Ever wonder what it’s like for British bands or band members that are now expats in the U.S? An article on Telegraph.co.uk highlights a few of these expats, and also examines why it may be that they are able to succeed “across the pond.” It’s interesting to read, especially given that some of the same themes that permeate the journey of most expatriates are also found in the unique experience of high profile musicians.

And for those potential expats that are thinking about taking a teaching position, here is another example of some of the risks involved and the powerless position you can be left in once you arrive in the foreign country.

We’ve long thought that there will be a large number of documentary films that will attempt to capture the essence of the expatriate experience. With the widespread use of video cameras and a larger swath of individuals capable of editing their footage into a story, it just seems inevitable.

With that in mind, we were not surprised to find this article about a British filmmaker in Prague that has released a new documentary that tracks the experience of four expats in that Eastern European city:

ailing from London, Longmire came to Prague in 2001, graduated from the film and TV school FAMU with a diploma in cinema studies, and has spent the past four years shooting footage of various expats for a documentary about the lasting effects of living abroad and the unique characteristics of life in the Golden City.

We’re hopeful that many more will find there way to a theater near you… or at least in your DVD player!

Is there going to be a mass exodus of Brits back to the UK in the months and years ahead? It seems like that may be the case, according to an article in DailyMail.co.uk that highlighted a recent survey by Moneycorp, a foreign exchange company:

Almost 4 million Brits living abroad are planning a mass return to home shores after seeing their savings and income stripped by the plunging values of the pound and their property.

The dramatic slump has slashed their income by a third and has turned Brits into the paupers of Europe.

Fears over job security and falling property prices are also giving expats second thoughts, according to research from foreign exchange specialist Moneycorp.

So while it seems that there is a recovery underway in parts of the world, the impact of the financial crisis is still hitting home hard elsewhere.

A couple of British expats were arrested for allegedly kissing in public in Dubai and now face a trial and jail time, according to this article in Yahoo News!.

The man involved is being vehemently defended by his mother back in Britain:

“My Ayman is a good boy, he’s very wise and mature. I can’t believe it,” his mother Maida Najafi was quoted as saying in The Independent. “He knows the rules over there. He would never do that. He wouldn’t even do it over here.”

According to PerthNow.com.au, Expats in Australia are hopeful that a court decision will release pension funds to them soon:

British expats living in Australia are anxiously awaiting a decision in the European Court of Human Rights tomorrow that could give them an extra $300 million in payments, after the British government froze their pensions.

It’s March 17th, and that means it’s St. Patrick’s Day! Irish expats and those of Irish descent the world over are celebrating one of the merriest holidays in the world:

The traditional feast day of Ireland patron’s saint has become one of the world’s most recognised national holidays and Irish ministers are jetting around the globe to promote trade, tourism and investment.

President Mary McAleese was to review the main parade in Dublin involving 3,000 performers and marching bands from India, the US, Bulgaria, Austria, France, Spain and Britain.

There will be parades in more than 100 other Irish cities and towns. Irish emigrants also use the holiday as an excuse to party in Australia and New Zealand and in countries in Asia, Europe and north and south America.

Irish pubs in cities around the globe will heave to traditional Gaelic craic, or fun.

If you are wondering about the history of St. Patrick’s Day, visit it’s description on Wikipedia to read about it?

An HSBC survey of expatriates shows that Australia is the best country in the world for expat kids. Unfortunately, of those expats that entered the UK, 45% indicated that this move had a negative impact on their children.

Belgians and expats will plant a forest in a day on March 14th, according to UNObserver.com.

Strong aftershocks have rocked the already reeling nation of Chile, according to this article from the AP via Yahoo News!. The larger of the two aftershocks was, at 7.2 on the richter scale, stronger than the earthquake that devastated the island nation of Haiti.

Spanish officials continue to take action against British expats in Andalucia. As reported on Telegraph.co.uk, Chris Bryant, the Foreign Minister for Europe, visited with expatriates in Spain and talked to Spanish officials to address the situation:

“Obviously it’s not for the British Government to tell the Spanish what to do. But I’m pushing the message hard at all government levels that I meet here that they have got to put political willpower into these problems, whether it’s an amnesty, whether it’s a change in the law, whatever the solution is that is needed. That is the point I am pushing.”

As noted by AFP via Yahoo! News, the expats are also getting help in the form of a civil servant appointed by the British government to Andalucia to help with integration into that region.

Canadian expats all over the world are celebrating the gold medal in ice hockey that was snatched out of the hands of the upstart youngsters of the American team who thought they were mounting a historic comeback. Well, as an avid American hockey fan, it pains me to do it, but I have to give props for the Canadian hockey team. I almost wish that the U.S. would have lost in regulation rather than get teased with the near come from behind victory that would have only been bested by the 1980 miracle on ice team. That being said, congrats Canada, and also to the Americans who should feel better about the silver as time goes on.

The earthquake in Chile this weekend was one of several major geological disasters in 2010. Clearly the year will be remembered as one in which there was unimaginable loss of life and enormous financial and infrastructure devastation as a result.

Here are a few articles to consider in relation to the earthquake this weekend in Chile and what has happened since the start of the year:

Following the earthquake, Canadian expats in Chile have yet to contact their loved ones, who are anxiously waiting to hear from them. From Yahoo Canada via Edmonton Sun.

Many might wonder why the earthquake in Haiti was so much more devastating than the one in Chile, even though it was not as powerful an earthquake (according to the Richter Scale). This article from CNN.com explains why.

The earthquakes in Chile and Haiti were the only major ones this year, right? Wrong. This article on SFGate.com describes an alarming trend for earthquakes in 2010.