbha Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage. The pilgrimage occurs four times every twelve years. Each twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbha Mela at Prayag, attended by millions of people, making it the largest pilgrimage gathering around the world.

Celtic Connections, Scotland
16th January – 3rd February
This is one of the most important events on Scotland’s cultural calendar. From torchlight processions to amazing performances from Scottish and international bands, get ready for non stop entertainment. This year’s line up includes performances by Bobby McFerrin and Naturally 7 to name a few.
    
Sidd Lobo
Freelance copywriter






Happy New Year 2010Happy New Year 2010

Author easyexpat  Date 01 January, 2010 00:01

 

StarWe all wish you a very happy year 2010!Star

Same time each year, the end of 2009 is a period to think about what has been achieved and what will be done in 2010.

2009 was a good year on EasyExpat's network but the growth was slower than predicted. Beside the expansion of our guides covering several new cities, we have implemented a complete new design to our expat websites.

For 2010 we have already several very exiting projects:

  • new forums: a global makeover of the forum to create a community for each destination;
  • new functionalities for the classifieds, with a better presentation and subscription;
  • more guides: Beijing, Prague, Rio de Janeiro, Seoul... etc;
  • many others including more proper translations, blog articles...etc.

And don't forget to have a look at our newest city-guide: Auckland

Our solutions:

Once again, happy new year 2010 with Easy Expat!




Top five New Year resolutions and tips to help you keep themTop five New Year resolutions and tips to help you keep them

Author siddlobo  Date 28 December, 2009 09:26

It’s that time of the year again. Events of the past 12 months are assessed and plans for the next 12 are made. Read on to find out some of the top New Year resolutions people make every year and top up on some tips to help you keep at them.

1. “I will spend more time with family”

This tops the list of New Years resolutions. In a recent survey, over 50% of Americans took the pledge to spend more time with family this year. Call friends home instead of meeting up at the pub, leave work earlier at least once a week and then try doing it more often.

2. “I will fit into my high school jeans again”
New Year is a great time to start the battle against the bulge. In fact, surveys show a massive rise in gym memberships in the first three months of the year. This unfortunately tails off some time in the beginning of the second quarter.

3. “ I will quit smoking/ stop drinking”
New Year resolutions are a popular way to aim for sobriety. Many also drink their way into the New Year with the promise that this is the last they’ll have for the rest of the year. But as the saying goes, how you start the New Year probably determines how the rest of the year turns out. So if you’re planning to bid adieu to the cigarettes and the booze, plan a more sober New Year’s eve party.

4. “I will do more fun stuff  this year”
Plans for the New Year inevitably involve doing better than the year gone by. And one of the most oft cited gripe is that people have been so busy coping with the monotonous routine of everyday life, they forget to enjoy and celebrate it. So plan a holiday, pick a hobby, do something you’d feel good about and make sure you enjoy.

5. “ I will get my finances in order”
Money woes especially in recent turbulent times have made this another top New Years resolution. At the start of the year, people vow to cut their credit card bills, save more, make better investments and reduce their debt. But just hoping that it will sort itself out isn’t enough; make sure you have a plan to see you reach your financial goals by the end of the year.

Some tips to help you keep your resolutions alive well into the year and beyond.

1. Keep it real
It’s one thing to be excited about a goal, it’s another to achieve it. Make sure you set reasonable goals and have a plan to make it work through the year.

2. Tell the world
It’s harder to smoke that cigarette when you’ve told all your friends, family and colleagues that your New Year Resolution is to quit smoking. Better still, team up with someone who also wants to quit and help each other kick the habit.

3. Don’t overload yourself
Pick one or two goals and stick with it. Resolving to change 20 different aspects of your life in one year is only going to give you more things to worry about and fix at the end of the next year.

4. Be specific
Details matter; make a plan. If your resolution is to reduce smoking, decide on what’s realistic and how much you want to reduce it by. Also break down larger goals into smaller ones so they’re easier to achieve. E.g. from 15 cigarettes a day to 12 in the first month, 10 in the second month etc. This will help you set clearer and more achievable targets.

5. Find alternatives
Dig deeper into why you’re doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re smoking because you’re stressed all the time, take up a hobby. If you’re constantly coming home late because you’re not organized, get more organized. Start by reducing clutter and work your way through to a more efficient system.

6. Reward yourself
Every time you reach a goal or a mini goal, treat yourself. You’ve done a good job, you need to enjoy it so you can keep at it and hit the next milestone.

Good luck with your New Year resolutions and make sure you make them work.


Sidd Lobo
Freelance writer




Top New Year's Eve partiesTop New Year's Eve parties

Author siddlobo  Date 26 December, 2009 08:51

It’s that time of the year again…  as we usher in the New Year here are some of the biggest and most talked about parties from around the world.

New York – Times Square
New Year's Eve at the symbolic center of New York City has become more than just a celebration - it's a global tradition. The world holds its breath...and cheers as the clocks strike twelve. That’s when the famous New Year's Eve Ball descends from the flagpole atop One Times Square. Join the estimated one million people in Times Square in ushering in the New Year at one of the most watched and famous New Year’s Eve gatherings.

StarFind more information about expat life in New York on Easy Expat.

London
Do something different this New Year’s Eve. Usher in the New Year with a cruise along River Thames. Enjoy the spectacular fireworks, the special menu and the extra glass of bubbly as you soak in the festive celebrations from your unique viewpoint.

StarFind more information about expat life in London on Easy Expat.

New Year’s Eve Imperial Ball, Vienna
Ring in the New Years’ in style. The New Year’s Eve Imperial Ball is a world renowned gala that takes place in the halls of the Hofburg Palace. Celebrate the beginning of the year 2010 in the state apartments of the ancient imperial winter residence. According to the motto of this year “Johann Strauß, the king of waltzes” will entertain you through the evening. Tickets range from 170 euros to 700 euros per person and it’s your chance to dress to the nines.

StarFind more information about expat life in Vienna on Easy Expat.

Tokyo
Be one of the first to usher in the New Year by joining in the celebrations in Tokyo. Watch as the ‘night bell’ is struck 108 times of the last night of the year in temples across the city. This custom of bell ringing draws its origins from Buddhism where it’s understood that human beings possess 108 worldly desires. By striking the bell 108 times, these desires are said to be gotten rid off.

StarFind more information about expat life in Tokyo on Easy Expat.

Los Angeles
With hundreds of parties and pubs and discos to choose from in L.A, this will be New Year’s Eve a party you don’t remember. Whether you prefer to rub shoulders with the glitterati or party loud at one of the city’s many street parties, you won’t have a shortage of options for the big day.

StarFind more information about expat life in Los Angeles on Easy Expat.

Berlin
Usher in the New Year in one of the world’s most beautiful and famous streets near the Brandenburger Tor in Berlin. Every year, over one million people join this street party that signals the start of the New Year. From international music stars to famous rock and pop bands, expect non-stop entertainment through the night.

Sydney
From fireworks to parades, aerial shows to non-stop music, Sydney’s geared up to promise a fantastic New Year’s Eve experience. For some of the best views, make your way to one of the many vantage points across the city. Make sure you head out early as access is limited and sites will be closed once they’re filled.

StarFind more information about expat life in Sydney on Easy Expat.

Rio de Janeiro
New Year's Eve is one of Rio de Janeiro's most important celebrations, second only to Carnival in popularity. It attracts people from all over the world, and Brazilians from all states. The festivities are concentrated in Copacabana, with 2 million people every year. Stages are set along the beach with live music shows starting at 8 p.m., featuring everything from traditional Carnival songs to rock and dance. Join in the fun and dance the night away.

 
Sidd Lobo
Freelance copywriter







Tips to make your Christmas party a hitTips to make your Christmas party a hit

Author siddlobo  Date 18 December, 2009 11:23

Whether an intimate family gathering or one where the paparazzi is in waiting, a Christmas party can involve loads of planning. Here are some tips to plan a fantastic Christmas party.

1.    Start early:

It’s the busiest time of the year and everyone’s got some place to be. The earlier you plan your party, make a guest list and get onto people’s calendar, the more time you have to organize things accordingly.

2.    Decide on the budget:

Plan your budget and always allow for a 10 percent extra for last minute things that pop up. Once you have a budget in mind, you’ll be able to decide on a lot of other things… like are you going to cook or cater, is your friend spinning the music or are you getting a professional DJ to do that etc

3.    It’s all about the food:

The menu is important. Are you going for an informal Christmas party where alcohol is more important than food? Or are you aiming for something more formal? Catering or cooking? Remember, caterers are booked out well in advance at this time of the year, so once again… book in advance. And for expats missing home... use the party to infuse a touch of home. Whether it's chicken tikka masala if you're Indian  (or British) or a tapas styled menu if you're Spanish, adding a local touch will spice up your Christmas party. 


4.    Make sure there are non alcoholic drinks:

Be responsible. Make sure there are sufficient non- alcoholic drinks available for those who aren’t drinking. Also keep taxi numbers ready for those who’ve had one too many.

5.    Decorate:

Music, food and company get people in the Christmas spirit. Make sure the decorations are fun, music is good, the Christmas tree is well lit and the mistletoes are up. Also, a little goodie , especially  a token from your home country, will make a great gift for others to remember your and your party by. 


6.    Plan some entertainment:

Keep the kids entertained and the parents will have a good time. Organising some colour pencils and sketch books or carol singing for the kids will be a great way to keep them occupied. If there are any particular local Christmas traditions you follow, make sure you share them with your guests. It will make your party that much more special.

7.    Feel good, do good:

You can add to the spirit of giving by adding a few extra touches. Like asking your guests to ‘pay’ for their admission with a toy or a blanket or socks. Set up a basket near the door where guests can place their gift and you can drop it off at a shelter for the homeless or needy. If you'd like to do something for an organisation back home, set up a donation box and tell your guests who and what you'd like them to contribute to and make sure you send them an update after the party with a link to the organisation they have contributed to.

8.    Enjoy:

Sometimes, people get so caught up in organising the perfect party and making sure everyone else is having fun, they forget to do so themselves. At the end of the day, it’s a party and it’s Christmas… so relax and enjoy the good times with your loved ones.

 

Sidd Lobo
Freelance writer




International health insurancesInternational health insurances

Author siddlobo  Date 11 December, 2009 15:33

Moving to a new country? Travel frequently? Need to make impromptu trips? Whatever the reason for being on the move, it’s best to be covered by an international insurance. Needless to say, navigating the murky world of insurances can be a complicated affair. Below are some of the key players in the industry to get you started.

Ihi Bupa
A well reputed insurance company that boasts of over 30 years of experience specializing in international travel and health insurance. One of the leading players in the international insurance market, the company caters to both private and corporate customers.

Healthcare International
Another reputed company with 25 years of experience. They offer products that specialize in travel, medical insurance and life cover and income protection. Products are specifically designed for the needs of expatriates.

International Medical Group
Provides medical insurance to families, individuals and groups who are either travelling or living abroad. IMG offers worldwide coverage, multi-lingual customer service representatives and 24 hour on-site medical staff for emergencies.

HTH Worldwide
This insurance provider specialises in medical and accident protection. It might be a preferred option for travelers to high risk countries as it also offers evacuation coverage and medical benefits of up to $1,000,000.

Pacific Prime International
Pacific Prime works with insurance companies around the world to tailor a plan depending on customers requirements. They offer health coverage plans for individuals, families, groups and a specifically designed programme for teachers.

Global Health Insurance
This offers a wide range of packages from an annually renewable medical plan for expatriates to short- term travel coverage. Also offers expatriates access to US medical facilities and doctors.

Internationalcitizens.com
This international insurance broker offers online health, medical and travel insurance plans. It offers flexible options that could come in handy for travellers and global expatriates. It also has special plans designed to cover student insurance needs, visa F1J1 insurance plans and au pair insurance plans.

StarWilliam RusselYou can also have a look at our previous articles sponsored by William-Russell:

Good luck with your travel plans and stay safe.
 

Sidd Lobo

Freelance writer




Doing business Indian styleDoing business Indian style

Author siddlobo  Date 01 December, 2009 17:54

India is playing an increasingly important role in the global economic scene. More and more international companies are setting up operations in the country, Indian companies are strengthening their positions globally and its reputation as the preferred offshoring hub continues to go strong. Whatever the reason may be, if you find yourself heading for a meeting in India, here are some tips that may come in handy.

1. Make that presentation longer: Indians have read the epics, they can handle more than 10 slides of your presentation. Indians are high context people so you never give them too much information. Instead of sticking to the core essentials, make your presentation a story and offer up a lot of details on the company.

2. Dress modestly: While Bollywood boasts of a lot of prancing around in skimpily clad clothes, most of the regular Indian population dresses modestly. Pants are a good bet for women. If wearing a skirt, make sure it’s at least knee length. Avoid tight fitting tops and low cut blouses and always carry a shawl. The air conditioning, when working, will be turned on to the maximum to ensure Alpine temperatures in the conference room.

3. For the love of processes: Indians love processes and will spend more time detailing how to get to a certain point rather than what to do when you get there. So if you’re presenting, make sure you have the process worked out to the last detail and if you’re being presented to, ensure that as much thought  goes into why you’re doing what you’re doing and what happens when you get there.

4. Expect delays: Punctuality is not an Indian strongpoint. In fact, Indian Standard Time (IST) has been affectionately dubbed ‘Indian Stretchable Time.’ And for good reason. While in India, you can expect meetings to start later than planned and go on for much longer. You’d do yourself a big favour by fixing some buffer time between meetings. Also, bear in mind that a10 kilometer distance in a major city will take a lot more than 10 minutes to cover.

5. Small talk is big: Indians like to know and feel comfortable with the people they work with. So expect much small talk and questions about your education and background. Feel free to do the same. Showing an interest in cricket will make you an instant hit with the local crowd. Don’t worry if you don’t know too much about the sport… enthusiasm is more important than knowledge.

6. The boss is king: In many Indian organizations, hierarchy is still the norm and the boss has the last word on all important issues. It’s in your best interest to identify this person early in the meeting and make him/ her your new best friend. If invited for a meal or drink, make sure you accept as turning down the invitation could be a lost opportunity to make those important inroads to a personal relationship.

7. Saving face: It’s important for Indians not to lose face in front of their friends or colleagues. When in a meeting make sure that you are respectful and courteous with all people present. Being blunt will make you look unsophisticated.  A kind gesture will earn you a place in the Indian heart.

StarFind more information about expat life in India on Easy Expat with our guides on the cities of Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai.

 

Sidd Lobo
Freelance writer




The most popular destinations for French expatriatesThe most popular destinations for French expatriates

Author easyexpat  Date 23 November, 2009 09:19

According to an article published in the French newspaper Les Echos, China is the most popular destination for French expats.

Top Destinations for French Expatriates

Rank Country Number of expats in thousands Share (%)
1st China 252 9.9
2nd Japan 223 8.8
3rd Canada 210 8.3
4th USA 175 6.9
5th UK 158 6.2
6th Turkey 133 5.2
7th Spain 94 3.7
8th Germany 86 3.4

There are 2.5 million French living abroad (1.4m officially) with 32% in Western Europ, 25% in Asia and Oceania, and 21% in North America. 13% of French expatriates have got university grades (licence level or more) and 79% have more than the Baccalaureat. The growth of the expat population is 3.6% per year. 23% of them earn more than €60k per year and 31% are between €30k and €60k.

The crisis and the expats

Since the beginning of the financial crisis, French expats have deserted London to repartiate in France. Same things from Russia where most of the French companies (especially in the property business) have decided to restrain their activity. Some bank, such as Société Générale or BNP-Paribas have relocated their activity in Asia from Tokyo to Hong Kong, where life is less expensive.

The crisis has also affected the French Lycées abroad. Although New York, madrid or London are always "over-subscribed", Australia, Singapore or Moscow have seen their number of students shrink (30% less in Russia).




The most popular destinations for British expatriatesThe most popular destinations for British expatriates

Author easyexpat  Date 09 November, 2009 09:40

Following last year survey from HSBC on expat existence, Halifax International has published a report on British expatriates. Their research shows that 4% of Britons already own a home abroad and a further 27% of Britons have said that they are considering the option of moving or buying property abroad in the future. Almost one third (32%) of Britons considering a move abroad are below 35 years of age and additional data have also shown that over two-fifths (41%) of those that have moved abroad have no intention of ever returning.

Most Popular Destinations for British Expatriates

Forget New Zealand or Australia: when it comes to leaving the UK to settle somewhere else, France as the most popular destination for Brits moving abroad, according to Halifax.

Rank Country Share of total (%)
1st France 16
2nd Spain 10
3rd USA 8
4th Australia 4
4th Switzerland 4
4th Germany 4

16% of British expatriates currently live in France, with Spain in second place with 10% of the total. The most popular overseas destination for people to move to outside of Europe was the USA at 8%. Australia, Switzerland and Germany came in joint 4th place at 4% of the total each.

Differences in the answers according to age

However those figures need to be considered overall. Indeed, when broken down by age category, it shows that almost one third (33%) of respondents in the survey, aged between 16 to 35 years of age, ranked Australia as being their favourite place in the world to live. When it came to Europe, the younger generation would most like to live in either France or Spain, with 6% of under 25 year olds opting for France and 6% of those aged between 25 to 35 years olds preferring Spain. Italy was voted the ideal European destination for those aged between 35 and 45 years of age.

On the other hand, the research carried out shows that British pensioners prefer Canada as the ideal overseas destination in which to enjoy their retirement. One in six pensioners (15%) have considered moving abroad and a further 12% of respondents have voted Canada as the most popular overseas destination, closely followed by Spain, Australia and New Zealand, all with 10% of the response cast.

As most of them live in Spain or France, there is therefore a big difference between "wish" and "will".

British expatriates in France vs USA

Over two thirds (67%) of British expatriates living in France are aged 55 and over. Nearly one third (32%) are aged between 55 and 64 years of age.

Age of British Expatriates Living In France

Age Of Person Share of total (%)
30 to 44 9
45 to 54 19
55 to 64 32
65 to 75 24
75 years and over 11

Of those British expatriates living in the USA, half (50%) were aged between 45 and 64. Compared to France this is a relatively younger population pointing to a higher percentage of professional expats.

Age of British Expatriates Living In USA

Age Of Person Share of total (%)
30 to 44 13
45 to 54 24
55 to 64 26
65 to 75 18
75 years and over 10

In all, around an estimated 5.5 million British citizens live abroad (Public Policy Research) - a significant percentage of the population (according to the Office for National Statistics, 400,000 British citizens chose to leave the country last year alone).




Oslo, Zurich and Copenhagen the most expensive cities in the worldOslo, Zurich and Copenhagen the most expensive cities in the world

Author easyexpat  Date 27 October, 2009 19:33

Cost of LivingAccording to the latest report from UBS on the cost of living (Prices and Earnings comparison), Oslo, Zurich, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo and New York are the world's most expensive cities in the world. London, the second most expensive city in the 2006 review, plummeted nearly 20 places following the pound’s steep devaluation, landing in the middle of the Western European rankings. Currency devaluation pushed down prices in many emerging market cities as well. Prices slipped the most in Mexico City, Moscow and Seoul. Paris goes up 2 places from 11th to 9th between 2006 and 2009.The survey says: "Since our previous survey, in 2006, the financial crisis has exerted relentless downward pressure on exchange rates in many countries."

Living costs are calculated based on a survey of 154 items in total. They include 122 products and services that are used directly to calculate the reference basket. When rent prices are factored into the equation, New York, Oslo, Geneva and Tokyo emerge as especially pricey places to live. The basket costs the least in Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Delhi and Mumbai. The study was based on data collected in 73 cities around the world between March and April of this year.

Highest food prices in Japan and Switzerland

Tokyo, Zurich and Geneva are the most expensive cities for food, while Mumbai, Delhi and Kiev are at the bottom of the list. It is amazing to notice that geographically, Tokyo and Mumbai are not very far apart. When it comes to food prices, however, they are in different galaxies. In Mumbai, you can buy our basket of food for close to USD 150 – around one-fifth of the asking price in the Japanese capital, Tokyo.

For the analysis, they put together a basket of 39 food items weighted mainly according to Western European consumption habits, whereby very important staples were included in larger
quantities.

The housing markets are heavily fragmented

Global average monthly rent for an unfurnished 3-room dwelling near the city center is around 1110 euros. The most expensive homes in this category are in New York, Hong Kong and Dubai. In terms of average rents, it is noticeable that they have suffered the effects of the crisis in countries of Anglo-Saxon tradition, but they have remained fairly steady worldwide.

To name a few popular destinations for professionals: Montreal (1190 USD / month), London (1450 USD in 2009 against 2390 in 2006), Paris (1600 USD) and Geneva (1900 USD). On the other end you can get a monthly local rent (medium) of 220 USD in Cairo.

Costly rail travel in the United Kingdom and Germany

A second-class one-way ticket for a 200 km rail journey in Germany (USD 67.20) costs approximately 1.5 times as much as in the rest of Western Europe. Only the United Kingdom is more expensive. In London, passengers have to be willing to pay USD 89.10 – double the fares charged in other Western European cities. The rates look even pricier when compared with worldwide averages; travel in Germany costs 2.5 and in the United Kingdom 3.4 times as much as the global average.

Contrary to popular belief in Europe, the London taxis are more expensive than Paris: 17.09 USD in London (for a daytime ride of 5 km within the city), and 15.69 USD in Paris, well above the world average of 9.10 USD.

Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta offer low-cost getaways

The cost of a short city break usually includes much more than just food and accommodation. Whether a trip to a foreign city turns out to be a bargain or a financial black hole depends largely on the general price level and prevailing exchange rates.

The costliest places for a city break package (overnight stay, dinner for two, a taxi ride, car rental, theater, public transport and a handful of minor expenses)– which does not cover travel to and from the destination – are Tokyo, London and Doha. For cheap city trips, tourists can travel to Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, where a short visit costs less than USD 330.

The average worldwide price for the package is roughly USD 650. On a regional basis, Africa and South America offer the cheapest rates for the package. Mid-range regions are Oceania, Eastern Europe and Asia. The most expensive regions for a short trip are North America, the Middle East and Western Europe. The widest price gap – around 40% – was observed between cities in Asia. Western European metropolises were found to have the lowest price gap.

Earnings highest in Switzerland, Denmark and the US

The survey of 73 international cities found that employees in Copenhagen, Zurich, Geneva and New York have the highest gross wages. Zurich and Geneva – the two Swiss cities in the study – top the rankings in the international comparison of net wages. By contrast, the average employee in Delhi, Manila, Jakarta and Mumbai earns less than one-fifteenth of Swiss hourly wages after taxes.

The case of the iPod

While they still compare the cost of a Big Mac around the world (employees have to work a global average of 37 minutes to earn enough to pay for a Big Mac - but 12 minutes in Tokyo and 2.5 hours in Nairobi), they have introduced a new benchmark for comparison. The iPod nano with 8 GB of storage is an ideal example of a globally uniform product. An average wage-earner in Zurich and New York can buy a nano from an Apple store after nine hours of work. At the other end of the spectrum, workers in Mumbai, need to work 20 nine-hour days – roughly the equivalent of one month's salary – to purchase an iPod nano.

Long working hours in the Middle East and Asia – shortest in France

People work an average of 1,902 hours per year in the surveyed cities but they work much longer in Asian and Middle Eastern cities, averaging 2,119 and 2,063 hours per year respectively. Overall, the most hours are worked in Cairo (2,373 hours per year), followed by Seoul (2,312 hours). People in Lyon and Paris, by contrast, spend the least amount of time at work according to the global comparison: 1,582 and 1,594 hours per year respectively.

Cost of living per continent

Americas:
A dollar earned in the US is worth more after deducting taxes and social security contributions than in neighboring Canada. While the basket of 122 goods and services is somewhat cheaper in Montreal and Toronto, the net hourly wage in these Canadian cities is also lower than in the surveyed US cities of New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago.

Asia-Pacific:
In no other continent is the price spread between the most expensive and the cheapest city as wide as in Asia. While Tokyo ranks as one of the world's five costliest cities, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Delhi and Mumbai are all at the bottom of the price range. Workers in Tokyo earn the highest wages in Asia. Likewise, consumers in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei have the greatest purchasing power in the continent. Sydney ranks among the top ten cities in the international comparison.

Europe:
Prices in Eastern and Western Europe have converged very little despite the EU's enlargement in 2004 and Slovenia's adoption of the euro as its official currency in January 2007 and Slovakia's in January of this year. A basket of 95 goods and 27 services was roughly 35% cheaper in the cities of Eastern European EU member states than in Western European metropolises. As a comparison, UBS's 2006 study found that the price differential between Eastern and Western Europe was around 38%. On average, workers in Western European cities receive gross wages more than three times higher than their colleagues in Eastern Europe. The lowest incomes are paid in Bulgaria (Sofia) and Romania (Bucharest). The wage level in these two countries, which joined the European Union in January 2007, is comparable to that of Colombia or Thailand.

We are using the data provided by the UBS study in our Cost of Living Calculator on Easy Expat. Our nifty machine allows you to calculate the salary you should make regarding you current wage and your style of life. Unselect the category of goods you wish to exclude, enter your current salary and choose the current city and the one you want to compare with.

In order to compare different countries, all our data are translated into indexes (e.g. if London/food index is 100, Paris/food index is 93). Therefore the same currency or index is represented in both boxes.

 




Pre-nuptial agreements: of any use in England?Pre-nuptial agreements: of any use in England?

Author easyexpat  Date 20 October, 2009 15:52

The Court of Appeal in England has recently re-made the law concerning the recognition of pre-nuptial agreements in England. So, what does this mean for you as an expatriate who may or may not have a prenuptial agreement in place with your spouse?

In July 2009 one of Germany’s richest women, Katrin Radmacher was awarded victory in her appeal to have her pre-nuptial agreement recognised in the English courts. Her former husband, Nicolas Grantatino had signed a pre-nuptial not to make any claims on her fortune if they split up, however he was awarded £5.85 million for his own use by a High Court Judge in 2008. The Court of Appeal overturned that decision.

To understand the present situation, we need to look at some of the history. The English courts have always maintained the rule that in matrimonial cases people cannot overrule the jurisdiction of the Court by contract. This was taken so far as to say that any agreement that tried to tell the Courts what decision they should reach was contrary to public policy and void.  It remains the law that parties cannot eject the jurisdiction of the Court, but more modern case law started to recognise pre-nuptial agreements in some respects.

The Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 sets out a number of factors that a Judge must consider when calculating a financial award following a divorce.  The first consideration has to be given to the welfare of any children. The Court must also consider:

  1. Income, earning capacity and other financial resources;
  2. Financial needs;
  3. Standard of living;
  4. Age;
  5. Physical or mental disability;
  6. The contributions each party has made etc.

The Courts also developed a practical working rule when assessing the overall justice and equity of the position, that they should consider ifthe parties had entered into a pre-nuptial agreement, and the outcome that would apply if the agreement was followed.  If application of the agreement would plainly be unfair, the Court would disregard it.  On the other hand if it appeared to be a fair and open attempt by the parties to avoid all the uncertainties of a discretionary judicial decision then the justice of the situation might well require that the agreement was upheld.  It was not therefore binding the hands of the Court, but it was evidence of what the parties themselves thought was appropriate, and should be given very considerable weight.

Most pre-nuptial agreements failed for obvious simple reasons. Very commonly they simply laid out what each party had at the start of the marriage, what they should keep, failing to anticipate the arrival of children, the accrual of assets predominantly in one name rather than the other, etc...

The other great difficulty was working out if the contract had been entered into under fair conditions.  If the would be bride, for example had no idea of her fiancée’s property and assets, how could she have a proper appreciation of what the contract meant?  Furthermore, there might well be elements of emotional coercion – e.g..  the would be bride might be expecting a child and in no realistic position to negotiate. The essence of negotiation is that you have the option to walk away from the agreement if your terms are not met. However the fact that so many countries recognise them and the rising demand in England that they be recognised led to considerable debate. In 1998 the Law Commission produced a Green Paper recommending that the pre-nuptial contracts become enforceable, but with certain safeguards. It considered that the safeguards which ought to be in place before the contract became enforceable were any one of:

  • Where there is a child of the family.
  • Where under the general law of contract the agreement was unenforceable. 
  • Where one or both of the couple did not receive independent legal advice.
  • Where the Court considers that enforcement of the agreement would cause significant injustice.
  • Where one or both of the couple have failed to give full disclosure.
  • Where the agreement was made fewer than 21 days prior to the marriage.

Moving back into the present day, when Ms Radmacher and Mr Granatino separated, Mr Granatino brought an application for a financial settlement in the divorce proceedings. Ms Radmacher’s lawyers responded that there had been a comprehensive pre-nuptial agreement which provided that she kept her own assets intact, he kept his assets intact, and there were no further claims to be made, other than any necessary assessment as to claims concerning the welfare of the children.  Mrs Justice Baron was the Judge at first instance.

She  came to the conclusion that the pre-nuptial agreement relied upon by Ms Radmacher was defective under English law for the following reasons:

  1. The husband received no independent legal advice;
  2. It deprived the husband of all claims even in the situation of want, and that was manifestly unfair;
  3. There was no disclosure by the wife;
  4. There were no negotiations;
  5. Two children had been born during the marriage.

The case was then taken to the Court of Appeal. The judges there disagreed with Mrs Justice Baron and took a different view of how the evidence should have been applied to each of those reasons:

  1. Lack of independent legal advice: However in this case the husband did not deny that he understood the contract nor suggests that he would not have entered into the contract even if he had received advice against doing so. Lord Justice Thorpe added that the husband was of great ability, and in both the husband’s and wife’s countries of origin a pre-nuptial contract was standard practice.
  2. Absence of disclosure: What was lacking here was any finding that if there had been accurate mutual disclosure, the husband would not have or might well not have entered into the contract.
  3. Absence of negotiations: The absence of negotiations only proved that the parties were aware of what the contract entailed.
  4. The birth of the children: The contract had been well drafted and it quarantined any possible claims in respect of the children themselves.  On that basis the Court was able to make a limited award in favour of the husband, by reference to the housing needs he would have as joint parent.  Otherwise though, it was to be assumed that the couple expected to start a family after marrying, and the fact that they did so was of no weight. 

In principle this should make pre-nuptial agreements much more secure, because each of those matters can be conclusively established in the contract itself. If the contract makes it clear that parties have the opportunity to seek legal advice, if it makes clear that they would enter the contract regardless of the size of the assets that the other had, and if it makes it clear they know what a pre-nuptial contract is intended to do, then that should be a conclusive answer to each of the points. Undoubtedly dissatisfied spouses will try to go behind the wording of the contract to say that, yes, they signed an acknowledgement to that effect, but no, they did not really mean what they signed.  It is possible that the background facts might support that, for example if the contract was presented as a “take it or leave it” ultimatum close to the wedding.  In most circumstances however the key is careful drafting that should enable the Court of Appeal’s criteria to be satisfied.

It is therefore safe to say that a well drafted pre-nuptial agreement, based on a proper understanding of the parties’ circumstances should hold good in English law.

By Henry Brookman, Partner and Founder of Brookman Solicitors

Brookman solicitorBrookman is a highly specialist boutique firm of international family lawyers.  The firm conducts the full range of family law services, but has a particular reputation in the field of complex, cross-border issues involving divorce, ancillary relief and children-related matters.  For further information visit the website www.brookman.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 7430 8470.




INTERVIEW: Olivier Giraud - How to become parisian in one hour?INTERVIEW: Olivier Giraud - How to become parisian in one hour?

Author easyexpat  Date 16 October, 2009 16:22

One man show: How to become parisian in one hour?You love Paris but you think that Parisian are rude! You're right, they are! You are too nice and you want to become arrogant and learn the typical Parisian language, facial expression.

Olivier Giraud is a young comedian is playing a One Man Show in Paris, Théâtre de la Main d'Or until December, and answer our questions below.

Can you talk about your activity?

I am a French comedian and I'm doing a stand up comedy show 100% in English "How to become parisian in one hour?"; I'm playing for three months and the show becomes successful.

I'm planning to play this show in America and England in 2010.

What is the profile of your audience?

The audience is mainly foreigners living in Paris (Americans, English , Australians ); they come to understand the Parisian mentality! By the way the Parisians are coming as well to laugh at themselves!

Why did you write and play a show in English in Paris?

I used to live in America and so many people told me that they were in love with Paris, but they were disappointed about the night life because except the expensive show like the Lido, nothing were made for tourists. When I came back to live again in Paris, I thought of creating this show.

Could you tell us a little bit more about  the show?Olivier Giraud: How to become parisian in one hour?

I'm pointing out the cultural differences between tourists and Parisians. How to act excacty as a Parisian in a shop, restaurant, taxi, metro, club etc......... The show is playing every Tuesday and Wednesday, Theatre de la main d'or, 75011 Paris. (metro Ledru Rollin ).

Any other activity?

I'm also doing private shows for companies.

Can you speak about the difference regarding other shows?

I'm offering the only show 100% in English, so I don't have any competitors! It's perfect this way!!!

What advantages/discounts could you offer to our readers?

I'm doing 50% off to EasyExpat's readers, so it's 10€ instead of 20€ (just mention it when buying)

Contact

The show is playing every Tuesday and Wednesday, Theatre de la main d'or, 75011 Paris (metro Ledru Rollin ).

Next year in the US and Canada.

 




INTERVIEW: OneWorldCVINTERVIEW: OneWorldCV

Author easyexpat  Date 12 October, 2009 17:50

OneWorldCV.com logoPresentation
OneWorldCV.com offers an English resume writing service for non-English native speakers.

OneWorldCV.com was established in answer to the low success rate of job applications from international candidates and to support them in their job search overseas.

Anne, from OneWorldCV.com is answering our questions. Anne - OneWorldCV.com

Can you talk about your company?
Our unique service goes way beyond resume translation as our clients benefit from a personal consultation with a bilingual expert in recruitment, who will identify their skills and competencies, advise them and tailor their resumes to help them reach their career goals.
Can you talk about your activity/process?

Our approach is personal and straight-forward. Our clients are first contacted by phone for a personal consultation. This conversation will allow the resume writer to fully understand our clients’ career objectives and to gather all the necessary information to develop the content of their resumes. Our clients will receive a first draft within a couple of days. We will write a final version of their documents based on their revisions and have it proof-read before emailing them.

We praise ourselves for not using templates. All the resumes we provide are unique, completely tailored to the client’s skills, qualifications, experience and achievements, as well as their target country.

Do you offer additional services?
Our service concentrates exclusively on providing our clients with the highest quality job hunting documents.

In addition to our resume writing service, we can provide a resume translation and formatting service and we also write cover letters for our clients who wish to apply for specific positions. 

Because our team of consultants are composed of experienced HR and Recruitment professionals, it keeps us aware of any developments in the recruitment process and ensures that our clients are provided with the most up-to-date and consistent resumes to maximise their chances of finding the best job opportunity.

What is the profile of your clients?
The profile of our clients ranges from students looking for internships to experienced professionals seeking international roles.  These last few months we have helped a lot of people recently made redundant and willing to try their luck outside of their home countries.

The majority of our clients are French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese nationals looking for employment in international companies and/or in the UK, Ireland and Australia.

Can you speak about your service/ and the difference regarding competitors?
We believe our service is very unique as we offer our clients a complete English resume writing service that is not only personalised through individual consultations, but also adapted to the country of their choice.

Our competitors we are aware of only offer resume translation services which we only recommend to our clients if the original documents are already developed and formatted appropriately. To put it bluntly, what it is the point of translating a resume that is not well structured in the first place?

Where we truly add value is with the advice we offer to enhance the content of your resume and highlight your skills and competencies in the best possible way.

What is your activity on the Internet?
Being present on the Web is central to our service. In fact, this is what allows us to virtually operate across borders and reduce service delivery time to a minimum.

Irrespective of our clients’ and consultants’ locations, we always manage to communicate efficiently using phone calls and emails.

What discounts could you offer to our readers?

  • We will offer all readers of EasyExpat a 10% discount on our services if they mention EasyExpat when they contact us.

This special offer will be valid until the end of the year 2009.

We are confident we can really make a difference in their job search and we look forward to working with them to bring them one step closer to a successful international career!

Contact:

 




Focus on skin care: medical tips for a healthy expat lifestyleFocus on skin care: medical tips for a healthy expat lifestyle

Author easyexpat  Date 05 October, 2009 11:30

William RusselArticle sponsored by William Russell

By William Russell’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jace Clarke

Focus on skin care
Better weather and more sunshine is one of the big attractions of overseas living for many expatriates, but over-exposure to the sun can also be extremely harmful, causing faster skin aging and potentially lethal skin cancers.  Dr Jace Clarke provides some basic guidance on the health issues expats should consider before going out in the sun – but the golden rule is to consult a health professional if you are in any doubt about your skin health.

There’s no doubt that being out in the sun makes you feel better.  Unfortunately, it’s easy to get to get too much of a good thing and overexposure to the sun can cause serious skin health problems.  Caucasian expats in sunny countries are particularly at risk, especially if they have fair skin, red hair or freckles however anyone can suffer from skin damage or skin cancers.  The key to healthy living is taking sensible precautions to avoid being exposed to too much sunshine and to recognise the signs quickly if something is amiss.

The problem is caused by the ultraviolet rays in sunlight; UVA light causes wrinkles and skin aging and can also damage the deeper skin layers, while UVB causes sun burn and other damage to the skin.  The are a number of conditions caused by too much sunshine, some are minor such as sunburn, but even this can be very unpleasant if severe and sunstroke which can cause headaches, fevers and vomiting.  More serious conditions caused by the sun are premature skin aging, including wrinkling, brown spots, growths and skin cancers.

There are two main groups of skin cancer.  Non-melanoma skin cancers such as Basal cell or Squamous cell cancer, are believed to be caused by sunshine in up to 90 per cent of cases while Malignant melanoma, which is an extremely serious condition is believed to be caused by overexposure to the sun in about 60 % of cases.  Skin cancers can be successfully treated if caught early enough, but Malignant melanoma, if left, can spread around the body and may be fatal.

Prevention is simple and straightforward.  Avoid strong sunlight as much as possible; the sun’s rays are at their strongest between 11am and 3pm in the summer months or all year round in equatorial regions.  If you are outside find as much shade as possible.  Some sun is unavoidable, so cover up and use sunscreen liberally.  Wide brim hats and loose tee shirts provide excellent protection and sunglasses which protect against UV light can help to shield your eyes from sun damage.

Make sure that you apply sunscreen regularly to all exposed areas of the skin, taking care with placed that are easily missed like the lips, ears and neck.  Use a sunscreen with a sun protection (SPF) factor of at least 15+ and reapply it regularly, particularly after swimming; creams and oils with an SPF below 15 do not give much protection.  Experts now believe that using a moderate factor sunscreen with a SPF of 15+ is more effective when applied regularly than higher factor screens used intermittently.  Remember that children are especially vulnerable to strong sunshine and should be kept out of the sun as much as possible and protected with very regular applications of sunscreen.

Like all cancers, skin cancer is most easily treated if it is caught early, so keep a very close eye on your skin.  It is perfectly normal for people to develop more moles in the sunshine however it is important to know the warning signs to look out for if something more serious is amiss.  If you are in any doubt, consult a qualified medical practitioner promptly.

Non-melanoma skin cancers can appear as a new growth or sore that won’t heal, a spot, mole or sore that itches or hurts or a mole or growth that bleeds, crusts or scabs.

For malignant melanoma, the ‘ABCD rule’ is a great way to remember the early warning signs:

‘A’ is for Asymmetry, where the two halves of your mole do not look the same.
‘B’ is for Border, where the edges of your mole are irregular, blurred or jagged
‘C’ is for Colour, if the colour of your mole is uneven with more than one shade and
‘D’ is for Diameter, where your mole is more that 6mm across.

If you notice any of the ABCD signs it is important that you seek medical help without delay.

Being out in the sun should be a pleasure, and by taking sensible precautions to avoid overexposure everyone can enjoy the outdoors life safely.  And don’t forget that the problem is overexposure to sunshine, not heat and the mountains in winter can be just as much a threat as tropical beaches in summer.

For further information follow the links for excellent guides to sunshine and skin health:
•    SunSmart
•    British Skin Foundation
•    Sun and Health

William Russell




Fiduciary & Offshore Factoring with Expert ExpatFiduciary & Offshore Factoring with Expert Expat

Author easyexpat  Date 28 September, 2009 16:44

Fiduciary Factoring is the most effective Tax Planning Solution for optimisation of your income in a tax-free offshore environment.

The main purpose of Fiduciary Factoring - also known as Offshore Factoring - is to expatriate all or part of your income and assets into offshore funds.

Fiduciary Factoring offers attractive advantages as part of your Tax Planning strategy providing benefits that you may have thought inaccessible.

Forget about so-called government tax exemption programmes in real estate and other areas, and consider all of the opportunities allowed by alternative Tax Planning schemes and efficient legal arrangements.

The set up of these kinds of arrangements is quick and absolutely affordable. As a result, you will benefit from retention of 90% of all of your expatriate income and funds, completely tax-free.

Expert Expat logo

With the service provided by ExpertExpat, Financial Planning managers will take care of your offshore wealth and will offer you the best choice of investment programmes.

Expert Expat Offshore pageOn the website you will find explanation of the process, case-study and FAQ.

All operations can be done online with the highest confidentiality, with the website offering a unique area for members to make online operations and follow their settlements, as well as discussing privately with financial planning experts through our private online email system.



Salon des Micro-entreprisesExpert Expat in Paris - salon des Micro-entreprises : 6-8 octobre 2009 [Palais des Congrès - Porte maillot]

Our experts will be in Paris at the beginning of October to take part in the exhibition dedicated to entrepreneurs and small-companies. They will be located Stand A22.

If you are in Paris you will be able to get explanation on our unique tax optimisation and our experts will answer directly all your questions. They will have specific offers for the time of the exhibition.

 




 
 
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