Several readers have asked me how easy it's been to adjust to Panama's climate after living for over two decades in Florida. Climate is an important consideration in finding an overseas location you're comfortable in as an expat. So did living in Florida prepare me for living in Panama? The reality is -- not so much. Both are hot and humid, but there are some important differences. Here are my thoughts -- keeping in mind I'm living in the lowlands on the Azueros Peninsula. Once you get up in …
How to Live Like a Local While Visiting
You've read everything you could get your hands on about the country you'd like to move to, you've checked into their cost of living, investigated what you have to do to become a resident, maybe even taken some language classes. Before you move there, though, you need to visit, preferably for an extended period of time. Just because something sounds terrific on paper doesn't mean it's the place you want to call home. You could go and stay in hotels, but that doesn't really give you a good …
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Five Habits Of Successful Expatriates
Guest Post by Claudia Gonelle Ever wondered why some expatriates manage to build a successful life overseas; one that is inspiring, abundant and positive? I have. If the past decade of living and working in Central America, I’ve met dozens of highly successful expatriates. Some have used the opportunity of living overseas to become experts in the local culture and language, others have embraced the digital nomad lifestyle and now run successful online businesses, a good number have launched …
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Why Expats Need a Local Bank Account
A few days ago I had some errands to run. It was time to pay for cable, internet and cell phone and we needed groceries. We also needed to replenish our cash reserves at the trusty ATM. The cab dropped us off next to our preferred bank's ATM, and my husband whipped out his card and stepped up to the machine. He punched all the buttons, waited and . . . nothing. Nada. Zip. No message on the screen, just back to the usual "welcome" setting. No Cash for Us at the Local ATM So he tried …
How to Watch Your Favorite US TV Shows from Anywhere in the World
It's not a VPN (virtual private network), but it lets you watch US TV shows on your computer, TV, tablet, phone or game device. It's perfect for expats and travelers who want to keep up with favorite shows, sports and other entertainment from "home." It's called UnoTelly. After I wrote about VPNs a while back, a UnoTelly rep approached me with some information about their product and offered me a free trial account to test it out. I was skeptical. Honestly, I'm not that into television …
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Don’t Turn Your Social Media into an Epic Fail
If you're creating a portable career to support your overseas lifestyle, you'll probably be involved in social media. And if you're doing social media, you need to learn to do it effectively. Like any other part of managing a business (and that's what your portable career really is), you need a plan. Recently I had a situation that gave me a great example of one company using social media -- in this case, Twitter -- beautifully for customer service and another demonstrating an epic …
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