ExpatExchange Blog

Can there be any doubt that we are living in historic times? The turmoil in the financial markets and the political posturing by both Republicans and Democrats (don’t kid yourself, party loyalists) has transformed an already historic election season to one that will likely be remembered as monumental.

Important Note - Most of the members of the House of Representatives that voted against the bill are involved in close bids for re-election. Read about it in the Wall Street Journal’s article: ‘No’ Votes Came from All Directions

The New York Times has posted an article with some answers to questions that are likely on your mind.

An article in TimesOnline.co.uk reports that Congress scrambles for Wall Street bailout deal as Bush warns of failure

Give your thoughts below in the comments section! What are you hearing from expats and locals about the financial crisis?

The ExpatExchange.com Blog experiment continues! We’re working to expand it, so stay tuned!

Expat Tip of the Day:

“Learning the language (or attempting to do so) shows respect for the culture you are in. It is extremely arrogant to expect all peoples of the world to speak english while not attempting to learn theirs. I have found that if I try (and fail miserably) to communicate in their language, they will respect that I have tried and work just as hard to communicate in whatever language we can find in common.” - Response from ExpatExchange.com’s Expat Life Survey

Expat Slice of Life:

The Expat Slice of Life section is taken from a thread on one of our forums, one of the key components of EE Connect, ExpatExchange.com’s social networking service for expats. Today, we focus on Pregnancy in the U.K.:

Sugarman wrote:

I am relocating to London for 2 years, within which my wife and I are planning to have our second child. Could someone speak to how coverage works in the UK? I expect it is covered by NHS, but wondering if someone could provide any details.

Pallega responded:

We were never quite certain how it all worked out, but we had been told to wait 6 months before registering with our local surgery. Years later we were told that wasn’t the case and, as long as we were paying NHI and with a visa that allowed it, we were eligible from day one. Apparently, there’s a form (or, set of forms) that you can fill out upon arrival to get your NHI number and get your tax stuff off and running. We missed that, but it’s worth looking for in your case.

We had a baby with the NHS and it was an amazing experience for both of us. Pre, during and post care (house visits to check up on you and the baby!) were amazing! Maybe we were lucky, but we heard nothing but good things abour our local trust from others as well. The midwifes are incredible and it’s a shame that profession doesn’t exist in the US as it does in the UK.

Once we thought we were pregnant, it was down to surgery for a blood test, confirmation and then the NHS kicks into high gear. Everything is planned and organized. Just show up and it all works well. At least, that was as easy as it was for us. Never signed anything or gave an extra penny from our pockets. It was a great experience.

As things get going, please come back and ask more questions and we’d be glad to share details.

Good luck!

Out in the Wild Blue Yonder

Our good friend Robin Pascoe from ExpatExpert.com has posted Key Findings of her Family Matters survey.

For those Americans in our audience, if you are still undecided about the candidate you are going to vote for, here is an article about Science and Tech issues from Foxnews.com that might help you at least decide whether or not to vote for Obama or McCain. I always find these to be helpful when they provide a little synopsis about the candidates positions, although as a responsible voter, I should still go out and assess these issues in greater detail. I’d also really like it if Foxnews and other outlets would give more play to the third party candidates!

Here’s an article from Timesonline.co.uk about Bush’s speech at the U.N. today.

The ExpatExchange.com Blog experiment continues! You’ll notice that we will phase different sections in and out based upon how interesting we can make them and how well they are received. Soon we’ll add a comments section, so be on the lookout for that!

Expat Tip of the Day:

“Ensure you ask for a neighborhood or at least town where more expats or school attendees go. The school can tell you where most of the students come from. I have 2 high schoolers so being local to their friends is key!” - Expat in Luxembourg

Expat Slice of Life:

The Expat Slice of Life section is taken from a thread on one of our forums, one of the key components of EE Connect, ExpatExchange.com’s social networking service for expats. Today, we focus on Casablanca, Morrocco:

Member: gds

Morocco is a great place to be an explorer. In my humble opinion, once you get over the initial arrival shock (which everyone is subject to, regardless of your travel experience!), you’ll find that Morocco is a fabulous place to live.

I live here with my wife and two kids and have done so for two and a half years. I live in Casa and there are two ways to live - like the locals do or like the expats do. One is expensive and one isn’t - it’s that simple!

Public transport? I think it’s fine - it’s a system of little red taxis called petit taxis and you can get anywhere within the city for no more than 25 dirhams (about $3). They are a bit rickety and the driving in Casa is hysterical, but it all flows and happens somehow. Parking in the city is a nightmare so we often leave the car at home and take a taxi into town if we need to go. For intercity, the trains are a great option.

Member: pitchinwoo

I won’t have a car, so I’m not so worried about parking. How are the trains in the city center?

Well, I’ll definitely live like a local as even the $3 for a taxi price made me cringe. haha
What the kinds of things that makes it expensive to live as an expat? I live frugally here, so I can travel extensively during summers.

For the teaching question:

For my most positions you need a MA, teaching certification from one of the states, and 5 years experience.

I also happen to have a pretty narrow field that is in more need than basic english (which is what Americans usually get hired for). Are you a teacher now?

So has anyone here moved alone? It seems that everyone has moved as a family and I am moving as a single woman.

Out on the Wild Web Yonder:

Strictly Expat Related

Expats in Canada save the forests?
UAE relaxes norms allowing expats to start own business
Soaring Prices Push Expats Into Suburbs

Financial Crisis

Fed leads global central bank move to pump cash
Yahoo - Markets remain uneasy after central bank moves

That’s All For Now!

Welcome to the inaugural entry of the ExpatExchange.com Blog! We’ve launched just in time to cover some of the most interesting times we are likely to live through. To be sure, many expatriates will be impacted by what is happening in the realms of politics, the financial markets, foreign affairs, and more. Additionally, we will also introduce aspects of culture and art that embrace or embody the international experience. And lastly, we’ll do our best to introduce you to resources useful for expats.

With that in mind, here we go…

We’ll always start with a slice of what is happening on ExpatExchange.com’s forums and in reports submitted by ExpatExchange.com members. This could be as practical as using U.S. appliances in the U.K. or what to bring to the U.A.E., or as simple as someone looking to meets some friends in Belgium.

Some news to know:

Our news highlights will range from world events, politics and the financial side of life to humorous articles and anecdotes. In short, at times we’ll be serious, and at others we’ll poke fun at those that take themselves too seriously.

Financial Meltdown on Wall Street:

The financial markets continue to contend with the firestorm that roiled Wall Street this past weekend. (Actually, who are we kidding… this firestorm was unleashed a long time ago.)

Wall Street Journal - Markets Swing Amid AIG Drama
New York Times - Wall St. Holds Steady; Fed Is Set to Meet on Interest Rates
TimesOnline - Financial disaster to dwarf Lehman looms as AIG takes a pounding
New York Times Blog - New York’s Mayor Bloomberg Compares London’s Situation to New York’s

In the campaign for the U.S. presidency:

MSNBC - Economy roars back to center of the campaign
FoxNews - Chevy Chase Wants Tina Fey to ‘Decimate’ Sarah Palin
FoxNews - Streisand to Perform at Hollywood Fundraiser for Obama

That’s all for now from ExpatExchange.com