Expat Interviews

From the USA to Nicaragua: Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua

texkourgan — Mon, 20 May 2013 09:01:46 +0100

Hola. My nickname is Gypsytoes, but you can call me Debbie. My husband, Ron, and I live on a tropical island in Nicaragua. We are originally from the Pittsburgh, PA area. However, most of our adult life we have been transplanted Southerners.

1. Why did you move abroad?
We moved frequently while living in the states. Our last major move in the states was from an isolated hollow in the Ozark Mountains to the storytelling capital of the world...mainly so we could have pizza delivered. During one of the storytelling festivals in Jonesborough, TN, we became fascinated and a little obsessed with moving abroad and gathering new stories for our lives. One cold winter day, I received an email from a friend in Nicaragua. He offered us a job managing a small youth hostel on Ometepe Island. We sold our cars, quit our secure teaching jobs, gave away all our winter clothes, and left our house and our aging dog with our son and JUMPED!

2. How do you make a living?
We are blissfully retired. Fortunately, we had little teaching pensions and discovered that we can live comfortably and simply. But, the real truth is that we work harder than we ever did when we were employed. We built two houses, rake mangoes, paint and decorate, write, volunteer, and I started a mobile lending library for the island kids.

3. How often do you communicate with home and how?
We communicate everyday with family and friends back in the states. We use Skype, Facebook, and Email.

I have Skype on my iPhone. All I have to do is stand outside under the mango tree, when it's not too windy, to get good reception. We bought a dongle modem for our laptops, but the darn active volcano in our backyard blocked the tower for a strong signal. So, I made a woktenna for 10 cents to house the dongle, and now we get a much stronger signal.

4. What's your favorite thing about being an expat in Nicaragua?
We live on a Biosphere Reserve. The best thing about living on Ometepe Island is that the world comes to us and we can welcome them with open, loving arms.

5. What’s the worst thing about being an expat in Nicaragua?
Well, right now it is 98 degrees and we haven't seen a drop of rain for months. Everything is dry, dusty, and hot, hot. But, it's looking up! The rainy season is going to start soon! Honestly, we've learned to live in the moment, without expectations. That way, there are no disappointments. Life is unpredictable here..we just learn to go with the flow.

6. What do you miss most?
I used to say I missed an oven, a washing machine, and a lawn mower...embarrassed to say, sometimes more than my family. But, I have the oven and a washing machine now, and our neighbor machetes our yard cheap!

I do miss the ease of conducting business and reliable infrastructure. A simple transaction at the bank or the grocery store can take forever. We never know when we will have water or electricity...but, we're working on that. We just built a tall gravity fed water tower. Next, to work on the electricity issue..maybe solar panels.

7. What did you do to meet people and integrate in your new home?
We are the only 'gringos' in our little community. One of the best ways to meet the local people was to teach ESL classes. We didn't charge for the lessons and as a result we were invited to many family gatherings. We've integrated well into our community and have become a part of a large extended family.

8. What custom/ habits do you find most strange about your adopted culture?
We call some of the strange customs here “Latin Logic”. For example, my ATM card expired at the local bank. I went to the main desk, but they had installed a new number system. I was the only person in the bank, and she made me get a number and sit in a row of chairs. Then, she called my number and I could go back to her desk. When she told me I had to go see the bank teller, I had to get another number. I was still the only person in the bank. I had to get 3 numbers that day. I think they were just proud of their new number system. I couldn't help but laugh.

9. What is a myth about your adopted country?
When friends ask us about Nicaragua, the first question is: “Isn't there a war going on there?” The second question is: “ How do you live with those poor pitiful people?” There are many myths of poverty that I'm trying my best to dispel.

10. Is the cost of living higher or lower than the last country you lived in and how has that made a difference in your life?
We call ourselves Boomer Economic Refugees. We opted for early retirement in the states and we could never afford to live there on a fixed income. I estimate that the cost of living here is ¼ of that in the states. We can live comfortably on $500 a month, excluding travel. We'll never have to shovel snow again. It's changed our lives totally. We are more creative, more appreciative, more compassionate, and above all curious about how everything works or...doesn't work in Nicaragua.

11. What advice would you give other expats?
Above all...JUMP! We could have spent years investigating our place in the world, but then, we probably would have lost the nerve to jump into a new life. Try it for six months to a year. We explored 'pretirement' for a year on Ometepe Island, then returned to the states with more knowledge and understanding of everything we needed to know to make our dream of officially retiring abroad a reality.

12. When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog, Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua, in July of 2011. I wanted to share the joys and pitfalls of living totally immersed in a small community of local islanders. Along with the good, there is the bad, and, of course, a few ugly experiences. I'm spreading the sweaty naked truth about living on a small island, in the middle of a huge lake, in the middle of Nicaragua, in the middle of Central America.

Debbie's blog, Rewired and Retired in Nicaragua

Find out more about being an expat in South America with Easy Expat's

Nicaragua Guide

To be considered for an interview (as well as other articles), add your blog to BlogExpat!

From Alaska to Kharkov: 8 Months in Ukraine

texkourgan — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:31:37 +0100

Hi! I'm Katherine, a West Coast American who spent most of the last decade living in Alaska before moving to Kharkov, the second largest city in Ukraine.

1. Why did you move abroad?
For several years I dreamed of moving to Russia. I even convinced my boyfriend D that it was a halfway decent idea! At that point, I'd been studying the Russian language for several years and thought that living in Russia would provide that final boost to fluency. Russia, however, is not that welcoming to international job-seekers. We spent a year doing conference call interviews, getting laughed out of said interviews (“great, you're hired! Oh.... a visa? Hahaha!), and sulking. Finally we set our sights on Ukraine instead. At that point Ukraine was “close enough” for me. Over the past 2 years though, I've really come to love the place for what it is.

The other reason we moved abroad? Age. People get busier and busier as they age, and D and I wanted to follow our hearts before we got buried in a mortgage, careers, and unavoidable responsibilities. If we hadn't moved when we did, what are the odds that we would have moved at all?

2. How do you make a living?
Since moving to Ukraine, all of my income has come from teaching English and proofreading the occasional document. I've taught at various English schools as well as privately. It's very easy to find teaching work here; there's always someone looking for a good English teacher.

D, meanwhile, is a programmer / project manager. Ukraine has a massive IT industry and he's gotten the chance to work in a field he enjoys.

3. How often do you communicate with home and how?
Unfortunately, not very often. But when I do, Skype is indispensible.

4. What's your favorite thing about being an expat in Ukraine?
Ooooh, just one? That's tough. I have a lot of favorite things, like the DELICIOUS Ukrainian food, the kindness of people, and the cool leftover Soviet Union emblems scattered around the city. I also adore the public transit system here!!! In Alaska, we hardly had one at all. Those going from their meth lab to Walmart would wait 2 hours in the cold for the city bus to come. Everyone else took out a loan/saved their PFD and bought a big pick-up truck. Here in Kharkov you don't need a car at all. There are three metro lines (always fast, cheap, and super clean) and bajillions of buses/marshrutkas/taxis hanging around.

But as for being an expat here, my favorite thing is learning something new about Ukraine every single day. There are things you just can't learn from language textbooks and courses, like what Swan Lake on every channel means (shown during the breakup of the USSR), or who Verka Serduchka is (cross-dressing pop star).

5. What’s the worst thing about being an expat in Ukraine?
Watching an entire nation spit on the sidewalk.

6. What do you miss most?
I miss sidewalks not covered in spit. And public libraries (although a Kindle is a pretty decent substitute).

Also, in America there's a lot of respect for and trust of the authorities: police, government, military. In Ukraine, it's the opposite. Police, government, and soliders are the last people you expect to help. In fact, they'll probably do the opposite. I miss thanking a police officer or letting a soldier cut in line. Such behavior would be unthinkable here.

7. What did you do to meet people and integrate in your new home?
In my experience, teachers are rarely lonely people. Students are always offering exciting excursions and especially when I first arrived I'd take them up on it. I try to never say no to an invitation. The best thing I did, though, was finding a penpal through interpals.net before arriving. The man I met has become a really good friend and helped with a lot of beaucratic tangles like getting internet set up, etc.

8. What custom/ habits do you find most strange about your adopted culture?
Why do guys wear pointy-toed shoes? What's so great about a mullet? Do friends really fall ill from eating cold watermelon and sitting under air-conditioners? Why do men always shake hands but women never do? Why do people think walking between two telephone poles will cause a headache? Are the ends of cucumbers actually bad for health? And how is it considered sanitary to sample unwashed grapes or a slice of salo (pig fat) in the open-air market? What exactly is the job description of a vakhta (person who sits in a building all day long)? And what does the expression "da nyet" (yes no) mean- is the answer “yes” or is it “no”?

9. What is a myth about your adopted country?
The stereotype that all Ukrainian men are scruffy worthless drunks and all Ukrainian women are gorgeous love kittens who yearn to escape their sad plight by marrying foreign men. This is a pretty easily-dispelled myth and anyone who visits Ukraine will realize it. Just like any other place, Ukraine has all types of people. I find most men here to be romantic (buy you flowers, etc), courteous (always carry your bag, pull out chairs), and handsome. Women here are- in my opinion- extremely well-educated, not afraid to speak their mind to men, and not all looking for a ticket out of the country. They do, however, have a magical ability to wear 5-inch heels 24/7 without complaint, that one's not a myth.

Also, the idea that Ukraine is Russia, or rather “Little Russia”. It's not true. Some here may speak Russian but if you call them Russian, prepare yourself for a fistfight!

10. Is the cost of living higher or lower than the last country you lived in and how has that made a difference in your life?
The cost of living is lower in Ukraine than it is in America.... especially since we lived in Alaska! It's a great pleasure to be able to buy foods like buckwheat on the cheap instead of having to hunt down an eastern european import store and pay through the nose. It was also a nice surprise to discover that high-speed internet in our apartment would only cost a fraction of what we paid in the states and ditto for a cell phone.

In terms of income, I'd have trouble getting by if I lived by myself. Just like anywhere else, it's easier to get by on two incomes.

11. What advice would you give other expats?
Whichever country you're in - keep an open heart and an open mind with you at all times. Look for the best in situations and people.

12. When and why did you start your blog?
8 Months in Ukraine was started in July 2011 just for kicks. The name was inspired by my original 8 month teaching contract... although now a more honest title would be 21 Months in Ukraine, haha. Over time it's grown from a simple way to keep in touch with friends & family to a resource for others interested in the country. It can be difficult to find up-to-date English info on daily life in Ukraine, and that's what I try to provide with my blog. Hope to see you there!

Katherine's blog, 8 Months in Ukraine

To find out more about living in the Ukraine,

Ukraine Resources

To be considered for an interview (as well as other articles), add your blog to BlogExpat!

From Germany to Tennessee: Southeast Schnitzel

texkourgan — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:08:53 +0100

My name is Christian Höferle (alternative spelling: Hoeferle).

I was born and raised in Weilheim, Germany - a small town of ~21,000 people, 30 miles south of the Bavarian capitol, Munich. Weilheim is located in the Southeast of Germany.

Since July 2004, my family and I live in Cleveland, TN - another small town of ~40,000 people, 30 miles north of Chattanooga. Cleveland is located in the Southeast of the United States.

People in Bavaria/Germany and Tennessee understand when I tell them that "I'm a Southeasterner in both countries & cultures."

1. Why did you move abroad?
In simple terms: To see if it works - the life abroad. In 2003, my wife, our then 2-year-old daughter and I were living in Munich when we sensed that we were ripe for a change in our lives. Back then my wife was a stay-at-home mom (by choice) who was getting ready to launch her next project, a Montessori school. At the same time, I was in the process of leaving my employer of seven years and I explored a job offer for a leadership position in Berlin.

Our options were a) to move the family to Berlin, arguably the hottest, hippest, and most buzzing city in all of Germany (Europe?), or b) to move the family to Southeast Tennessee where my in-laws had been keeping a second residence in addition to their native home in Germany, and where my wife attended college in the 90s.

Both, my wife and I, really enjoyed city life at that time but we also knew that raising a child in the city was not our preference. While having the security of a job is a good thing when relocating, Brigitta and I decided on the high-risk option for our family's future. In the spring of 2004 we called the movers and packed for the United States to start not one but two new businesses.

2. How do you make a living?
Between my wife and I, we currently own three businesses:

- Montessori Kinder International School (a trilingual, true Montessori school for children starting at age 3 months up to 5th grade; 6th grade is being developed right now) is my wife's "baby". Originally started in Munich, Montessori Kinder re-launched in the U.S. in January 2005 with three students, the school currently teaches 69 children and employs 15 staff members. -> www.MontessoriKinder.com

- Höferle Consulting (www.hoeferle.com) offers cultural training, coaching and consulting services for global businesses. We help companies improve the effectiveness of their employees when working across cultures. We also provide support services for expatriates and their families, as well as international business start-up support and interpretation/translation services.

- In addition to that, Brigitta and I own a joint business which operates in a high-growth market segment. We have begun expanding the concept to Germany which has the nice side effect of re-establishing us in our old home. There are still opportunities for investors to join us in this expansion. Send me a note to willkommen@hoeferle.com if you are interested.

Being your own boss, being independent has its ups and downs. There's feast and famine. I guess we are not the (stereo-)typical expats who were sent abroad by an employer. We went on our terms. Our entrepreneurial spirit and stubbornness were rewarded in recent years: There have been several large-scale investments in our region made by international companies. These companies have been bringing expats into the area - which means additional business for my consultancy and my wife's school.

3. How often do you communicate with home and how?
"Home" has become a strange word in our family. For our youngest daughter, who was born in the United States, home definitely is Cleveland, TN. Her sister and parents aren't so sure anymore whether home is in Germany or in Tennessee. After nine years here my answer has become: Home is where my three ladies and I live - independent of the location.

So, how do we communicate? Phone, Skype, email, Facebook. Even my parents, who are technologically challenged, know how to skype. They call about twice a week to check on us - especially on their granddaughters whom they miss quite a bit.

4. What's your favorite thing about being an expat in Tennessee?
It might sound tacky: Being able to live the American Dream. Coming from Germany, a country with a high degree of regulation and low tolerance for ambiguity and risk, we chose to live in the U.S. to fulfill an entrepreneurial desire. We left Germany at a time of (perceived) economic uncertainty and most people described the glass as being half empty. We were looking for an environment that saw the glass as being half full. Tennessee is a U.S. state that empowers business owners and rewards risk-takers who do their homework.

Another invaluable benefit is that we can raise our children with two languages and two cultures. Sometimes this means being able to pick the best of either side. At other times it means having to live with the worst of both sides. It does, however, teach us to embrace change.

Ask my wife and she'll tell you that the weather here in the South is quite an improvement in our quality of life (compared to the sometimes long cold/wet spans of the German climate).

5. What’s the worst thing about being an expat in Tennessee?
One aspect that expat parents struggle with is the fact that the overall educational standards, especially in the public school systems, are significantly different from their home countries. In our case these standards are often below our expectations, Despite the United States being an egalitarian society on paper, the reality in the South is that there appears to be quite a class divide in education. Expensive private schools often offer the educational benchmarks expected in an international context, while underfunded public schools are playing catch-up and are rarely equipped to meet the needs of international students.

Another big challenge of expat life in Tennessee is the cultural gap. Coming from Central Europe we had to adapt to a different set of "normal." Some of the most pronounced differences are in behavioral preferences, communication styles, moral standards, and interpersonal relations. There are several books about the cultural differences and similarities between Germany and the U.S. but very few cover the unique culture of the Southeast and Appalachia. I could go into a lot of detail on this topic but will focus just on a select few:

- Morals: While most Germans find nudity and non-pornographic content perfectly normal and socially acceptable, for most U.S. Americans this is a taboo topic (rooted in Puritan ethics and, in the South, in a strong Christian value set). On the other hand, the depiction of violence and horror is perfectly normal in the U.S., whereas it is age-restricted in Germany.

- Communication: Germans speak their mind in a very direct, straight-forward manner with the goal of achieving utmost clarity ("Klarheit" ) and avoiding ambiguity. Little thought is spent on taking into account other peoples' feelings when communicating. Presenting facts and data is often more important than the exchange of casual pleasantries. It's all about delivering an unmistakable message. Germans want to be respected for what they say. Americans also want that respect, of course, but they want to be liked, too. Their style of communication is much less abrasive and friendly. It is more important to create a positive impression of oneself than being too direct. This also means that unpleasant messages are packaged to soften the impact. Southerners tend to avoid direct conflict and confrontation in their communication. Germans, who value the dialectical exchange of arguments, will come across as very confrontational with their culturally determined communication style. Complaining about issues or criticizing the execution of a task - which is a socially accepted control mechanism in German culture - will typically be viewed as directly aimed at the the individual in the Southeastern U.S., thus hurting somebody's feelings.

- Interpersonal: There is an often-used analogy to describe the German-American difference - that of the peach and the coconut. I encourage you to look it up. In this model, Germans can be seen as the coconut - with a fairly unpleasant outer shell, a hard husk that lets Germans appear reserved, hard to get to know, sometimes even as arrogant, with private and social live fairly separated. The American peach, by contrast, is extroverted towards strangers, makes friends quickly, is open and curious, and its private and public lives are interwoven.
This makes for some nice misunderstandings.

6. What do you miss most?
That's a question I've been getting quite often in the past nine years. I can't really say that I miss Germany a lot. But I do miss the privilege that driving south for two and half hours takes me into Italy. Now that same driving time takes me to Atlanta. Don't get me wrong, Atlanta is great and we go there frequently. I just really enjoyed getting away for a weekend to Bella Italia.

In the beginning we missed certain food items which were just hard to get in small-town Appalachia. A trip to Atlanta usually solved that problem. Now, with the arrival of several German companies in our neighborhood some of the stores have expanded their product portfolio and these trips aren't necessary any longer. We even have authentic German bread in Chattanooga (which typically is the most missed comfort food for German expats).

7. What did you do to meet people and integrate in your new home?
From a business perspective it was extremely helpful for us to get involved with the local Chambers of Commerce. Here in the South who you know sometimes is more important than what you know.

We got a membership to the YMCA, we enrolled our daughters in a TaeKwonDo Academy, I coached rec soccer, I volunteered as a German language tutor at the local college - lots of avenues to meet like-minded people.

My wife's clients are parents whose children are about the same age as our daughters and whose interests and needs often overlap with ours. While we rarely mix business with social life, some of these families have become good friends.

A few years ago I was appointed to the board of a local non-profit organization which was helping immigrants with their integration into the area. Serving the community in this capacity was not only a new cultural experience for me, it also opened doors and minds.

Opening hearts took a little longer and, granted, that wasn't exactly easy for a reserved German. Unfortunately, it was a natural disaster which may have been the final tipping point that fully integrated our family in this area. On April 27, 2011 four tornadoes went through our town, killing several people and destroying hundreds of homes. Being part of a volunteer first-aid and relief squad helping the victims and survivors wasn't what we had signed up for when we moved to Cleveland. Locking arms with those who were spared by the storms to make a difference in the lives of the people who got hit truly made our family a part of this community.

8. What custom/ habits do you find most strange about your adopted culture?
"Strange" isn't the adjective I prefer to use when talking about customs or habits. "Different," or "unique" might be better. In U.S. American culture you don't say "U.S. American" - it's "American." Canadians, Brazilians, Mexicans, and most other people of the Americas (as in "the American continents" ) consider themselves "American," too. But citizens of the United States think of themselves as being the Americans.

Most, if not all Americans have an unwavering adoration for their Constitution. This isn't surprising as it is the foundational document of the country's democracy. This shared believe in the Constitution includes the Amendments, such as the right of freedom of speech (1st Amendment) and the right to bear arms (2nd). This Second Amendment to many Americans is just as sacred as all other constitutional laws. In the face of mass shootings and what seems to be increasing gun violence, the 2nd amendment has come under public scrutiny in recent times. However, it is highly unlikely that the U.S. will make significant changes to this article of the constitution. It is one of the unalienable rights that defines the United States and it is part of the freedom that the country's citizens value so much. To Europeans this may be "strange" - once you get behind the underlying mindset, you'll have a deeper understanding of American culture.

In the South, one of the first questions newcomers are asked is, "What church do you go to?" To Germans this is a very personal question. We usually do not share matters of faith in public. Living in the Bible Belt (some say: in the Buckle of the Bible Belt) has taught me to accept this inquiry as a perfectly normal approach to learn more about somebody you meet. Church life is part of social life for many Southerners, it is sort of a social glue. It is up to the expat whether he or she wants to engage in this conversation.

9. What is a myth about your adopted country?
That the United States are the most advanced country in the world. As a child of the 80s and growing up in West Germany most of my generation viewed "Amerika" as the embodiment of progress and future orientation. While this is certainly true in many regards, it is also false in many others: The country's infrastructure is dated in many regions; energy consumption is completely out of hand and energy efficiency is below the levels of most European and Asian nations.

Another myth is that all Americans have very little appreciation of world history and other cultures. The United States are a big country. Traveling the continent takes time and requires no knowledge of foreign languages or getting used to different infrastructures. Therefore, not many Americans have interactions with people from other countries. This has been changing in an increasingly globalized world, though. The stereotype that Germans are always asked by Americans if Hitler is still alive, is simply nonsense.

10. Is the cost of living higher or lower than the last country you lived in and how has that made a difference in your life?
Technically, the cost of living in Southeast Tennessee is significantly lower than in Munich. However, since we are not salaried foreign service employees with a fixed income and cost of living adjustment, our family budgeting became more challenging in the first couple of years. We bought a house, two cars, started our businesses, got health insurance, had a child - just some of the big ticket expenses. Then you factor in that buying groceries can get a little pricy if you prefer to eat healthy and if you succumb to certain German comfort food cravings. Overall I'd say: You get more bang for your buck in Tennessee.

11. What advice would you give other expats?
Before you go: Have an honest conversation with your family (and/or yourself) to determine if you are ready for this. Have your job situation clarified. This includes planning for your return. Get your financial house in order (if you are struggling with money, expatriation will not fix that). Tell your company that you want cultural and language training.

As you go: Relax, it'll be fine.

Once you get there: Keep an open mind. Stay curious. Do not hesitate to make a fool of yourself. Have fun!

12. When and why did you start your blog?
In 2009, initially as a pet project to document my intercultural experiences, but in recent years it has also become my playground to write about my work as a trainer and consultant.

Christian's blog, Southeast Schnitzel

Find out more about being an expat in the USA with Easy Expat's

Guide to Miami

To be considered for an interview (as well as other articles), add your blog to BlogExpat!

From Canada to New Zealand: CanuckiwiKate

texkourgan — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:28:18 +0100

Kia ora, I'm Kate! I'm Canadian (we're affectionately known as Canucks, although I haven't actually figured out why) and I've been living in New Zealand since January 2009. After all that time living with and teaching little ones, I think I've become a bit of a Kiwi myself, so when I started my blog in January 2012, I called it CanuckiwiKate.

1. Why did you move abroad?
I'd always wanted to be a teacher. I started my Bachelor of Arts with the intention of doing a concurrent Bachelor of Education, beginning in second year. When I sent my application for the concurrent program away at the end of first year, knowing that you needed a 75% overall average to be considered, I joking told everyone "if I don't get in, I'll just go overseas and study." My average came out at a 74%. All of the sudden, I now had 3 years to figure out my next move, which after lots of research, lead me to New Zealand. It was meant to be, and moving here was one of the best decisions I ever made.

2. How do you make a living?
I'm a primary school teacher. I spend my days with 6 year olds, teaching reading, writing and maths by day, and planning and battling paperwork up to my eyeballs by evening/weekend. I did a one year post grad diploma at Otago University in Dunedin, in 2009 and was fortunate enough to land myself a job after graduation - at the other end of the country, in the Far North of Northland. This beautiful area alone keeps me busy, as I love exploring the diversity and natural beauty in

3. How often do you communicate with home and how?
I am shocking at ringing home. It has definitely gotten easier catching up with my family now that my mum, dad and sister all have iPhones, as the iMessaging is so conveniently cheap, and FaceTime is more reliable than Skype. We usually have a video chat every couple of weeks - probably about once a month.

I am even worse at writing letters and mainly use Facebook and my blog to share stories and photos with friends.

4. What's your favorite thing about being an expat in New Zealand ?
I love exploring. New Zealand is such a fascinating country - it's got remarkably drastic landscapes, each more stunning than the last. There's a photo-op around every corner. I also love being completely submersed in the Kiwi culture, it's so easy-going and laid back, it fits me and my take on life.

5. What’s the worst thing about being an expat in New Zealand?
Paying to be here and dealing with the Immigration. Even the simplest of things can be made complicated, and every time it just gets more and more expensive. But I'm not bitter.

6. What do you miss most?
I generally suffer from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), I've been away from home for over 8 years, I miss being a part of celebrations and events with my family and friends, rather than just seeing photos. And home cooking - my nan is absolutely amazing, and my parents are both huge foodies as well, they're always creating and experimenting with something new in the kitchen.

7. What did you do to meet people and integrate in your new home?
Initially when I came to New Zealand, making friends wasn't too difficult as I had a small class of 23 training to be teachers. We quickly became a close knit group, and I've kept in contact with many of them years after going our separate ways. When I moved to a small rural area in the Far North, I soon learned there were not many people my age around. Luckily, through a mutual friend I met another girl who'd gone to the same university I had in Dunedin. We instantly became mates and together started exploring and attending every event around. We chatted to locals, and pretty soon could drop names and make connections. Working in a school was a great way to get amongst the community as well.

8. What custom/ habits do you find most strange about your adopted culture?
I did find the fact that shoes were not mandatory in shops/restaurants to be quite different, coming from the saying "No shirt, no shoes, no service" back home; that does not apply here! That being said, I've completely embraced life barefoot and have been known to head off to the shop without my shoes!

9. What is a myth about your adopted country?
That New Zealand and Australia are one in the same. It took me a while, but I can now hear the subtle differences in accents, and perhaps the kiwi patriotism has rubbed off me, but I stand by New Zealanders who defend that things like the pavlova are 'theirs'.

10. Is the cost of living higher or lower than the last country you lived in and how has that made a difference in your life?
It's higher here in New Zealand -food and make up instantly come to mind as ridiculously overpriced, along with public internet access, which is limited and frustratingly slow. Since I've been gone so long, and was but a poor university student before leaving, I do feel like my comparisons may be slightly off - but I've had plenty of visitors that marvel at the fact that I pay what I do compared to home.

11. What advice would you give other expats?
Get amongst the culture! Get out there, give everything a go, be involved, have fun and make the most of your experience! And try not to compare it too much to home, embrace your new country for what it is.

12. When and why did you start your blog?
I started CanuckiwiKate in January 2012, just for fun to document my adventures and share my love of New Zealand and travel. I've recently moved from Blogspot to self hosting, and I'm about to embark on my first planned trip home in over 4 years. I'm taking my Kiwi boyfriend to see Canada, as we drive from Vancouver to Halifax. I'll be sharing our adventures along the way, so be sure to check it out and follow us!

Kate's blog, CanuckiwiKate

Find out more about being an expat in New Zealand with Easy Expat's

Auckland Guide

To be considered for an interview (as well as other articles), add your blog to BlogExpat!

De Galicia a R�o de Janeiro: Fran Viajando

texkourgan — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:05:54 +0100

Hola a tod@s, mi nombre es Francisco Pérez, español de 26 años, y desde hace casi dos años estoy viviendo en Río de Janeiro, Brasil.

1. ¿Por qué se fue al extranjero?
El principal motivo por el que hoy estoy aquí es mi novia. Ella es brasileña y nos conocimos en Alemania, donde estuve una temporada viviendo por motivos de estudios. Una vez llegado el momento de plantearse una residencia, Brasil ganó todos los puntos por tener mejor campo de trabajo en nuestra área, sobretodo en estos momentos de crisis en Europa.

2. ¿Cómo se gana la vida (Su trabajo: Háblenos de su experiencia)
Soy músico, en el ámbito de la música clásica. Mi trabajo va desde tocar con una orquesta sinfónica, banda fhilarmónica hasta dar clase de mi instrumento. La verdad es que me siento un privilegiado por poder ganarme la vida haciendo lo que más me gusta. También colaboro con la ONG Orquestrando a Vida, un núcleo en Brasil del famoso "El Sistema" de Venezuela, donde trabajamos con más de 700 niños.

3. ¿Con qué frecuencia se comunica con la familia y cómo?
Ahora con las nuevas tecnologías resulta bastante sencillo comunicarse y no existen distancias. Con mi madre hablo todas las semanas por el Skype y con los otros a través del Facebook mantenemos contacto.

4. ¿Qué es lo que más le gusta de ser un expatriado en Río de Janeiro?
Me gusta tener sol todo el año, aunque a veces sea demasiado, en general me encanta poder estar en pantalón corto y chancletas. La comida es otra cosa que me enamoró y el paisaje de Río de Janeiro te deja con la boca abierta.

5. ¿Qué es la peor de ser un expatriado en Río de Janeiro?
La burocracia es lo peor. Va todo muy lento, falta mucha información y a veces es desesperante el proceso, parece que no va a acabar nunca.

Creo que cualquier inmigrante de cualquier país me dará la razón en esto.

6. ¿Qué es lo que más extraña?
Sin duda Galicia, mi tierra natal. Echo de menos estar con mis amigos, nuestro sentido del humor, nuestra lengua, un buen licor café..

7. ¿Qué hizo usted para conocer gente e integrarse en su nuevo hogar?
Al venir con mi novia me resultó más fácil porque ella ya tenía sus amistades aquí , además en mi trabajo acabas conociendo muchas personas.

8. ¿Qué costumbre / hábito le resulta más extraño en su nueva cultura?
La locura con el fútbol. A mi me encanta el fútbol pero aquí se vive con un éxtasis desorbitado. Mis vecinos salen por las ventanas gritando festejando un gol de su equipo...a mi ni me hace falta ver el partido para saber el resultado final, los gritos me van avisando del marcador, jajajajaa.

9. ¿Qué es un mito acerca del país que lo acoge?
Diría que la violencia. Río de Janeiro tiene una fama de ser tan peligroso que no puedes ni salir a la calle y la verdad es que no es así. Por supuesto que no es el país más seguro del mundo, tiene sus problemas, pero yo llevo una vida normal y nunca tuve ni vi nungún problema.

Con respecto a lo de las chicas en la playa con los bikinis pequeños, los hombres pueden estar tranquilos, eso no es un mito, jejejejjee.

10. ¿Qué consejo le daría a otros expatriados?
La primera cosa es que tenga la mente abierta. Es otra cultura y uno se debe adaptar a su nuevo país, no ellos a tus costumbres.

Otra cosa importantísimo para adaptarse y sobrevivir es aprender el idioma del país. Que nadie piense que va a conseguir estar aquí hablando español....demasiadas personas no van a conseguir entenderte.

11. ¿Cuándo y por qué empezó su blog?
Mi blog lo empecé hace medio año con la idea de mostrar a mi familia un poco como eran los lugares que visitaba en Brasil.

Después lo fuí ampliando no solo a Brasil, y hablar un poco de todos los lugares que voy viajando, y la verdad es que me sorprendió la cantidad de visitas que llevo recibido.

12. ¿Cómo ha sido beneficioso el blog?
Lo que más me gustó de mi blog fue poder ayudar a algunas personas que quieren venir para Brasil a trabajar y estaban un poco perdidos en los temas burocráticos, de como es el nivel de vida aquí, o temas similares.

Fran Viajando

Find out more about being an expat in Brasil with Easy Expat's
Río de Janeiro Guide

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From the USA to Germany: A Day in the Life of a Hockey Wife

texkourgan — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:20:29 +0100

Hi there! I blog anonymously as 'Hockey Wife' at A Day in the Life of a Hockey Wife. I currently live (well, during the hockey season, so about eight months out of the year) in Germany, with my husband and our two sons Linden and Calder.

1. Why did you move abroad?
My husband decided to abandon his NHL dreams and rather set his sights on European hockey. The season is shorter, European-style hockey is easier on his body, and the schedule allows us to spend a lot more time together as a family.

2. How do you make a living?
During the hockey season I work as a freelance writer, primarily for hockey-related companies and websites. The hours are flexible, I get to put my thinking cap on a bit, and who doesn't like a little additional income … earned while sitting in your jammies? During the off-season I work as a consultant and technical writer within the oil and gas industry.

3. How often do you communicate with home and how?
Keeping the lines of communication open isn't easy. There's a nine or ten hour difference between here and home, which makes an already complicated situation even more complicated. When we're getting up, our friends and family are going to bed. When our friends and family are getting up, we're going to bed. A quick hello is usually all we manage to squeeze in. Facebook helps. Skype absolutely saves my sanity.

4. What's your favorite thing about being an expat in Germany?
Of course, it's the time and experiences that I share with my family. But it's also the day to day challenges. I believe those challenges are part of the adventure of living abroad; they force me out of my comfort zone and they force me to grow.

5. What’s the worst thing about being an expat in Germany?
I hate that I miss out on all the goings-on at home. Weddings, babies being born, birthday celebrations. It's hard to not be a part of such significant events in the lives those we care about the most. So that, and there's no Taco Bell.

6. What do you miss most?
Obviously, our family and friends. But I miss Taco Bell too. Like, a lot.

7. What did you do to meet people and integrate in your new home?
Meeting people and integrating is definitely made easier because of the nature of my husband's job. His teammates, management, and their families almost immediately become our friends and our support system while living here. We are lucky in that respect. Insta-friends. I have also made a few mommy-friends through Linden's kindergarten.

8. What custom/ habits do you find most strange about your adopted culture?
Every other day seems to be a holiday and everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) shuts down. I've become better at remembering the holidays, but it never fails that at least once a season, I forget to get groceries and we spend a day making something out of nothing for dinner. It's a lot different than at home, where even on Christmas, you can find a Starbucks or a Target that are open.

9. What is a myth about your adopted country?
Oh shoot, I don't know.

10. Is the cost of living higher or lower than the last country you lived in and how has that made a difference in your life?
The cost of living here is much, much lower than anywhere else we have lived - especially home.

The great thing about hockey is that the salaries aren't really dependent upon the region or even the country so much as the level or league in which you are playing (i.e. In Germany, salaries in the West tend to be much higher than in the East - but the cost of living is also higher in the West than it is in the East). My husband makes more money playing in Europe than he would at home. Because we live in an area with a low cost of living, we are able to do more with our money and save more.

11. What advice would you give other expats?
Keep an open mind. And for those who are living abroad temporarily, try to think of your experience as an adventure. The good, the bad … in 10 years, you'll have some great stories to tell!

12. When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog, almost out of necessity, in 2009 while living in Italy. It was my first hockey season away from my family and friends and I was beyond lonely. We weren't being treated all that well by the team's management and I needed an outlet - a safe place to think and vent and vent some more. I never expected that A Day in the Life of a Hockey Wife would be seen by anyone but little ol' me, but it grew and grew and grew, and I love that it's touched so many people.

A Day in the Life of a Hockey Wife

Find out more about being an expat in Germany with Easy Expat's

Munich Guide

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From the USA to Niger to Zimbabwe to Rome: Gillian's Lists

texkourgan — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:34:28 +0100

I am Gillian Longworth McGuire on twitter and instagram as @gmcguireinrome and I live in Rome, Italy.

1. Why did you move abroad?
My first expat experience was when I moved to Niamey, Niger in 1991 to work for an American NGO. After spending 6 years in the sahelien desert, where I met my husband, we had a child (who is now 16) , moved to Harare, Zimbabwe in 1998 and finally here to Rome in 2006.

2. How do you make a living?
I have a several different things that keep me busy.

First, I am a writer. I have authored an App, Rome for Expats, with all of my picks for where to find things like bagels, an english speaking dentist and the best hamburgers in Rome. I have a blog www.gillianslists.com, where I talk about where I eat and where I go in Rome and beyond. I also help others with content for their blogs.

I am also a Social Media consultant, which is a fancy sounding title for helping people best harness social media for their business or online presence. I curate information for several local business, tour operators and villa owners.

The last hat I wear is helping new arrivals adjust to their new home in Rome.

3. How often do you communicate with home and how?
Through Facebook, every day. I Skype with friends and family a few times a month.

4. What's your favorite thing about being an expat in Rome?
The pace. It is paradoxically slow and chaotic at the same time. The light. the bright clear blue skies in winter and soft warm orange cast in summer. The clank of coffee cups and ciao’s and my local coffee bar.

5. What’s the worst thing about being an expat in Rome?
There is not much to complain about here. Bureaucracy can be tedious. I recently had to change some information with my internet company. It required sending a fax!

6. What do you miss most?
From Tennessee I miss BBQ and sweet tea and the sounds of cicadas. From Southern Africa I miss hot summer Christmases, biltong and Sunday braiis. From Washington DC, I miss political buzz, Mexican food, salty oat cookies and a long wander around Kramerbooks

7. What did you do to meet people and integrate in your new home?
I joined lots of expat clubs and went to every cocktail, coffee, meet-up that was offered.

8. What custom/ habits do you find most strange about your adopted culture?
The abject fear of airconditioning on a 40 degree day.

9. What is a myth about your adopted country?
The myth of La Dolce Vita. That life in Italy is laid back and relaxed.

I find there are a lot of rules that Italians follow. When to eat, what to eat, what to wear, when to wear it. They notice if you are not following them too.

10. Is the cost of living higher or lower than the last country you lived in and how has that made a difference in your life?
The economy in Zimbabwe was in free fall for many of the years we lived there, so the cost of living in dramatically different in Rome. The biggest difference in our life is much less international travel. But that’s OK because there is so much to see and do in Italy that in nearly eight years we have hardly noticed.

11. What advice would you give other expats?
Slow down, embrace chaos, learn Italian.

12. When and why did you start your blog?
Since college days friends have asked for my recommendations of things to do/eat/see. After living in Rome for two years, in 2008 I decided to do something constructive with all of the information I had collected and so started blogging. In 2012 I compiled another set of information that I had been researching and sharing privately and created my App Rome For Expats.

Gillian's Lists

Find out more about being an expat in Italy with Easy Expat's

Rome Guide

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De Paris � Chiang Mai: Tout un voyage - 2 Farangs en Tha�lande

texkourgan — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:47:57 +0100

Nous sommes Guillaume et Christelle, un couple de Français originaire de Paris. Nous vivons depuis plus de 3 ans à Chiang Mai, dans le nord de la Thaïlande.

1. Pourquoi êtes-vous partis à l'étranger ?
L’idée de partir s’est imposé un jour d’août 2009. Nous nous ennuyions fermement dans notre vie parisienne. J’ai proposé à mon mari de tout quitter et de s’installer en Asie, un continent que nous affectionnons particulièrement.

Le choix de la Thaïlande est un peu le résultat de nombreux concours de circonstances.

Un de nos très bons amis français vivait depuis 2 ans en Thaïlande avec sa femme thaïlandaise. Nous sommes partis assister à son mariage à Chiang Mai en décembre 2009.

Lors de ce séjour, nous avons totalement été séduits par le pays et les Thaïlandais. De plus, cela ne semblait pas trop compliqué pour des étrangers de monter une petite affaire et d’obtenir des visas.

2. Comment vivez-vous?
En octobre 2010, nous avons ouvert, avec mon mari, un restaurant franco-thaï dans la vieille ville de Chiang Mai. Au début, nous n’étions pas spécialement emballés, la restauration étant un secteur d’activité que je ne connaissais pas, mais que je savais exigeant. Pourtant, le challenge me plaisait et j’étais également venue en Thaïlande pour expérimenter de nouvelles choses tant sur le plan professionnel que personnel.

Nous avons récemment revendu le restaurant et réfléchissons à l’ouverture d’une maison d’hôte, toujours sur Chiang Mai.

3. Est-ce que vous appelez souvent votre pays d'origine, et comment ?
Nous utilisons fréquemment Skype avec nos familles et nous avons également un forfait de téléphone qui nous permet d’appeler la France à moindre coût.

4. Quelle est la chose que vous préférez en tant qu'expat à Thaïlande?
Tout d’abord, le sentiment extrême de liberté. La société française est très critique vis-à-vis de tous ceux qui sortent des sentiers battus. À l’inverse, les Thaïlandais sont des personnes très ouvertes, qui ne vous jugeront jamais sur votre style de vie ou vos choix. La vie doit être « Sanuk », autrement dit « fun ». Cet état d’esprit est très communicatif.

Autre point très positif, en France, nous aurions également eu beaucoup plus de difficultés pour monter notre entreprise : difficultés financières d’une part et crédibilité d’autre part. En Thaïlande, les fonds de commerce sont accessibles avec un minimum d’économie et personne ne vous demandera de vous justifier sur votre parcours professionnel.

Autre point positif, la découverte permanente. Même si nous nous sommes installés dans une nouvelle routine, nous continuons à être surpris au quotidien, à nous émerveiller. Vivre à l’étranger, c’est un apprentissage permanent.

À cela s’ajoute bien sûr le climat exceptionnel de Chiang Mai, C’est un peu cliché, mais vivre en tongs toute l’année est très agréable.

5. Quelle est la pire des choses pour un expat à Thaïlande?
La barrière de la langue. Pas facile de se faire comprendre ou de lier connaissance lorsque l’on ne parle pas la langue. Pour tout ce qui est administratif, nous sommes dépendants de nos amis thaïs. Lorsque nous avons signé les papiers pour notre restaurant, nous avons dû faire entièrement confiance à notre associée thaïe, car le contrat était rédigé en thaï.

6. Qu'est ce qui vous manque le plus ?
Incontestablement nos familles et nos amis. Même si nous communiquons beaucoup sur Skype, cela ne remplacera jamais un bon petit dîner de famille ou une soirée avec nos amis.

Pour la nourriture française, il y a tout ce qu’il faut, mais nous rêvons d’une coupe de champagne, un luxe en Thaïlande.

7. Qu'avez vous fait pour rencontrer du monde et vous intégrer dans votre
nouvelle vie ?
La véritable difficulté se situerait plus dans la constitution d’un réseau social. Avec les Thaïs, les amitiés restent relativement superficielles à cause de la barrière de la langue. Notre restaurant nous a permis de rencontrer les expatriés français vivant à Chiang Mai et de nouer de nouvelles amitiés.

8. Quelle est l'habitude que vous trouvez la plus étrange dans votre culture d'adoption ?
Le plus déroutant en Thaïlande, c’est que vous ne saurez jamais ce que pensent véritablement les Thaïlandais. Les Thaïlandais ont le souci de préserver la face en toute circonstance et ne vous dirons jamais non.

Même s’ils ne partagent pas nos convictions, ils nous diront toujours ce que l’on veut bien entendre. Si bien que l’on ne sait jamais s’ils nous apprécient vraiment ou s’ils sont juste polis avec nous. Après 3 ans de vie en Thaïlande, le sourire énigmatique des Thaïs ne nous a pas encore livré tous ses secrets.

9. Qu'est-ce qui est un mythe sur votre pays d'adoption ?
Le sujet est un peu délicat, mais je dirais la prostitution. C’est un secret pour personne, la Thaïlande est, notamment, connue pour sa prostitution. Dans les médias occidentaux, la Thaïlande fait bien souvent figure de « bordel de l’Asie ».

On pense souvent, à tort, que ce sont les touristes occidentaux qui encouragent ce commerce. Pourtant, la prostitution en Thaïlande existe depuis des siècles et les clients des prostituées sont majoritairement des hommes thaïs.

Il existe bien sûr des quartiers chauds où les touristes occidentaux se rendent et s’adonnent à des vacances « Sea, Sex and Sun ». Pour autant, il existe des quartiers chauds partout dans le monde et vous pouvez tout simplement ne pas vous rendre dans ces quartiers.

Cette image fait vraiment du tort aux femmes thaïlandaises, car beaucoup d’étrangers pensent que toutes les femmes thaïlandaises sont des prostituées. Les préjugés ont la dent dure !

10. Quel avis donneriez-vous aux autres expatriés ?
Un conseil « foncez », vous ne regretterez pas votre expérience au pays du sourire. Il faudra par contre s’armer de patience, car les premiers mois peuvent être difficiles. Il faut persévérer, avec le temps et les rencontres tout s’arrange.

Effectuez au préalable quelques séjours pour être sûrs que le pays vous plait. Il y a effectivement un fossé entre passer des vacances en Thaïlande et y vivre.

Un autre conseil également, apprenez la langue. L’intégration n’en sera que meilleure.

11. Quand et pourquoi avez vous débuté votre blog ?
L’idée du blog nous est venue que très récemment. L’idée est partie d’un constat : il n’y a que très peu de blogs d’expatriés sur la Thaïlande en français. Et encore moins de blog qui traite sur l’installation d’un business en Thaïlande.

À travers notre expérience, nous avons souhaité aider tous ceux qui souhaitent s’installer en Thaïlande ou ceux qui hésitent encore à franchir le pas.

12. Quels bénéfices avez vous trouvé au travers de votre blog ?
Le blog est un formidable outil de rencontres. Par exemple, nous avons eu l’occasion de dîner avec un expat vivant à Bangkok et grâce à lui nous en avons appris un peu plus sur la vie dans la capitale thaïlandaise.

Le blog nous a également permis de rencontrer des Français de passage sur Chiang Mai, qui souhaitaient obtenir des informations sur une éventuelle installation en Thaïlande.

Tout un voyage - 2 Farangs en Thaïlande

Pour en savoir plus, consultez

le guide de l'expatriation sur et auThaïlande

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From Blackpool to the Canary Islands: IslandMomma

texkourgan — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:40:54 +0100

Hi. My name is Linda, but I’m known to some as islandmomma (or madreislena in Spanish). It’s a nickname from when my kids were in their teens – long story. I come from Blackpool, a holiday town, on the north west coast of England, and I’ve now lived for over 25 years in Spain’s Canary Islands.

1. Why did you move abroad?
I’d always dreamed of living abroad. Unlikely as it must have seemed to friends by the time I was, say 25, I always knew that I would.

I was in a long-term relationship (we eventually married), and we had our first son in 1981, and I think for my partner that was what made him think about it too. We went to southern Spain a couple of times a year back then, and always talked about moving there, but for one reason or another never quite made the decision. In early 1987 it all began to happen quickly, our second son was diagnosed with asthma and we were advised that a drier climate might be better for him. At the same time my husband, who was in real estate, was asked by a group who were looking at investing in property in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, to accompany them to advise on structure, return on investment etc – but he ended up selling himself on the idea. He came home, and said he’d found “the right place” at last, and I agreed without even having been to the Canary Islands! I would have moved just about anywhere for the experience alone. I did, of course, make a trip before the final move, to check out schools etc, and the feedback was good, so I didn’t hesitate.

2. How do you make a living?
When I first arrived in July of 1987 I couldn’t get a work permit. My partner was self-employed, which was allowed if you were investing in a business, though, if I recall correctly, he had to have a Spanish partner on paper for some years. My sons were 3 and 5, and it didn’t bother me at all that I didn’t have a career, it was on hold anyway. I’d met my husband through work, so I did work “behind the scenes”, meeting and greeting, entertaining etc. Commissions here were far higher than in the UK, and it was a challenge to keep prospective purchasers, who flew in to buy, occupied and out of the clutches of the competition! I divorced when my kids were in their mid/late teens and went back to work in real estate, but I hated it. I realized it wasn’t ‘me’ any more….another long story.

I went off traveling for a few months, once my nest emptied, but it took me a while to break free because I’d almost always worked in that business. I’d gotten involved in some volunteer work, which was very satisfying and absorbing, so I took a dead-end job in customer service, mainly because I didn’t have any thinking to do, and could concentrate on my volunteer work, but it paid the bills! My idea was to stick at it until retirement age, and then follow my dreams. However, the company changed hands, and I lost my job two years short of pension age, which was a huge problem.

Youngsters can’t even get work, Spain has 26% unemployment, so at 60+ and a foreigner I had no hope. Yet it’s never occurred to me to back to England. Through a friend, who knew I’d done an ESL course for my volunteer work, I began to get enquiries about private lessons, and that’s a part of what I do now. It’s all come from word of mouth, and I love it. It’s one of the things I things I’d been planning to do anyway – although not here! I also do some writing. I don’t make any direct money from my blog, but it serves as my “c.v.” and it’s brought me work. And I am on the cusp of upgrading and improving it any day now, in fact. Of course now I wish I’d done all of this years ago. I’m no nearer my pension as yet, but it’s so great to do things I enjoy every day, and to be my own boss. Given the climate here I can sneak beach time or go hiking, and catch up with the work at night, unless it’s the actual classroom work.

3. How often do you communicate with home and how?
Well, after all this time I’m not at all sure where ‘home’ is! I speak with my dad, in England, a couple of times a week, and my sons roughly once a week. Right now one of them is in London and the other is in Mallorca, in the Ballearic Islands. They’ve both lived and worked in other countries (that is neither UK nor Spain), and I’m not sure how they feel about their nationality! I use SKYPE, mostly computer to computer, but I have a package which gives me unlimited calls to European fixed lines for €10 a month, much cheaper than telephone lines. I also text (Mostly WhatsApp), FB, Twitter, and the occasional email. I don’t much like emails except for work. Very occasionally, I write a real, old-fashioned letter. I love the feeling of sitting there, writing, knowing the other person will take time to sit and read it, will touch the same paper I wrote on. I absolutely love modern communications. I’d hate to go back, but I do like to preserve the tradition of letter writing too.

4. What's your favorite thing about being an expat in the Canary Islands ?
I have to say the climate, not because I want to go to the beach every day, but because of the lifestyle it allows (being able to eat outdoors, picnic whenever you want, hike without having to have Plan B etc). It also means no vitamin D supplements necessary! I have cervical arthrosis so I would definitely need those if I lived somewhere less sunny! It’s also the climate which leads to the laid-back lifestyle, which often puts things in perspective.

5. What’s the worst thing about being an expat in the Canary Islands?
Here’s where I contradict myself because I have to say that same, laid-back lifestyle can be extremely irritating and obstructive at times. Overall (I hate to generalize but it’s unavoidable) the work ethic suffers because of this. Customer care is almost non-existent in most businesses, which leads to frustrations and exactly the opposite of what you expect. You expect to have left the stress behind in the mainland world, but you haven’t, unless you learn to shrug your shoulders a lot, and if you’ve been brought up to respect a customer’s rights and quality of service then life can be very annoying. I hasten to add that it doesn’t apply to every, single business, but to sufficient to make the comment valid.

6. What do you miss most?
I would describe what I miss as “the common cultural identity,” speaking with people on a regular basis who have the same cultural references I have, who instantly know who said, “To be or not to be, that is the question….” or who know who I’m talking about if I say “Rachel and Ross,” without me having to explain myself. You might say I’d find that among expats here, but it’s also rare. Brits here are not the same sort of people I knew back in England, overall – generalizing again.

7. What did you do to meet people and integrate in your new home?
At the beginning it was through school and my partner’s work. I got involved in the PTA, and slowly worked out who I had things in common with. One of the problems in being an expat in this, paticular type of community is that people come and go a lot, but I’ve stayed friends with people who left here years ago, and are now spread around the world in fact, which makes the internet such a wonderful resource. After my divorce it was the same as it is everywhere, figuring out which friends ‘belong’ to each party. There was a kind of plateau for a while, but I was intent on trying to steer my kids through the complexity of the situation, and I didn’t bother too much. I made new friends through work then, and especially after I began the volunteer work, because, obviously, I met folk with common interests that way. I did some courses too, which helped confirm those interests.

8. What custom/ habits do you find most strange about your adopted culture?
Having done a lot of entertaining at home and being invited to friends’ homes in the UK, it was odd that this didn’t happen so much here. Certainly it isn’t a Spanish habit, and even the English people didn’t do it much. Perhaps because of the climate again, I’m not sure. I’ve always stuck, more or less, to English meal times too. I’m an early riser, so eating dinner as late as is the Spanish custom isn’t good for me, and for the same reason siestas don’t work.

I’m very happy that bullfighting was banned in the Canary Islands years ago, because it horrifies me to see it on tv, and I don’t think I could live anywhere where it was popular. I’d open my mouth and get into fights I think!

9. What is a myth about your adopted country?
Can I tell you what is a myth about the Canary Islands, rather than Spain? The common perception of the Canary Islands, throughout Europe, is that they are desert islands and that tourists come here only to burn on the beach all day and drink vast quantities of alcohol all night. Undeniably, there are places here like that, but there is so much more that it often makes me angry that people dismiss the archipelago without giving it a try. On this one island we have, for instance, the 3rd highest volcano in the world; lush temperate forests; quaint villages; two World Heritage sites and amazing volcanic landscapes. You can come here to hike, swim, trail run, bike (Olympic teams train here), surf, windsurf, kiteboard, paraglide, dive, golf (there were 9 courses last time I counted) and play tennis, just off the top of my head. There are banks of telescopes on the peaks of both Tenerife and La Palma which belong to international observatories, which study the night skies because they are some of the clearest on earth – that means it’s heaven for photographers too. There’s more, but I’m aware I sound like an advert, and I really don’t want to get involved in tourism as such!

10. Is the cost of living higher or lower than the last country you lived in and how has that made a difference in your life?
I can’t make an informed comment on that because I’ve been here so long now. I was told the other day that gas is considerably cheaper, which, of course, affects the cost of transportation and therefore foodstuffs I guess. What I can say is that the living is cheaper because you need no heating, unless you live considerably higher in the mountains than most folk do. You don’t need so many clothes, for women no pantyhose, although it still amuses me in winter to see Canarian women wearing the latest fashion as if they were in Madrid or London. You can eat out very cheaply in the areas away from the tourist resorts. Since less entertaining is done in the home, eating out is much more a part of everyday life here, and not such a treat, unless you choose to go to an expensive restaurant. Lots of expats congregate in tourist areas and use English supermarkets, which means that they don’t live any cheaper than they do in their own countries. Rents are high in tourist areas, and English and German food is mostly imported, so that makes it more expensive, but if you avoid those areas and foods the living is much more reasonable.

11. What advice would you give other expats?
First : learn the language. There are huge numbers of expats here from other European countries, particularly British, who can’t be bothered learning Spanish. It’s an attitude I despise. I’m embarrassed that I don’t speak better Spanish myself, but I do think it’s a sign of respect to the people with whom you must deal, shopkeepers, bank staff, post office staff etc that you can do the simple stuff in the language of the country in which you live.

Second: get out of the expat ghettos and learn about local life and customs. It enriches your life, brings new friends and why, on earth, live abroad if you don’t do that? I just don’t get it! No-one, but no-one, will ever make fun of you for being a stranger if you are eager to learn about their country. They will laugh if you don’t!

Third: try everything at least once. At least if there is something about the country you don’t like you can speak with authority about why and not out of prejudice or timidity.

12. When and why did you start your blog?
LOL. The usual story – to keep up with friends. As I mentioned, for some reason I’m not fond of emails, especially those “group” ones we used to do. Oddly a blog seemed more personal than a group email. After I lost my job I began to play around with it. I’d always wanted to write, planned to give it a go after retiring anyway. So it began in 2008, became adolescent, you could say, in 2010, and is, now coming of age. I got a lot of advice about what I should do with it, making it commercial etc, but it didn’t feel right. I didn’t want to become a “guide to Tenerife” and I certainly didn’t want to support links or advertising to anything I didn’t much like. Granted I could use the money, but also I’m at an age where I feel it necessary to stand by what I believe in 100%. I don’t want to have to compromise any more. But I do have a new domain name, and I am working on upgrading it, making it more interesting, reaching further. Hopefully, that will happen at the end of March.

Linda's blog, IslandMomma Life on a Small Island and Beyond

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From Canada to Hungary: The Wasted Year

texkourgan — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:00:10 +0100

A lost soul hell-bent on postponing any semblance of a settled life, I write about my funny, bewildering and surreal experiences as an English tutor in Hungary.

1. Why did you move abroad?
Fear. Paralyzing, soul-crushing fear.

I had just graduated, and as I emerged from the comforting musk of the ivory tower into the world’s harsh glare I recoiled in horror. People staggered around in bewildered dazes as their endless cascade of mundane responsibilities pelted them like frigid rain. I saw lines snaking away from bank counters full of nervous middle-agers clutching wads of documents, and businessmen stuck in traffic pulverizing their steering wheels with unhinged fury. When one of my good friends tried to recruit me into his pyramid scheme selling 5 hour energy I finally snap and fled to a country I could barely locate on a map.

2. How do you make a living?
I sit in a small room full of Hungarian children and babble incomprehensibly to them in English. Quoting the modernists and gesticulating wildly I pontificate on the tortured nature of human existence. I perform dramatic reenactments of Shakespearean soliloquies as they pick at their ears in uncomfortable silence. Then we sing about pizza and draw vegetable monsters for a while. Somewhere along the way they supposedly learn to speak English.

3. How often and by what methods do you communicate with home?
It’s a little known fact that the Hungarian postal service’s main form of delivery is a singularity into which they pitch all the mail they receive in the hopes that in its journey through the cosmos it eventually reaches its preferred destination. If it is true that there exists infinite parallel universes in which every possible outcome is accounted for then in some alternate timeline I’ve gotten all my mail. However, because this theory is still unproven I just call my friends and family on Skype and accept that I will probably never get any of the letters they send.

4. What is your favorite thing about being an expat in Hungary?
The capital Budapest is possibly the most spectacular city I’ve ever visited. If you walk through it for too long without thinking you leave a trail of drool from all the gaping in awe. The nightlife is amazing, the people are friendly if you get to know them and good Hungarian food is some of the best in the world. I like the weather and the proximity to all kinds of fascinating countries. I like the vestiges of communist occupation that still shade almost every aspect of social and political life. It’s as fascinating as it is infuriating, and like no place I’ve ever been.

5. What is the worst thing about being as expat in Hungary?
I’m convinced Hungarian is a fake language that everyone just makes up as they go along to torture foreigners. To the person every single non-native who has tried to learn the language has gone insane, stripped naked and waded into Lake Balaton mumbling about vowel harmony, never to be seen again. I am constantly confused by the proper etiquette surrounding the double cheek kiss, and no one seems to notice that food is often served barely lukewarm and even more often ice cold.

6. What do you miss most?
I miss salads and brown rice and vegetables that aren’t potatoes. I miss easy access to literature in English and understanding the messages from my cell phone provider. But mostly I miss the pet beaver and the monthly ration of maple syrup ration that the Canadian government gives every citizen.

7. What do you do to meet people and integrate into your new home?
Nothing. People are terrifying and mean and it’s much easier to sit in my room re-reading science fiction classics than interact with them. Once I tried wandering into the middle of town and hugging every single person who walked by but I had to stop after an elderly lady I chased down walloped me with her umbrella and shuffled away cackling in delight. The town I live in is far enough afield that very few people speak anything but Hungarian, and since it’s a proven fact that the language is unlearnable I usually just wait until I hear someone speaking English and follow them around asking incessantly to be their friend until they relent in exasperation or throw their mulled wine in my face.

8. What customs/habits do you find most strange about your adopted culture?
People I hardly know are always insisting on buying me beer. Once I nodded politely to a man outside a corner store and he insisted - insisted - on going into the place and buying me a lemon beer. it was even more awkward when I had to stand there for 20 minutes smiling at him telling him repeatedly in Hungarian that I had no idea what he was saying. Something about Hungarian culture dictates they be overly, almost uncomfortably accomodating to strangers, and I can never shake the feeling that I’m somehow taking advantage of them.

9. What is a myth about your adopted country?
This is a very hard question for me to answer because before I came here I knew literally nothing about Hungary. Many might see it as just another random country that used to be in the Soviet empire - but it is in fact a country with a damn impressive list of world contributions. A very surprising number of Nobel laureates, one of the highest all-time Olympic medal counts and a significant contribution to music and art. Oh, and most importantly the Rubik’s cube was invented here. You’re welcome Will Smith, now pay for that cab!

10. Is the cost of living higher or lower than your home country, and how has that made a difference in your life?
I’m the richest poor college kid you’ve ever met. I roll around this country like P Diddy, beating back my hoards admirers with wads of Hungarian Forints. Sometimes when I’m sleeping in my money fort I contemplate how the abysmal exchange rate on the Forint means I’m essentially living under the poverty line by Canadian standards, but in those times I just snuggle up to my teddy bear hand-sewn from 20,000 Forint bills and think about where to hire a new guy to follow me around with an umbrella so I don’t get rain on my money suit.

11. What advice would you give other expats?
If you try to recreate your life exactly like it was back home you will be miserable. Don’t surround yourself with other expats and hang out in English pubs. Dive in as deep as you can and fully embrace the oddities of your new culture or just move the hell back home.

12. When and why did you start your blog?
I started my blog before I even left home because when I was young a witch put a curse on me that will summon a sarcastic garden gnome to graw off my fingers if I ever stop writing.

Trevor's blog, The Wasted Year

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