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| Skyline of La Défense business district in Paris Photo by Rosss |
Showing posts with label guest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guest. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
France: Kiss or Shake Hands?
Monday, November 26, 2012
Life in Panama as an Expat
Today's guest post is from Elizabeth Vance and she talks about what it's really like to live in Panama.
My name is Elizabeth Vance, and I’ve lived in the Republic of Panama now for five years. My family and I relocated here when my company transferred me here, to open their Latin American headquarters office. We live in Panama, which is the only big city in the country (pop. 1.5 million), and my husband and I both work in the city, as well. (Panama City is like New York City – you only refer to it as Panama, Panama and don’t actually use the word ‘city’.)
We are U.S. citizens, and we maintain our citizenship, though we are now working on getting our permanent residency in Panama too. When we originally came to Panama, we thought of this opportunity as an adventure. We thought we’d stay for two to three years. We’ve stayed beyond that partly of the professional success we’ve enjoyed here, and partly because we have grown to love this tiny country.
The professional opportunities we’ve found here are almost unlimited. Because this is a developing nation, many of the industries and services you get accustomed to in the U.S. do not exist yet. Or they are coming, but there’s little competition. That’s the reason Panama has begun to emerge in the minds of so many multinational companies in the past five years – because of that opportunity. And, of course, it’s the gateway for global commerce with the Panama Canal. The Canal is currently undergoing a $5.2 million expansion, which when complete will triple its current capacity. This means even more possibilities exist for commerce and business in the next few years, and beyond.
The photos you’ll find of Panama (the city) show the impressive skyline, and the Canal. Promotional websites laud the international banking system, affordable real estate and flashy hotels. You may recall that a whole season of the popular U.S. TV series Survivor was filmed in Panama in Bocas del Toro, on the Caribbean side, several years ago. Or that the world got a glimpse of Panama in 2002 when she hosted the Miss Universe about ten years ago, showcasing lovely ladies in bikinis on virgin beachfronts.
That’s all well and good, but what’s it like to really live here as an expat? Of course, the answer to that can’t be summed up in one article, but I’ll outline a few things here, which most expats want to know when they’re considering Panama for their new home.
Language
The official language in Panama is Spanish. About 15% of the native population speak English in some way, shape or form. Which means that the rest of the population does not. In Panama (city) and in the touristy areas – the hotels and the touristy restaurants – you’ll find you can get along without any Spanish. But in the rest of your life (if you move to Panama), you’ll find you need it. It’s that simple. (I talk more about this in my book which was recently published on Amazon Kindle, titled The Gringo Guide to Panama: What to Know Before You Go.)
Standard of Living
Real Estate
If you move here from the U.S. or from Europe, or a more developed country, you’ll likely be pretty taken aback at the available real estate. Yes, the photos you will find on websites are lovely and taken from the best angles and so forth. They are promotional, after all. However, the quality of construction in this country is very different from any of those places. The methods of building here can assure that the structural capability may be safe to live in; however, Panama struggles when it comes to sophisticated finishes – both interiors and exteriors. When you find really nice finishes, or nicer construction, you can expect that it will come at a premium, because it’s a limited commodity.
This means two things for expats when they rent or buy a place to live here:
Now, at the same time, where else can you live – in an urban city, in the Tropics – and have a high-rise, spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean? Right. So, there’s a trade-off.
Food and Services
Your food bill will run about the same. That’s because processed foods or anything packaged has to be shipped in – nothing is manufactured in Panama. But, your fresh fruits, vegetables and all kinds of fish and chicken are all grown locally and those will be cheap. We’ve found it balances out, and our grocery bill is about the same as it was in the U.S.
For services, you’re in luck. Labor is cheap in Panama at the moment. Which means you can afford luxuries you couldn’t back home – a full-time maid, a driver, a gardener, weekly massages, $15 haircuts, and so on. This alone makes Panama really attractive for a lot of people, and it’s one of the lifestyle advantages the culture offers.
Safety & Security
Is Panama safe? Yes, it is. It is an adjustment for most expats to see uniformed officers on the street with rifles, bulletproof vests and machine guns, but this is the norm here, and not to be feared. The levels of security are different from other places, but overall, Panama is very safe.
Lifestyle
Most expats that move to Panama find that overall their daily habits are similar to wherever they came from. For those that work, you still get up and go to an office five days a week. But, maybe on the weekends, instead of doing whatever you did at home, you now have access to two oceans within a two-hour drive for relaxation.
Eating out in Panama is less expensive than most cities in the U.S. and in Europe, so that for some, that adds a nice differential. Water is safe to drink from the tap. You’ll shop for your food at a supermarket when you live in the city. The roadway infrastructure as a whole is much more sophisticated than anywhere else in Central America. Most condominium buildings (and many homes) come with swimming pools. Shopping options include the choice of four malls in the city. Much of the day-to-day life is the same as in other places, and these things add up to an attractive offering for many people.
Pace
With the Atlantic Ocean on the north side of the country, Panama has had significant Caribbean influence over the years. The culture shows this. The pace of life is much slower than in developed nations. Processes are slower. Things take longer. This is often a big cultural adjustment for many expats, but with time, they learn to enjoy it.
Is Panama right for you?
There are many, many things to evaluate when you’re evaluating Panama as a potential place to live. It’s an interesting, unique little place, which has a lot to offer, but it’s not for everyone. Much of your success in finding your new life in Panama has to do with managing your expectations about your life here will be.
I cover that topic, as well as the others I’ve touched on here, and many other relevant aspects about the country in my new book, The Gringo Guide to Panama: What to Know Before You Go. Now available on Amazon Kindle, it covers all the nuances of living in Panama that I wish someone had outlined for me, as an expat, before we chose to move here.
My name is Elizabeth Vance, and I’ve lived in the Republic of Panama now for five years. My family and I relocated here when my company transferred me here, to open their Latin American headquarters office. We live in Panama, which is the only big city in the country (pop. 1.5 million), and my husband and I both work in the city, as well. (Panama City is like New York City – you only refer to it as Panama, Panama and don’t actually use the word ‘city’.)
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| Panama City Skyline Photo by Marissa Strniste |
The professional opportunities we’ve found here are almost unlimited. Because this is a developing nation, many of the industries and services you get accustomed to in the U.S. do not exist yet. Or they are coming, but there’s little competition. That’s the reason Panama has begun to emerge in the minds of so many multinational companies in the past five years – because of that opportunity. And, of course, it’s the gateway for global commerce with the Panama Canal. The Canal is currently undergoing a $5.2 million expansion, which when complete will triple its current capacity. This means even more possibilities exist for commerce and business in the next few years, and beyond.
The photos you’ll find of Panama (the city) show the impressive skyline, and the Canal. Promotional websites laud the international banking system, affordable real estate and flashy hotels. You may recall that a whole season of the popular U.S. TV series Survivor was filmed in Panama in Bocas del Toro, on the Caribbean side, several years ago. Or that the world got a glimpse of Panama in 2002 when she hosted the Miss Universe about ten years ago, showcasing lovely ladies in bikinis on virgin beachfronts.
That’s all well and good, but what’s it like to really live here as an expat? Of course, the answer to that can’t be summed up in one article, but I’ll outline a few things here, which most expats want to know when they’re considering Panama for their new home.
Language
The official language in Panama is Spanish. About 15% of the native population speak English in some way, shape or form. Which means that the rest of the population does not. In Panama (city) and in the touristy areas – the hotels and the touristy restaurants – you’ll find you can get along without any Spanish. But in the rest of your life (if you move to Panama), you’ll find you need it. It’s that simple. (I talk more about this in my book which was recently published on Amazon Kindle, titled The Gringo Guide to Panama: What to Know Before You Go.)
Standard of Living
Real Estate
If you move here from the U.S. or from Europe, or a more developed country, you’ll likely be pretty taken aback at the available real estate. Yes, the photos you will find on websites are lovely and taken from the best angles and so forth. They are promotional, after all. However, the quality of construction in this country is very different from any of those places. The methods of building here can assure that the structural capability may be safe to live in; however, Panama struggles when it comes to sophisticated finishes – both interiors and exteriors. When you find really nice finishes, or nicer construction, you can expect that it will come at a premium, because it’s a limited commodity.
This means two things for expats when they rent or buy a place to live here:
- You can definitely find affordable real estate, but it’s important to visit before you purchase. Take time to get every bit of information you can about the developer, the construction of the home or condominium, the neighborhood, the home itself, and the warranty. Look at what the offer is to make sure that what you are getting is worth the price you’ll be asked to pay.
- You can expect that when something is really nice – the price will also be much higher.
Now, at the same time, where else can you live – in an urban city, in the Tropics – and have a high-rise, spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean? Right. So, there’s a trade-off.
Food and Services
Your food bill will run about the same. That’s because processed foods or anything packaged has to be shipped in – nothing is manufactured in Panama. But, your fresh fruits, vegetables and all kinds of fish and chicken are all grown locally and those will be cheap. We’ve found it balances out, and our grocery bill is about the same as it was in the U.S.
For services, you’re in luck. Labor is cheap in Panama at the moment. Which means you can afford luxuries you couldn’t back home – a full-time maid, a driver, a gardener, weekly massages, $15 haircuts, and so on. This alone makes Panama really attractive for a lot of people, and it’s one of the lifestyle advantages the culture offers.
Safety & Security
Is Panama safe? Yes, it is. It is an adjustment for most expats to see uniformed officers on the street with rifles, bulletproof vests and machine guns, but this is the norm here, and not to be feared. The levels of security are different from other places, but overall, Panama is very safe.
Lifestyle
Most expats that move to Panama find that overall their daily habits are similar to wherever they came from. For those that work, you still get up and go to an office five days a week. But, maybe on the weekends, instead of doing whatever you did at home, you now have access to two oceans within a two-hour drive for relaxation.
Eating out in Panama is less expensive than most cities in the U.S. and in Europe, so that for some, that adds a nice differential. Water is safe to drink from the tap. You’ll shop for your food at a supermarket when you live in the city. The roadway infrastructure as a whole is much more sophisticated than anywhere else in Central America. Most condominium buildings (and many homes) come with swimming pools. Shopping options include the choice of four malls in the city. Much of the day-to-day life is the same as in other places, and these things add up to an attractive offering for many people.
Pace
With the Atlantic Ocean on the north side of the country, Panama has had significant Caribbean influence over the years. The culture shows this. The pace of life is much slower than in developed nations. Processes are slower. Things take longer. This is often a big cultural adjustment for many expats, but with time, they learn to enjoy it.
Is Panama right for you?
There are many, many things to evaluate when you’re evaluating Panama as a potential place to live. It’s an interesting, unique little place, which has a lot to offer, but it’s not for everyone. Much of your success in finding your new life in Panama has to do with managing your expectations about your life here will be.
I cover that topic, as well as the others I’ve touched on here, and many other relevant aspects about the country in my new book, The Gringo Guide to Panama: What to Know Before You Go. Now available on Amazon Kindle, it covers all the nuances of living in Panama that I wish someone had outlined for me, as an expat, before we chose to move here.
- www.PanamaGringoGuide.com
- Find The Gringo Guide to Panama and Elizabeth Vance on Google+
- Follow panamagguide on Twitter
Friday, November 16, 2012
Foreign Exchange Considerations Before You Move Abroad
Today's guest post comes courtesy Peter Lavelle at foreign exchange broker Pure FX.
Are you thinking of moving abroad, perhaps to buy a second home? Then among the many considerations to take into account (including the language difference, finding a job and so on) is the business of transferring money abroad.
After all, if you intend to buy a foreign home, you’ll likely be making regular transfers from a domestic bank account to a foreign one. If, on the other hand, you simply intend to move without buying a place, you may want to transfer enough money to see you alright for the first few weeks, until you’re settled in.
Given all that, what should you be thinking about from a foreign exchange perspective?
What service should you use?
Generally speaking, there are three factors to consider when deciding what service to use to transfer your money abroad. These are: the quality of the service, its security credentials, and the exchange rates on offer.
Where your exchange rate is concerned, there are two things you should keep in mind. The first, as I’ve already mentioned, is the rate available from your provider. However, you also need to look at what’s happening on the foreign exchange market itself.
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| Moving abroad is fun, but there are practical matters, too. Photo by Tristan Martin |
After all, if you intend to buy a foreign home, you’ll likely be making regular transfers from a domestic bank account to a foreign one. If, on the other hand, you simply intend to move without buying a place, you may want to transfer enough money to see you alright for the first few weeks, until you’re settled in.
Given all that, what should you be thinking about from a foreign exchange perspective?
What service should you use?
Generally speaking, there are three factors to consider when deciding what service to use to transfer your money abroad. These are: the quality of the service, its security credentials, and the exchange rates on offer.
- Service. When you transfer money abroad, you’ll likely be assigned an individual dealer to help you through the process. Given this, it’s important to ask: are you happy with the person you’re talking to? Does it seem like they know what they’re talking about? If not, you may wish to go elsewhere.
- Security credentials. Is the service licensed and registered to transfer money abroad? In most countries, there’s a government authority responsible for regulating money transfer services. If your service doesn’t belong to and adhere to its legal requirements, you could be putting your money at risk.
- Exchange rates. What exchange rate does your service provide? To make sure it’s the best it can be, it’s worth comparing the rates available from different providers. High street banks, for instance, are notorious for providing rates up to 4.0% worse than those from dedicated dealers.
Where your exchange rate is concerned, there are two things you should keep in mind. The first, as I’ve already mentioned, is the rate available from your provider. However, you also need to look at what’s happening on the foreign exchange market itself.
- Consult Google for the exchange rate. To use Google to find the current exchange rate, just enter the currency codes of the currencies you want to exchange. If that’s US dollars to UK pounds for instance, enter USDGBP. Google will then deliver the latest rate.
- Look as far in advance as you can. Once you’ve decided to move abroad, look at transferring your money at the earliest opportunity. This is because, the more time you give yourself, the more time you have to examine the rates, instead of being stuck with whatever’s available at the last moment.
- Set reasonable expectations. If you’ve not looked at the exchange rates in a long time, chances are they’ve changed a lot. However, instead of waiting for them to change back, look at where they’ve been the last three months, and set your expectations based on that. You’re less likely to be disappointed.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Moving Abroad with Pets
Today's guest post is about bringing your pets abroad. I've briefly touched on this topic in the comments to Why you'll say "no" to living abroad, but mainly focused on a couple of legal issues. Vivienne Egan describes some practical considerations.
Moving abroad and bringing the family pets
If you are considering moving abroad – especially if you are relocating the entire family – one thing you might need to consider is your pets. From the much-loved hound to the moggy that pre-dates the children, these family members will need your special consideration.
Things you’ll need to think about
Have you ever relocated a pet? What tips would you offer?
Vivienne Egan writes for Now Health International
Moving abroad and bringing the family pets
If you are considering moving abroad – especially if you are relocating the entire family – one thing you might need to consider is your pets. From the much-loved hound to the moggy that pre-dates the children, these family members will need your special consideration.
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| Who would want to leave these delightful critters behind? Photo by Scott Granneman |
Things you’ll need to think about
- Are you bringing the pets with you? Moving kids overseas can be a difficult thing to negotiate at the best of times; the news that Fido isn’t coming too might be met with dismay from the other family members
- What’s best for the animal? Consider that elderly pets may not appreciate the long journey and unfamiliar new surroundings or climate
- How long are you going to be away for? If it’s only a year or two, perhaps a trusted family member of friend can care for your pets during that time
- Where are you moving? What are the local laws about bringing pets over borders?
- Should you engage a relocation service? This may be best left to the experts, and pet relocation services will ensure all the right paperwork is complete on time for your flight
- Pets are transported in a secure cargo area in a plane with a ‘sky kennel’. It is dark and temperature controlled area specifically for live animal transport, and they won’t be checked on during that time
- The PETS scheme is designed to stop the spread of rabies and other animals. The UK requires all pets to be transported with registered carriers
- Try and give your pet time to get to know its carrier before the flight
- Putting a familiar smelling blanket or toy in the kennel will help your pet settle for the flight
- Give your pet a light meal before flying and leave time for a toilet stop
- You will have to check that your new home abroad is suitable for animals – are the fences secure? Is there enough room in the backyard?
- Where is the nearest vet and the nearest pet supply store?
- What’s the pet culture in your new location? Attitudes towards pets might be substantially different from what you’re used to at home
Have you ever relocated a pet? What tips would you offer?
Vivienne Egan writes for Now Health International
Monday, August 6, 2012
Irish Citizenship by Descent
Today's guest post comes courtesy of Lucy Faraday, a freelance writer. I've only written one substantial bit about Ireland, regarding year-long student work programs in Ireland, so I'm happy that Lucy provides a nice article about claiming Irish citizenship via ancestry. It's one of the many areas I should write more about.
Ireland: The Easiest Way into the EU
Gaining residency in the EU has great benefits. Under EU rules, anybody with citizenship in one country is allowed to visit, settle and work in other EU countries, without restrictions. This gives an immense amount of freedom as not only can you live and work wherever you want, you can also claim welfare payments, get access to a country’s free healthcare, and even vote. Gaining entry to the EU can be extremely tricky, though, and some countries make the task nearly impossible, even for citizens from America or other developed nations. However, one EU country provides a much easier route than any otherinto the EU: Ireland.
Ireland
While Northern Ireland (a separate country and under UK rule) has suffered its fair share of trouble, Ireland itself has a long, peaceful history. It remained neutral during the world wars, keeps out of global politics, and is one of the most relaxed places to settle. It offers free health care, has no national military service, has a friendly, welcoming population, and allows dual citizenship, so you won’t have to relinquish your original passport and nationality. Cities such as Dublin are cosmopolitan and vibrant, while the countryside around Ireland is some of the prettiest in the world. Recently, Ireland has suffered some economic problems, which may make finding a job a bit tricky, but it also means that it has never been cheaper to move there. Besides, once you have obtained an Irish passport, you do not even have to go to Ireland, as you are permitted to travel by air, Fred Olsen Cruise, express coach or train in order to holiday, live, and work anywhere in the EU.
Irish Descent
It is estimated that nearly 40 million Americans have Irish ancestors. Irish immigrants have made their way to America by their thousands, and this has some distinct advantages for an American looking to gain Irish citizenship. While most countries make provisions for people to claim citizenship if their parents came from the country, Ireland goes several steps further.
Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1956, people born outside Ireland can claim citizenship, not only if their parents were born in Ireland, but also if their grandparent, or in some circumstances, great grandparent was born there. For an American, this means there is a really good chance that one of your grandparents, or great grandparents (of which you have eight), originated from Ireland. Of course, you don’t have to be an American to apply, as anybody with ancestors born in Ireland has the right to claim citizenship.
If you are claiming Irish descent because of your great grandparent’s origins, there are some stipulations. Somebody in your lineage must have already made an application for citizenship since your great grandparents left Ireland. However, even this stipulation has been wavered on more than one occasion, so it may be worth applying even if this is not the case. It is important, though, to remember that since 1922, Northern Ireland has been part of the UK, not Ireland, so if you grandparents or great grandparents came from the Ulster area, you can only claim citizenship if they were born before 1922 (otherwise they are classed as British).
Irish citizenship by descent
Under the Nationality and Citizenship Act, applying to live in Ireland because of descent is a fairly straightforward process. If your parents are Irish, you are automatically entitled to citizenship. However, if you are applying because your grandparents or great grandparents came from Ireland, you have to establish a chain of lineage. This is simpler than it sounds. All you have to do is collect birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates for yourself, your parents, your grandparents, and your great grandparents.
For those descendents who were born, married or died in the United States, these documents are available from the Office of Vital Statistics or Office of Vital Records, in whichever state they resided. For Irish documents, these are available from the Irish General Registry Office. If you do struggle getting hold of the relevant documents, it might be worth hiring a genealogy service who often have access to extensive databases and should be able to track them down for you. All documents need to be originals, not photocopies, and you need to make sure you get the full-length certificates, not the shortened versions.
Applying for citizenship
Once you have established your lineage, you need to request an application form from the nearest Irish embassy or consulate office, or download one from the new Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. Fill in the application and send it off along with your documents. After this, your local embassy or consulate will then contact you and arrange an interview. This is quite informal, and nothing to worry about, although you do have to pay a fee (around $150). During the interview, they will discuss your lineage and ask why you wish to settle in Ireland, so it is worthwhile having a little story about getting back to your roots. After about six weeks, you should hear whether you have been granted citizenship. If you have, the embassy or consulate will send you Irish citizenship papers, which will allow you to then apply for a full Irish passport.
Ireland: The Easiest Way into the EU
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| Church Ruins in Galway, Ireland Photo by jenbaltes |
Ireland
While Northern Ireland (a separate country and under UK rule) has suffered its fair share of trouble, Ireland itself has a long, peaceful history. It remained neutral during the world wars, keeps out of global politics, and is one of the most relaxed places to settle. It offers free health care, has no national military service, has a friendly, welcoming population, and allows dual citizenship, so you won’t have to relinquish your original passport and nationality. Cities such as Dublin are cosmopolitan and vibrant, while the countryside around Ireland is some of the prettiest in the world. Recently, Ireland has suffered some economic problems, which may make finding a job a bit tricky, but it also means that it has never been cheaper to move there. Besides, once you have obtained an Irish passport, you do not even have to go to Ireland, as you are permitted to travel by air, Fred Olsen Cruise, express coach or train in order to holiday, live, and work anywhere in the EU.
Irish Descent
It is estimated that nearly 40 million Americans have Irish ancestors. Irish immigrants have made their way to America by their thousands, and this has some distinct advantages for an American looking to gain Irish citizenship. While most countries make provisions for people to claim citizenship if their parents came from the country, Ireland goes several steps further.
Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1956, people born outside Ireland can claim citizenship, not only if their parents were born in Ireland, but also if their grandparent, or in some circumstances, great grandparent was born there. For an American, this means there is a really good chance that one of your grandparents, or great grandparents (of which you have eight), originated from Ireland. Of course, you don’t have to be an American to apply, as anybody with ancestors born in Ireland has the right to claim citizenship.
If you are claiming Irish descent because of your great grandparent’s origins, there are some stipulations. Somebody in your lineage must have already made an application for citizenship since your great grandparents left Ireland. However, even this stipulation has been wavered on more than one occasion, so it may be worth applying even if this is not the case. It is important, though, to remember that since 1922, Northern Ireland has been part of the UK, not Ireland, so if you grandparents or great grandparents came from the Ulster area, you can only claim citizenship if they were born before 1922 (otherwise they are classed as British).
Irish citizenship by descent
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| Cork, Ireland Photo by Travis Crawford |
For those descendents who were born, married or died in the United States, these documents are available from the Office of Vital Statistics or Office of Vital Records, in whichever state they resided. For Irish documents, these are available from the Irish General Registry Office. If you do struggle getting hold of the relevant documents, it might be worth hiring a genealogy service who often have access to extensive databases and should be able to track them down for you. All documents need to be originals, not photocopies, and you need to make sure you get the full-length certificates, not the shortened versions.
Applying for citizenship
Once you have established your lineage, you need to request an application form from the nearest Irish embassy or consulate office, or download one from the new Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. Fill in the application and send it off along with your documents. After this, your local embassy or consulate will then contact you and arrange an interview. This is quite informal, and nothing to worry about, although you do have to pay a fee (around $150). During the interview, they will discuss your lineage and ask why you wish to settle in Ireland, so it is worthwhile having a little story about getting back to your roots. After about six weeks, you should hear whether you have been granted citizenship. If you have, the embassy or consulate will send you Irish citizenship papers, which will allow you to then apply for a full Irish passport.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Accustomed to life in Denmark
Today's guess post comes from Tess Pajaron, who shares her experience in Denmark. I've written a bit about the Danish Green Card and having been to Copenhagen twice, I can tell you it's lovely. That being said, Tess doesn't touch on the cost of living there, which is quite high.
The photos are from Tess's personal collection and are used with her permission.
ACCUSTOMED TO LIFE IN DENMARK
When I was younger, like many of you, I dreamt of moving overseas one day. I had traveled the world with my family, seen the diversity and fell instantly in love. So to move to a new location where I would be surrounded by new experiences, new cultures, and of course a new language, seemed like nothing but a thrill to me.
My last year of University, I finished out my studies in Marketing and International Business at the Copenhagen Business School. Here, I lived with a host family and found myself a Danish boyfriend which allowed me to become full immersed in the culture of this incredible country. In fact, I loved it so much that I found a job and was hired to do international marketing at a Danish firm specifically to the American market. For just over a total of three years I lived in the capital of this incredible country and found my way in a unique but wonderful culture.
If you have ever dreamt of moving to Scandinavia, there are some important things to know about the country to help you get accustomed to life in Denmark.
Get a Bike
In Denmark, bikes are used far more than cars. In fact, the center of the capital of the country closes down on some days to car traffic and only bikes or pedestrians are allowed. Denmark is also home to the world’s longest walking street. The Danes value the non-motorized modes of transportation and with everything so close by getting around is usually not a problem. Public transportation is also superb in this country so you should have no problem getting to anywhere that is a bit further than a bike ride away.
If you cannot afford a bike at first, city bikes are available for free. Simply find a rack (they’re all over the city) and place your 20 kroner coin in the slot. This will free the bike. Once you have finished riding, return the bike to any location and you will get your 20 kroner coin back. The country values bike riding and has developed wide bike lanes to help people get around in this popular mode of transportation.
Learn the Language
The Danes have admitted that it is often times very difficult for them to make new friends. Because the culture in this small country of only 5 million is so tightly knit, there is somewhat of uneasiness among befriending foreigners. In my experience, this uneasiness was easy to overcome in just a few ways.
Understandably no one wants a foreigner coming in and changing their country to their ideals and ignore the rich history this region has to offer. Their language is very important to them and is closely tied to their culture. If you make no effort to learn the language and expect that just because the vast majority of the country speaks English you won’t have to learn, you are very wrong.
Learning the language shows a respect for the Danish culture and will quickly drop any walls of fear held by Danes allowing you to become closer to them in immerse yourself better in their culture.
For foreigners, a free language course is offered through something called Studieskolen. This is a great place to start and allows you to meet other expats, as well as Danes who have an interest in helping others learn about their great country.
Be aware of potential visa challenges
This country has been said to be one of the hardest to get into in the world, and from my experience that is true.
In the 1970’s, this socialist country opened up their doors and gave anybody who wanted a new home a place to live. This led to many people coming from poorer countries and living off the generosity of the government without integrating into the culture or learning the language – yet another reason why a foreigner learning Danish is so important. This quickly caused the government to close their doors and while they are slowly loosening the reins on who they will allow in, it is not easy.
Hygge
This singular term is the best way for any expat to fully understand the Danish culture. It is a non-translatable word, but most closely it means ‘Cozy’. Danes love their time spent with friends and family. They eat dinner for hours at a time without a rush to the television set (except when there is a big soccer game). They get together and have a ‘hyggeligt’ time together. The sooner any expat fully learns what this feels like, and any Dane will be glad to help with that, the sooner they will feel accustomed to life in Denmark.
Tess Pajaron is part of the team behind Open Colleges. She has traveled to many different countries and loves to explore various cultures and histories. She can be also seen on her social media profile at Google+.
The photos are from Tess's personal collection and are used with her permission.
ACCUSTOMED TO LIFE IN DENMARK
When I was younger, like many of you, I dreamt of moving overseas one day. I had traveled the world with my family, seen the diversity and fell instantly in love. So to move to a new location where I would be surrounded by new experiences, new cultures, and of course a new language, seemed like nothing but a thrill to me.
My last year of University, I finished out my studies in Marketing and International Business at the Copenhagen Business School. Here, I lived with a host family and found myself a Danish boyfriend which allowed me to become full immersed in the culture of this incredible country. In fact, I loved it so much that I found a job and was hired to do international marketing at a Danish firm specifically to the American market. For just over a total of three years I lived in the capital of this incredible country and found my way in a unique but wonderful culture.
If you have ever dreamt of moving to Scandinavia, there are some important things to know about the country to help you get accustomed to life in Denmark.
Get a Bike
In Denmark, bikes are used far more than cars. In fact, the center of the capital of the country closes down on some days to car traffic and only bikes or pedestrians are allowed. Denmark is also home to the world’s longest walking street. The Danes value the non-motorized modes of transportation and with everything so close by getting around is usually not a problem. Public transportation is also superb in this country so you should have no problem getting to anywhere that is a bit further than a bike ride away.If you cannot afford a bike at first, city bikes are available for free. Simply find a rack (they’re all over the city) and place your 20 kroner coin in the slot. This will free the bike. Once you have finished riding, return the bike to any location and you will get your 20 kroner coin back. The country values bike riding and has developed wide bike lanes to help people get around in this popular mode of transportation.
Learn the Language
The Danes have admitted that it is often times very difficult for them to make new friends. Because the culture in this small country of only 5 million is so tightly knit, there is somewhat of uneasiness among befriending foreigners. In my experience, this uneasiness was easy to overcome in just a few ways.
- Learn the language
- Show them you are learning the language
- Use language to get more involved with their culture
Understandably no one wants a foreigner coming in and changing their country to their ideals and ignore the rich history this region has to offer. Their language is very important to them and is closely tied to their culture. If you make no effort to learn the language and expect that just because the vast majority of the country speaks English you won’t have to learn, you are very wrong.
Learning the language shows a respect for the Danish culture and will quickly drop any walls of fear held by Danes allowing you to become closer to them in immerse yourself better in their culture.
For foreigners, a free language course is offered through something called Studieskolen. This is a great place to start and allows you to meet other expats, as well as Danes who have an interest in helping others learn about their great country.
Be aware of potential visa challenges
This country has been said to be one of the hardest to get into in the world, and from my experience that is true.
In the 1970’s, this socialist country opened up their doors and gave anybody who wanted a new home a place to live. This led to many people coming from poorer countries and living off the generosity of the government without integrating into the culture or learning the language – yet another reason why a foreigner learning Danish is so important. This quickly caused the government to close their doors and while they are slowly loosening the reins on who they will allow in, it is not easy.
Hygge
This singular term is the best way for any expat to fully understand the Danish culture. It is a non-translatable word, but most closely it means ‘Cozy’. Danes love their time spent with friends and family. They eat dinner for hours at a time without a rush to the television set (except when there is a big soccer game). They get together and have a ‘hyggeligt’ time together. The sooner any expat fully learns what this feels like, and any Dane will be glad to help with that, the sooner they will feel accustomed to life in Denmark.Tess Pajaron is part of the team behind Open Colleges. She has traveled to many different countries and loves to explore various cultures and histories. She can be also seen on her social media profile at Google+.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
How I Accidentally Ended Up Working Abroad in Northern England
Today's guest post is from Kelly Dunning. She contacted me a while ago about writing one and this sounded like a great way to capture the spirit of adventure that many expats share. If you make up your mind to go, this could be you.
Adventures in Accrington: How I Accidentally Ended Up Working Abroad in Northern England
What do you say when the sexy and confident Englishman that you met only a few months before while travelling New Zealand asks you to come back to the UK and live with him?
If you are me, you say, “why the hell not?” and end up on an unexpected 14 month detour to the small Northern town of Accrington, Lancashire.
In the autumn of 2009 I left my home country of Canada to spend six months working and travelling abroad in New Zealand. I had no idea that it would be nearly two years until I set foot on Canadian soil and that my adventures would take many twists and turns along the way.
The first twist in the story is when I laid eyes on Lee.
I got a job in New Zealand as a tour guide at Napier Prison, which was the oldest prison in the country and a popular tourist attraction on the east coast of the North Island. The site hasn’t been a prison for decades and it now hosts backpackers and offers tours of the historic jail cells.
When I arrived as a young and bewildered traveler one September evening and walked into the staff lounge, Lee was sitting on a table dressed in a prison jumpsuit and covered in ghoulish makeup and fake blood in preparation for a scary night tour event. Despite this somewhat creepy first impression, I was immediately fascinated by his rough Lancashire accent, his irreverent demeanor and his completely disarming confidence.
Over the next month we both started seeking each other out to spend time together, eating at Burger Fuel, swimming at the Ocean Spa and taking walks together in the Botanic Gardens. Then, our travels took us in different directions for six weeks although we kept in contact with one another.
The second twist in the story came in December, when we both ended up in Christchurch at the same time. We both wanted to get jobs and rent an apartment and for a couple of months and decided to share a place to save money, which is how we ended up living together before we were even officially a couple!
After a few months of working, living and partying in Christchurch, Lee had to go back to England. Neither of us had discussed whether our travel romance could turn into a long term thing, but we both knew that we were on to something good. When he suggested that I apply for a working holiday visa to the UK and come with him I knew that if I didn’t, I would have always wondered how it would have turned out.
It turns out that saying “yes” was the best decision that I have ever made. I ended up spending 14 months living in Lee’s hometown of Accrington eating steak and kidney pie, watching football matches and taking care of cute little kids at a daycare (or nursery as they call it over there.) The visa was very easy to obtain and it allowed me to work in England for 12 months. I fell in love with the UK; the history, the culture and the gorgeous architecture and countryside. I made lots of great friends and felt like I was accepted as part of the community.
During our time in England, Lee and I decided that what we really wanted to do was to travel the world together, so I started to build up an income as a freelance writer, a job that I could do from anywhere in the world. It took a lot of hard work, but we soon were able to travel from the money that I could pull in while working on the road. We cut down our possessions to only what we could carry on our backs and we set out for adventure.
Since then, we have relaxed in the Algarve region of Portugal, stuffed ourselves with pasta in Rome, backpacked our way across Canada, survived a winter in Newfoundland, stayed with a New Yorker in Brooklyn, visited Lee’s brother in Virginia, listened to Jazz in New Orleans, and toured the monuments in Washington. As I write this, we are in Bangkok, Thailand on a new quest to see the wonders of Southeast Asia.
My experience taught me to be open to what life throws at you. I could have said “No” when Lee asked me if I wanted to apply for a working holiday visa and come back with him to England. It was a risk and there were many ways that it could have gone wrong. However, it was worth taking the risk because everything worked out even better than I could have imagined. Not only did I have a wonderful experience working abroad in the UK, now we are fulfilling our dreams of traveling the world!
Living and working abroad involves taking a lot of risks and requires you to leave the familiar behind and leap towards new possibilities. When you go abroad, don’t be afraid to let your heart make a few important decisions as you just might love where it leads you.
Author Bio
Kelly Dunning is a writer for Global Visas, the world’s leading authority on immigration and your best source for UK working holiday visas. She is also a coffee-lover, very bad singer and international pub quiz winner. She wrote this guest post from an open air café in the heart of bustling Bangkok with the buzz of tuk-tuk engines and the smell of frying noodles in the air.
Adventures in Accrington: How I Accidentally Ended Up Working Abroad in Northern England
What do you say when the sexy and confident Englishman that you met only a few months before while travelling New Zealand asks you to come back to the UK and live with him?
 |
| Kelly and Lee on a Jeep safari in Portugal |
In the autumn of 2009 I left my home country of Canada to spend six months working and travelling abroad in New Zealand. I had no idea that it would be nearly two years until I set foot on Canadian soil and that my adventures would take many twists and turns along the way.
The first twist in the story is when I laid eyes on Lee.
I got a job in New Zealand as a tour guide at Napier Prison, which was the oldest prison in the country and a popular tourist attraction on the east coast of the North Island. The site hasn’t been a prison for decades and it now hosts backpackers and offers tours of the historic jail cells.
When I arrived as a young and bewildered traveler one September evening and walked into the staff lounge, Lee was sitting on a table dressed in a prison jumpsuit and covered in ghoulish makeup and fake blood in preparation for a scary night tour event. Despite this somewhat creepy first impression, I was immediately fascinated by his rough Lancashire accent, his irreverent demeanor and his completely disarming confidence.
Over the next month we both started seeking each other out to spend time together, eating at Burger Fuel, swimming at the Ocean Spa and taking walks together in the Botanic Gardens. Then, our travels took us in different directions for six weeks although we kept in contact with one another.
 |
| Kelly and Lee hiking in Alberta, Canada |
After a few months of working, living and partying in Christchurch, Lee had to go back to England. Neither of us had discussed whether our travel romance could turn into a long term thing, but we both knew that we were on to something good. When he suggested that I apply for a working holiday visa to the UK and come with him I knew that if I didn’t, I would have always wondered how it would have turned out.
It turns out that saying “yes” was the best decision that I have ever made. I ended up spending 14 months living in Lee’s hometown of Accrington eating steak and kidney pie, watching football matches and taking care of cute little kids at a daycare (or nursery as they call it over there.) The visa was very easy to obtain and it allowed me to work in England for 12 months. I fell in love with the UK; the history, the culture and the gorgeous architecture and countryside. I made lots of great friends and felt like I was accepted as part of the community.
During our time in England, Lee and I decided that what we really wanted to do was to travel the world together, so I started to build up an income as a freelance writer, a job that I could do from anywhere in the world. It took a lot of hard work, but we soon were able to travel from the money that I could pull in while working on the road. We cut down our possessions to only what we could carry on our backs and we set out for adventure.
Since then, we have relaxed in the Algarve region of Portugal, stuffed ourselves with pasta in Rome, backpacked our way across Canada, survived a winter in Newfoundland, stayed with a New Yorker in Brooklyn, visited Lee’s brother in Virginia, listened to Jazz in New Orleans, and toured the monuments in Washington. As I write this, we are in Bangkok, Thailand on a new quest to see the wonders of Southeast Asia.
My experience taught me to be open to what life throws at you. I could have said “No” when Lee asked me if I wanted to apply for a working holiday visa and come back with him to England. It was a risk and there were many ways that it could have gone wrong. However, it was worth taking the risk because everything worked out even better than I could have imagined. Not only did I have a wonderful experience working abroad in the UK, now we are fulfilling our dreams of traveling the world!
Living and working abroad involves taking a lot of risks and requires you to leave the familiar behind and leap towards new possibilities. When you go abroad, don’t be afraid to let your heart make a few important decisions as you just might love where it leads you.
Author Bio
Kelly Dunning is a writer for Global Visas, the world’s leading authority on immigration and your best source for UK working holiday visas. She is also a coffee-lover, very bad singer and international pub quiz winner. She wrote this guest post from an open air café in the heart of bustling Bangkok with the buzz of tuk-tuk engines and the smell of frying noodles in the air.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Singapore: The Perfect Place To Work And Start Your Business
Recently I was contacted by a Singaporean company, One Visa, asking if they could provide me with a guest blog post about Singapore. When this happens I usually tell the company that I'll consider it, but the content should not sound too corporate and it must actually be useful for someone wanting to live and work in another country. I have previously rejected other guest blog posts for not meeting these guidelines. I have not asked for or received compensation for this guest post.
Singapore is popularly known as "The Lion City" is a beautiful country, with excellent geographical features and an urban population. With about half of the country covered with greenery, Singapore is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Asia. The exceptionally attractive geographical features of Singapore make it an ideal place to retire to.
Often we come across people migrating from competent and highly developed economies like the United States, migrating to Singapore. This fact makes one wonder why people prefer Singapore to work and live. Following reasons explain why people prefer Singapore for work and business:
Best Country To Run A Business
Singapore topped the ranking on 'Ease Of Doing Business' for the sixth consecutive year. The beautiful Singapore is one of the best places for running your business easily and effectively. You can convert your dreams into reality. It takes relatively lesser time and capital to set up a company in Singapore. Besides, Singapore enjoys growing economy and best industrial statistics in the world. That is why it is also known as the 'Best Labour Force in the World'.
Another key point that makes Singapore a favorite choice for doing business is an outstanding tax system. The Singapore Government has one of the lowest Goods and Services Tax rate of 7%. There are no capital gains taxes in Singapore, and hence it remains to be the best choice for entrepreneurs.
Ease Of Communicating
One of the most important factors that make Singapore an ideal place for working is the ease of communication. English is the official language of Singapore, and you can easily communicate with the people there.
Ease of communication is an imperative factor for working, as it helps you express yourself and understand people in a new place. Therefore it’s not difficult to mingle with people in Singapore and establish contacts. Most people find it easy to adjust in Singapore, because of this very reason.
Flexible Immigration Policies
Singapore has an open immigration policy, which allows entrepreneurs to easily relocate to Singapore and set up their businesses. For those looking to work in Singapore at the earliest, obtaining a Singapore Work Visa is easy. If you are talented and got the right credentials, you can easily pass the eligibility conditions of immigration and get a Singapore Work Visa.
People who are considering settling permanently in Singapore need to get Permanent Resident Status in Singapore.
Political Stability And Low Crime Rate
One of the major reasons that attract more foreign professionals to Singapore is the safety and low crime rate. The political stability is another privileged professionals working at Singapore enjoy. This highly prized stability gives Singapore the title –‘The Switzerland of Asia’. There are fewer incidents of crime in Singapore making you feel safe while enjoying a enjoying a quality life.
Singapore is the perfect place to head to, for a safe and secure future. It is situated at an ideal location, where expanding business is easy. You can enjoy good public and private transportation, along with an excellent support system for businesses. Other desirable aspects of working and staying at Singapore are good schools, easy access to neighboring countries along with a safe and healthy living environment.
Author Bio:
Priyanka Iyer is a content writer who likes reading and writing about travel and technology. She is a student of Statistics who loves to learn new languages and read about the different career prospects in different countries. She is currently writing about Singapore Work Visa, healthy lifestyles and business relocation.
Singapore is popularly known as "The Lion City" is a beautiful country, with excellent geographical features and an urban population. With about half of the country covered with greenery, Singapore is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in Asia. The exceptionally attractive geographical features of Singapore make it an ideal place to retire to.
Often we come across people migrating from competent and highly developed economies like the United States, migrating to Singapore. This fact makes one wonder why people prefer Singapore to work and live. Following reasons explain why people prefer Singapore for work and business:
Best Country To Run A Business
Singapore topped the ranking on 'Ease Of Doing Business' for the sixth consecutive year. The beautiful Singapore is one of the best places for running your business easily and effectively. You can convert your dreams into reality. It takes relatively lesser time and capital to set up a company in Singapore. Besides, Singapore enjoys growing economy and best industrial statistics in the world. That is why it is also known as the 'Best Labour Force in the World'.
Another key point that makes Singapore a favorite choice for doing business is an outstanding tax system. The Singapore Government has one of the lowest Goods and Services Tax rate of 7%. There are no capital gains taxes in Singapore, and hence it remains to be the best choice for entrepreneurs.
Ease Of Communicating
One of the most important factors that make Singapore an ideal place for working is the ease of communication. English is the official language of Singapore, and you can easily communicate with the people there.
Ease of communication is an imperative factor for working, as it helps you express yourself and understand people in a new place. Therefore it’s not difficult to mingle with people in Singapore and establish contacts. Most people find it easy to adjust in Singapore, because of this very reason.
Flexible Immigration Policies
Political Stability And Low Crime Rate
One of the major reasons that attract more foreign professionals to Singapore is the safety and low crime rate. The political stability is another privileged professionals working at Singapore enjoy. This highly prized stability gives Singapore the title –‘The Switzerland of Asia’. There are fewer incidents of crime in Singapore making you feel safe while enjoying a enjoying a quality life.
Singapore is the perfect place to head to, for a safe and secure future. It is situated at an ideal location, where expanding business is easy. You can enjoy good public and private transportation, along with an excellent support system for businesses. Other desirable aspects of working and staying at Singapore are good schools, easy access to neighboring countries along with a safe and healthy living environment.
Author Bio:
Priyanka Iyer is a content writer who likes reading and writing about travel and technology. She is a student of Statistics who loves to learn new languages and read about the different career prospects in different countries. She is currently writing about Singapore Work Visa, healthy lifestyles and business relocation.
Friday, June 8, 2012
A Social Networking Site for Expats
I've received a press release and yes I'm posting it, but it's useful enough for those reading this blog that you might find it interesting. Note that I'm doing this because I think it's useful. I was not offered money, nor did I ask any.
IslandX is a "Facebook for expats" and would-be expats (though I'm don't know that they would like this comparison). There are actually quite a few Web sites out there for expats but most of those are little more than discussion forums.
I think you'll find IslandX has some rough edges (hey, they're brand new!), but I love its focus.
If you sign up for a free account, add me as a friend and I'll add you back.
And while we're at it, you should follow me on Twitter, too.
Social networking site IslandX.com launches today to help you study, work or live abroad
IslandX,
a new social networking site for people who want to study, work or
live abroad, launches today, connecting the millions of people across
the world that migrate each year. The free site is a
one-stop-relocation-shop, with up-to-date knowledge on your
destination provided by an extensive network of international
members, making your move as easy and informed as possible.
Over ten million people migrate each year, and the International Office for Migration (IOM) estimate this will reach 400 million living outside their country of origin by 2050. At present, the internet is home to a confusing array of information sites, blogs, communities and guides about international living. The need to join this altogether and provide an easily accessible relocation resource is what led the founder, Marius Hjelset, to set up IslandX.
Marius said, “International migration is a hugely significant social phenomenon and a reality of globalisation. Migration has increased by nearly 38 per cent globally over the last 20 years, and this trend is set to continue. Our network will help the millions of people who want to take their first steps towards an international lifestyle”.
He continues: “Social networks have a role to play in helping people make informed life choices, and we want to provide a platform to address the current online relocation confusion. IslandX can help you find relevant, well-qualified information on places you want to move to while connecting you with international people in the process”.
The reasons for the dramatic increase in migration are complex, but strong drivers include demographic changes resulting in imbalances of labour supply and demand around the world, and the cyclical nature of the global economy. This combined with inexpensive international travel has fuelled the increase.
Based in London and with connections across the world, an international team runs IslandX; they know a lot about living abroad, having each moved across many continents for study and work. In addition, the relocation website’s beta test has already attracted a global audience, with members spanning all seven continents, and ambassadors in key cities across the world: London, Toronto, Cape Town, Boston, Sydney, Istanbul and Berlin.
IslandX is a "Facebook for expats" and would-be expats (though I'm don't know that they would like this comparison). There are actually quite a few Web sites out there for expats but most of those are little more than discussion forums.
I think you'll find IslandX has some rough edges (hey, they're brand new!), but I love its focus.
If you sign up for a free account, add me as a friend and I'll add you back.
And while we're at it, you should follow me on Twitter, too.
Social networking site IslandX.com launches today to help you study, work or live abroad
IslandX,
a new social networking site for people who want to study, work or
live abroad, launches today, connecting the millions of people across
the world that migrate each year. The free site is a
one-stop-relocation-shop, with up-to-date knowledge on your
destination provided by an extensive network of international
members, making your move as easy and informed as possible.
Over ten million people migrate each year, and the International Office for Migration (IOM) estimate this will reach 400 million living outside their country of origin by 2050. At present, the internet is home to a confusing array of information sites, blogs, communities and guides about international living. The need to join this altogether and provide an easily accessible relocation resource is what led the founder, Marius Hjelset, to set up IslandX.
Marius said, “International migration is a hugely significant social phenomenon and a reality of globalisation. Migration has increased by nearly 38 per cent globally over the last 20 years, and this trend is set to continue. Our network will help the millions of people who want to take their first steps towards an international lifestyle”.
He continues: “Social networks have a role to play in helping people make informed life choices, and we want to provide a platform to address the current online relocation confusion. IslandX can help you find relevant, well-qualified information on places you want to move to while connecting you with international people in the process”.
The reasons for the dramatic increase in migration are complex, but strong drivers include demographic changes resulting in imbalances of labour supply and demand around the world, and the cyclical nature of the global economy. This combined with inexpensive international travel has fuelled the increase.
Based in London and with connections across the world, an international team runs IslandX; they know a lot about living abroad, having each moved across many continents for study and work. In addition, the relocation website’s beta test has already attracted a global audience, with members spanning all seven continents, and ambassadors in key cities across the world: London, Toronto, Cape Town, Boston, Sydney, Istanbul and Berlin.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Getting a university job in Korea
Today's guest blog post comes from Sharon de Hinojosa, the author of the excellent tefl-tips.com. She is an Assistant Professor at the Sungkyunkwan University, Sungkyun Language Institute, in Korea. She gives you the ins-and-outs of getting a job teaching English at a Korean university.
I work at one of the top five universities in Korea and I got the job while overseas, something most people said was impossible to do. I’ve been teaching English for 9 years now, and 6 of those have been at universities. I’m not yet 30 either. University jobs in Korea aren’t what they used to be. Granted most jobs in Korea aren’t what they used to be. The golden days are gone. Most of my friends have been in Korea for over a decade and they say that if you take the cost of living into account and inflation, they make less now than they did when they first came here.
That being said, if you’re looking to teach English, Korea is one of the best places to save. The cushy university jobs offer months of paid vacation. I get 5 months. If I teach classes at my university during the break, I can double my salary. Not bad.
So are you interested in teaching at a university in Korea yet? If so, then read on.
There are two different basic types of university jobs: unigwon and regular university jobs. Unigwons, named for university and hagwon, usually have you teach some kids’ classes. Regular university jobs will have you teaching adults; university students usually between 18 and 24 years old. Regular university jobs can further be divided into two categories: teaching credit courses and teaching non-credit courses. Credit courses often pay more and are regular subjects that are taught in English, such as Science, Business, Writing, Presentation, Literature, and so on. Non-credit courses usually pay less and are usually the 4 skills or conversation classes.
So now I bet you’re thinking, sounds great, sign me up. Now just hang on a second, let’s see if you’re qualified. If you’re going to teach classes in English, you have to have a passport (and they usually require most of your education to have taken place using English) from an English speaking country and those are Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and the US. French Canadians might have difficulties, every university is different. Next you’re going to need a bachelor degree and that also has to be from an English speaking country.
Those are the basic qualifications. If you get an E2 visa, which is an English teacher visa, you’re also going to have to have a current, clean federal background check. Even though you’ll be teaching at a university, most employers will get you an E2 visa rather than the coveted E1 professor visa. For the E1, you’re going to have to have proof of two years teaching experience.
The more qualified you are, the better. If you’ve been to conferences, given workshops, been published, done a masters degree, completed a TEFL course (with at least 120 hours and 6 of teaching practice), written a thesis, then great. Keep in mind that more and more universities are asking for masters degrees and at least two years university experience. With Korea being flooded by English speakers who can’t get work back home, universities can afford to be picky. I’ve seen licensed teachers and people with PhDs working alongside with fresh off the boat graduates and they’re all working at public schools making about the same.
The main hiring season starts October 1st for a March 1st job. The academic year begins on March 1st here in Korea. The other hiring season is in the spring for a September 1st start. Right before the semester starts is another good time to look for jobs because some teachers decide to accept jobs elsewhere at the last minute. This means the university has to scramble to find a replacement. If you haven’t already scanned all your docs, then you should do that. Employers commonly ask for your CV (with photo), cover letter, degree, transcripts, certificates, passport, and reference letters.
Some university jobs are extremely competitive. Those in Seoul are usually more difficult to get than those outside of Seoul. That being said, some universities have two campuses and often pay up to 500,000 won a month (currently $435 US) extra for the teachers who are at the campus that is NOT in Seoul. Cost of living is lower outside of Seoul as well. Korea University, Hongik, and Yonsei university which are part of the SKY universities have campuses outside of Seoul. The SKY (Seoul National, Korea, Yonsei) universities, KAIST, Ewha, Hongik, and Sookmyung are pretty competitive positions, so if you’ve never taught in the Korean university system before it might be difficult to land a job there. However, you’ll never know unless you try.
Age and being outside of Korea will work against you. Most universities have a cutoff age of 50 or 55. Mine won’t hire teachers over the age of 45. If you can’t interview in country, some places won’t consider you. Some may do a Skype interview.
Some universities have a cap for how long you can teach there. Most are capped at 5 years because that’s when the pension contribution for employers goes up, though some are capped at 2 or 4 years.
Salaries vary as do hours. I’ve seen universities pay as little as 1.8 mil won ($1,566US) for 20 hours a week and up to 3.7 mil won ($3,219US) for 12 hours a week. Overtime is also nice and can vary between 20,000 won up to 50,000. I’ve taught a class that even paid 100,000. The great thing about universities is that you can get extra work at the university legally. From teaching other classes, to proofreading, editing, writing books, tutoring professors, teaching camps, or even voiceovers, there are lots of chances to pick up extra hours.
My contract calls for 15 class hours, which is 5 classes, and everything over that is overtime. I usually teach 8 classes and of those all are credit classes except one. Six classes meet twice a week and I teach the same lesson to each class, meaning I only have to prep two lessons a week. One class is a conversation class that meets four times a week and one class is a culture class that meets once a week. I’ve created the curriculum for the conversation class and culture class and have applied to teach a current events class next year as well. We have to keep 3 office hours a week, but that’s not too hard.
One thing that has to be said about university jobs is that admin is often hands-off in the sense that you are expected to be an experienced teacher and should know what you’re doing. So they’ll give you the book and tell you how many essays, papers, quizzes, and exams there should be and you’re expected to create a syllabus as well as the topics for the essays and papers and write the quizzes and finals.
As with any job in a foreign country, there are going to be cultural clashes. Keep in mind that losing face is a big deal in Korea, so it’s best to smile and nod, keep your head down, and do your own thing.
If you’re looking to get into the university system in Korea it’s usually difficult to land a plum job outright. What many teachers do is accept any university job, stay for a year or two, and then apply to better universities. Once you’re in the university system, you’re golden. Some teachers aim for the prestigious famous universities, others want few hours, or a high salary, or lots of vacation, or all of the above. Some of the best university jobs are at universities that few have heard of and that’s probably the reason why the job is so good.
Most universities advertise at eslcafe.com and it might also be worth checking out The Chronicle, tesol.org, and HigherEdJobs. There are still a couple months left during the main hiring season, so get your docs together and start applying.
 |
| Changdeokgung Photo by Carey Ciuro |
That being said, if you’re looking to teach English, Korea is one of the best places to save. The cushy university jobs offer months of paid vacation. I get 5 months. If I teach classes at my university during the break, I can double my salary. Not bad.
So are you interested in teaching at a university in Korea yet? If so, then read on.
There are two different basic types of university jobs: unigwon and regular university jobs. Unigwons, named for university and hagwon, usually have you teach some kids’ classes. Regular university jobs will have you teaching adults; university students usually between 18 and 24 years old. Regular university jobs can further be divided into two categories: teaching credit courses and teaching non-credit courses. Credit courses often pay more and are regular subjects that are taught in English, such as Science, Business, Writing, Presentation, Literature, and so on. Non-credit courses usually pay less and are usually the 4 skills or conversation classes.
So now I bet you’re thinking, sounds great, sign me up. Now just hang on a second, let’s see if you’re qualified. If you’re going to teach classes in English, you have to have a passport (and they usually require most of your education to have taken place using English) from an English speaking country and those are Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, and the US. French Canadians might have difficulties, every university is different. Next you’re going to need a bachelor degree and that also has to be from an English speaking country.
Those are the basic qualifications. If you get an E2 visa, which is an English teacher visa, you’re also going to have to have a current, clean federal background check. Even though you’ll be teaching at a university, most employers will get you an E2 visa rather than the coveted E1 professor visa. For the E1, you’re going to have to have proof of two years teaching experience.
The more qualified you are, the better. If you’ve been to conferences, given workshops, been published, done a masters degree, completed a TEFL course (with at least 120 hours and 6 of teaching practice), written a thesis, then great. Keep in mind that more and more universities are asking for masters degrees and at least two years university experience. With Korea being flooded by English speakers who can’t get work back home, universities can afford to be picky. I’ve seen licensed teachers and people with PhDs working alongside with fresh off the boat graduates and they’re all working at public schools making about the same.
The main hiring season starts October 1st for a March 1st job. The academic year begins on March 1st here in Korea. The other hiring season is in the spring for a September 1st start. Right before the semester starts is another good time to look for jobs because some teachers decide to accept jobs elsewhere at the last minute. This means the university has to scramble to find a replacement. If you haven’t already scanned all your docs, then you should do that. Employers commonly ask for your CV (with photo), cover letter, degree, transcripts, certificates, passport, and reference letters.
Some university jobs are extremely competitive. Those in Seoul are usually more difficult to get than those outside of Seoul. That being said, some universities have two campuses and often pay up to 500,000 won a month (currently $435 US) extra for the teachers who are at the campus that is NOT in Seoul. Cost of living is lower outside of Seoul as well. Korea University, Hongik, and Yonsei university which are part of the SKY universities have campuses outside of Seoul. The SKY (Seoul National, Korea, Yonsei) universities, KAIST, Ewha, Hongik, and Sookmyung are pretty competitive positions, so if you’ve never taught in the Korean university system before it might be difficult to land a job there. However, you’ll never know unless you try.
Age and being outside of Korea will work against you. Most universities have a cutoff age of 50 or 55. Mine won’t hire teachers over the age of 45. If you can’t interview in country, some places won’t consider you. Some may do a Skype interview.
Some universities have a cap for how long you can teach there. Most are capped at 5 years because that’s when the pension contribution for employers goes up, though some are capped at 2 or 4 years.
Salaries vary as do hours. I’ve seen universities pay as little as 1.8 mil won ($1,566US) for 20 hours a week and up to 3.7 mil won ($3,219US) for 12 hours a week. Overtime is also nice and can vary between 20,000 won up to 50,000. I’ve taught a class that even paid 100,000. The great thing about universities is that you can get extra work at the university legally. From teaching other classes, to proofreading, editing, writing books, tutoring professors, teaching camps, or even voiceovers, there are lots of chances to pick up extra hours.
My contract calls for 15 class hours, which is 5 classes, and everything over that is overtime. I usually teach 8 classes and of those all are credit classes except one. Six classes meet twice a week and I teach the same lesson to each class, meaning I only have to prep two lessons a week. One class is a conversation class that meets four times a week and one class is a culture class that meets once a week. I’ve created the curriculum for the conversation class and culture class and have applied to teach a current events class next year as well. We have to keep 3 office hours a week, but that’s not too hard.
One thing that has to be said about university jobs is that admin is often hands-off in the sense that you are expected to be an experienced teacher and should know what you’re doing. So they’ll give you the book and tell you how many essays, papers, quizzes, and exams there should be and you’re expected to create a syllabus as well as the topics for the essays and papers and write the quizzes and finals.
As with any job in a foreign country, there are going to be cultural clashes. Keep in mind that losing face is a big deal in Korea, so it’s best to smile and nod, keep your head down, and do your own thing.
If you’re looking to get into the university system in Korea it’s usually difficult to land a plum job outright. What many teachers do is accept any university job, stay for a year or two, and then apply to better universities. Once you’re in the university system, you’re golden. Some teachers aim for the prestigious famous universities, others want few hours, or a high salary, or lots of vacation, or all of the above. Some of the best university jobs are at universities that few have heard of and that’s probably the reason why the job is so good.
Most universities advertise at eslcafe.com and it might also be worth checking out The Chronicle, tesol.org, and HigherEdJobs. There are still a couple months left during the main hiring season, so get your docs together and start applying.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Singapore: the "soft landing" in Asia
Because my employer imports workers from all over the world, I sometimes bug them to find out if they're willing to write a guest post for this blog. I finally found a sucker contributor, Iftekharul "Ifty" Haque, one of my recent colleagues who's traveled the world and found himself in Amsterdam. He provides us with a first-hand account of Singapore. (Here's my photo collection for Singapore)
Singapore is Asia's "soft landing." It's in Asia, but it's very orderly. There are no cows in the street, public services are reliable, the bureaucracy is razor-thin, the economy is massively liberalized, corruption is virtually unheard of, and it's more English-friendly than many cosmopolitan European cities.
Coming into prominence as a British colony and entrepot, it is a historical rarity as a country thrust into independence against its will. In 1965, secession was forced upon it by greater Malaysia, and its relations with its neighbors remain prickly to this day.
Public services are top-notch, and match or beat any modern city's. By 2020, Singapore plans to have as many kilometers of metro rail as the London Underground, and expansion plans are aggressive. Chronically short of water, it has inherited some fresh water reservoirs from the British era that it has maintained, but it has also begun a project to make a fresh water reservoir out of what used to be a salt-water bay in what is called the Marina Barrage.
The average Singaporean worker is many times more productive (as calculated by per-capita GDP) than any of its neighbors in South-East Asia. An intensely hard-working, Confucianist ethic is pervasive in the island-state, with extremely low unemployment. It is a regional financial hub, as well as one of the world's leaders in offshore oil technology, and after New York and London, is one of the main centers for the trade of oil futures.
Housing in Singapore is extremely expensive, ranked as one of the most expensive cities to live in the world. Despite this, food and beverage are extremely competitive, to the point where most average Singaporeans rarely cook meals at home, and take to eating out in the many food courts dotted in all residential and commercial neighborhoods in the city. In Singapore, you are never far away from a food court (locally called "hawker centers") anywhere in the city, and at any time of day. Prepare to forget cooking.
Singapore has a very liberal foreign labor policy. Foreigners with an appropriate skillset and a job offer promptly receive their paperwork in good order. Companies rarely discriminate on the basis of nationality, although the recent financial crisis in 2008 hit Singapore's economy hard (it clocked in significant GDP shrinkage post-crisis, though it has since begun to recover), and an increasingly politically aware and nativist reactionary voice has emerged in Singapore calling for locals to get priority over foreigners. This has resulted in some constriction in the local job market for some commoditized skillsets, but the island-state has begun a robust recovery post-crisis, and continues to import foreign labor to drive its economy.
Immigration policy in Singapore is a hotly debated political issue, and is shrouded in government opacity. The government publishes aggregate numbers of how many new permanent residents and citizens have been included, but no further information is published, including criteria for acceptance or rejection from the immigration program, and the income and education level of said immigrants. Eligibility to apply is extremely low (6 months of employed residence to apply for permanent residence, and 3 years of permanent residence to apply for citizenship), but whether an applicant gets accepted or not is completely up to the government. Based on anecdotal evidence, there are applicants who barely qualify in their basic eligibility, and received their papers in good order, and those that have remained in the island-state for extended periods, sometimes 10 times more than the stipulated minimum stay, only to be rejected time and time again. Any attempt at deciphering the reasoning behind this is conjecture, so it is difficult to say what the government considers. Applications cost nothing, though, so an applicant can apply as many times as he or she likes, and gainful employment ensures a right to stay in the city-state.
Despite this, the ICA (Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority) has a special class in its "social visit" category, as a social visitor "seeking employment." Providing the government sufficient proof of one's qualifications, the government can grant a foreigner a visa that gives them a year to live in Singapore, to seek employment. So despite tightening its grip on permanent residency and citizenship, the policy of bringing in foreign skillsets through an employment pass program, remains firmly in place.
Singapore is Asia's "soft landing." It's in Asia, but it's very orderly. There are no cows in the street, public services are reliable, the bureaucracy is razor-thin, the economy is massively liberalized, corruption is virtually unheard of, and it's more English-friendly than many cosmopolitan European cities.
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| Singapore Skyline at Night Copyright 2011 by chensiyuan, CC 3.0 license |
Coming into prominence as a British colony and entrepot, it is a historical rarity as a country thrust into independence against its will. In 1965, secession was forced upon it by greater Malaysia, and its relations with its neighbors remain prickly to this day.
Public services are top-notch, and match or beat any modern city's. By 2020, Singapore plans to have as many kilometers of metro rail as the London Underground, and expansion plans are aggressive. Chronically short of water, it has inherited some fresh water reservoirs from the British era that it has maintained, but it has also begun a project to make a fresh water reservoir out of what used to be a salt-water bay in what is called the Marina Barrage.
The average Singaporean worker is many times more productive (as calculated by per-capita GDP) than any of its neighbors in South-East Asia. An intensely hard-working, Confucianist ethic is pervasive in the island-state, with extremely low unemployment. It is a regional financial hub, as well as one of the world's leaders in offshore oil technology, and after New York and London, is one of the main centers for the trade of oil futures.
 |
| Wet Singaporean Streets Photo by Jason Anfinsen |
Singapore has a very liberal foreign labor policy. Foreigners with an appropriate skillset and a job offer promptly receive their paperwork in good order. Companies rarely discriminate on the basis of nationality, although the recent financial crisis in 2008 hit Singapore's economy hard (it clocked in significant GDP shrinkage post-crisis, though it has since begun to recover), and an increasingly politically aware and nativist reactionary voice has emerged in Singapore calling for locals to get priority over foreigners. This has resulted in some constriction in the local job market for some commoditized skillsets, but the island-state has begun a robust recovery post-crisis, and continues to import foreign labor to drive its economy.
 |
| Chinatown Train Station, Singapore Photo by Khalzuri |
Despite this, the ICA (Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority) has a special class in its "social visit" category, as a social visitor "seeking employment." Providing the government sufficient proof of one's qualifications, the government can grant a foreigner a visa that gives them a year to live in Singapore, to seek employment. So despite tightening its grip on permanent residency and citizenship, the policy of bringing in foreign skillsets through an employment pass program, remains firmly in place.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Guest Post - What it's like to teach in Korea
After yesterday's post about the bad part of teaching English (TEFL) in Korea, I thought it was only fair to (finally) have this guest post from Andrew Leonard about his first-hand experiences in teaching English in Korea. He has a great blog about his experiences and it turns out that he's also a talented photographer. He's now trying to leverage his teaching English in South Korea into a teaching position in France. I wish him luck!
I'll shut up now and let Andrew speak for himself (this post is lifted, with his permission, almost verbatim from this blog entry):
Let me just start by saying that I love living in Korea. Just about everything adds up to make for an awesome experience. Examples:
As an inexperienced teacher you don't get a lot of support. Most GETs here are more or less ornamental fixtures in the school, and you really have to develop a rapport with your school (which means staying more than a year) to really get your kids and your staff to take you seriously.
You get paid to sit on your ass a lot, and then you get paid to deal with horrible kids as well. Your mileage varies a LOT depending on where you are and the English ability of your students and co-workers. I have friends who've had far worse experiences and I have friends who've had much better experiences than I. My experience I think is pretty much middle-of-the-road as far as teaching goes. I also teach middle school, which is just about the hardest possible age group you could ever hope to teach.
There's a layer of bureaucracy and distrust that serves the employer to control the GET and basically annoy the hell out of the GET at the same time. Communication issues are unavoidable at times and you are often left with a lot of WTF days.
That said, the good days outnumber the bad days. I'm not staying a second year at this public school, because I know that I could get a better gig in Seoul (I'm in Incheon) teaching at a private school. My location away from Seoul and my teaching situation leave me with some angst that prevents me from wanting to stay another year. However, I have a feeling I may be back in a year or two because the expat community here and the standard of living are both very excellent. It's a comfortable life if you can put up with the job.
I'll shut up now and let Andrew speak for himself (this post is lifted, with his permission, almost verbatim from this blog entry):
![Guard in the winter [EXPLORE]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5273309563_0d9529f828.jpg) |
| Guard in the Winter Photo by Andrew Leonard - Used with Permission |
Let me just start by saying that I love living in Korea. Just about everything adds up to make for an awesome experience. Examples:
- There are a ton of things to do even if you live an hour or two away from Seoul. If you're an outdoorsy person, you're lucky since Korea is 80% mountainous and there is a lot of hiking to be done.
- The pay is good. Eating out every single day and taking cabs several days a week, and drinking one night out of the week, you can still save around $1000 per month. You can save $800/mo if you're more liberal about your spending. I keep telling people that your overall salary is not a good indicator; sure, in Japan you make more money, but Japan is insanely more expensive than Korea.
- Things are cheap. A dinner out by yourself should cost you no more than $5, or about $8 for a huge sushi dinner. A BBQ dinner with a beer or two out with friends averages about $8-10. A Western-style lunch or dinner at what's considered a "fancy" restaurant will set you back $15-20. If you're working at a public school you get lunches and the cost of about $2.50 per lunch is deducted from your salary.
- Food is healthy and fresh. You don't see many prepared foods here, and everything is a lot healthier than American foods. I know some vegetarians and they have a hard time here, but that's because Korea will serve you a salad with bacon and call it vegetarian. Vegetarianism is a very foreign concept here. Even a lot of Kimchi is made with seafood products and most soup broths are meat-based.
- Public transit is amazing. a 2km cab ride is about $2.25 and I've spent as little as $18 for an hour in a cab in Seoul traffic. The train is insanely cheap (about $1.40 for a trip as long as 2 hours in many cases), and city buses go everywhere. "Limousine" buses are cheap and will get you across the country and back for around $30 round-trip. So, travel within Korea is amazingly affordable and consistently so.
- You get made fun of for trying to speak the language. English is butchered a lot more by non-native speakers than Korean is by non-native speakers. So, it's hard to get taken seriously when you try to speak Korean even if the people you're talking to don't speak any English. It's not always like this, but it's an annoyance at times. Tolerances for understanding bad pronunciation are also very low because Korean pronunciation is A) hard and B) rarely attempted by non-Koreans.
- There's xenophobia and racism. Most people are nice, but I've been turned away from restaurants or charged more because I'm a foreigner. It doesn't happen a lot but I remember each time it has happened. It's not because you're American, or because you're white, it's because you're not Korean. This is a very old and complicated issue.
As an inexperienced teacher you don't get a lot of support. Most GETs here are more or less ornamental fixtures in the school, and you really have to develop a rapport with your school (which means staying more than a year) to really get your kids and your staff to take you seriously.
You get paid to sit on your ass a lot, and then you get paid to deal with horrible kids as well. Your mileage varies a LOT depending on where you are and the English ability of your students and co-workers. I have friends who've had far worse experiences and I have friends who've had much better experiences than I. My experience I think is pretty much middle-of-the-road as far as teaching goes. I also teach middle school, which is just about the hardest possible age group you could ever hope to teach.
 |
| Maybe they're not too different after all? Photo by Andrew Leonard - Used with permission |
There's a layer of bureaucracy and distrust that serves the employer to control the GET and basically annoy the hell out of the GET at the same time. Communication issues are unavoidable at times and you are often left with a lot of WTF days.
That said, the good days outnumber the bad days. I'm not staying a second year at this public school, because I know that I could get a better gig in Seoul (I'm in Incheon) teaching at a private school. My location away from Seoul and my teaching situation leave me with some angst that prevents me from wanting to stay another year. However, I have a feeling I may be back in a year or two because the expat community here and the standard of living are both very excellent. It's a comfortable life if you can put up with the job.
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