Hi:
Further to this thread of the last few days, the most exciting aspect of an expat life is, in my opinion, the social interaction.
When you become an expat, you move into a new community. This will be the new country you live in. The experiences of meeting new people in that community, doing business with them, being exposed to a culture different than your own can be very enriching. You observe the universal similarities and the tiny quirks that make a people and culture unique.
In the larger expat community you also start to observe cultural differences. This is not with the people from your host country, however, but with the folks who are also expats. To use the slang, you see how the Brits, the Aussies, the Yanks, and the Canucks act under the same circumstances.
Besides learning about the place you are in, you learn about the places your new friends are from. You start to compare all sorts of things. Every topic is interesting, from the government policies, the education system, the social system.
The natural extension of this is a broadening of perspective and a greater tolerance. It is not a paucity, but an enrichment of interaction, stimulating discussion and learning.
More tomorrow.
M.
retirement and expatriates
Monday, March 06, 2006
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Why become an expat?
Hi:
Why would anyone become an expat? I don't think it is what people start out looking for, but something that people fall into as a lifestyle.
For example, I know of several people who went to work in Dubai, as post-secondary educators.
The money was not great but OK, say around $60,000 a year. However, considering that this was tax-free income, the money offered seems much more attractive that the same amount here.
Of course people had to structure their tax situation properly to get it tax free.
Besides that, these individuals received a $10,000 furniture allowance, paid-for accommodation, a round-trip air ticket back home once a year, and the usual two months' holiday. At this point things did look considerably better.
Expenses consist of food and personal items. They could bank say, $50,000 per year, or $100,000 per year as a couple. Suddenly it becomes possible to save half a million dollars in five years.
Besides that, the close proximiity of the middle east makes foreign travel in that part of the world more accessible. People spend part of their holidays in exotic places and take short weekend jaunts to Paris or Barcelona.
It adds up to a stimulating and challenging lifestyle.
All this being said, the dangers of the middle east were not what they are now.
Would I do it today? Good question. The point of this example is that there are opportunities, with short windows, for those that are brave.
More tomorrow.
M.
retirement and expatriates
Why would anyone become an expat? I don't think it is what people start out looking for, but something that people fall into as a lifestyle.
For example, I know of several people who went to work in Dubai, as post-secondary educators.
The money was not great but OK, say around $60,000 a year. However, considering that this was tax-free income, the money offered seems much more attractive that the same amount here.
Of course people had to structure their tax situation properly to get it tax free.
Besides that, these individuals received a $10,000 furniture allowance, paid-for accommodation, a round-trip air ticket back home once a year, and the usual two months' holiday. At this point things did look considerably better.
Expenses consist of food and personal items. They could bank say, $50,000 per year, or $100,000 per year as a couple. Suddenly it becomes possible to save half a million dollars in five years.
Besides that, the close proximiity of the middle east makes foreign travel in that part of the world more accessible. People spend part of their holidays in exotic places and take short weekend jaunts to Paris or Barcelona.
It adds up to a stimulating and challenging lifestyle.
All this being said, the dangers of the middle east were not what they are now.
Would I do it today? Good question. The point of this example is that there are opportunities, with short windows, for those that are brave.
More tomorrow.
M.
retirement and expatriates
Saturday, March 04, 2006
More on the Expat Life
Hi:
Two expat websites are www.expatriates.com and www.geocities.com/canadians_abroad.
These sites are like any others, changing, developing, sometimes well used, sometimes not. There are links to many countries. Some countries have lots of posts and information, others not, of course depending on the participants.
The first site is for the world, while the second focuses on Canadians living abroad. There are dozens of other sites - just google expatriates.
There, I've used a what was a noun "google" as a verb, "to google". Our ever evolving language!
M.
retirement and expats
Two expat websites are www.expatriates.com and www.geocities.com/canadians_abroad.
These sites are like any others, changing, developing, sometimes well used, sometimes not. There are links to many countries. Some countries have lots of posts and information, others not, of course depending on the participants.
The first site is for the world, while the second focuses on Canadians living abroad. There are dozens of other sites - just google expatriates.
There, I've used a what was a noun "google" as a verb, "to google". Our ever evolving language!
M.
retirement and expats
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)