Expat life means having to begin from scratch in various places all over the world. This does not only concern practical issues, such as finding a new apartment, but also your personal relationships. This can be particularly hard for single expatriates without a partner or family to come along, or for shy, more introverted types. [...]
Filed under: Expat Advice, Expat Families & Relationships, Guest Author on June 13th, 2013 | 5 Comments »
This time, our blog doesn’t talk about exploring the world through running, but rather about metaphorical crossroads and personal journeys. Guest blogger Joyce describes growing up as a Third Culture Kid (TCK) and searching for her own identity. For all the TCKs that I have met and known out there, it is never a journey [...]
Filed under: Adventures Abroad, Culture Shock, Guest Author, Intercultural Differences, Third Culture Kids on May 16th, 2013 | No Comments »
In his recent update from Iran, InterNations expat guestblogger Philip talks about winter sports in the country. As with my previous articles, I am going to break a few complacent assumptions about the Islamic Republic of Iran, this week about skiing! In a mountainous country with a vast array of mountain tops, it’s only logical [...]
Filed under: Adventures Abroad, Guest Author on March 4th, 2013 | No Comments »
InterNations expat guestblogger Philip from Tehran tells us about an unexpected purchase in Iran’s capital. In recent weeks there has been, as some would say, a collapse in the local currency. 60% of the value of the Iranian Rial has been wiped. This may sound catastrophic, and in most aspects, this pretty much is. However, [...]
Filed under: Adventures Abroad, Guest Author on December 7th, 2012 | 1 Comment »
The days are getting darker, and temperatures are dropping fast, at least in the Northern Hemisphere. It was only yesterday that the staff of the Munich-based InterNations headquarters showed up to work all bundled up in woolen scarves and sweaters. The first snowfall had taken everyone by surprise, with winter arriving as early in southern [...]
Filed under: Expat Advice on October 30th, 2012 | 6 Comments »
When Pirkko from Finland returns home after several months of working in Brazil, she is really looking forward to telling her friends all about her big adventure. However, things turn out somewhat differently: totally unexpectedly she feels isolated in her own home town and estranged from her old friends… Almost exactly one year ago, I [...]
Filed under: Culture Shock, Repatriation on May 16th, 2012 | 3 Comments »
Learning the local language when living abroad as an expat is one of the most important steps on our way to a fulfilled expat existence, says InterNations member Aaron. And if you follow Aaron’s tips for everyday language learners, it’s not nearly as daunting an undertaking as you may think… Learning the language of the [...]
Filed under: Expat Advice, Intercultural Differences, Languages on April 3rd, 2012 | No Comments »
Jenni, a Canadian with Finnish roots who set off to explore the country of her ancestors, feels frustrated: Despite making great progress with the Finnish language, she still feels that she cannot express her true personality in a foreign tongue. There seems to be one particular obstacle … One of the biggest challenges of living [...]
Filed under: Adventures Abroad, Culture Shock, Intercultural Differences, Languages on March 4th, 2012 | No Comments »
Svetlana tells us her story about living and loving abroad and how her personal experience nearly tarnished her perception of a whole country forever. When I first came to Paris, one late summer over 6 years ago, I had no idea what a major impact this would have on my life. In fact, it all [...]
Filed under: Culture Shock, Expat Families & Relationships, Intercultural Differences on February 20th, 2012 | 2 Comments »
We interviewed Justine, originally from Montréal Canada, who is now living in Lyon, and tells us how her initial expectations of life in France were completely up the wrong alley. Tell us a bit about yourself: How did you end up in Lyon? Was there any culture shock being a French-Canadian and going to France? [...]
Filed under: Adventures Abroad, Culture Shock, Expat Interviews, Intercultural Differences, Languages, Moving to Another Country on January 31st, 2012 | No Comments »