Expat Guides

Top 5 Reasons to Become an Expat in Southeast Asia

Top 5 Reasons to Become an Expat in Southeast Asia The thought of relocating one’s entire life can be quite scary – and believe me, it’s not easy to pack up all your things, and move to a completely unknown place to start a life, for a period of time that’s longer than a holiday! I’ve moved around a lot and let me tell you – it doesn’t get easier. That being said, I wouldn’t give up my ability to ...

Relocating to Singapore

Before Moving to Singapore we recommend you ask your self why? As one of the most modern cities in Asia, Singapore successfully blends Malay, Chinese, Arab, Indian and English cultures and religions. Apart from its excellent  tertiary services, Singapore is renounced as a disciplined city-state. Its strict law  guarantees the discipline of citizens, which make Singapore as the safest city in Asia. Also, Singapore enjoys the weather with sunshine for the whole year. These qualities lift up Singapore as one ...

Visiting Tokyo

RENTLY, I READ AN ARTICLE WHERE ANTHONY BOURDAIN DESCRIBED SOLO TRAVEL IN TOKYO AS “INTIMIDATING” AND “THRILLING.” This man, famous for eating everything under the sun and traveling to at least double the amount of countries I’ve been to, finds Japan’s capital city a challenge—but clearly one worth taking on. I thought about it for a while after I read the article and I have to say that I concur. Rarely have I been so completely lost in a place ...

Moving to South Korea: Meeting people

Moving to South Korea will no doubt be an adventure. It will of course also be a huge challenge moving to a completely foreign country. There will be a lot of practical things to prepare before your move, for example where you’re going to live, where you’ll be working / studying, and making sure you have all the relevant paperwork in place – you can find a wealth of practical advice on these subjects on this site. However, there is ...

How to Rent an Expat Apartment in Seoul

Whether you’re a seasoned expat in Korea or if the thought of moving to this dynamic metropolis is just a thought at this point, finding an apartment to rent in Seoul can seem like a daunting task. While the process of finding a new place to live in such a unique city can be challenging, it’s often quite manageable if you break it down step-by-step and give yourself time to handle the due diligence for each part. In this article, ...

Housing Problems for Expats in Korea

Living in Korea is certainly a unique experience. Despite all of the comforts and conveniences of living a densely populated country with a homogeneous population, punctual mass transportation, advanced technology, and a zeal for fashion, there are some areas that cause confusion for incoming expats. One area that expats frequently have challenges with in Korea is housing. Here, we’ll outline the top three housing-related challenges that expats face and break them down so you can learn to avoid and overcome ...

Beijing Expat Family Interview

Hi Gale, nice to meet you. Could you please first introduce yourself and your family to our readers? Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Gale and my husband Brian works a multinational company here in Beijing. Were from Yorkville, Illionois, which is a southwest suburb of Chicago. We have 2 daughters living in Beijing with us. Shelly is 11 and Amy is 8, they are both at International school. We have a 21-year-old daughter, Toni who lives in the United ...

How to: Travel to China Without a Visa

Thank god for transit visas! If you’ve got a stop over coming up in China, it might be time to postpone your outbound flight for a couple of days. In a bid to boost tourism revenue, China has introduced 72 and 144-hour visa free transit zones in various parts of the country. Here’s your step-by-step guide to getting into the Middle Kingdom, hassle-free and with no strings attached: Am I eligible? If you see your country of nationality in the ...

Expats On Assignment: When Spouses Can’t Adjust

The move to a foreign country is no time for a solo flight. Expats who receive the assistance they need are much more likely to adapt — and succeed — in their foreign assignments. The telephone beside my easy chair rang one dark winter afternoon, and I put my novel aside. The woman at the other end of the line said, “You don’t know me, but . . .” and then she began to sob. “That’s okay, just get your breath,” ...

International SOS for Expats

If you choose an insurer that uses International SOS you will be issued with a Membership Card that bears a very important telephone number – it’s the number of International SOS, their medical assistance partner. International SOS is the world’s largest medical assistance company. They have twenty-nine 24 hour Alarm Centres world-wide and a dedicated fleet of twelve air ambulances which are quite literally intensive care units in the sky carrying everything necessary to cope with a medical emergency. International ...