Asian newcomers Taipei and Singapore manage to
relegate the 2017 winner, Manama, to third place, while the
“Eternal City” lands in the bottom 3. The Expat Insider City
Ranking 2018 gives insights into expat life in these and many more cities around the globe.
Panama, Ecuador, and Australia all find their way back to old strength, while
Israel scores a new personal best. Not all countries improve their scores though, as
Sweden and Romania can attest.
While men and women are mostly in agreement on the best and worst expat
destinations worldwide, opinions on Oman, Finland, Romania, Cyprus, and Indonesia differ
widely.
Bahrain remains in first place when it comes to ease of settling in, with
Mexico and Costa Rica rounding out the top 3, in second and third place, respectively.
Myanmar and Egypt are among the least connected countries for expats, while a
faster-paced, digitally forward-thinking lifestyle thrives in the Nordic Countries.
Luckily, most expats in a relationship are happy with this aspect of their
life abroad. Among other factors, their happiness may depend on their reason for moving,
though.
The word "expat" can sometimes be hard to
define. What we think that all expats have in common is
their pioneering spirit and their readiness to deal with
the unknown.
Moving abroad has a huge impact not only on
your personal life, but on your professional life, too.
Earning a living in another country can be the start of an
international career and network to match, but there can
also be some down sides.
From seventeenth-century settlers searching
for the new world to the scientists behind groundbreaking
discoveries, pioneers dominate the history books. Though
their adventures may be very different, what unites all
pioneers is a sense of adventure.
Being an expat can be both the most amazing
experience in the world and the hardest. From fantastic new
friends, to feeling far from home, find out just how
simultaneously difficult and awesome life abroad can be!
Telling your friends and family that you are
moving abroad can be an interesting experience. Some will
be thrilled for you while others may simply not understand
why you want to become an expat. Here are some common
reactions to telling your loved ones that you’re changing
your address — in a big way.
Sam left Kuwait to live in the US: “I arrived
with $200 and a dream: I worked three jobs, slept at the
university engineering lab, at my friends’ apartment, or in
my car, and often had to eat at homeless shelters. Today I
am the Vice President and partner at MENA lighting LLC.”
Rachel moved from the US to Peru, Ecuador,
and Portugal: “Almost three years — and three countries —
after I left the US, I can imagine what my journey must
look like from an outside perspective: possibly slightly
nuts. And I might be moving countries again.”
Jim is an experienced expat, having lived and
worked in over 20 nations and traveled to over 60
countries: “I have always preferred the far richer
experience of living locally, feeling part of a place with
a clear purpose rather than simply visiting as a tourist.”
Scott and his wife moved from the US to
Italy, and now reside in Malaysia: “I never thought of
myself as the adventurous, pioneering sort. But, perhaps, I
am in my own anti-bungee-jumping and look-both-ways
approach to life.”
Jérôme was ready to move to Canada, but ended
up in Brno, Czech Republic: “I am sure that my family
thought I was crazy. Some friends imagined I was moving to
a ‘developing country’ located in eastern Europe.”
Jo moved to the US for her husband’s job: “I
have had to change, and I have had good days and some more
challenging days. But then came the really good stuff.”
Lorena moved three times to find the perfect
home: “No matter where you move or what you end up doing,
one thing is certain: as an expat you will face adversity.
Make sure you do your part — and if it does not work out,
move again.”
Originally intended to bring together expats
who live in the area, Kimberley’s adventurous activities
are so exciting that some members come from as far as the
Gold Coast, a two-hour drive, to take part!
The InterNations team is a real melting pot
of different cultures and nationalities, with 110 members
from more than 30 different countries working together
every day. An interview with our Head of HR Christa
Fellner about the benefits of diversity and the importance
of working abroad.
Growing an idea into a successful business
takes time and dedication. Here at InterNations, we have
collected our fair share of learnings over ten years as a
start-up, from being realistic to the importance of
feedback.
InterNations Changemakers Groups support
local environmental initiatives around the globe, and their
members are no strangers to rolling up their sleeves to get
a job done. Here we showcase three local initiatives to
make a difference, in Dubai, Los Angeles, and Manila.
The InterNations Changemakers support various
initiatives, schools, and shelters with their actions,
money, and goods to help make the world a better place.
The InterNations global community sure knows
how to celebrate in style, with over 280 parties around the
world, marking 10 years of InterNations. Let’s take a look
at some of the highlights!