By Lois Freeke, Co-Founder, Niche and China Career and Personal Branding Strategist

I wish I knew then what I know now…

1. Jobs for expats in China exist, but the majority of readily available roles for expats already resident in China are in the education, relocation, real estate, financial services and F&B or hospitality sectors, and salaries can be surprisingly low. As the standard of living in tier one China cities can rival Western cities, plan on having the resources to fund a 3-6 month job search if you are job seeking outside of these industries.

2. If you are in a mid to senior position and outside of China, it may be easier to find a suitable position in China by applying to be relocated here by your current company.

3. Any Chinese you may have studied will be, of course, helpful, but will not guarantee you a position in China. If you are very fluent with near native level Chinese, this will be an asset, but conversational Chinese will not guarantee you a position. If you are considering taking an intensive Mandarin course to improve you job-search chances, you may wish to research this option further, as one year’s Mandarin study is usally not enough to give you effective business Chinese.

4. Jobs in China are seldom advertized, except in those sectors where low to mid level jobs for foreigners abound, and are not highly compensated (see point 1). Set a strong foundation for your China job search by ensuring you have a solid web presence and a robust LinkedIn profile that clearly demonstrates your unique value proposition for a China based position – and start networking now.

5. Recruitment firms in China mainly cater to local Chinese applicants. Be sure to investigate exceptions that may exist, but focus on building a strategic network of contacts both on and off line and build a compelling personal brand to give you an edge in your job search and potentially create your own position.

Bio

Lois Freeke is the only China-based career and personal branding strategist combining 18 years’, mostly Asia Pacific, marketing and recruitment expertise. Lois is a successful China entrepreneur and co-founded the Industrial division of Niche, a ground-breaking fire/security specialist recruitment firm in China.

Leveraging her 10+ years’ China experience and deep China insights, Lois Freeke helps China expat executives and solo-preneurs effectively differentiate themselves in the highly competitive market for career and business success. She has helped hundreds of clients and candidates manage their careers and job search strategies, market themselves effectively and access hidden opportunities – and land their dream jobs. Check her out at Niche Talent Search.

By Kristi Remick

Last April I wrote about blazing a trail as a Trailing Spouse -  tips designed to help the trailer find fulfillment and happiness.  What I didn’t take into account when writing this particular blog was that my Expat Self-Esteem (ESE) was at an all time high.  I thought I conquered the Trailing Spouse Blues but unfortunately more bad days, weeks and months were to be had.

This past month was pretty challenging.  I had scored a job interview and was called back for a second.  I was feeling hopeful that I would finally join the ranks of the employed. I started daydreaming about living in the real world again, making money and feeling like a productive member of society.  When I heard that I was passed on for the job, it sent me spinning towards dark places and my ESE plummeted to an all time low. This dark place made me feel like no matter how busy I stayed as a Trailing Spouse or how much I reinvented myself, it was fake and it was lonely.  How did I crawl out of this cave of despair?  In addition to a disgusting over-consumption of chocolate and Nacho Cheese Bugles, I did the following:

1. I let it out – I cried like a little girl, pounded my fists, threw a tantrum or two and sucked my thumb (but didn’t wet my pants while trying to do a hula dance).  A good cry sometimes cleans you out.  It is like a colonoscopy for the soul.  The trick is to actually let it out and move on.  Let’s be serious here, no one finds puffy eyes attractive.

2. I set new goals – After talking with my husband, I realized I hadn’t accomplished what I intended to with my gift of time.  I hadn’t volunteered like I said I would and I hadn’t mastered German.  It was time to be pro-active again and do what I said I would a year ago.

3. I got out of the house/apartment/flat/cave – Loneliness has probably been the number one challenge for me.  I do a great job of staying busy but I stay busy by myself.  This week I decided to get up, feed my mutts, go straight to the gym and study German at a nearby coffee shop.  This does two things: Eliminates distractions (TV, Internet, Naps, etc) and made me feel like I was part of society.

4. I read other people’s experiences/tips – My husband is the greatest.  He has the wisdom of a 5,000 year old sorcerer (the kind that have really long white beards) and does his best to boost me up when I am down.  The problem is, he has never been in my shoes.  I really like reading about people like me and what they have done to be successful.  Fellow bloggers can be a great source of comfort and inspiration. Knowing you aren’t alone out there can sometimes bring you renewed mental energy.

Blazing a trail is not the end to one’s journey as an Expat. Sometimes a tree falls over blocking your way or a horse did its business right in the middle of your path. Finding ways to clear the branches and horse poo is not always easy.  I wish I could say that there is this finite moment in time when a Trailing Spouse is happy all of the time.  I am afraid that isn’t the case but there are ways to pick yourself up.  Any other tips from fellow trailers?

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.

By Chantal Panozzo

What blog are you looking at?

One of the easiest ways to make the transition to life in Switzerland is to read a few good expat blogs. The writers can become both characters and friends, and much of the information you’ll find on blogs is entertaining, personal, and real.

Below I’ve listed some of my favorite Swiss blogs, in no particular order:

Write On This blog is sponsored by the news site, swissinfo.ch. Every two months, it features a different blogger, so the blog offers a variety of opinions and perspectives on life in the land of cheese and chocolate.

ExpatCH To learn to love roesti and raclette, conquer avalanche paranoia, and stop smiling so much, read this new blog, written by American freelancer Bill Harby.

Kelly & Wojtek’s Blog Learn to speak German, go on fabulous Swiss hikes, and know just where to take a lady in Switzerland, by reading this blog, written by one of the founders of the Zurich Writers Workshop.

Musings from a Mad Cow Read this blog and you’ll benefit from lessons in adjective profanity, facts learned from reading the freebie local paper, and more. Also written by a Zurich Writers Workshop co-founder.

Twissted Swisster What happens when an American businessman moves to Switzerland? He learns to play the alphorn, he learns how to busk in the streets of Switzerland, and he just can’t seem to stop photographing cows.

From A to Z Written by fellow ACC blogger, Kristi, From A to Z is a hilarious look at all facets of Swiss living. From making fun of trolls on English Forum (oh there are many!), to living with dogs in Switzerland “yes I am THAT dog owner”, From A to Z leaves no topic untouched by sarcasm.

One Big Yodel This post just wouldn’t be complete without a little self-promotion. On my own Swiss expat blog, I ponder the lack of cheddar in the land of cheese, the 10 steps that make up a decision to move abroad (#7: check who is president—2006), as well as staying on top of the latest news (stop the press! The grocery store in Wildegg is now open during lunchtime!).

What are your favorite expat blogs?

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.

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Nearly every traveler who comes to India begins his or her journey with the Golden Triangle – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Those who have more time go a little further to places like Varanasi, Jaisalmer and Khajuraho. Those who come on a leisure holiday prefer Goa or Kerala, while those who look for mountains go to Manali and Ladakh. More often than not, guidebook recommendations play a major role in deciding where to go. India is more than just these. There are some rare gems where even Indians rarely take time to travel to. Here is a list of five such places worth putting in your itinerary.

1. North East India

The fact that the seven states of North East India are separated by a bottleneck from rest of the country, has isolated these states from travelers list of places to see. The North Eastern states have a wildlife unparalleled and unseen in rest of the country. It also has some magnificent landscapes that vary from marshy grasslands in the plains to snowfields dotted with lakes. Visit Kaziranga National Park to see rhinos, go to Cherrapunjee to see the wettest place on earth and visit Tawang to see an ancient monastery that is one of the largest Buddhist learning centers in Asia.

2. Madhya Pradesh

Although Madhya Pradesh is at the exact center of India, people often pass through it than stop by to see places. Reasons could be many. The state’s tourist infrastructure and transport facilities could do with some improvement. Also, being faraway from all the big cities and major transit points, one will have to travel long distances and make major deviations from their itineraries to reach any place in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh, known as the tiger-state of India has many national parks that host a large number of tigers. Kanha and Bandhavgarh are the most well known. Also visit the ancient towns of Orchha, Khajuraho and Mandu.

3. Orissa

Orissa, Madhya Pradesh’s neighboring state, is not visited by many for the same reasons why Madhya Pradesh is not frequented by tourists. Orissa’s rich heritage can be seen by visiting Puri and surrounding areas, which are home to some of the most beautiful ancient temples in the country. Orissa, like Madhya Pradesh, too has rich wilderness and offers excellent biodiversity. The chilka lake and nearby areas not only have beautiful landscapes, they are visited by Olive Ridley Turtles in the winter months.

4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Until last decade, the islands of Andaman and Nicobar were rarely visited by tourists, be it Indian or foreign. With some marketing focus from India Tourism and availability of better tourist facilities, it is slowly attracting more people. Yet, the distance from the mainland still keeps many people from exploring these places. Andaman Islands have some of the best beaches seen anywhere in India, even better than the excellent beaches of Goa. The islands are also home to some of the thickest tropical rainforest, endangered tribes (whom tourists are not permitted to visit) and birds not seen in the mainland. Andaman also offers the best diving experience anywhere in India.

5. Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand’s hill stations are every Delhiite’s favourite and its trekking routes are every adventurer’s dream. While domestic tourists throng the hill-stations of Uttarakhand, foreign travelers seem to keep this mountain-state largely out of their itinerary. The southern Kumaon region of Uttarakhand has green hills and some quiet hill stations. As you go deeper into the mountains, the altitude increases steadily, revealing some of the highest peaks in the country. See the mighty Nanda Devi – the second tallest peak in India. Go on the Roopkund trek, ski on the slopes of Auli and see the amazing landscapes of Corbett National Park.

This post is written by photographer and travel writer Arun Bhat who blogs on his India Travel Blog. This post is written for AffordableCallingCards.net, who offer cheap India calling cards.

By: Cherrye Moore

I’ve written a great deal over the last four years about my adorable-yet, somewhat food-obsessed, Calabrese father-in-law. It seems no matter how much he makes-and piles into my plate-or how much I finish … he’s just never satisfied.

He’s blamed me for my husband’s decline (his words, not mine) in appetite and tries to urge the fork forward with promises of delicious bites of Italian delicacies.

So, really … I should have this coming.

A few weeks ago, we were at our daily lunch meet-up-yes, he cooks for us every day-and I noticed he had a special new glass, fully decorated and colored with sparkling, flying Winks fairies. I just couldn’t resist.

“Nice glass, Nino.” I tell him with a grin, wondering if he realizes his glass is the envy of every 12-year-old girl on the street. “Where’d you get it?”

“Hrmph!” He cut his eyes at me, perhaps sensing my glee.

Not willing to let it go, I persisted.

“But it is so cute,” I told him. “I’m jealous. I want my very own glass, too.”

He ignored my last remark, my husband called me a mafiosa and we finished our meal.

A couple of days later, that conversation forgotten by almost everyone, he showed up with a surprise.

I was standing at the door to our bed and breakfast when he grunted and pushed a small, Nutella-filled glass in my hands.

“There you go,” he told me.

“You eat the Nutella … you get your own glass. Then,” he said pointing to the colored blue and white decoration on the glass, “you will be a champion!”

I looked down and noticed that yes, it was indeed a glass of champions, decorated with bright blue and white drawings in anticipation of the 2010 World Cup Soccer match that Italy bombed.

I laughed. Loudly.

“Thank you,” I told him.

He shook his head at me. “Tisk. You eat all of the Nutella first. Then, you you’ll have your own glass … and then you can say thank you.”

I don’t know why it should surprise me that he jumped at the chance to have me independently eat 200 grams of soft, creamy, chocolate and hazelnut Nutella, but that little present kinda made my day. Yes, two weeks have passed and the would-be world champs are still sitting in my cupboard, 2/3 full of their creamy deliciousness.

But, I’m working on it.

Until then, I thought about sneaking his glass when he wasn’t looking, but there is just something about my 78-year-old father-in-law, drinking his daily Pepsi in that pink and orange fairy glass, that I just can’t destroy.

So, I guess I’ll have to wait … and really, what better excuse is there for finishing off your very own jar of world champion Nutella?

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: Blondie and Brownie

There are few countries like India where you can get plenty of variety on the streets. You would have heard many times over that India is a land of contrasts where extremes can go hand in hand. All you need to do is walk along a few streets, which may show you something really ancient with something very new. Swanky glass buildings can have dilapidated structures as neighbors. Contemporary and traditional can share the same place. Just take your camera and walk on any street and you will be amazed at the variety that you can find, either in people walking next to you or in the structures along the road. Even the people are of such variety that each person may look like he or she belongs to a different race or geographical region. If you intend to make best images that depict India, your neighborhood markets and main streets are the best place to begin.

Add to this is the fact that many people in the country are not camera shy. Although this can’t be generalized, especially so in big cities, you will often see people gladly willing to stop to pose for your camera. Some people, especially at smaller places, may even come and ask you to photograph them. If you are shutterbug in India, your best haunts will be

1. Small towns and villages, where people are still not wary of people with camera.

2. Traditional markets, which can be usually chaotic but have a charm of their own.

3. Religious places: Some well known religious locations which attract lot of pilgrims offer huge opportunities to shoot India’s religious and spiritual richness. Even popular places like Varanasi and Rishikesh – though they are in every photographer’s list for years – still offer new perspectives to everyone who spends time there. When you are in a religious place, always respect the local customs and avoid photographing where not permitted. Photography is usually not permitted in inner shrines of most religious places.

4. Craft centers. Large cities often have places where people practicing certain crafts work in groups in one place. You can find areas where they make hand made pottery, weave silk, produce hand made paper, manufacture glass materials with hand and more. Ask around in your city and you will see that many traditional crafts have remained unchanged for a long time and do not use modern machinery.

5. Cultural performances. Each part of India has its own rich traditions and performances that are different from other parts of the country. Your local listings will tell you about plenty of places where you can shoot practically everyday. Performances are more frequent and elaborate in winter months (November to February) and tend to be infrequent during the monsoons (June to September).

6. India has a great tradition of festivals. While Holi (happens in March-April), Ganesha Festival (August-September) are a great time to see celebrations on the street in most parts of the country, you will also see many local festivals happening in many parts of the country. Lookup festival schedules at India Tourism website and websites of state tourism boards.

This post is written by photographer and travel writer Arun Bhat who blogs on his India Travel Blog. This post is written for AffordableCallingCards.net, who offer calling cards to India

By Chantal Panozzo

Canton Aargau. A place to call home?

When expats are choosing where to settle in Switzerland, Canton Aargau is never high on their list. They want to live in Zurich, Geneva, or Basel—not in little towns in the middle of nowhere. And who can blame them?

When I moved to Switzerland, I had no idea that I would be living in Canton Aargau, otherwise known as the Alabama of Switzerland. I just thought, I’m 15 miles from Zurich, how different can it be?

Well, life is a little different, even a few miles west of Zurich. Not everyone is a redneck in Canton Aargau, but people tend to be a bit old-fashioned here. Kids still come home for lunch. People can still smoke in bars and restaurants. And English is not as prevalent as it is in Canton Zurich.

Even though I often get made fun of for living here, living in Canton Aargau has its advantages: there are fewer expats and thus permits are easier to obtain. You are forced to learn German because your survival depends on it. And there’s something to be said for living in a traditional Swiss village versus a big international city like Zurich. You get the real deal Switzerland.

Another advantage to living in Canton Aargau is that unlike living in Canton Zurich, you do not need to pass a German exam to obtain that coveted C Permit. In Zurich, you must pass the A2 German test or higher to obtain your C Permit. For most people, this shouldn’t be a problem, but still, the test means time and money (about CHF 300).

Canton Aargau is also interesting because of its many castles. From the castle ruin in Baden to the completely furnished castle in Wildegg, the area can be fun to explore. You can even hike from castle to castle. For example, Lenzburg castle is only a 3-kilometer hike from Wildegg castle. And both castles can be toured and also have beautiful gardens.

Sometimes I think life would be easier in one of Switzerland’s “big cities” for an expat, but still. I’ll always have a special feeling for my Swiss home. I even own a Canton Aargau flag now. Yes.

What canton do you live in?

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.

by Tina Ferrari

photo © 2010 by Sergio Stellato

Though I speak the local language and have no problem adapting to any given culture and finding my niche, at times I wonder if the locals really “get” me.  Here are my top 3 things I wish people in my adopted country, Italy, would understand about me.

This isn’t my first language.  Some of my friends here must think I’m obsessive compulsive in the way that I repeat myself so many times in Italian.  It’s just that I feel paranoid at times that I haven’t said something right (and sometimes it really is the case and they think I’ve said something totally different) so I tend to say the same thing in five different ways to make sure I said it right so they understand.  I also find that I don’t understand what people say if they talk with their mouths full of food (something I notice a lot here).  I’m always making people finish chewing first, not because I’m fussy about manners, but because I simply would like to understand what they’re saying!

It’s not as easy for me as it is for them.  Okay, nobody said life in Italy was that easy for anyone.  But there are some things that are a little harder for those of us who weren’t born here and had to learn the language from scratch.  Take just about any bureaucratic process at all, such as residency, and they’ll say, “Oh, easy! Just go here, say this, and there you have it!”  Either they’re kidding themselves or they don’t realize that those of use who don’t already have a paper trail in Italy have a little more work cut out for us.

I don’t know that many people because I am not from here.  I have a few really awesome Italian friends who have gone out of their way to get to know me and provide some great company.  But a lot of times I wonder if people really understand that I don’t really know that many people.  A lot of folks, particularly in a small town like Lecce, have the friends they grew up with and run in the same circles they’ve run in for a while now.  They have their dinner parties, etc.,  and probably assume that I already have plans with my group of friends.  Thing is, I don’t have a group of friends yet.  While I do have a number of priceless friends Italy, it will be a while before I have a “group”  that I run with, as I’m not settled yet.  This makes for nights at home alone – which isn’t so bad, considering it’s a chance to get work done and catch up with friends and family.  Plus, there is tango – the perfect excuse to dress up and get out  of the house!

What do you wish locals understood about you in your adopted country?

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!

By Kristi Remick

Photo courtesy of journalingforhappiness

NO! Oh wait, you want details.  Well I will give you several reasons why and a little back story. Recently my husband and I traveled to the South of France (Ste. Maxime) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam and Alkmaar). Due to budgetary constraints and the fact we had to bring our dogs with us, we decided it made most sense to rent a car.  We probably saved a few hundred francs going this route but we gained some grey hairs along the way.

Reason #1 NOT to rent a car in Europe – Europe has amazing train systems and low cost airlines. Europe is way ahead of the United States with their rail infrastructure making most train travel easy, fast and affordable (typically).  Low cost airlines can be a little stressful during the boarding process but the time you save flying vs slowly dying in a car, with extremely gassy dogs, well worth the small amount of pain they inflict.

Reason #2 NOT to rent a car in Europe – No matter what Google Maps says, it will take 2+ hours longer. Google and its maps are amazing but they don’t take into account construction, tolls, traffic, weather and pee breaks.  If you are driving in Europe, there will be ALL of the above and most of the time, the tolls and construction are planned horribly.  While traveling home from the Netherlands, we drove through Germany on the A5 which was undergoing major construction.  All traffic on this major highway was at one point diverted through a town…A TOWN.   We were forced, with hundreds of other European travelers, to drive 10km along a two lane road with traffic lights. Not only was this disruptive to our travel plans, it was horribly disruptive to this small community that was forced to do business as usual with a grotesquely clogged main street.

Reason #3 NOT to rent a car in Europe – The money you save is not worth the stress. We thought we were smart renting a GPS system.  We thought we were even smarter by printing out directions “just in case”.  You can’t possibly get lost with both a GPS and printed directions, right? Right…uh…NO. You will get lost in Europe and there are a whole slew of reasons why.  The South African woman from our GPS  resorted to yelling at us on occasion because she couldn’t understand how we could possibly get lost with her constant and annoying guidance.  She and I are currently estranged.

You have to weigh what you are really saving when deciding between traveling by car or public transportation. You will spend more time driving than flying or training, you will get into a fight with your GPS and/or partner, you will expend effort vs sitting back and letting someone else drive for you and you will invent new swear words along the way.  Minus inventing new swear words, the negatives far outweigh the positives.

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.

I met a widely travelled wildlife enthusiast from South Africa who happenned to be visiting Kabini -Nagarhole wildlife sanctuary in South India  last week We got talking and I asked him what drew him to India and he replied that it was the unique biodiversity . We discussed wildlife destinations in India and here was his pick on the top three wildlife national parks in the country

1.Corbett National Park – Named after the legendary Jim Corbett, this is not just a wildlife national park, but the very heart of Terai landscape. Located in North India, in the Garhwal district of Uttranchal it is one of the oldest tiger reserves in the country and is home to 600 species of birds . You can also spot the  endangered gharial , leopards , elephants, marsh crocodiles among others.

There are several places to stay in and around the park and New Delhi is your closest airport, while Ramnagar is one of the closest rail heads  and there are trains connecting them. You can also drive down from Delhi.  Best time to visit will be from November to April, while the open season starts from October to mid June.

2.Kanha national park –The sal and  bamboo forests coupled with the open grasslands  inspired none other than Rudyard Kipling who created his Jungle Book  in these forests. . While Kanha is mostly about tiger tourism, most tourists forget  to enjoy the very experience of being in a forest .Look for the barasingha, leopards, sloth bears , wild dogs or dholes , gaur , chowsingha, Indian pangolin among many other mammals. For birders, one can sight more than 120 species in just a single day.

Located in central India in Madhya Pradesh, the closest aiport is in Jabalpur and it takes about four hours from road fom  there to the park. Best season is from October to June.

3.Kabini -Nagarhole National Park – Finally, Kabini won over many other parks across the country. Kabini is actually a river that flows between the two moist deciduous forests – Bandipur and Nagarhole, creating an entire ecosystem on its banks. Come summer and this becomes Asia’s largest congregation of elephants as they come over to feed in the lush green forests.

Boat safaris and jeep safaris are available for tourists . Leopards, tigers, dholes, gaurs are some of the large mammals you would find here. The backwaters of the river is a great place for birding as several migratory birds flock here during winters.

Located in the Southern state of  Karnataka, Kabini is located close to Bangalore and Mysore, where the airports are located . It is great to visit throughout the year

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