Expat Focus

Toni Hargis: Learning the Lingo

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:50:12 GMT

"How long do you have to live in a country to feel like you know what on earth everyone’s talking about? In my case, there’s not even a second language involved as we’re all supposed to be speaking English. I’ve written at length about the vocabulary differences between British and American English, but in my experience, the real confusion comes from day to day expressions which bear no relation to their actual meaning..." Read more

Expats await state pension ruling

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:21:56 GMT

More than half a million retired Britons living abroad could be in line for payouts from the UK government if a European court today rules in their favour. After years of courtroom wrangling, 13 expatriates will learn if they have won their test case for the right to index-linked rises routinely paid to UK-based pensioners but denied to those who have settled in certain countries overseas... More (Guardian)

British expats in Australia await UK pension decision

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:47:23 GMT

British expats living in Australia are anxiously awaiting a decision in the European Court of Human Rights tomorrow that could give them an extra $300 million in payments, after the British government froze their pensions... More (The Australian)

Expat Experiences: Ghana - Drew Cosgrove

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:34:36 GMT

"My name is Drew Cosgrove. I "commute" from Atlanta, GA to Accra, Ghana and I have a wife and daughter who still live in the US.I work in the Petroleum Industry and my company received a new contract for one of its rigs to work in Ghana. I've done this for nearly a year starting back in April..." Read more

Australia best for kids: expat survey

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:25:25 GMT

With its beaches, outdoor lifestyle and friendly schools, Australia has been voted the world's best country to bring up children by expatriates parents working there, an HSBC bank survey shows... More (Sydney Morning Herald)

Expat Experiences: Netherlands - Tiffany Jansen

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:48:18 GMT

"My name is Tiffany Jansen. Originally from the United States of America, I now live in Utrecht, the Netherlands, with my husband and our dog. I moved to Utrecht early December 2008 after marrying my Dutch husband. We were tired of the long-distance relationship and wanted to live together..." Read more

Hard times for British expats in the Florida sun

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:13:03 GMT

Florida's once-booming housing market is at the heart of America's financial crisis. In 2006, an average family home was $248,000; by 2009, that had fallen to $142,000... More (Guardian)

Expat Focus Recommended Website (Australia)

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:40:42 GMT

Florida Girl in Sydney http://www.floridagirlinsydney.com "This blog is to chronicle my life abroad as an expat mom with small children. It's easy to think that moving to a country like Australia would not cause complete culture shock, of course we speak the same language (for the most part), but it's not always that simple..."

Bulldozing expats will hurt Spain, Foreign Office minister cautions

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:21:22 GMT

A Foreign Office minister warned Spain on Sunday that knocking down British expatriates’ houses was hurting its economy. Chris Bryant, Minister for Europe, said that the country was undermining efforts to create a recovery in its beleaguered housing market... More (Telegraph)

Property abroad: Buying in Istanbul

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:25:38 GMT

The European Capital of Culture 2010 is Istanbul, but devotees of this ancient city would argue that it's been the capital of culture for nearly two millennia... More (This is Money)