About lilbuster

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

Kabo, Sangha, Congo

Citizen Of:

United States

Past Expat Posts:

Madagascar

Congo, Democratic Republic of

Egypt

Guatemala

Paraguay

My Website:

http://http://mmd-experiences.blogspot.com

Education:

University of Connecticut
  1979 to 1983

University of Arizona
  1989 to 1992

Some Forum Posts:

Honduras: English teacher needed!:

Hi, I may be interested. How do I apply, and and where may I download a job desc or other documents? Mark

Madagascar: Moving to MAdagascar:

If you are just checking it out, you can get a 30-day, nonrenewable tourist visa at the airport. If you plan to stay, you may want to consider contacting a Madagascar consulate for a renewable visa. There are different types and you can search for this info online to see for which one(s) you qualify. Also, you'll need to know some French (I doubt you know any Malagasy). Don't limit your focus to the capital only. There are coastal cities where there are other expats and industries that might offer both of you opportunities. Consider Tamatave (Toamasina), Diego Suarez (Antsirananana), Mhajunga, and Fort Dauphin, to name a few. Good luck!

Global Expat Forum: Last Will and Testament:

As a US citizen, resident in another country for several years, no property in the US, should I use a US lawyer to draft a will (but which state to use?) or should I use a local lawyer (who may not know about specifics of US inheritance laws)? I'd appreciate any ideas where to start looking. Thanks!

Afghanistan: Worried about moving to Afghanistan:

That depends on a few factors, such as where your partner will be living and working (as the risks vary with the province) and the type of job/organization that s/he will be doing. People who work with NGOs are much less targeted than people working with private contractors and military Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT). A lot may also depend on your partner's social and cross-cultural sensibilities. Sorry if I can't give you a straight yes or no, but that's life in AFG.

Madagascar: 10 Tips for Living in Madagascar:

Tons o' Tips! Get yourself a copy of the book "Where there is no doctor," and use it before you go to a pharmacy. They often don't have the brand name medicine you're looking for, and in rural sites, there is not usually a pharmacist on-site to help identify the "itch." So, if you walk in with the main ingredients written down, they can often help you. Heat rash: Good luck! There is medicated powder available at the pharmacy. Docs in order: Anticipate bureaucratic details and bring as much info and docs as might possibly be necessary to any interview. Don't hesitate to investigate beforehand what they might want, as the Malagasy have started posting lists to facilitate processing. Buy your cellphone here. They are not linked to any contract, and the local services are pretty good. In fact, if you bring an unlocked phone, bring the cable and the software that will enable you to connect with the Internet from your laptop, and you'll be much happier. (I use a Nokia with their PC Suite.) Local rum is good, but don't set your hopes too high for the local whisky. Imported liquors are a bit expensive, but wines from France, South Africa and (!!) Spain are reasonably priced. Bring a lot of patience sprinkled with optimism, because while things don't go very fast here, people are nice about it. (Heck, even people who lie to you or are outright criminal will smile as they do their bit.) And BTW: the definition of a pessimist is an experienced optimist, so, grow with it.

Date Joined:

11/21/2007

Total Posts:

7

Posts/Day:

0.00