Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with expatriate

Advice about moving to Montreal for artists

cotesdurhone — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:21:39 -0800

Advice about moving to Montreal (for artists)? I've decided I want to move to Montreal. I've been doing a lot of research, including looking through old Metafilter posts, but do not have a clear sense yet of what my chances are or the best channels to pursue.

Please help me find out:
-- Whether I stand a chance (only reasonable, empirically-based responses, please)
-- And, if yes, suggestions on how to best go about it

Some pertinent information:

I am 30, a writer (of literature), live in Boston. Was educated at a 'good liberal arts college,' and had a semester at Oxford studying creative writing.

My English is excellent, and I also have a high level of fluency in Russian. I do not speak French, but if I had the opportunity to move to Montreal, would straightway try to take the French classes sponsored by the government.

(By the way, does anyone have any information about this?-- Apparently, the Quebec government, in order to 'Francify' new residents and improve their chances of finding employment, will provide them with free French classes and a living stipend while taking them. One person seemed to indicate that they could be arranged as part of the Visa process, but, as I research, the catch-22 seems to be that one needs to obtain a Visa beforehand.)

For the last five years or so, I've been working part-time at office manager-type jobs while simultaneously working on my writing. I have also made money occasionally as a freelance editor, Russian translator, and illustrator (though no official degrees to prove I have these skills).

In Montreal, my plan would be to continue working part-time, also possibly freelancing in editing and illustration, and working on my writings the rest of the time.

I was thinking that, if it would be helpful and possible-- which it probably isn't--, I could also provide a 'resume' and attachments of publications and writings as a sort of appendix to the Visa application.

For more specific information, please see a previous post.
(Yes, I realize they are similar-- but this is one is specifically about Montreal.)

Thanks!

Propitious places to move to & unusual living situations for having 3 or 4 days a week free to work on personal project

cotesdurhone — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:39:38 -0800

I'm working on a project that requires at least 3 or 4 full days attention each week. What are some places in the US or world I could move to, &/or unusual living situations, that would give me a good chance of doing this? Other considerations:

• Part-time job terminating Jan 1, and definitely want to move elsewhere (currently live in Boston)
• Have $5000 savings. Will probably also be able to continue receiving unemployment (about $1,000 month) if I move out of state (but not country, obviously)

• Age 30. US Citizen.
• Languages: English, Russian
• Skills: Writing and editing, visual art, Russian translation (but no graduate-level degrees to show this)
• BA from Liberal Arts college + semester (2 terms) at Oxford

Any and all reasonable options considered.

• Preferred urban environment: vibrant arts scene, inspiring architecture, not overrun with college students or sports fanatics, ethnically and age-ally diverse
• 'Ideal' destinations: Montreal, France
• Hypothetical order of preference: 1. Montreal & France (tie) 2. EU, Scandinavia, & Turkey 3. Eastern Europe 4. USA & Canada 5. South America 6. Asia 7. Australia/New Zealand 8. other

• Preferred rural environment: the more (interesting) people around, the better

• "unusual living situations" = housesitting - caretaking - living in some cabin - (earnest) meditative community - collective farm - kibbutz - teaching abroad - or anything else

• If it's helpful to know— the project is of a literary nature (a novel and other writings)

Finally, what are the very best resources (books, websites, magazines, etc) that might be of help?

How do I, a (possibly promising) writer of literature, given X circumstances, escape the Boston area to a location/ situation conducive to writing— either abroad, or elsewhere in the US?

cotesdurhone — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:30:41 -0800

Creative suggestions for a (possibly promising) writer of literature, given X circumstances, to escape the Boston area to a location/ situation conducive to writing— either abroad, or elsewhere in the US. Responses from international (non-US) MeFites encouraged. Here is the situation. I'm a writer of prose, poetry, and philosophy. [footnote 1] I moved to the Boston area about four years ago from NYC, partly for a change of pace, and mainly for an agreeable environment where I could work as little as possible in order to study and write as much as possible (not feasible in NYC due to high costs and constrictive living conditions).

Since moving to the Boston area, however, I have, for reasons beyond the scope of this posting, become progressively dissatisfied with it. Reductively: I find it aloof, un-inspirational, out of tune with my sensibilities. My family lives in the area, and they exert too strong an influence on me. For the last few years, living here, in spite of myself, has felt consistently bleak, sterile, depressing, slowly eroding my inspiration and health, with little or no prospects for improvement.

Last week, I found out that the organization I work for part-time (3 days/week) lost a lot of money due to the recession, and I'm to be laid off starting January 1st. I very much would like to move to another locale more in tune with my sensibilities. However, my circumstances— including the conditions I require to write— are particularly involved and challenging:

• Recently turned 30
• Languages: English; Russian (spoken very good, written poor due to disuse)
• US Citizen (US passport). All living family also US citizens
• BA (Bachelor's degree). Am 'highly skilled' (as VISA diction goes) in a number of areas— writing and editing of all varieties, visual art, Russian translation— but no official degrees to prove it
• Since I work part-time, am scarcely able to save money. Have about $5,000 (US dollar) in savings
• Will be receiving small monthly Unemployment wage (around $1,000); not sure whether I would lose this wage were I to move out of state; need to research this further

• Cannot take a full-time job for some period to shore up a significant amount of money to use to move; this precludes writing, and I must— which is to say, I'm compelled to— write regularly
• Need, at minimum, 3 full days a week to myself to be able to study/ write to marginally adequate effect. Four days, to sufficient effect. [footnote 2]

• Misgiving I: I have a bit of an unintentionally 'eccentric' demeanor, and I worry that this complicates finding employment in a timely fashion
• Misgiving II: I worry that I'll move somewhere, not be able to find a job, and run out of money. Or— will only be able to find work so time consuming that I won't have the minimal amount of time and freedom I require for writing. But, inevitably, such are the risks.

I'm seeking suggestions for:
(1) A place to move to (country, city, town, etc)/ particular situation that: (a) is more in tune with my sensibilities; (b) provides a good chance of finding sufficient time to write, either because of a strong likelihood of finding sustainable part-time work, or otherwise.
(2) And how, logistically, one would be able to move to said place/ enter said situation.
(2a) For instance, countries/ cities where it is relatively easy to circumvent VISA restrictions (I've heard that in some Portuguese cities, for instance, there are sizable communities of expatriates who tacitly reside illegally relatively untroubled), or in general with laxer VISA restrictions.
(2b) Esoteric situations— such as house-sitting, or caretaking, or living in some cabin, or in a (genuinely truth-seeking) meditative community, or a collective farm, etc, or teaching abroad, or finding a wealthy benefactor in the tradition of the 'patrons' of yore whom I could dedicate my work to in exchange for marginal funding, or some other fantastic situation I'm unaware of, so long as I'd have at least three days to study/ write.
(3) Best resources to help with aforementioned. Books, websites, etc. I've gleaned a short list from MetaFilter and other sites, which I've pasted below [footnote 3], but don't know which are best, and suspect there are more.

The possibilities of where I can go, of what I can do so are open-ended— yet the restrictions very intricate— that it's difficult to provide enough information about where and to what my intuition gravitates. I'll try my best.

What do I mean by "in tune with my sensibilities"?—

Cities, large towns, and more populous environments

The city, large town (or possibly remoter area) I envision has:
a. Culture, arts, architecture
b. Respect for and some degree of genuine understanding of the arts
c. Not suffused with ambition for materialistic success— wealth, consumerism, practical career, 'fame for its own sake,' etc
d. Fairly ethnically diverse
e. A fair amount of people between the ages of 20 and 40
f. Not overrun with university students— or at least they aren't salient, and blend in with the other elements
g. Sports spectatorship not the primary or sole cultural occupation, and blends in with other elements

The ideal would be to move to a foreign city, work part-time, and work on art the rest of the time— like so many writers and artists did in the first half of the 20th century. For a long time, I've wanted to move to France, or, maybe strangely, Montreal. I've visited both, Montreal numerously, and, acknowledging their differences and downsides, love both about equally. The latter would probably be easier to access. (I guess one doesn't move to Montreal after, say, Paris. Perhaps moving to Paris is like 'moving up'; one doesn't ‘go back.’) In truth, I'd probably be contented living in dozens of European, Eastern European, or other foreign cities.

The VISA restrictions of the day seem to conspire against this. As one MeFite wrote in response to a somewhat similar question: "One of the few things I regret in marrying an American girl (through a horrendously expensive and invasive visa process) is how deeply I've come to understand the essential immobility of nearly all of the world's citizens, especially between and into First World countries. I used to treasure the notion of living wherever you wanted and making a new life somewhere on the other side of the world. But the simple truth is, in the First World, you can't just pick up and move somewhere anymore, and if you do, you'll be absolutely living on the margins of society, burning money fast and at risk of deportation constantly. Which will likely get you a 10 year travel ban to anywhere in the EU... The world isn't full of Hemingway-era open borders and laissez-faire expat life anymore, but there's still plenty of adventure to be had." There's also the Recession to consider. Also, I don't speak French or Spanish. (Have been meaning to learn French for years, but— between working at paying jobs and efforts at writing, never seem to have time; this must be remedied.)

Order of preference:
1- France, Montreal tie (strangely enough)
2- Europe (general) + Turkey. Scandinavia.
3- Eastern Europe.
4- USA. Toronto?

Note: Not too many places in the US I feel especially excited about moving to. First, because I'm rather tired of contemporary American culture (in spite of the promise of the Obama administration) and would benefit by living in another. Second— don't know if this will makes sense to anyone—, because I'm finishing a collection of essays largely about the US, and, if Fate allows, after having finished these and the novel, will basically have exhausted to my limit the country's appearances, culture, and mores. Regarding particular cities: Not too hot on Austin, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, New Orleans (the latter's great, but have already written about it to satiety). NYC is fine, but in the past has proven too expensive and harrying to be feasible. New Mexico and Arizona feel all right. Again, though— willing to consider 'anywhere but here.'

5- ?
6- South America— All right, but I don't speak Spanish
6- Not so hot on Asia, Middle East, Australia, New Zealand— nonetheless, open to viable suggestions therein

Note: This also may not make any sense, but— part of the reason I'm wary of moving to these regions is that the novel I'm writing concerns and is set in contemporary America, in particular a number of East Coast cities, and I intuit that if I live in a culture too foreign, different, or even spatially far removed from particular US appearances, customs, and memories, it would erase the mental connections I need to preserve these impressions, hindering me from doing justice to the nebulous vision I have for the novel. I do imagine being able to live gladly in some of these places after the novel is completed.

The gist is that I would prefer a country other than the US, but not one so foreign or distant as to potentially erase memories and other connections necessary for writing the novel.

I realize, though, that if I’m am able to collect Unemployment insurance from MA while living in another state and looking for work, I would probably be foolish to give it up by moving abroad, and thus am probably riveted to the US.

More remote, rural, and less populous environments/ situations

a. The more people around, the better, for I've lived before for nine months in virtual solitude, and, while the experience was good, do not want to repeat it for a while; nonetheless, will do so relatively gladly if it means enough time to study, write, complete novel, etc.

All of this said— again, I'm open to almost any possibility, so long as it's 'anywhere but here,' relatively agreeable to my sensibilities, and allows the requisite time to write. All mindful suggestions appreciated.

~~~~~

[Footnote 1]

Common questions that this statement probably elicits (peripheral, but nonetheless necessary to clarify my circumstances):

'What do you write?'— I've written a novel (age 20 or so), enough poetry to possibly comprise a slim volume, a handful of stories, and reams of reflections, short narratives, visions, dreams, sketches, drafts, etc.

I devoted myself in earnest to writing about four years ago, when I moved from NYC to the Boston area set on ‘working’ (at a paying job) as little as possible so that I could write as much as possible.

Presently I'm finishing up a loose collection of sociological, philosophical, semi-autobiographical essays investigating mores, values, and beliefs in contemporary America, as well as more Ineffable questions. Am also partly through a novel, which I'll return to post essays, hopefully very soon.

'Have you been 'published'?— A little. Numerous reasons for said paucity. (1) Don't like to think about publishing until after completing a work to my satisfaction, as doing so can corrupt the artistic process. This is more in the European than American understanding of art. (2) Anyone who's braved the contemporary publishing process knows how ramified, fragmented, time-intensive, and involved it is, often with little remuneration, and I'd rather concentrate on the work itself most of the time. (3) Much of what I've been writing the last few years has been more for personal than public catharsis and illumination— but stands to enrich future writings precisely for this reason. (4) Others. However, as manifold writings are completed within the next few years, will put greater efforts into sharing and publishing them.

'Is your writing 'good?''— Only God knows. I hope so.

[Footnote 2]

It may sound outrageous to say that one requires at least three full days— preferably four— per week to study and write adequately. Can't one simply work a full-time job and do this in the evenings and on weekends? I can’t; most people don't understand this. In way of explanation, I reproduce the following passages from The Biography of Franz Kafka, by Max Brod, which I came across recently. I don't, by the way, liken myself to Kafka, or Mozart (also mentioned) in any way, or imply 'genius' (a term, incidentally, whose connotations were softer back then); I share these passages solely because they precisely articulate, and hopefully illuminate, a condition that I (and, I would imagine, most driven artists, scientists, mathematicians, inventors, or other visionary-types) experience:

"At the same time, one must not forget that the special nature of [Franz’s] gift, in fact, and not only in the minds of his parents, precluded its being turned to any practical value. Furthermore, to turn it to any such practical value was utterly and completely incompatible with the purity of Franz’s idea of art. ‘Writing is a form of prayer,’ the diary affirms. Indeed, when it came to the point of choosing a profession, Franz postulated his job should have nothing to do with literature. That he would have regarded as a debasing of literary creation. Breadwinning and the art of writing must be kept absolutely apart, a ‘mixture’ of the two, such as journalism, for example, Kafka rejected— although at the same time he never laid down dogmas, but merely withdrew, as it were, with a smile, explaining that ‘I just can’t do it.’ He influenced me and my choice of profession for years with these views of his and, like himself, out of respect for art, I went through agonies, in the most hideous, prosaic, dry profession of the law and didn’t find the road to theatrical and musical criticism until years later. [Brod seems to miss the point that writing routinely for profit under coercive, often quotidian, inane guidelines inculcates poor habits that stylistically and substantively corrupt one’s creative writing.] Today I regret Kafka’s severity on this point as a noble error, and regret the hundreds of joyless hours I let slip by in a mood almost of despair, wasting God’s high creation, time, in offices just like those in which Kafka now set out on his martyr’s way.

What we both strove after with burning ardor was a post with a ‘single shift’— that is, office from early morning till two or three in the afternoon— now I can write this ‘or’ so easily as though to us at the time it didn’t seem as if the whole health of our souls depended on this one hour— and none in the afternoon. Jobs with commercial firms, which meant being in the office mornings and afternoons, didn’t leave any continuous stretch of the day over for literary work, walks, reading, the theater, and so on. And even when one came home after three, by the time one had eaten, recovered a little from the soul-destroying work, and was ready to switch over into the state of freedom one had been looking forward to— there was already very little of the day left. The desired office hours till two o’clock only were offered by extremely few offices, however, being almost exclusively in Government offices which even then, under the old Austrian Empire, were open to Jews only if they had influence in very high quarters. I don’t want here to go into the story of all our disappointed hopes of suitable jobs which haunted our conversation at that time. It will suffice to say that Kafka, after a short prelude in the most strenuous commercial offices (the ‘Assicurazioni Generali’), finally achieved the longed-for-job in July 1908, in a semi-Government office, the ‘Workers Accident Insurance Institute for the Kingdom of Bohemia in Prague.’

In both posts Franz had men over him who were well disposed towards him. Nevertheless it soon became evident that he couldn’t get on with it, in spite of all his experiments in dividing up his time in such a way as to allow him to indulge unrestrictedly in his passion— writing. For that he needed a succession of many hours, to permit the great impetus which his creative power gave him to soar to its proper climax and then die down again. But this was impossible for Kafka in one short afternoon with the prospect of the next barren day in the insurance institute always in front of him— for me, who had to go through the analogous experience shortly afterwards, it was only half-possible by the application of extreme energy and concentration. So hard times began for both of us. Significant of what we suffered is the poem I wrote during one of the holiday tours we made together, and which I dedicated to my friend. Kafka tried sleeping in the afternoon and writing at night. That always went all right for a certain length of time, but he was not getting his proper sleep— Franz suffered from poor sleep, and an unusual sensitivity to noise anyhow— conditions of exhaustion set in, and so he had to call upon his last reserves of strength to get through his work in the office. A lot was expected of him there, among other things jobs that he described— and this is the strongest word of disapproval I have ever heard from him— as ‘disgusting,’ as for example a kind of press campaign against not unjustified attacks to which social insurance was then exposed… In one of his letters, his office work is described in the following humorous fashion which anticipates a Charlie Chaplin film. ‘If you only knew how much I have to do! In my four district headquarters— apart from all my other work— people fall, as if they were drunk, off scaffolds and into machines, all the planks tip up, there are landslides everywhere, all the ladders slip, everything one puts up falls down and what one puts down one falls over oneself. All these young girls in China factories who incessantly hurl themselves downstairs with mountains of crockery’…

There are, of course, in the still unpublished parts of the diary other passages in the same vein. And they really rise to a mighty climax when the time comes for him to take up a formally a share in the factory in the interests of his family, and later to be constrained to show, if only occasionally, a practical interest in this undertaking. That he finds unbearable. He knows, in fact, what tremendous creative powers there are in him, which are clamoring to be unleashed and which are pent up by responsibilities of this kind. His complaint sounds very similar to that letter from Paris in which Mozart wrote the following refusal to his father who was urging him to start taking in pupils. ‘You must not think it laziness— no!— but because it is utterly against my genius, my way of life… You know that I am, as one might say, stuck fast in music— that I am busied with it all day long— that I love to speculate— to study— to think things over. But now here I am prevented from doing so by this way of living (ie, the lessons). I shall, it is true, have a few hours free, only— these few hours I shall need to rest in, rather than work in.’ Unfortunately, there will always be Philistines who are of the opinion that is enough if genius has ‘a few hours free’— they don’t understand that all the available hours barely suffice to guarantee to an even tolerably uninterrupted ebb and flow of inspiration and repose its right and proper far-flung arc of oscillation.”

[Footnote 3]

Cursory List of Resources

Books
Getting Out: Your Guide to Leaving America - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0976082276/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/
Work Your Way Around the World, 14th Edition - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1854584561/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/
Teaching English Abroad - Teaching English Abroad
http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-English-Abroad-Up-Date/dp/1854584405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257909760&sr=1-1
The Grown-Up's Guide to Running Away from Home: Making a New Life Abroad
http://www.amazon.com/Grown-Ups-Guide-Running-Away-Home/dp/1580088732/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257909760&sr=1-6

Webistes
Expatica - http://www.expatica.com/fr/main.html
Transitions Abroad - http://transitionsabroad.com/
http://transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/resources/expatriatewebsites.shtml
Expat Focus - http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-forums
Expatriate Interviews - http://www.expatinterviews.com/
Escape Artist - http://www.escapeartist.com/
Anglo Info - http://france.angloinfo.com/
Boots n All Travel - http://www.bootsnall.com/

Couchsurfing
http://www.couchsurfing.org/

Bunac "Working Adventures Worldwide"
http://www.bunac.org
WWOOF (Organic Farming around the World) - http://www.wwoof.org/
New Zealand Working Holiday Visa
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/unitedstatesofamericaworkingholidayscheme.htm
Travel on Cargo Ship - http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-travel-by-cargo-ship/

NationMaster - http://www.nationmaster.com/
Safety/ Freedom - http://freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=1
Corruption Scale -

France
French Entree - http://www.frenchentree.com/france-employment-work-jobs/
Freelance in France - http://www.google.com/search?q=freelancing+in+france&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Blog of US expat in France - http://samdebretagne.blogspot.com/
Another Blog of US expat in France - http://dispatchesfromfrance.blogspot.com/

Teach English Abroad
Celta - http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/teaching-awards/celta.html
ESL Cafe - http://solbeam.com/category/on-love/
Teach English in Italy - http://www.teachingenglishinitaly.com/

~~~~~

Apologies to anyone perturbed by the War and Peace length of this posting. I think it's so long partly because writing it helped me clarify to myself what I'm looking for to some extent.

I'm going home! (for 2 weeks)

Fiat124 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:39:18 -0800

ExpatFilter: American Expat returning home for 2 weeks. What should I do while I am home? BonusFilter: Help me decide what to do with all my worldly posessions that didnt go Expat with me. I'm an American Expat whose been living in the Far/Middle East for the last 3 years. I'm returning home for 2 weeks for vacation and to visit family and friends whom I havent seen since I left.

2 Part Question:

1 - What things should I do in my hometown (San Antonio, Tx) since I will physically be there? One example is getting my Drivers License updated as it will be expiring next year. I'll also be getting a safety deposit box at my bank to store my important papers (currently being stored in a firebox at my parent's house). Fun suggestions welcome too.

2 - Before I left, I basically threw all my junk that wouldnt fit in my luggage into a 10'x20' climate controlled storage unit and left. Most of this stuff is not worth shipping overseas (3BR House worth of furniture, small appliances, books, old clothes, etc). What should I do with it all? My first thought was donating to a Veterans group but the ones my parents contacted all said they really only wanted money instead of household goods. Goodwill is my last resort as they will come and get it all. Any other recommendations? Tax deductible preferred but not required.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Love it or leave it

TheOtherSide — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 11:07:32 -0800

Which countries are easiest for a US citizen to move to permanently? Within the next 15 years I'd like to retire from my current career and start another. At that time I would consider moving from the US, and if I do that, I'd like to purchase some real-estate ahead of time.

I'm not a nationalist. Although I have strong preferences toward the US bill of rights, I'd like to reside within a population that follows the spirit of that bill, rather than the marketing. In general, I find the US population lacking in spirit toward ideas of freedom and access. But, honestly, I have no other experiences to which to compare the US.

Which countries should I research further or keep on my hot list? Which ones, in 10-15 years, would likely be willing to take in a liberal, single, middle-aged male with a BS or MS in science and a teen-aged child? Which countries will likely be the beacons of liberty and individual rights of the future?

I'm also interested in alternative fuels and populations of people who seriously understand the needs of renewable energy as part of future economies.

Which of those countries would be easiest for a US citizen to migrate to? Or, how would I best prepare myself over the next decade to increase my chances?

USA Mailbox for magazines?

london302 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:09:09 -0800

Has anyone based outside US figured out cost effective mail forwarding service to take advantage of cheap magazine subscription rates? Subscription prices of magazines such as the New Yorker, Wired etc tend to be a lot cheaper for US residents than those in Europe. I have heard of mailing services in the USA who will forward them to you in other countries. On searching google I have found several companies which offer these services but the ones I have found eat the savings to cover the cost of owning the mailbox and postage. Has anyone in the HiveMind cracked it? I am based in the UK btw. Thanks

going dutch

plexi — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:31:11 -0800

Moving to Amsterdam from San Francisco. What are the best areas to live, and what should I expect as an English-speaking American?

Life in Lebanon

lauranesson — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:24:44 -0800

A zillion questions about living in southern Lebanon! I'm moving to Tyre, Lebanon with my guy in May. He's got a full-time gig, while I'm taking a sort of non-academic sabbatical to read and write and explore the area (and I feel incredibly lucky to have the chance). I've been digging up information on Lebanon and Tyre for a few months now, but thought the genius of AskMe would have some knowledge I just haven't been able to find online.

Here, then, are a bunch of questions!

- Housing: he's arriving a few weeks before me and finding an apartment. Are there any good sites you'd recommend for research or advice? I've tried to dig, but my Arabic isn't good enough yet to navigate well.

- Volunteering: I know a number of NGOs are very active in the area, and I'll have some spare time to help out. Where do you think someone who is still rather rough in Arabic and French can best help out? Of late, I'm very interested in conflict resolution - especially mediation - and social psychology.

- Travel/transportation: I'm hoping it's possible to take day trips up to Beirut once in a while. How long is the trip by minibus? Can it all happen within a day?

If you've skiied in Lebanon, what were your favorite places?

What other places in the region have you fallen in love with? We plan to visit some friends in Egypt and Cyprus and travel a lot within the general area. I know this question is terribly broad, so please feel free to run wild.

- General life: If you have lived in/visited Lebanon, what do you wish you'd known before you got there? I get the idea that women in Lebanon live relatively openly, but will I feel comfortable going for groceries or walks alone? Do you have any favorite movies from Lebanon that I could check out before I go?

If demographics help, we're white, in our late twenties, and currently live in NYC. I've done the college semester-abroad thing in Germany and traveled only a bit by myself in Europe, while he has traveled quite a bit in Europe and southern and eastern Asia. Neither of us has a super-clear picture of what to expect, so we would be really thankful for whatever help you could give.

Countries you would to MOve to live

dougiedd — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:52:54 -0800

Help me to create a list of possible countries to explore expatriating myself and family to if i am fed up with life in these united states, and think the prospects of things improving here are slim to none. May be eligible for UK citizenship based on parents. I realize the possibilities are extensive , so help me to narrow down ahe list based on questions that might best define my preferences and possibilities Thanks!

Yes, I googled

lbergstr — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:56:00 -0800

I'm a US citizen living in Kenya, bummed I missed the election party at the US ambassador's house (even though I live eight hours from Nairobi.) "Hundreds of people" makes it sound as if it was open to all US citizens. How can I find out about similar events in the future?

How can I get a programming job abroad?

Cogito — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:21:42 -0800

Help a computer scientist find an interesting job abroad, preferably in Japan I have an MSE in CS and 5 years professional experience and I'm interested in living someplace new before I get too old. I'm open to working most anywhere, as long as the work is computer science and interesting. I'd most like to work in Japan, as I've done an internship there before and have several years of Japanese study that I'd like to hone into real fluency.

What are some resources, or specific companies that I should investigate to help me find work as an expatriate geek? American companies with expatriate programs would be especially good.

Get me out of here!

piedmont — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:30:08 -0800

Help this undereducated twenty-something get abroad! I'm 23 and until recently thanks to my parents and older girlfriends found myself surrounded by bright, educated, creative people. The one thing that enthralled me about most of these people from the starving artists to the wealthy business-folk was their stories of living abroad in their twenties, often without a degree (like me!). I've tried for the last couple of years to convince myself that I can have great experiences here while working on my degree and move away once I've got that sheepskin.
It's become apparent to me that this itch to live overseas for at least a year or two isn't going away, and is a non-insignificant distraction to my education and current tech-job.
So my question is this: what's the swiftest way to get out of here with no savings, but no significant debt (~6k)? I'd rather help people, but it seems most volunteer opportunities charge these days. I've looked into TEFL/TESOL but there are so many programs out there I don't know which ones to trust. My current job experience is limited to waiting tables/ my current job which involves old Unix and AS/400 systems which seems to under-qualify me for Geek Corps. I'm all for working, but I've no idea what to look for.

Please don't suggest the military, ain't gonna happen.
Bonus points if I can take my dog (although my dad loves him and has offered to watch him for an extended period).

Money and banking for American expats.

Mr Bunnsy — Thu, 15 May 2008 09:47:15 -0800

Expats, particularly Americans abroad, how do you manage your money? Do you keep a US bank account for your credit cards, student loans, etc? Do you try to use a bank with global branches like Citi or HSBC? Do you keep any money in the US accounts beyond the bare minimum? (With the current exchange rates, I would guess not?) What about your 401k/IRAs?

Do you try to maintain a credit history in the US by occasionally using US-based credit cards, or keeping your name on former roommates' leases or utilities? Do you have a friend or relative manage your bills, or a paid financial planner or lawyer?

Was there any financial issue you were kicking yourself about after moving, and wishing you'd taken care of it while still at home?

Any other info and generic advice is appreciated. Thanks!

How can I work in economic development in Latin America?

Ashley801 — Sun, 11 May 2008 18:25:46 -0800

How can I work in economic development in Latin America? Background: I just graduated with a BA in economics, my Spanish is somewhere between an intermediate and advanced level, and I'm a U.S. citizen.

I am interested in working in any Spanish-speaking, South American city.

I'm also interested in working in any kind of industry as long as my job directly created or supported economic development. This could range from working in real estate or finance to providing support to small business entrepreneurs.

I do have preferences though- I would prefer to work in real estate development or to attract businesses to areas with high unemployment rates.

I am also interested in working for any kind of organization with any kind of mission, whether a completely for-profit, huge multinational, a non-profit/NGO, or anything in between.

I know there must be organizations out there with jobs like these that could make use of someone like me. How can I find them?

I appreciate any information at all.

I should also note that I spoke to the career services office at my college about this, and they were completely unhelpful.

How can I move to Spain for a couple of years?

inatizzy — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:17:27 -0800

I think I want to move to Spain for a couple of years to experience life in another country. But, as a US citizen, I don't know how I would go about supporting myself over there. Can I get a job there? Should I become a student? I traveled in Spain for 10 days at the end of last year, which was a great experience. (in no small part thanks to your advice! really, it was so helpful.) For years, I have thought about moving abroad, and now thanks to my trip, I really think I would enjoy myself in Spain, so I'm anxious to find out if it really will be possible and, if so, make a plan. (I'm not getting any younger!)

But, I'm afraid that it will be hard to find a way to support myself there, because 1) I'm a US citizen, so I will need a visa, 2) I'm not fluent in Spanish, though I do speak it and I would embrace the challenge. (And, I have already read this post.) Do you think it will be possible for me to be able to move to Spain and to live and work legally, and on a wage that is comfortable? (Not extravagant by any means. Just enough to live in a safe area, buy food, and enjoy the culture.)

I know it usually helps to have some more details about my situation, so here are what I think are the most important factors:

I don't think I am talented/experienced enough in a specialized area for a Spanish company to want to take on the cost of sponsoring me, especially given my need to improve my Spanish. (Why would they hire me when they could hire someone from the EU?) I'm only a few years out of college and have am experienced in administration for startups - maintaining and improving office facilities and services, hiring, and a little financial work too.

But, I have had the luck of having some extremely talented individuals as mentors, and I have been told through years of peer reviews at work that I have become a very valuable employee and team member. (Intelligent, thoughtful, curious, a hard worker and a fast learner...) I'm not trying to toot my own horn, here; what I mean to explain is that I have gained a lot of work and life experience and I have been very valued by my employers and coworkers, so I know that I would be an asset to whoever would hire me and I don't think they'd regret it. I just don't know how to convince them of that. :)

I am trying to get into some graphic design/desktop publishing work, though I'm still building my portfolio and am not yet confident in my skills. (though, I'm getting there :) It'd be great to combine my career ambitions with my personal growth goals by working in design while living in Spain, but I just don't know whether it is reasonable to expect someone to hire me, since I still have so much to learn. I am definitely open to going to school in Spain to get some good teaching and experience in design. This might also make it easier to get a visa. But it does make me worry a little about the money. (How would I afford school AND living moderately? would I be able to work?)

Mainly, I'm looking for a way to have an amazing, life changing experience while I am still young and single so that I can really come into my own and, whenever I am finally given the opportunity to settle down, I will feel ready to do it. I don't want to look back on my life and wish I done something more with my time.

If any of you have ever accomplished something like what I am trying to do, or just have some advice or experience to relate, I'd really appreciate it! Thank you, as always, for your insights and support.

Good/bad/indifferent time to buy in to China funds?

stavrosthewonderchicken — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:27:11 -0800

Investment timing: what do you think of the timing at the moment for dropping money into China funds, or BRICs? I'm very much on-board and up-to-date on the impending recession (or worse) in America, the ongoing housing collapse, the devaluation of the dollar, and growing credit woes, for what it's worth. I'm also aware of the need to carefully investigate the fee structure of any potential investment. I am fairly risk-adverse, but wanting to diversify and see if I can bring in a little higher average rate of return over the whole portfolio.

The wrinkle here is that the currency I'd be buying in to a fund or funds with would be Korean won. (Let's say, if it's germane, that I'm thinking on the order of the equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars, currently making about 6%, basically zero risk.)

The ones I'm looking at (although I am very much aware that 'past results are no guarantee of future performance') have averaged a 60%-100+% return in the past couple of years. Needless to say, that kind of thing is tempting indeed.

Any hard info, links, or just opinions would be most welcome, as I'm still far from fully-versed in this stuff.

Long term expat life

j.s.f. — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:43:22 -0800

I'm living abroad for the foreseeable future. Help me be the best expat I can be. I moved to London from New York a year ago to complete my master's degree, and I've since decided to stay here. My new visa is good for years, and I could be here a while.

I'm now asking myself what steps to take to get my new life in order. Over the last year I have been living in the short term: I have kept my American credit card and bank account, I haven't sold my car (though I killed my insurance), and most of my worldly possessions are in a closet in my parents' house. Now that I'm staying in London I have to figure out just how much to settle in.

So: what steps should I take now? Is it time to establish a British line of credit? Can I really live the next five to ten years without my books, or is paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars to ship them totally foolish? Should I remain apprehensive about buying anything too big and permanent (an apartment somewhere down the line, e.g.)?

Obviously I would love to hear experiences from Americans abroad or from foreigners in London, but this is an open question about expatriate life in general.

Parking or forwarding my phone number, while living abroad

cmiller — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:55:08 -0800

I know that phone numbers can be moved from carrier to carrier, but I'm moving outside the country for a while. Can I "park" my fantastic mobile number and reclaim it when I return? I live in the US, and I'm moving to Ireland for at least a year, but I don't want to give up my phone number (which is currently with AT&T née Cingular). In best to worst order, I want:

- calls to go to my new phone,
- calls to go to voice-mail,
- my number to be disabled with a message, or
- my number to be disabled.

When I return, I want to resume using my number, in any case.

I know of services like GrandCentral and YouMail for telephony hacks, and LNP to Skype e.g. is impossible -- all have some essential piece missing. How can I safeguard my phone number, and perhaps even use it in some capacity, without spending more than, say USD$100 per year?

Which path do I take: Norway, an MBA, or nothing at all?

mbatch — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:43:48 -0800

I've been offered a position in Norway. I am happily and gainfully employed in Maine. I am also considering an MBA. Does anyone have advice with regards to Norway, choosing the path less traveled, and life stability? I'm currently a software engineer in Maine and I like the small company I work for. There are about 50 employees and next to no internal politics involved. The pay isn't the highest but it is plenty for the area and my (single) lifestyle. The perks include extreme flex time (I essentially work when I choose), free food, company vehicles when needed, summertime BBQs, and free baseball tickets. I love the area as well.

During a recent trip to Oslo, Norway I visited a friend's work and was offered a position with his employer. They are a company of roughly 200 and seemed to be in growth mode. The work would be very interesting (more so than my current job) and there are perks such as free cellphone, home internet, and three free flights back to the USA per year.

However, the Norwegian firm has offered me a salary that is only ~20% higher than my current salary despite the fact that Oslo is the "most expensive city in the world". Using standard cost-of-living index numbers I have concluded that in order to have an equivalent standard of living in Oslo my salary would have to be more like ~60% higher or more.

That being said, my friend in Norway pays the same in rent that I do in Portland, Maine, so I know that using cost-of-living indexes that combine everything into one number aren't that great for this sort of comparison.

As it stands now, I see the Oslo offer as a very interesting and appealing path but I also do not want to set myself back too many years with regards to retirement savings and the like. My current job is extremely stable and somewhat rewarding. I like Maine and can see myself staying here for the long term (if not now, then down the road).

I'm 29, single, and I just finished a masters at McGill University in Montreal. I initially planned on looking into an MBA (or some other useful/pertinent degree) that my company would pay for. The more time I spend thinking about the MBA the more I think it might be unnecessary and a waste of time, but I also realize that my mind and body work much better with short-term goals such as graduate degrees than it does with long-term goals like retirement. That being said, I don't think the idea of doing an MBA just to remain motivated is the worst thought in the world.

Other dreams of mine include buying a sailboat, considering rental property (as an investment), and/or building my first home. These things all take money, of course, and I'm sadly an obsessive retirement saver and I am having problems "living life in the now".

Does anybody have thoughts, insights, or other information? Specifically, is anyone familiar with the tax implications of working as an ex-pat in Norway? I've searched the web to no end and found little useful information. I've also been told that learning Norwegian is fairly easy if you immerse yourself. The company I would be working for is not concerned with the fact that I do not currently know any Norwegian and they assure me it is easy to pick up.

Are there any Americatowns?

mahamandarava — Tue, 08 May 2007 08:17:42 -0800

Are there any "Americatowns" or "Little New Yorks"? I mean, are there any neighborhoods outside the U.S. that are known for having a sizable American expatriate/emigrant population and culture? I'm not talking about tourist ghettos in popular vacation spots. Nor am I interested in discussing the many American businesses and aspects of American culture that have spread outside the U.S. I just want to know if there are neighborhoods of non-American cities where a sizable, cohesive community of Americans live and work.

Financial planning resources for U.S. expatriates?

armage — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:44:49 -0800

What are some good resources to help an expatriate plan for retirement? I anticipate spending most of my life living outside of my country of citizenship (the United States), specifically in Japan. I'm reaching the point where I need to begin thinking about financial planning, particularly saving for retirement. I'm aware of how to do this if I were resident in the U.S.; however, I'm very unclear on the particulars of doing so as an expatriate. Much of what little I have found on the Internet or in books is grossly out of date or vague.

Can you recommend any books (websites are also okay, but I'd prefer something something well-written and well-sourced) intended for expatriate Americans who want to begin saving for their retirement? First-hand advice or experience would also be welcomed. I realize that I should talk to a financial planner, but at the moment that's putting the cart before the horse; I just want some general advice on my somewhat unique situation.

(FYI: I have read this recent thread as well as many others in the archives. I am not interested in advice about living abroad, only managing my finances and planning for the future while in a foreign country. Personal inquiries or off-topic comments are welcomed via email. Thanks in advance.)

Sell my house, quit work, travel?

killyb — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 09:13:23 -0800

Sell my house, quit work, travel? Is this something I should seriously consider? Who has done this, how did it go? Do you know others who have and it turned into a huge mistake? I'll try to keep this as simple as possible. I'm 25, never graduated from college, have been working in educational IT for over six years. I have, in my opinion, one of the best jobs I could imagine, however I want to throw it all away for a chance to travel around the country and eventually the world. I've traveled much more than my friends, but not nearly as much as I'd like, and when I come back from a trip, I'm always left with a feeling of, "Why did I return?". The idea I have is to sell my house, continue working here for six months, saving every dime while living with friends or parents(no house payment, electric bill, etc). I'd then like to drive out west, staying in the national parks or by using couchsurfing(which I've been a member of for many years and have made lots of friends). When I find a city/town I enjoy, I plan to find a place to stay and work if needed for a few weeks/months. Then move on to wherever I like next.

I'll soon be a licensed rigger so I may be able to get part time work at drop zones across the country. I'm a certified dive master with SSI and PADI, so I think I'd be able to find work at dive shops or other diving(and tourist) related fields. I've been in IT for most my life, linux and nt admin, hardware and software, mac and pc. I'm very confident in my abilities to use and fix any computer problem that may come at me. I'm learning French, and have taught myself ASL. I say this not to toot my horn, but to paint a picture of where I'm coming from and skills I could utilize

I wouldn't be able to, nor want to take time off. I've taken months off work for travel and I wouldn't be able to for longer periods of time. I'm not with anyone serious, I have two dogs. which would be hard for me to part with, but their mother has expressed interest in taking them. I've also considered taking one with me, but worried about the added expense as well his life enjoyment. I'm an only child whos parents would be understandably upset by my departure, though hopefully they'd understand. I estimate I'd be leaving with about 60,000 in cash if I sell my house. The other option I though of was to rent out my house, but I don't want to deal with renters or agencies and I don't think I'd be able to get enough in rent to make it worth it, though I'm open to discussion.

I really want to do this and think I'd be able to survive and be happy, but I'm also not completely insane and don't want to jump into something that could potentially ruin my life...however I'm pretty confident in my abilities to take care of myself. I need advice which sadly I can't get from friends. Please hope

Vancouver accountants?

stavrosthewonderchicken — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:51:06 -0800

Possibly a longshot : can anyone recommend an accountant in Vancouver? I'm looking for one that can advise me on tax issues and possibly do some document preparation for me, particularly with regard to my lengthy and continuing expatriate status.

Also, a follow-on question: I've never actually sat down with an accountant who wasn't just a professional friend helping me out. My expectation is that I might be able to sit down with one to lay out my requirements and get a price estimate for the actual engagement, without charge. Is this the case, or will the initial consultation cost, and if so, what might I looking at, ballpark, for say the initial 20 minutes of his or her time?

Taxation consequences for an expatriate investor?

Joe in Australia — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:26:38 -0800

My friend is a USA citizen permanently residing in Australia. What are the taxation consequences of choosing to invest a windfall in the USA rather than Australia? A friend has a one-time only opportunity to withdraw A$100,000 from a pension fund tax free. She presently has no personal income and pays no tax in either Australia or the USA. Her husband has a reliable income, which she shares.

Option 1: Leave the money in the pension fund, where it will accumulate tax free as long as she withdraws (and pays tax) on at least 4% of the capital every year.

Option 2: Withdraw the money and invest it in the USA, where it will be available for use on her regular visits.

Option 3: Withdraw the money and invest it in Australia.

Are there any major tax benefits to doing things one way rather than another?

Yank needs advice on settling in Montreal

concourse — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 20:43:27 -0800

How to settle in Montreal? I have decided to move to Montreal this summer. It has been my dream to live there since I first visited four years ago. However, after months of job hunting I am still without a job offer and working permit and am concerned about my chances of finding long-term employment once I arrive there.

I will be in Montreal next week interviewing with an agency that specializes in Internet marketing, the field I currently work in. If they hire me and HRSDC confirms the job offer I am home free. If not, I will still move and instead work odd jobs (i.e., off-the-books) to pay the rent until I find long-term employment.

I need advice on the following:

1. What kind of temporary employment can a foreign national without a work permit easily find in Montreal (or in any big city)?
2. Will wages from temporary, service-level work, be enough to cover basic living expenses like food and rent in Montreal?
3. How might working off-the-books affect my future chances at permanent residency?
4. Should I start by subletting an (studio) apartment from someone? Also, can I expect to find reasonably priced apartments that are not far from the city centre?
5. Other than personal identification, do I need to show Canadian border officials specific documents when entering Canada for an extended visit?
6. Assuming I do not have a work permit by the time I cross the border, will border officials be suspicious if my car is carrying more 'gear' than average for a visiting American? (I would like to bring basic supplies for the apartment but can otherwise buy what I need in Montreal.)

Further background: I am 24 and live in Chicago, I have a Bachelor's degree in Marketing, five years of professional work experience in Internet marketing and marketing research, and limited (but slowly improving) French language skills.

(Also, if any Montreal MeFites are interested in grabbing a drink or checking out the Jazz Festival with me next week send me an email.)