Living and Working abroad

Okay, let’s get this straight: I’m a car person. I started driving when I was just a wee lass of 15. I’ve always gone everywhere in a car. Having spent a bit of time in California, particularly in the hardcore car culture of Los Angeles, I can definitely say that I often feel as if I’ve had my legs cut off living a car-less life in Britain. It’s not that I’m “green” - rather I’m simply too skint to own a car. (Subliminal message: buy more books buy more books!!!!!!!!!!!!) Which relegates me... Read Full Story

Well, it’s that time of year again when I’m receiving panicked emails from my mother informing me that yet another hurricane is about to hit South Florida. Seems like only yesterday when this end-of-the-world scenario was transpiring, with wild-eyed rabid shoppers climbing all over each other to lay claim to the last torch (flashlight to you Yanks) on the shelf at Home Depot, not to mention queuing up to buy petrol for the family car. I well remember being stranded in Glorious Sunshine Land... Read Full Story

It’s often been suggested to me that I should seek out the office of British Prime Minister. Okay, so maybe it hasn’t been suggested - or not that much anyway. Granted, I don’t have the dark jowly Scottish charm of Gordon Brown (or thankfully the stomach), but what the hey?  I’ve been in England long enough - I’m really more English than American, so why not become Prime Minister? I can’t drink tea without milk, my sense of humour is warped (Papa Lazarou is my idol, Dave), and I’ll take a... Read Full Story

What goes up must come down….or so they say. It’s inevitable…you move to a new city and it happens every time. Finding yourself on that downward slope after the oh-so-fun journey to the summit. It’s here, my friends…The Three Month Mark. I was hoping that it wouldn’t find me this time around. A new country, culture, strange salad bar items, sunrise at 4:30am, need Dryel…no one’s heard of Dryel, American hairdryer shoots out flames, dies, two midget ice cubes per drink (is anyone else... Read Full Story

1. Instant Coffee...is not the best part of waking up. 2. I do not own a microwave...leftover spaghetti re-heated in the oven sort of tastes like chow mein noodles. 3. i do not own a television...who wants to pay a television tax for re-runs of Beauty and the Geek? Really? 4. I do not own a car...Walk up the mountain on foot w/ my staff and flock of sheep. 5. Washer/Dryer combo...= crunchy clothes...I might as well stick them in the oven to dry...like my leftover pasta. 6. Planning... Read Full Story

...minus Mike, Michelle, and little Michael. We are all M's: Mike, Marlene, Mike, Matt, Mark, Monica, and...Mary Beth. ...and, yes, we are all still confused as to why Mike and Marlene thought that was a good idea. This is how we communicate. iChat has made 5,000 miles seem like nothing. I don’t even have to miss out on Sunday dinners…that’s always the together time that I miss most while I’m away. “Want some beanths (beans with a lisp)?” If you want the beans passed at the Koeth... Read Full Story

Do you really understand? Communicating across cultures Imagine a situation. You have just received a memo from your CEO (you work for a huge global organisation). In the memo, the newly appointed CEO states his vision for the company, and the core values he will be implementing as part of his new strategy. The core values are: Freedom, Respect, Integrity. Very simple values and easily understandable. In fact there is little doubt what he is looking for......or is there? Are you really sure... Read Full Story

Have you ever run into a member of the opposite sex (or same sex...don't want to leave anyone out here) that kinda/sorta took your breath away without a single word being…or needing to be…said? I certainly have… I call them Mystery Men. A Mystery Man is someone who is admired from a distance. A woman must keep her mystery man at a distance for fear that the idea of him would be busted if a conversation was actually exchanged. You get to see all of him…thank you Father Jesus…and the rest... Read Full Story

When was the last time you had to deal with a foreign consulate or embassy office? Visaplus Emigration Services staff members deal with officials every day, and are not intimidated or uncertain about any step of the emigration process. When emigrating, forms must be filled out according to precise instructions. If you're not sure how to go about it, or feel overwhelmed by the mass of paperwork, have Visaplus Emigration Services staff help you with the process. Find more information at... Read Full Story

I suppose it's "traditional" to post a New Year welcome message, so I thought I'd start off by looking at where people are moving to. Apart from the traditional "oil" expats in Nigeria, Middle East and Central Asia, we've seen Brazil and Argentina become much more popular destinations for business expats. India and China remain frequent subjects for the training I'm involved in, although the number of actual expats seems to be in decline - more and more companies seem to prefer either... Read Full Story