Ok you have decided to relocate abroad, try something new. But there seems like so much planning and organizing that needs to be done before you make the big move, Where do you start?

Firstly do you know where you want to go?
Somewhere in Europe or maybe somewhere further afield.
What kind of life do you want?
Busy City Life, Beach Resort Life or maybe the Country Life.
Can you settle into different cultures and become part of the locals?
If yes, the countries are endless.
Would you like great temperatures all year round?
If yes, Mediterranean climates are ideal.
Do you have a budget?
If so researching the cost of living in your chosen country is important.

Once you have decided on ‘the place’ to go you need to look into whether you can work easily in that country.
Some countries may require you to gain a Working Visa which may need applying for in advance before you go or some countries may want you to apply when you arrive.

Look on Forums for local job ads on you chosen country and town to see if there are any jobs up for grabs. Think of some well known global companies and see if they recruit abroad.

Next step is to look to see if you need to apply for Residence Permit in advance, again some countries require you to do so within a month of arrival so you need to check out different countries rules.

Make sure you know your financial situation and what you can afford and have enough money saved to allow you to live for a little while in case you haven’t got a job straightaway.

After this the next important step is to if possible have some accommodation sorted out before you arrive so you know exactly where you are going and where you are staying. Then when you arrive you can take some time to get to know the area and decide on where you would like to rent, if you would like to buy a home and you will get better prices face to face rather than on-line.

Health care is important so make sure you have an insurance policy in place as some countries will not treat you without one and others have badly funded health care.

Look into rates of tax abroad and see how much they will be. Make sure that you wont be taxed twice, by your home country and your new country.

Now start planning if you will relocate all of your belongings or just some of them and how will you do this. Either by using a freight company or an airline. Look into different airlines as it may be a cheaper method for you if you are not bringing too much to just buy some excess baggage in advance.

While you are abroad you will need to be able to stay in phone contact with friends and loved ones as and when you want to with a trusted source. I found Pingo.com to be this source, they charge you economic prices and the connection is always reliable.

Lastly buy a travel book or guide on your chosen country to gain more of an insight into what the country will be like. Try and pick up a few phrases or words along the way, the locals will really appreciate you for trying even if you don’t quite pronounce it right.

If you do these important steps you will find yourself on the right path and almost ready to go!

Have you left your home and family to live in a country far away? Education, business, emigration, visiting your family, taking a break or work in general- whatever be your reason for going abroad, whatever be your destination country and whatever be your budget; you can rest assured, that communication with your loved ones back home would never be a reason for concern again.

The expat community, irrespective of where they live, has a lot to cheer about! The reason this can be stated with so much confidence is that unlike a few decades ago, the whole world has now shrunk into one giant global community and expat calling solutions have seen revolutionizing changes therein. The feverish pace, at which networking and communication technology has grown in the recent years, has made expat calling, child’s play. Move over, cell phone roaming and ISD! 3G, 4G and Video-calling are the latest buzz words these days. These, however, have not reached all corners of the world just yet, and there are still many regions, where people prefer sticking to conventional methods. There are two means of communication, which have been there awhile and still feature fairly high on the popularity charts as far as expat calling is concerned.

Cell phone rental services are available in most countries and are still going strong as an inexpensive option for international calling. These are best suited for expats, who are on long-term assignments to foreign countries or students who have a 1 or 2 year course. This is obvious from the fact that, the longer you rent a cell phone service for, the lesser you tariff rates work out, and who can resist the temptations of a good deal, right? Another advantage with this option is that, country specific rental offers work out perfect for most people who want to call relatives and friends in their own countries alone. This also eliminates any additional costs and hassles that are associated with multi-country SIM cards.

Expat calling cards too are extremely lucrative when it comes to getting value for money services. These come with the additional flexibility of not having to spend valuable cash on fancy rental schemes and handsets. As the popular line goes “Keep it simple, stupid”, calling cards follow this truly universal principle to the T. These cards are very convenient, especially for people on short stints abroad. They are easily available and accessible, and they have ridiculously low tariff-rates. Considering that a majority of the expat community consists of people who have come for small duration projects, which do not extend beyond a few months, prepaid calling cards are the way to go!

So if, you are an expat who has just stepped into an alien land, and feel intimidated; do not fret. Just log on to one of the many websites available and pick out one of these two brilliant and time tested means to get back in touch with that familiar voice back home!

Sometimes the daily grind and stressful lifestyle that we lead in our normal everyday life gets too much for us and we decide it is time to leave the rat race behind and look for pastures new.

Normally we are drawn overseas by a hotter climate, a laid back and calmer way of life and healthier living, but it needs to be practical and affordable for us at the same time.

Do I need a Residence Permit in Canada?, How can I move my dogs to France?, Can I work in New Zealand? These are just a few of the kind of questions you may need the answers to before you decide to take the plunge.

That is why I have made things easier for you and collaborated 10 of the most useful websites that I have come across. They are full of useful and invaluable information to either help you decide where is best for you to relocate or if you already know where you are going why not check these websites out for further information on your chosen country.

Here are the Top Expat Websites (Listed Alphabetically)

Canada Anglo Info

This site is great if your chosen destination is Canada. It is a very fact full website that offers maps and news on Canada. It helps you compile a checklist for relocating. It contains links and contact addresses for all important sources that may help you with your move.

Escape Artist

Many guides to living overseas are on here. As well as the popular destinations to emigrate to, it includes the more unusual ones, which are searchable by region or country. It is jam-packed full of information and contains a lot of referenced material. Escape Artist is updated frequently.

Expat Arrivals

There are expat guides included on various countries. There are Q & A’s, blogs and expert advice. You can join an online community and even buy an e-book. Expat Arrivals offers inside knowledge on your chosen culture and procedures to buy property and land plus much more.

Expat Forum

This site covers many countries. There is an individual forum for each country so you can easily find the relevant information you are looking for. It is updated daily so all information is very much current. There are many members and the forums are large. Lots of great articles to read also.

Expatica
Offers 11 of the popular destinations to relocate to. Expatica gives you the important facts you need to know. From where to live to what the healthcare is like. Also features the latest news on each country and has a forum and discussion board.

Getting Down Under

This website gives you an insight into life in Australia. There are communities to be a part of and blogs to read. It tells you the latest news for living in Australia and gives you great hints and tips for your move. Also has useful sections on visas and working.

Just Landed

This site has an extensive range of countries that you may wish to emigrate to. It is easy to navigate around. Just Landed points you in the right direction with getting visas or researching the culture plus loads more. You can be part of the community for your chosen country and find suitable jobs and somewhere to live.

My UK Move

Contains all information to help you decide if you would like to relocate to the UK and planning your arrival. Gives information on costs of living and a general insight to what it is like to live in the UK. It also gives you advice on settling in and finding your way around.

Spanish Living

There site contains a lot of information about Spain and helping you to relocate there. There are a wide range of varied articles. It gives advice covering all aspects from getting internet and telephone to starting up your own business. The site is easy to find your way around.

Turkish Living Forum
This forum offers extensive information on relocating to Turkey. The members tell you about different areas to live and their experiences good and bad. There are sections to help you with all things associated with moving to and living in Turkey. You can communicate with people living there and no what to expect before you relocate there.

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So you are the one who is living abroad while whole family is living in your country. What is the most problematic situation for you while living abroad? For most of the people, it is to talk back at home because international calls are quite expansive. Although you can take your cell phone with you and activate international roaming but still the charges are unbearable. Hope never ends and necessity is the mother of all inventions. If you will search properly then you will definitely find a better way to make international calls. I would suggest using expat phone cards as they can offer you great value in fewer prices.

There are different expat cards that are available in the market. Either you can buy an expat card from a book store or a post office or any other shop where phone cards are sold or you can buy it online from the internet. Although, expat cards can help you to save a lot of money but still you will like to save more money on these expat cards too. There is a very simple technique that can be used by you. The technique that is described below is a practical technique and you will definitely it useful for you.

We all know about expat calling cards, you can buy them from nearest store or from the internet. If you want to save on expat phone cards then it is better to buy these cards online. There are so many websites that are selling expat phone cards. Usually the cards that you will find on the internet will be cheaper as compared to the cards that are available in your local area market. You can even find a $30 worth expat card in just $25 on the internet. This will feel crazy but there are certain companies that are giving such offers to the customers to attract them.

What do you need more when you are getting a decent offer? This is your chance to save more on expat cards. Keep looking for promotional offers from different expat card companies. Such companies keep introducing new and exciting offers in which they don’t only give away expat cards on a discounted rate but also offer free expat cards. By winning a free expat card, you can save a lot of money and use it at some other productive place.

In the present era of globalization, the rapid economic growth and urbanization has transcended international borders. While on one hand it means that nations across the world are moving towards a better future with more technological developments, on the other hand it brings about a growing exchange of people and cultures around the globe. This exchange only keeps increasing every year, and very soon there will be a community more predominant in each country that would represent a microcosm of the cultures of the entire world: I am talking of course about the community of expats.

While most expats are very happy to immerse themselves in the local way of life by meeting all new kinds of people, some find it more comfortable to continue living their normal, quiet lives, save for the local festive occasions and get-togethers. But almost all expats would readily agree that nothing fills them up with joy more than communicating with their loved ones back home. Getting that one birthday call from your childhood friend across the globe lightens up your day; a student hearing the good luck wishes from his parents back home over the phone on the day of his exams holds his head proud all day; a working professional gets his peace of mind after hearing his wife’s voice 3 continents away over the electronic lines every night before going to sleep. Such is the importance of staying in touch with family and friends back home.

The one stop shop of solutions for converting all this to reality is a calling card. In age of electronics and communication, the expat calling cards have risen to prominence more than ever. With a growing population of expats, there is a correspondingly growing number of ways of communicating with your folks back home. However, it can be very confusing in this day of explosion of technologies to make the optimal choice. Prepaid calling cards, cheap voice calls over the internet, international monthly tariff sim cards, nation specific calling cards are just some of the many available avenues.

Prepaid expat calling cards have been in the market for a while now. They provide a good flexibility in procurement, a hassle free-usage, and a good usability in the short term. However, the tariff might not be as lucrative as in some of the other long-terms options available. A short-term exchange student, a professional in for a small business trip or even a globetrotter might want to go for this fast and easy option.

Monthly tariff systems, on the other hand, can provide better deals with contract handsets (these might well be one of the latest and most awaited gizmos) and a very reasonable international calling tariff with special plans. Expats who are settled abroad for long term assignments would usually prefer this option.

The country specific calling cards also deserve a special mention. These are much better and economical if you are sure to be calling to a particular destination regularly. But there have been known issues with most of these cards, for instance: complicated usage requirements, like 16 digit pin entering every time you make a call, hidden fees, etc.

It is therefore imperative to find out more about the service providers, take feedback from other expats and then decide on the kind of card you want to go for. There are surely many good services out there with ease of use and reachable affordability for all kinds of expats, students or working professionals alike. “Affordable Calling Cards” is currently offering these services to many expats around the world.

A small mention is demanded by VoIP or internet telephony (For eg: Skype, GTalk, etc), a growing space favored by the student expats over the globe. While it makes international calling to mobile phones and fixed lines highly economical, it is severely limited in the quality of the calls by virtue of the data-packet nature of the signals over the internet. However, with better 3G and 4G services being promised in the near future around the world, the international calling space is poised to see a whole lot of competition, followed by reasonable pricing by most players like www.Pingo.com. Surely, the expat community and all our expat friends won’t have any problems with that piece of news, would they?

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.

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

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: Cherrye Moore

Earlier this week I noted some tips and hints for adjusting to life when you are married to a foreigner, and many of my expat friends weighed in with their own experiences. While adjusting to your new life and learning to merge your cultures is always a good thing, getting to that point might not be easy.

No, I’m not talking about falling in love and the inevitable, if only temporary, long-distance relationship, I’m talking about the practical side of marrying someone from another country.

While the rules and regulations vary widely depending on each person’s nationality, where you get married and where you decide to live, the following sites should get you started. Note: I am an American woman married to an Italian man, therefore, most of the following examples are based on my experiences with these countries.

1. Websites

Official (and well-researched unofficial) websites are a prime source of information for people wishing to marry an Italian. Here are few sites you might find helpful.

UK in Italy

US Department of State Naples: Marriage of a US Citizen

Travel.State.Gov: Marriage in Italy

ItaliaAmerica.org: Italian Dual Citizenship

ImmiGroup.com: Marrying and Sponsoring an Italian

2. Forums

While official websites are a great source of logistical information, forums are usually visited by people who’ve been there and offer a great combination of practical know-how and useful tips. Some helpful forums and topics include:

Expat Forum: Marrying an Italian

Expat Forum: Marrying an American

Immigration Boards.com: Marrying an Italian

Expats in Italy: Getting Married Forum

Expats in Italy: Atto Notorio

3. Blogs

While many bloggers visit forums and talk about their experiences marrying a foreigner there, they also write blog posts and articles on their sites. Some particularly helpful expats I’ve come across include:

Ms. Adventures in Italy (My personal go-to expat when I was marrying my own Italian in 2007.)

From Australia to Italy (My Calabria-based counterpart who is chronicling  her marriage to an Italian.)

ReallyRome (A Really great resource on, among other things, marrying an Italian.)

Moving2Italy2 (Extensive resource on moving to Italy, with a section on marrying an Italian.)

It is important to note that each case is unique and there is no one size fits all when it comes to marrying someone from another country. Additionally, laws can change from year to year and Italian consulates, at least in the US, seem to have varying procedures, as well. It is always important to contact your local embassy or consulate before proceeding and get a detailed list of what you need to do before the Big Day. As in most cases when dealing with bureaucratic situations, it is a good idea to allow yourself plenty of time and an even better opportunity for you to practice your patience.

In bocca al lupo!

Do you know any other useful sites, forums or blogs for people wanting to marry a foreigner? If so, please leave them in the comments!

Cherrye Moore is an American freelance writer and Calabria 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: Life 123

By Chantal Panozzo

The Alpabzug in Urnaesch/Photo: Chantal Panozzo

Big bells. Flower headdresses. Men in yellow knickers. What’s not to love? One of my favorite parts of fall in Switzerland is an event known as the Alpabzug. What exactly is that? It’s a big festival that involves dressing up cows and sending them down from the mountains for the winter. There are several of these cow parades going on in Switzerland in September:

Descent of the Alpine cattle in Brigels/Breil

September 11, 2010

Descent of the Alpine sheep in Leukerbad

September 12, 2010

Sichlete Descent of the Alpine Cattle in Bern

September 13, 2010

Descent of the Alpine cattle in Flims (this is a beautiful area of Switzerland and the cows here wear flowers headdresses)

September 18, 2010

Descent of the Alpine cattle and farmer’s market in Urnaesch (this is the traditional cow march with yodeling, alpine cheese, and Appenzeller fashions—i.e. yellow knickers. See One Big Yodel for more information. However, the cows here do not wear flowers, they wear big bells.)

September 18, 2010

Alpine Festival with descent of the Alpine cattle in Charmey

September 25, 2010

Procession of the Alpine cattle in Weggis

September 25, 2010

Procession of the Cows in Crans-Montana

September 25, 2010

Descent of cows from mountain pasture Moiry

September 25, 2010

Don’t forget to bring your camera. And don’t just stand there, why not follow the procession yourself? I did this last year and ended up back at a farmer’s home near Urnaesch where the family yodeled together, like it was just something normal you do. And for them, it was. It was definitely something to see.

What’s your favorite cow parade in Switzerland?

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.