I don’t want to return to my country of origin.

There. I said it. (God, I hope my mom doesn’t read this!)

In 2008, I married the love of my life – a handsome, smart, funny, loving man… who happened to live on another continent, belong to another nationality, and claim a language other than English as his mother tongue.

A week later, I was living with him in the Netherlands. Yes, it was rocky at first. Yes I sometimes still have that “what the hell am I doing here?” feeling. And, yes, life in the Netherlands could not be more different from what I was used to in the United States.
But I love it.

Feel free at this point, to argue that I’ve only been here for 18 months and am clearly still in the honeymoon phase associated with culture shock. I see your point and I fully agree. Things can change. But, from where I am now, I don’t see that happening.
The first question I get when I reveal this information is: “Oh, you’re husband doesn’t want to live in the US?”

Actually, my husband would love to live in the US. If I hear him lament about not having a ridiculously spacious garage for storage purposes, an American-sized back yard for the dog to run around, or a gargantuan pickup truck to cruise in one more time, I’m going to scream. Lucky for me, he’s terrified of the harsh working culture in the US, so I may yet avoid having to leave the Netherlands.

“What is it about the Netherlands that you like so much?” is the inevitable follow up.

Feeling like I have to satisfy my enquirer with an answer, I’ll say something like the cycling culture or the healthier lifestyle or better healthcare. Though all those things are true, they’re just the superficial things. It’s the opportunities, the benefits, the liberation I feel, the people, the experience, and really just this feeling deep in the pit of my stomach that tells me that this is home.

In fact, I find it difficult to go back to the US even for a visit. Of course I love seeing family and friends, but I miss my husband and my dog and my friends and my life here. I see with ever increasing clarity that I fit in in the US less and less. My ideals, expectations, wants, needs, experiences, and opinions have changed as my eyes have been opened to new things. I see the world, people and myself in a different way.

I realize that I’ll never truly fit in in the Netherlands either. No matter how well I learn the history and the language, no matter how well I adapt to the lifestyle and culture, I’ll never be Dutch. And I’m okay with that. Because, no matter how much I may have changed as a result of my expatriate-ism, I am still American and I don’t want to give that part of me up. It’s what makes me unique. What makes me… me!

Ironically, it took leaving my home country and moving to the Netherlands to release it.

Tiffany is an American who moved to the Netherlands for love in December 2008. She lives in Utrecht with her husband and their dog. In addition to chronicling her adventures on her blog Clogs and Tulips: An American in Holland, she also works as a freelance writer and runs her own company, Little Broadway.

Christmas is a great time of year to spend time with family and friends, to give gifts, and to have great holiday food. But Christmas can also be a hectic time if you’re overbooking yourself for Christmas parties and traveling long distances. And if you are traveling outside the country this Christmas, that can add even more stress to an already jam-packed December. Foreign countries don’t always celebrate Christmas the same way we do in the US, and international travel can make it hard to pack presents with already limited baggage restrictions. But don’t let all these extra concerns turn your Christmas into a nightmare. You can still have a fun and memorable Christmas while traveling abroad.

Open Presents Before Your Leave

I know it sounds like ruining Christmas to open your presents before you leave, but taking extra bags of wrapped presents can be difficult. Before you leave, you can have a little Christmas party of your own with your family. Open up your presents together, have a little eggnog, and sing some Christmas carols together to make it feel more like Christmas morning. Also, keep in mind that traveling abroad gives you an excellent opportunity to buy unique presents at your destination. Giving gifts unique to the location you’ve traveled to will make your Christmas abroad even more memorable.

Bring Decorations From Home

Not all countries and cultures celebrate Christmas the same way, and some don’t celebrate it at all. If you’re longing for a little extra Christmas cheer while abroad, bring a couple of small decorations with you, like a tiny Christmas tree or a stocking. When it is sweltering hot and there aren’t any Christmas lights in sight, you can look at your little tree or small nativity and feel a little Christmas creeping back in.

Embrace Local Culture

Not all foreign cultures celebrate Christmas but many do, just not in the same way. For example, in many Latin American countries, the 6^th of January is a day of gift giving, and the 25^th is more like a New Year’s celebration with fireworks and parties. And just like we have eggnog and candy canes around Christmas time, other countries have their own unique holiday cuisine. Take the time to try it and embrace the local Christmas culture, creating a unique Christmas for all of you to remember for years to come.

Traveling abroad is all about experiencing different cultures and having new experiences. At Christmas time you have even more opportunities to experience unique cultural celebrations around the globe. Embrace these other traditions and have fun. Make your Christmas abroad the best Christmas you’ve ever had.

Gunter Jameson writes about several topics including travel, minimalism and University of Phoenix Programs.

By Kristi Remick

Don't worry cobbly stoned streets...I still love you.

My first taste of Europe was back in 2003.  I was in awe of its oldness –  medieval castles, Gothic churches, Roman ruins and cobblestone streets. For me, a girl who grew up in Rochester NY, experiencing Europe for the first time was an awakening and it wasn’t long before I dreamed of moving here.

Fast forward 7 years and I now live in Switzerland.  The castles, churches, ruins and cobblestone streets are still here and they still amaze me, but something has shifted.  Now that I am a resident, I find myself wanting to visit far off lands – Asia, Africa, South America and the list continues to grow.  This February we are hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro and going on safari in the Serengeti.  Next year we are already planning a trip to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.  With all of Europe at our doorstep, why all of a sudden are we looking towards other areas?

1. I am cold – Seriously, now that I no longer live in Atlanta, I want to vacation where it is warm.  This is very European and almost every European person I have met here vacations somewhere warm.  This year alone I know of people going to Egypt, India, Florida (yes, I said Florida) and Morocco.  I have a hunch it is to escape the bone chilling weather we receive for a good portion of the Fall and Winter months.

2. The “Doorstep Phenomena” - Now that I live here and have somewhat integrated, I want to feel like I am going somewhere far away when I go on vacation.  I want to see ancient Asian temples and smell aromas emitted from outdoor spice markets.  When I lived in the States, going to Europe served my need to experience a new place.  While a weekend in New York City was wonderful, it wasn’t quite as romantic or magical as hopping the pond to see the architecture of Gaudi or sip an Italian beer while staring at the Alp lined shores of Lake Como.

3. Logistics – Logistically, a lot of the places I want to see are either closer to me now distance wise (a shorter plane ride) or the time zone change isn’t nearly as dramatic.  Last year our trip to Africa from the States involved 18 hours on a plane one way and a 6 hour time change.  This year it takes 10 hours on a plane one way and NO time change.  My new European home is a great starting point and is far more convenient in certain respects when compared to my old home in Atlanta.

I was  a bit hesitant to write this.  I don’t want to come off as a travel snob and I still want to see ALL of what Europe has to offer, but with my new home comes a different way of looking at travel.  As my life changes and the further I embrace it, something as simple as “where to vacation”  can change and I find that so incredibly interesting.  So the next logical question is, if I become an Expat living in Hong Kong, does that mean I will want to vacation on the moon?  I have always wanted to meet Marvin the Martian and the Muppets from Pigs in Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace!.

When I am not busy stuffing my face with chocolate, you can find me over at From A to Z blogging about my life in Zurich Switzerland

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One thing I have learned through the years is that to live abroad, you absolutely must not limit yourself to thinking *inside* the box in terms of figuring out how to do it.  I grew up with a desire to live abroad, and while in my very young years I was probably little bit unrealistic in my fantasies (if I were to talk to the Tina Ferrari from 15 years ago, I’d say no, you may not just show up without a plan, papers, etc.), it was a positive time for me.  As I grew up and got more realistic, however, I began thinking it was less and less possible to live abroad.

I didn’t have exciting grades or tons of university credits.  I didn’t have money; in fact, I had some debt.  I didn’t have any sort of prospect for a regular work visa. I thought overseas assignments were just for executives making the big bucks.  There were times when I was downright sad that I couldn’t figure out a way to get over the pond and have my adventures.  The truth is, however, that no two expat stories are the same. In my travels, I have learned some ways to be creative in living abroad.

1. Au pair in Switzerland. Now, I say Switzerland and not Europe because as far as I know, no EU countries have an actual “au pair” visa (in fact, I hear they convince you to get a student visa to be allowed to stay as an au pair).  I, on the other hand, lived in Swizerland for 8 months, in 2002.  I found a family through an au pair agency, they took care of getting me the proper domestic worker visa, and I was on my way.  What is an au pair, you ask? It’s a young adult who lives with a family and helps with the children part-time in exchange for a small stipend, room and board.  There is the chance that upon arrival you find yourself working more as a maid and teaching the child English instead of learning the local language, but there you go.  Being an au pair.  While there were a lot of things I didn’t like about it, it was a great way to get my feet wet in Europe and immerse myself in another culture.  I fell in love with the beauty of Switzerland, was just a couple hours from Italy, and, most importantly, I was legal.

2.  As a student. Well, in Italy if you want to enroll in a University as a regular student it’s not so easy.  You have to have somewhere around a zillion college credits, and when you move over there you start from the bottom. If you enroll in several months at a language school, it is rarely possible, as the school must be recognized by the Italian education ministry.  But, there are a few which are recognized.  In my case, in 2006, this was the University for Foreigners of Perugia.  I enrolled for six months, took the program on language and translation, and off I went.  The classes were boring but I had my way into Italy.

3. Citizenship. Okay, this isn’t always available to everyone.  But in my case I qualified for Italian citizenship because of a direct line to my great-grandfather who never renounced his citizenship.  It took a long time and was frustrating at some points, but in the end it happened.  It’s worth it to look into your family history and see if you may have a blood connection to another country, and see what your options are.  (If you’re looking into Argentina, your options for residing permanently are, if I remember correctly: marry an Argentine, be born to an Argentine, or give birth to an Argentine.)

How did you find a way to move abroad legally?

Tina Ferrari is a tango dancer, translator and writer currently based in Lecce, Italy. She writes atAffordableCallingCards.net as well as on her own blog, Tina Tangos. Comments are always welcome!

There is more to India than the Taj mahal.If you are a beach bum then there are several destinations in India you can choose from.  While you can party your way through some of them, most of them are pure virgin shores. India is a peninsula, so barring the north, which is bordered by the mountains, you find beaches along the coastline. Here are my recommendations

1. Goa – I often tell my travel friends that Goa is not just a destination. It is a state of mind. You can chill,party, hang out, explore and let your hair down here. There is a beach in almost every part of Goa . Go to the flea market, take a cruise on the river, do some bit of birding, visit temples and churches when you dont want to hit the beach. If you are looking at having a fairy tale wedding by the beach, this is one of the wedding destinations in India.

2.Sindudurg – North of Goa is Sindhudurg , a district on the Konkan coastline in India. The beaches are virgin and quiet and lends a very rustic flavour .  You could just sit here and watch the sun set quietly and do a bit of yoga or just jog on the shore.This is a completely a different India and it offers a glimpse into heritage and plantation tourism . Visit some of the ruins of old sea forts if you like a bit of history. There are people living inside the Sindhudurg fort even today.

3. Tranquebar or Tharangambadi – This is a small fishing hamlet located on the Coromandel coastline.If you are looking at spending a weekend in a beach with a dash of history, then head here. Visit the only Danish colony in South India which was later taken over by the British .As you drive beyond the erstwhile French colony, Pondicherry, you come to a small hamlet called Tharagambadi  , which in Tamil , means the town of the singing waves. The melody haunts you as the village roads slowly opens into the sea  with a quaint old Scandinavian fort on its shores.

This post is written by Lakshmi Sharath who blogs at A Travel Blog of an Indian Backpacker for AffordableCallingCards.net, which offers different long distance calling cards, such as cheap phone cards to India

Come winter and everybody in India is busy packing their bags to travel. Its the time for the birds and the beasts, the season in Goa and Kerala starts, the mountains beckon and the monuments look all inviting. So, where would you like to go this winter ? Here are some great options if you are visiting India and are looking for something out of the ordinary.

Karwar – The salts of the sea beckon me as I set foot in a little nondescript town called Karwar, located in South India. Perched somewhere in the Western Ghats on the banks of the River Kali,  the coastal town is hardly a stone’s throw away from Goa and yet the two destinations are chalk and cheese. Karwar is quieter and serene, compared to Goa which is always in a frenzy and high energy mode.This ancient beach town flaunts several attractions such as the Sadashivgad Hill Fort , built at the confluence of the Kali river and the Arabian sea, the  Durga temple, the one-of-its kind octagonal church and the 300 year old Venkataramana temple .. And then there are the islands – Devbagh, , Oyster-rock, Anjudeep, Sadashivgad and Sanyasi..so get your bikinis and head to Karwar this winter..

2. Kutch – So, your travel agent told you that Rajasthan is one of the must see places in India. But you tell him that you would prefer another desert which is slightly offbeat and is yet beautiful. I would recommend Kutch in Gujarat which is located in West India . If you are into wildlife and birding, then the little Rann of Kutch must be in your itinerary . IT may not be your typical forest landscape, but the wide tracts of desert , dotted by scrubs  is home to Indian Wildass or the Ghorkar. The Nilgai, wolf, fox and some jungle cats are also found in this habitat. The saline belt is largely due to the tracts of land inundated by sea water during and after the monsoons.Come winter, Kutch is also known for the migratory birds as birders flock here to see flamingoes, cranes, pelicans  and several raptors. Plan your holiday now to India.

3.Sundarbans – The Ganges is synonymous with India. So is the tiger. If you  would love to relax and also see some wildlife in India, its time to head East The islands of mangrove forests  located amidst the creeks at the delta of the Ganges houses one of the most unique tiger reserves in our country. The Sundarban tiger has adapted to the saline waters and can be found swimming in the creeks . Stalked by the poachers and  often dubbed the man eaters, the tigers are believed to be slowly dwindling here. There are leopard cats, fishing cats, palm civets, crab eating mongoose, water monitors .  Birdlife is plenty as you could find heronries around here as well. Boat trips are arranged to get a glimpse of the rich wildlife in this reserve.

4. Sikkim – In the north east of India, bordering Nepal and Bhutan is Sikkim, a small mystical state surrounded by the mountains. The cold winter may bring in snow here, but you will forever be surrounded by the mist and fog. There is nothing more beautiful than the occasional rain in the mountains. Soak in it, go the monasteries, watch small rivers flow past you as time stands still..

You are indeed visiting incredible India. the winters can get harsher as you go up north and it is always better to check with the weatherman and also note down the condition of roads.

This post is written by travel writer and blogger Lakshmi Sharath who blogs at A travel blog of an Indian backpacker on behalf of Affordable Calling Cards that offers international phone cards to India

By Chantal Panozzo

Aim High, Ask for Expat Benefits

Thinking of moving abroad? Below are five things to consider before signing a contract.

One: Housing Stipend

Many limited-contract expat packages offer housing stipends. In essence, this is so that it’s possible to live abroad but still maintain a house back home. Whether you intend to do this or not, it’s important to check that you’ll receive some kind of housing allowance, especially if the cost of living is significantly higher abroad but the salary you’re being offered is not.

Two: Language Training

Does the package include language training for both the employee and their spouse? If you’re moving to a country where they speak something other than English, the language training is just as important for the spouse as the employee. If this is not included, it’s something to bargain for. Up to 150 hours of paid language training is not unreasonable to request.

Three: Transportation

If you’ll be using public transport in your new country, will the company give you and your family free transport passes? Or if you’ll be driving will they pay for a company car? Will they help with the leasing of a car? If they are not moving your vehicle abroad, this is something that should be considered in the contract.

Four: Flights home

Will the company pay for one flight back home per year per family member? If not, this is also something that can be negotiated.

Five: Relocation Agent Services

It’s hard enough to find an apartment in a place like New York City. Throw in another language, the fact that housing discrimination is legal (and practiced) in many countries, and you will want the services of a relocation agent abroad. These people speak the local language, know the safest neighborhoods, know the market, and can help you translate leases and/or mortgages. Some will even go so far as to introduce you to the neighbors.

What do you look for in an expat contract?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

It’s no secret Italy is famous for its food. The local pasta dishes, fresh, seasonal produce, robust red wines, exotic seafood, sinful desserts, homemade liquors … need I go on … are some of the best in the world and I’m lucky to live in a region that is exalted even more so for its delectable cuisine.

See what I mean?

Even though the food is simple and straightforward, deciphering menus and choosing courses can make eating out in southern Italy a challenge. Here are a few tips to help with that.

Courses (in chronological order):

1. Antipasto
Antipasto is the Italian equivalent of the appetizer and in many cases, contains both hot and cold dishes. Cold plates are typically lean cold cuts, such as prosciutto or salami, assorted cheese, particularly Pecorino and olives or bruschetta. Hot dishes are typically prepared in-house and can include anything from potato and peppers, eggplant, grilled vegetables or other chef specialties.

In traditional Calabrese trattorie, the antipasto is typically overly generous and diners can easily fill up on the first course. However, you wouldn’t want to do that, because then you’d miss the primi.

2. Primi
Primi, or first plates as we’d say in English, are usually either pasta or risotto dishes in southern Italy. Some restaurants allow diners to choose a sampling of their first plates so they can try more than one dish. I *love* this tradition!

3. Secondi
Secondi, or second plates are typically meat or fish entrees. Vegetarians might choose a secondo platter of mixed grilled vegetables, but otherwise, vegetables or other side items are rarely served on your secondo plate. If you’d like a side item, be sure to order it separately when you place your order.

4. Contorni
Speaking of side items, contorni is the side item heading you’ll see on a southern Italian menu for side items. While side items vary by restaurant and region, you’ll usually find salads, potatoes, vegetables and local specialties listed here. Notice that salads are never served before the meal like they are in the US. If you order a salad, it will be served alongside your secondo dish, in a separate plate.

5. Frutta
Most .. make that all … southern Italians I know finish their meals at home with a serving of fruit, however they rarely order it in restaurants. Still, it is on the menu and if you’d like to order fruit to finish your meal, you’d do so after your second and side dish course.

6. Dolci
Oooh, desserts! If you made it through the rest of the meal without pasta coming out of your eyeballs, you might want to order dolci. To be sure you are getting the best bang for your, uhm, euro, ask your server which desserts are homemade and order one of those.

7. Caffè o Liquori
Most restaurant meals are completed with either a caffè (shot of espresso, not a cappuccino) or a shot of digestive liquor. In Calabria, Amaro del Capo is a popular choice, as is the old southern Italian favorite-limoncello.

Tips:
1. You do not have to order something for each course. Many Italians do … but you don’t have to and you won’t be the only people in the restaurant who don’t. I never do.

2. Diners are typically charged a cover charge, called coperto, in southern Italian restaurants, so if you see an extra €1-€3 charge, per person, added to your bill, you’ll know why.

3. You do not tip in southern Italian restaurants. Let me repeat that … Do Not Tip in southern Italian restaurants. I can always tell when a restaurant I’m in is accustomed to serving American tourists … one word comes out of my mouth and they are hanging around expecting a tip. Servers are often either the restaurant owners or one of their children and unlike America, staff servers are paid the minimum wage. If you tip, you are making it harder for those of us who live here to, well, live here.

4. Doggie bags are frowned upon … so, don’t ask. Arrive hungry and plan to spend as long as you like savoring your meal.

Cherrye Moore is an American freelance writer and Calabria group tour consultant living in southern Italy. You can read more about living and traveling in Calabria at her site, My Bella Vita or visit her in person at her B&B in Catanzaro, Italy.

Photo: Sara’s Kitchen, BrianandJaclyn and Premshree Pillai via Flickr

Though I’ve been in Italy a year, once in a while little things creep up that remind me that I’m not in the U.S.  Things we take for granted in our home country will often be much more noticeable in our new country and no matter how long we live in a place, for better or for worse, there’s always some adapting to do.

Take running errands.

In Italy, if I go out to run three errands and get just one done, I feel lucky.  Here we are limited by several things, particularly lunch.  Stores, banks, post offices, close at lunchtime – in some towns here in the south that can mean from 1pm to about 5 or 5:30pm.  I’m not kidding.   It’s a ghost town for three to four hours.  If I want to get anything done, I either rush in the morning to get it done (and early or I risk waiting in line to be sent away at lunch time), or I wait until 5:30 and get caught in the after work crowd.  This means, one errand at a time, per day.  Unless it’s Sunday when not even the birds come out to sing.

It’s a little different than in a major city in the U.S. – If I need to get something done, and I don’t manage to leave the house until 1, no big deal. Everybody’s open.  It’s Sunday?  Not a problem, you’ll always find someone open, with the exception of the post office.  Midnight and you’re out of toilet paper?  Sure, okay – the grocery store a few blocks down is open all night.  Alas, for me, those days are over.

How do I cope with it?  Well, I don’t have much choice so I just deal with it. If I have three errands, I plan for just one.  When I accomplish it, I celebrate.  A big plus to this cultural difference is that when I have lunch plans with a friend, I can take as long as I’d like.

I could be romantic and say “I’ve slowed down, thanks to this pace of life” as I dreamily look off into the distance, thinking about the wild chicory I bought from the old man on the corner with a gleam in his eye.  As true as that may be on one hand, let’s be honest: there are times when instead I’m wringing my hands and pulling my hair, even weeping, wondering why I can’t get the simplest thing done in a normal way. Even if the chicory is good.

What’s cultural difference have you noticed the most in your new home?

Tina Ferrari is a tango dancer, translator and writer currently based in Lecce, Italy. She writes at AffordableCallingCards.net as well as on her own blog, Tina Tangos. Comments are always welcome!