It was Father’s Day in Australia this month, so we celebrated with Sunday brunch in Soho, uptown Hong Kong. Don’t let that fool you; I hadn’t exactly planned it around Father’s Day, if you know what I mean! It was a restaurant review and I was technically “working” but hey, a hearty feast of scrambled … Read more
Whether you’re a short-term or a long-term expat, I am sure you’ll agree that getting lots of visits from family and friends is one of the most enjoyable parts of the expat experience. You short-term expats need to see as much of your adopted country as fast as you can, and taking friends and family … Read more
André Le Nôtre is best known as the designer gardener of the Grand Siècle, the 17th century, when he created magnificent gardens for the Sun King, Louis XIV at Versailles. During this time, the arts in general were flourishing: music, visual arts, and spectacular creativity in other media. Born in Paris on March 12, 1613, … Read more
If you’ve ever asked, “What does it all mean?” or “Why are we here?” you’ve asked an existential question. If you’re reading this there’s also a good chance you’re an expat. Existentialist thought shies away from one-size-fits-all solutions and therein lies its appeal to the global nomad who is only too familiar with the complex … Read more
Do As I Say, Not As I Did Against all the conventional wisdom repeated ad nauseum to potential expat real estate buyers, we bought our property on our first trip to Costa Rica. It’s a lengthy story as to how that happened, but not for telling today. Knowing what we know now after having lived … Read more
There are many different exercise classes here in the Algarve including yoga, zumba, and aerobics, so whatever possessed me to join a pilates class? I asked myself as I lay on the beach, covered in sand and frizzling in the midday sun. My friend, who introduced me to the class, was an excellent sales person. … Read more
The new school year begins this week so I thought I would explain a little about the education system in the Dominican Republic. The vast majority of children go to public school, which is free, although there are private colleges and international schools as well, which have fees. The schools are all of a similar … Read more
UNESCO statistics reveal that the US attracts 21% of all students studying abroad. Furthermore, the US saw a 49% increase in foreign students in the decade 2000 to 2010. “The United States is the global hub of higher education,” concludes senior policy analyst Neil Ruiz of the non-profit think tank Brookings Institution. The problem is, … Read more
Although it sits in the heart of Southeast Asia, the city state has a lot in common with the UK which makes it a very easy place to relocate to. It is a former British colony after all. There are four official languages here, of which English is one. The other three are Chinese, Malay … Read more
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of the victory. George S. Patton This month I’ve chalked up three years in the mighty Kong – my third anniversary symbolizing a colorful and (often) crazy journey towards living life as a fully-fledged, ‘fair dinkum’ expat! A friend said to me “You should be … Read more