Expat Focus

- GrandadBill

Hello Everyone,
My name is Grandad Bill, my daughter told me about this site and suggested I come and have a look. We are currently living in Yorkshire in the UK and planning to move to Spain in the near future, we have lots of questions to ask but I am new to the internet so I hope you will be patient with me.

- Scamster

Good Afternoon Everyone,

Still finding my way around the site......

I am currently living in Chester leaving too travel to Spain on saturday with my boyfriend James he is an experienced carpenter and builder doing a speciality in plastering.

I for all my sins am a recruitment consultant.

Our plans at the moment are to travel down to Marbella and sample a few locations in the hope of James finding work, (we have been told British residents are calling out for good reliable British craftsmen, (although tecnically he is half Irish)

Very excited and very scared as neither of us speak Spanish and with this in mind we are heading to the most British of regions until we pick up the langauge and gain more confidence with the legalities etc.

As my father is always telling me "life is not a stage rehersal" wish us luck.... would love to hear from anyone that takes to the time to reply.

- priyanka

Hi everybody,

Myself Priyanka, an indian national. I am presently researching on expats behaviour online. Basically, in relation to india.

I am interested in knowing what all you as an expat prefer to look for on any site, while searching for information online.

I have read many forums, and work is still on.

I would like to have inputs from the maximum to build a strong opinion to build a site focusing the expats and their needs.

thnx
priyanka

- annual_leave

Hi, newbie here....

I'm Annual_Leave (because that's where I'd rather be right now!)

Not an ex-pat myself, but my lovely parents have just relocated to France in a very permanent leaving the UK kind of way. Also my brother and his wife seem to be considering moving to Oz. (obviously I'm not taking any of this personally....)

...so this seemed like a good place to keep my nose to the ground for useful tips etc for the parentals (they're not hugely web-literate yet) and also I'm thinking that I might not live in the UK myself forever...soooo....

France.... Brazil.... those are my 2 main interests at the mo.

(this summer will be my 3rd trip to Salvador, Brazil in 18 months....it's very tempting to go and not come back this time)

- socialista

Hola Mis Amigos, I'm Lee and have lived in Andalucia, Spain for nearly 2 years now, having escaped the UK. My partner and I live in a tiny inland village, high up in the mountains. Lovely people, beautiful country and great lifestyle. I look forward to communcating with all you folk - wherever you are living in the world.

- alison777

Hi
My name is Alison from South Yorkshire England i am grateful to find a site where information is given from all freely and friendly, mu husband and I are hoping to take a long term rental in Cyprus finding the site really helpful
Thanks Alison

- pearlb

Hi my name is Pearl

I live in England and last year I went to Panama to purchase property for my retirement in 5-6 years time. I ended up deciding to have a house built in Boquete which will be completed end of December 2007.

I was in Panama/Boquete July 2007 to see the progress of the property and will be going in January 2008 to see the completed property which I hope to rent out for a few years.

I love Panama and have been there 3 times in the last year and really looking forward to retiring and living there.

Are there other people who have been or thinking of buying in Panama from England I would love to know.

My nickname is Pearlb

If someone would communicate with us we would appreciate help in making a decision. Where would be the best cities to live in New Zealand or Argentia? Where can we go to find apartments or condos for rent for a 3 to 6 month term? We would be willing to communicate on a one-to-one basis. Is there a place in this forum to do private communications?

Greetings fellow Expatriates.
I have recently been tasked to research U.S. Expatriatism.
My goal is to research which countries would be best to expatriate to.
I have a growing number of acquaintances, some of which are felons but mostly their families seeking to escape the jeopardy of the increasing development of the politically charged laws and legislation. Some of them are currently on parole or probation and not able to leave until discharged.
Over the past decade, many of the States in the U.S. have undergone a radical crackdown on crime. Consequently, it has had an adverse effect. Because of the modern day of information technology, it has become next to impossible for a U.S. Citizen with a felony record to survive.
As a result, many of them are tossing around the idea of moving to a different country.
I am hoping to find others which have successfully Expatriated or that has experience in Expatriation.
None of them have any interest in doing anything illegal or is a fugitive, all of them however, do have the desire to live free from tyranny, oppression and persecution.
Thank you.

- lostinrussia

Hi everyone!

My name is Shelley I am from Australia and live in Russia. This is the first time I have ever joined a forum or chat room so I dont really understand it all.
I joined expatfocus by chance while I was looking for visa help - my Russian visa is messy to say the least and as for trying to move me and my husband back to Oz together (hes Russian)... well.
Ive been in Russia for - it feels like forever, and am feeling a little disconnected/alienated.
So this place looks pretty cool and I look forward to chatting with other people (in English!) about anything!
Im especially interested to hear from any other Aussies (or anyone) also living in Moscow. What do you all think of this city?
Let me know!

- Natali

Hi All,

I am a newbie. My name is Natalie and i cam currently living in Turkey having married a turkish man. Any one else from Turkey.

Charlotte, did I read your post right when you said you are planning to move to Zimbabwe?!!

I too am from Zimbabwe but definetely would not set foot back there.

- Squishymama

- Natali

Hi All,

I am a newbie. My name is Natalie and i cam currently living in Turkey having married a turkish man. Any one else from Turkey.

Charlotte, did I read your post right when you said you are planning to move to Zimbabwe?!!

I too am from Zimbabwe but definetely would not set foot back there.

Hi Natalie,

You did indeed read my post correctly- lol! The number of people that say I am mad is very high I must say- lol!

My husband is from Zimbabwe, and would love to go back home. It wouldn't be for a good few years yet though, so I think he is hoping things will have settled a little more by the time we are ready to leave.

Charlotte

- piglet

Hi Davymac...and welcome to the forum...how are you finding the USA compared to the UK?

All the best
Pilget

- gringoloid

looks like there is no Colombia guide

- Twofilas

Upping sticks and moving to a new country is a serious decision and, once embarked upon, the issues of government, food and clothing and popular culture become secondary to the exciting traumas that are likely to distract you for years to come; visas, housing, work permits, language, making a living. Take that break and then decide.

- Twofilas

You don't like the food. A New Yorker saying this is a shock. The Big Apple [no pun intended] must be one of best places to enjoy international cuisine. The expensive restaurants are ok if you can afford them...the groceries are another story...but maybe that will change with the Slow Food movement..

You don't like the clothes. Here I'm stumped. We either have a budding nudist, an admirer of the Tonga island grass skirt or a desire to wear the flowing garb of an Arab - somewhat like O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia [a British movie]. Have you ever shopped for women's clothes? Or is it that you think I'm a man? Women's clothing in the US is degrading garbage for the most part...that's why "vintage" has become so popular...
You don't like the popular culture. What a pity that you don't like your government, otherwise you could move from New York and join Sarah up there in Alaska - you betcha! Sadly the government doesn't change when the president does...it's the same corporatocracy...

You think that life would be easier if married. Dear friend, I can hear the howls of laughter from all honest men. Marriage makes life easier? Marriage certainly make life different and much, much better in certain ways, but easier - gimme a break!


[/i]Have you been a single woman in her 40s? [i]

You're the psychotherapist and so I resist the temptation to say, physician heal thyself [gosh, I just did, didn't I] profound apologies. Incidentally, do you think that the long months of the Obama election campaign has had a subliminal effect on you? The message, Hope & Change, yes we can has penetrated the subconscious and has unsettled you? "Must change, yes I can." Perhaps not. No, I feel you need a break. Get out of the city and perhaps ride a horse in Montana by way of contrast. Life will 'happen' to you once you make a break.

Upping sticks and moving to a new country is a serious decision and, once embarked upon, the issues of government, food and clothing and popular culture become secondary to the exciting traumas that are likely to distract you for years to come; visas, housing, work permits, language, making a living. Take that break and then decide.

- RestlessinNewYork

- Twofilas

You don't like the food. A New Yorker saying this is a shock. The Big Apple [no pun intended] must be one of best places to enjoy international cuisine. The expensive restaurants are ok if you can afford them...the groceries are another story...but maybe that will change with the Slow Food movement.. Then again one has to consider what passes for food in other parts of the world.

You don't like the clothes. Here I'm stumped. We either have a budding nudist, an admirer of the Tonga island grass skirt or a desire to wear the flowing garb of an Arab - somewhat like O'Toole in Lawrence of Arabia [a British movie]. Have you ever shopped for women's clothes? Or is it that you think I'm a man? Yep – assumption is the mother of all Faux Pas. Women's clothing in the US is degrading garbage for the most part...that's why "vintage" has become so popular... Vintage? Would that include anything pre late fifties
You don't like the popular culture. What a pity that you don't like your government, otherwise you could move from New York and join Sarah up there in Alaska - you betcha! Sadly the government doesn't change when the president does...it's the same corporatocracy... Pick any country where you don’t understand the language so you can’t understand the news or listen to political debate - problem solved! Politics suck – everywhere.

You think that life would be easier if married. Dear friend, I can hear the howls of laughter from all honest men. Marriage makes life easier? Marriage certainly make life different and much, much better in certain ways, but easier - gimme a break!


[/i]Have you been a single woman in her 40s? [i] Twice married and in between also experienced women of that age. Remember, fifty is the new forty – so life at forty still allows for lots of fun time – trust me [why the hell should you do that!] My advice, for what it’s worth, still stands. Break out of that mould, however painful and I guarantee that life will change – let’s hope it’ll be for the better, but whatever it’ll be it will be different. The clock’s a tickin’

You're the psychotherapist and so I resist the temptation to say, physician heal thyself [gosh, I just did, didn't I] profound apologies. Incidentally, do you think that the long months of the Obama election campaign has had a subliminal effect on you? The message, Hope & Change, yes we can has penetrated the subconscious and has unsettled you? "Must change, yes I can." Perhaps not. No, I feel you need a break. Get out of the city and perhaps ride a horse in Montana by way of contrast. Life will 'happen' to you once you make a break.

Upping sticks and moving to a new country is a serious decision and, once embarked upon, the issues of government, food and clothing and popular culture become secondary to the exciting traumas that are likely to distract you for years to come; visas, housing, work permits, language, making a living. Take that break and then decide.