Among expats in Asia, having access to high-quality, affordable health care is one of the biggest advantages of living overseas. For retirees, it’s often the first consideration in choosing where to relocate to. Travelers are now looking outside their own borders when they need treatment.  The main reason is because it’s so expensive to go to the hospital in America, according to this info graphic: U.S. health care spending vs. the globe.

CNN had … Read more »

One of the time-honored traditions of expat life in Asia is bashing other foreigners. Familiarity can breed contempt, and it is amazing how you run into the same kinds of people over and over again.

Sarah Grooms playfully took aim at these expat stereotypes in The Faster Times: The 11 foreigners you meet in China.

Anyone who’s lived in another country for over a year will recognize these characters, no matter where they’re living … Read more »

Communication technology is getting better all the time, but how about their human users?  They may still lag behind the times, as globalization brings people closer, while they can’t speak to each other in a common language. Matt Gross, writer of the NY Times Frugal Traveler Blog, set out to find a way to improve his Spanish and Mandarin Chinese: Expensive language lessons? Doesn’t translate.

He looks at many options, from buying cutting-edge software … Read more »

Becoming even a part-time expat with a home in a developing country can change your travel style. If you’re in the midst of building, your bags may be stuffed with power tools, hurricane ties and various pieces used to put your home together. If you’re living in a completed structure, your luggage may contain replacement parts for appliances and those little things to … Read more »

The most drastic steps an expat can make is to give up citizenship and take up permanent residency abroad. With tax season just behind us, the media has picked up on the expat connection.

This Time magazine article says that growing numbers of Americans are crossing that point of no return: U.S. expat taxes drive Americans to give up citizenship.  There was a similar article in the New York Times: More American expats … Read more »

When you move to another country, when do you begin to feel off the road? Does it take a week, a few months, a stationed apartment and a lease? Behind your apartment doors, sure, you are likely to feel less like a road-roaming warrior. But when do you begin to feel like the new life you have made for yourself has fallen into the tedious repetition of your former state?

When I’ve moved to a … Read more »

Recently Rolf posted some tips on making the transition into life as ESL teacher in Korea. But what happens after you’ve been in the country for a while and you’re starting to feel worn down by the hidden demands of teaching? Here are some great ways to relax and stay healthy while getting to know the … Read more »

Some travelers go to a place that seems wonderful. They think, “Wow, I want to live here.” But after they move, they realize that living somewhere is a much different situation than simply passing through as a traveler. As a traveler, you see the wonderful sights. As an expat, you get an up-close look at the challenges of adjusting to a new culture.

Visas and immigration are a big headache in most countries. It’s easy … Read more »

Not long ago I heard from a reader named Zach, who was newly married and headed to Seoul to teach English with his wife. He asked me for advice on how to make the transition to expat-teacher life in Korea. Since it’s been 12 years now since I’ve lived in Korea, my advice to him was brief and itemized:

Find a language institute that is well-liked, where the teachers are happy (you can check around … Read more »

More expats are moving to China, attracted by business opportunities and hopes of advancing their careers. However, working with the locals can be tricky, as illustrated by this New York Times article: For American workers in China, a culture clash.

The Chinese have a saying that captures this challenge neatly: “same bed, different dreams.”  Western expats might have goals like accessing a new market and increasing profits. Their Chinese colleagues, on the other hand, … Read more »