If your overseas move will include doing business, the World Bank has just published a list that might help you narrow your search. According to their annual Doing Business report, the countries most favorable to starting a small- to medium-sized business are: Singapore New Zealand United States Hong Kong Denmark United Kingdom Ireland Canada Australia Norway Obviously, ease of starting a business is not the only criterion for choosing where in the world to live, but if you have years of your …
First Impressions – China
Desi Downey is the author of the book NiHowdy, her recently published account of her six years in China as a trailing spouse. We appreciate Desi sharing her first impression of her adopted country. Scroll down for a link to purchase the book. Neon. Lots and lots of neon. That is one of the first things I remember about China. When I was presented with the opportunity to live and work in China I jumped at the chance, even though I was both terrified and thrilled. And maybe just a little …
Expat Films: Anna and the King
Released in 1999, starring Jodie Foster, Chow Yun-Fat and Tom Felton. Based on the diaries of Anna Leonowens, an English widow who spent six years in the court of Siam as teacher to King Mongkut’s children, the film pays homage to Anna, portrays some of the historical events of the time, and adds more than a soupcon of Hollywood-style romance. Mrs. Leonowens arrived in Bangkok in 1862, to teach the King’s oldest son, Prince Chulalongkorn. She immediately sets the tone for her relationship with …
Five Stages of Culture Shock
I just finished reading a truly excellent article over at Expat Exchange. In Culture Shock: It's the Little Things that Count in the Biggest Ways, author Desi Downey identifies five stages of culture shock: Honeymoon/Tourist Irritation-to-Anger Rejection/Regression Integration/Assimilation Reverse or Reentry You can read the entire article here Downey went to China with her husband, sent there by his company. As she describes it, "One of the first things I noticed about China was …