#ExpatTips

[munaeem]

Understanding the Schufa Score: This Number Could Rule Your Life in Germany

Hey, imagine you’re sitting down with me over coffee, and you’ve just moved to Germany. You’re excited—new city, new job, maybe even a pretzel obsession brewing. Then I drop this bombshell: “Oh, by the way, have you checked your Schufa score yet?” You blink, confused. “My what now?” Don’t worry, I’ve got you. Let’s unpack this quirky German thing that’s less exciting than Oktoberfest but way more…

[apaminerala]

Join the Expats in Romania WhatsApp Group!

We are excited to welcome you to the oldest and most active expat community in Romania! Whether you are new to the country or have been here for years, our WhatsApp group is the perfect place to connect, share experiences, collaborate on business initiatives, and socialize with like-minded individuals. 💬 Why join? ✅ Meet expats, repats, and locals from all over the world ✅ Get support and advice on living and working in Romania ✅ Participate in regular networking events and meetups ✅ Engage in business collaborations and consultations ✅ Most importantly—have a great time! To maintain a friendly and engaging community, we kindly ask you to complete a short registration form. You’ll be added as soon as a moderator reviews your response. 📌 Join us today! 👉 Register here: https://forms.gle/up1HN35JQmeeBKHa6 Special thanks to Dana Bartlett and Cristina Iosif for starting the Constanța chapter! Looking forward to seeing you in the group! 😊 — Tudor Seicărescu, Mihaela Samareanu, and the Expats in Romania Team

We are excited to welcome you to the oldest and most active expat community in Romania! Whether you are new to the country or have been here for years, our WhatsApp group is the perfect place to connect, share experiences, collaborate on business initiatives, and socialize with like-minded individuals. 💬 Why join?✅ Meet expats, repats, and locals from all over the world✅ Get support and advice…

[bobbiedlifeinphil]

Living In The Philippines: Culture Shocks, Scams & Costs

https://youtu.be/mxbxBZR18y8 Thinking of living in the Philippines? You better watch this first! Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/2WYS5pd   https://youtu.be/mxbxBZR18y8

[springtomorrowfoodtravel]

(via 27 Tips for Living and Working in Singapore as an Expat)

Get ready to embark on an exhilarating adventure in the vibrant city-state of Singapore! Whether you’re already considering or preparing to live and work in this multicultural haven, you’re in for a thrilling experience. To ensure you make the most of your journey, we’ve crafted 27 invaluable tips that will not only enhance your life as an expat but also help you seamlessly navigate the ins and outs of this incredible city. So, fasten your seatbelt and prepare to immerse yourself fully in the enchantment of living and working in Singapore!

[misstomadame]

3 ways to cope with expat anxiety & depression

3 ways to cope with expat anxiety & depression

Bonjour! Welcome back! MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH! (May = Mai en Français) Tips on how to maintain good mental health as an expat! Did you know that about 50% of expats suffer from anxiety or depression? From the outside looking in, Expat life might seem like a fairy tale or a dream come true…and it is. However, it doesn’t ALWAYS feel that way. In 2017, I moved to France to join…

[learnfrenchexp4]

Is this not just the perfect weather for curling up with a good blog? One of ou… Is that this not simply the proper climate for curling up with a very good weblog?

[almostdiplomatic]

Had a lot of fun discussing how expats and diplomatic spouses can adapt their careers to a nomadic life with @globerweb last night! Thanks to everyone who caught our live chat! You can still watch the replay over at Globerweb’s IGTV which will be available only until tonight! . Do follow @globerweb and visit their website for expat activities and recommendations in your posting! My fellow #diplowife and friend @tanya.globerweb got the idea for it as she was moving to a new country. I really love the idea and how its core value is about helping expats integrate in their new environment a lot quicker! . . . . . #AlmostDiplomatic #Berlin . . . . . . . . #expatlife #expatcareers #expatwork #expattips #expatliving #expatwife #diplowife #diplomatswife #diplomaticspouse #expatspouse #livingabroad #womenwhohustle #journalist #freelancejournalist #lifeabroad #expatin #diplolife #diplomaticlife #berlinlife #europe #expat #expatlife #expatliving #livingabroad  (at Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAxdN6Cgaat/?igshid=zfghvnotfozi

[mademoiselleguiga]

Looking for a long term rental in France is not an easy task, especially when you come from another country. To help in your research here are some insider tips for you!

[myexpatworld]

CHANGES ✨✨ . 🇬🇧 . 📝 As expats we are always ready for new adventures. Change is the only constant for us. Everytime a new opportunity knocks on our doors we are ready to embrace it . 📝 Therefore, we also know the importance of enjoying the moment and learning as much as possible about the place where we live. Because we know that one day we will have to leave... . 📝 And that's why I wrote my new post; to explain all expats in Germany what do they have to do before leaving the country . 📝 Take a look at my checklist to moving out of Germany [Link in Bio ⬆️] ~ Anything you'd like to add? : 🇪🇸 . 💼 Las experiencias profesionales, como todo en esta vida, van y vienen. Muchas veces una nueva puerta se abre frente a nosotrx y debemos dejar atrás la vida como la conocemos actualmente para poder seguir adelante y cruzar esa puerta . 💼 Hay países en los que cambiar de un trabajo a otro es fácil y sencillo. En Alemania este proceso tiene unas pautas muy marcadas . 💼 En último post comparto contigo los pasos a seguir para dejar tu trabajo actual en Alemania [Link in Bio ⬆️] ~ ¿Has cambiado alguna vez de trabajo desde que llegaste a Alemania? : : : #expats #expatlife #expatliving #work #expattips #germany #germanstyle #livingabroad #trabajo #trabajar #administracion #alemania #alemaniainfo #blog #potd — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2Tg1Ek1

[gonetravellingmag]

How to Find a Long Term Rental Abroad

How to Find a Long Term Rental Abroad #expats #traveltribe #expattips #newhome

Travelling for a long time? Looking to go expat? Eventually you’ll want to find long term rental property and this can be tricky….

Finding digs in a new city can be very difficult, especially if you’re on a budget or trying to find something for a specific date. But, there is a whole world of ways to find long term rental property wherever you’re heading.

Last year I found myself moving to…

[thetravelingspoons]

I wrote to 18 people whom I consider expert expats. Some make a living by travelling, others traveled to go make a living. I asked them

These are great tips! Glad I had my Dutchie to help me through it all.

[djseaward]

things to know before moving to the czech republic

let’s just get into it, shall we? the things they just don’t tell you...

you'll probably have to leave the country to get a visa if you are a non-eu passport holder and unless you have a pre-existing arrangement with a sponsor of your new job, mentally prepare that you'll be headed either to berlin, bratislava, or vienna to get your visa. why? nobody knows. oh, and you'll be going back there again to pick it up.

nobody in immigration will speak english to you. even if they know english. you'll likely be spending a lot of time in your local immigration building which probably looks straight out of a kafka novel. once you get there and take a number, you'll notice signs that say "all business here is to be conducted in czech". this can be somewhat terrifying. bring a friend to help!

shopping here leaves a bit to be desired. sure, shopping here for locally-made goods, pottery, colorful painted easter egg ornaments, and sweet treats (like trdelnik) are tops. but - i highly recommend topping off whatever clothing, shoe, and accessory needs (especially your favorite brands) you need before coming here. you'll likely either not find them or they'll be much more expensive than they are in your home country. (the concept of a "sale" at a clothing store is just starting to catch on) even my students admit they prefer to shop abroad.

you can get all of your essentials here. l'oreal, aussie, tampax, skippy, maybelline, old spice, oreo, etc. can all be found at (sometimes select) supermarkets and drugstores. some things they do not sell here (yet), however: oil of olay or burt's bees. womp.

prepare to love marks & spencer. love it strong. this popular english department store chain (which oddly, failed in germany) is alive and well in the czech republic, providing you with all of your british food needs. weetabix knock-offs, proper marmelade, good tea, italian sausages, crumpets, and more can all be found here! if you love it as much as i do, don't forget to sign up for a (free) rewards card. (photo via)

bring savings, but you still need to put in your werk. savings (a few thousand $$) is going to be a great padding for all of those initial costs: visas, first month's rent, deposits, teaching or language courses, etc while you get on your feet. however, once you can start working, do work. the financial offices are particularly looking (especially in your first year) into your case to see if you can support yourself. make sure it looks like you can.

most all strangers appear really unfriendly, until one day, they don't. i was so depressed about all the grimacing faces i saw here for about the first two years, and then a magical thing happened. one day, something inside me clicked: it doesn't bother me worth a damn anymore. however resigned that might sound, i was overjoyed at this new development. i guess the point is: don't worry, it'll grow on you.

what's a checkbook? i've never seen or heard about people using checks to pay for something here. (or credit cards, for that matter). debit card reigns supreme and people frequently use their banking website to transfer funds to another individual or company. so make sure you know your variable symbols and constant symbols! (set up a template so you don't have to re-enter that stuff every time you want to transfer)

if everything seems closed off to you, your world will certainly open massively as you start learning czech. i've only been studying czech on a consistent basis since october, but just in that few months i feel like the world is opening up, people are friendlier, and immigration is (almost) a walk in the park! it will get better. in the words of young kevin mccallister, “did you hear me? i said i’m not afraid anymore!” (photo via)

that said, start learning czech. many expats in my town don't. i mean, when you don't need it for your job, it can be hard for people who don't typically enjoy language study to make the time. however, if you plan to be here for more than a year, it will make your life somucheasier. i started out strong with my czech studies and then succumbed to a belief that i couldn't learn more than one foreign language at once (which is not true). i wish i had started taking it more seriously earlier, but hey.

travels abroad are exciting, but travel inside the republic too! i get it, i'm from the united states. as soon as i made a base in europe, i was unbelievably stoked for the new world of travel possibilities that was made available to me. it's incredible; it's intoxicating! but do remember to see a bit of your host country as well. not only is it nice to better get to know the place where you live, but locals will certainly respect you that much more for caring to get to know their country better. (plus, people love to share their tips!)

česká pošta: initially intimidating, but decent conquerability level so this is the deal: you absolutely need to know what it says next to all of those buttons when you walk in. not doing so will be fatal to your success and happiness using the czech postal system. (photo via)

your packages won't (usually) be delivered to you, but you'll get a slip in the mail. take it, along with some ID (like a passport) to the post, press the button that says listovni zasilky vydej, get your number, give it to the postal worker, and she'll have you sign your podpis on a slip of paper.(sometimes you might have to pay a customs charge - see below)

speaking of customs, NEVER order anything online with a retail price higher than a hundred euros. huge custom charges will come your way. i think over the course of three years i have easily paid +12,000kc (about $500) worth of customs charges because i didn't know this. (ridiculous, right?) make sure your loved ones always mark parcels headed your directions as "gifts", and receiving anything with a lithium battery will also result in charges on your end.

you'll be in one of the most beautiful places in europe. (and you might have to pinch yourself on the daily)

what would you add? if it sounds like i got it all figured out, i don’t. but after three plus years, i feel it finally coming.

ps, you might like what i do differently now or life as an expat teacher

linking up with travel tuesday

[mademoiselleguiga]

Did you know that anyone residing legally in France with a family could get family allowances? The CAF family allowance is one of the few not income-tested. 

[mademoiselleguiga]

A step-by-step guide to accessing French healthcare as a newly arrived expat in France. Did you know you affiliation was not automatic even when you have a French work contract? 

[mademoiselleguiga]

How to open a bank account in France as a foreigner? Be ready for some paperwork and discoveries! As a newcomer, you are considered a non-resident by French banks. I’ll explain to you what it means and what you can do about it. I’m also giving you specific advice to save money on bank fees and international transfer. Read until the end for the best saving tips!

[mademoiselleguiga]

How to open a bank account in France as a foreigner? Be ready for some paperwork and discoveries! As a newcomer, you are considered a non-resident by French banks. I’ll explain to you what it means and what you can do about it. I’m also giving you specific advice to save money on bank fees and international transfer. Read until the end for the best saving tips!