I love Moscow because…

In a new series supported by HSBC Expat, the FT discovers what life as an expat living in Moscow is like and why some expats describe this enigmatic city as “heaven”.

Source: Creative Commons

Moscow is a city with deep historical and cultural roots. In this week’s audio slideshow, “Life on the edge of history”, six Russia-based expats talk about their experiences of living in this captivating city. 

Recounting the time when he first arrived back in 1994, Isaac Correa, a restaurateur from New York, says living in Moscow is truly a character-building experience. Despite the numerous ups and downs he encountered with his restaurant business, Isaac is still there after 17 years. Alberto Ponti, a helicopter manufacturer representative from Italy, feels the same. Enchanted by the city’s cultural appeal and attractions, Alberto feels mesmerised by Moscow’s unique qualities, which can take time to uncover. 

Often, the perception of Moscow for newcomers is that it can be very old-fashioned and backwards. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Once you get past the long, dark days and the cold weather, expats who settle in Moscow find a certain charm to the city, with many citing that it’s becoming an easier place to live. 

Alberto has some sound advice for those wishing to take up residence in Moscow, saying that people really need to understand the dynamics of the city to fully take advantage of the opportunities available.

The slideshow gives an interesting insight into life in this mysterious and enigmatic city which is fast-becoming a popular expat destination. 

What’s your perception of Moscow?

Let us know in the comment box below, or tweet us.

Guest Blogger Series: Introducing… Ashley Thompson

We’re excited about this week’s guest blogger, Ashley Thompson of Surviving in Japan – a blog sharing many valuable tips for expats living in Japan. Ashley’s blog offers an unconventional how-to guide for living in Japan, including navigating through its complicated transport system, freelancing in Tokyo and deciphering Japanese food labels. Here, Ashley shares with Expat Explorer readers…

How to survive in a country when you don’t understand (or can’t read) the language

Stepping off the plane and navigating through Narita Airport, Japan’s largest airport, for the first time, I felt fairly confident with my basic knowledge of Japanese. I could order food from a restaurant; asking for directions was no problem; and I could read hiragana and katakana, two of the Japanese character “alphabet” sets, and about 80 Chinese characters, otherwise known as kanji. I had a long way to go, but it was a decent foundation.

At least, I thought so, until I had to do things like request a package redelivery from the post office, read the ingredients on items at the supermarket, or find products such as hydrogen peroxide or canker sore (mouth ulcer) medicine. In your native language, these are all (generally) simple tasks. However, in a foreign language, even if you know the basics, the task is suddenly a giant mountain in front of you that you lack the tools and experience necessary to climb.

So in those first months I often found myself requesting help from native speakers to accomplish some of these daily activities. As an independent person, I knew moving to Japan would require me to rely on others more - something I needed to learn how to do. Except that I soon felt like I was burdening those around me with my many questions, despite the fact I tried to do as much as possible on my own.

This resulted in me attempting to do nearly everything without help (with the exception of critical issues such as medical problems or immigration matters). Granted, I still needed help (and still do) with these complicated issues, I just gave birth in Japan last year and though I could manage much of the process alone, there was plenty I couldn’t do by myself.

So the next time a postal worker left a redelivery notice in my mailbox, I went online to the national postal service website, opened the Japanese-English dictionary on my Mac, and set to work copying and pasting words until I found the redelivery section. Then I copied and pasted my way through the entire redelivery request online. When the confirmation email came, I stared at it for a minute (one, because I couldn’t read most of it, and two, because I couldn’t believe I had actually done it correctly).

It took me a few hours to do, but each subsequent time became easier and faster, and within a few months I could do it quickly without needing to translate any of the words. Not that the spoken Japanese to arrange a redelivery is that difficult, but at the time I could never understand what was being said to me over the phone, so the online request was easier.

As health-conscious as I usually am, I felt frustrated that I couldn’t read the ingredients at the store. So I downloaded some smartphone apps and one in particular, Shinkanji, was most helpful. I drew kanji I didn’t know from the ingredient list on the input area of the app, even when I had to stand in front of that item for 15 minutes. Doing this every time I went to store eventually resulted in me learning how to decipher a myriad of ingredients at a glance, making shopping faster, easier, and reassuring that I knew exactly what I was getting.

Though every country differs as to what resources are available, here are a few tips that have helped me, and might help you, survive wherever you might be in the world, or at least give you some inspiration.

1) Determine what you can do online, if this is at all possible, both in English (or your native language) and the country’s primary language. While you should still practice speaking the language as much as possible, I found that doing things online made me feel more functional. My reading ability and vocabulary have also improved as a result. I’ve learned that I can request redeliveries, order veggie boxes, find products not available in my local stores (that don’t also require being shipped in from abroad), look out for new or helpful Japanese products, and read more about what the locals do in various situations.

Web browser tools such as Google Translate or another translation tool (though the phrase translations are not always accurate/perfect), online dictionaries or your computer’s dictionary, or any other language-reading tools available in that particular language is most helpful for this. For example, Chrome and Firefox both have extensions that allow a user to scroll over Japanese kanji while the English translations pop up next to the cursor.

2) Use apps. If you have, or can use, a smartphone in your country, take advantage of it and downloadsome apps that help you with translation or understanding. Whether it’s a language dictionary, the use of Google maps, or an app that translates words from images, use them as survival and learning tools.

3) Learn food and personal product ingredient translations. At the very least, you’ll know what you’re eating and what you’re putting on your body. It can be nerve-racking to try a product like toothpaste or shampoo if you have no idea what’s in it (Will this actually clean my teeth? Will this bleach my skin?), but depending on what country you’re in, you might be surprised that the products are not all that different from those in your home country, and some might even be better. If that’s the case, you’ll save money not having everything shipped from home.

4) Learn commonly used keywords or phrases. Especially if you know what “finder,” “locator,” “search” and “dictionary,” or similar terms, are in your host country’s language. The goal is to figure out what the locals actually use versus what the books teach you. Doing this I’ve found helpful websites in Japanese such as an internet cafe finder, a women’s site with reviews and lists of doctors, restaurants, schools and kid-friendly places to go across the country, various stores to order hard-to-find food items from within Japan (in English and Japanese), websites to look up Japanese over-the-counter and prescription medication, a medical Japanese-English dictionary, and many other helpful resources, all by knowing certain terms. Also, simply by searching for something on Google, the auto-fill or alternative search terms often tell me what the commonly used words or phrases are.

All that said, of course, when you’re stuck, it never hurts to ask one of the locals or other expats who have been there a while. However, though it may seem daunting, it is possible to be independent in a country where you can’t read or speak the language well. You never know, it might even be simpler than you think.

About the author

Ashley Thompson writes valuable step-by-step how-to guides and provides useful resources for expats living in Japan on her site, Surviving in Japan (without much Japanese). You can also follow her on Twitter for important Japan-related news, resources and other information, @survivingnjapan.

What is culture shock?

You may have seen our recent postings on the gap between what expats expectations and reality, or the one on how to survive repatriation back home. You may even have seen the post Stephanie Katz wrote on underestimating culture shock. But what, exactly, is culture shock?

Creative commons: Bonde de Santa Teresa

There are four stages to culture shock that expats should be aware of going through; the honeymoon phase, the negotiation stage, the adjustment phase and the mastery phase.

Honeymoon Phase: When the world is seen through rose tinted glasses, the new country is fascinating and there are many new, positive discoveries to be made.

Negotiation Phase: How long this phase takes to kick in depends on the individual, but for many it is around the three-month mark. Stark and unfavourable differences between “home” and “host” countries develop and a sense of isolation occurs.

Adjustment Phase: The host country starts to feel less hostile, and the expat begins to be able to “predict” the outcomes of situations that may have previously felt strange and unfamiliar. The culture begins to make sense and negative situations have less of an emotional impact.

Mastery Phase: The newbie is comfortable to participate and be proactive in the local community and has started to comfortably combine their new and old cultures.

Does this match up with your experience of culture shock? Do you have any tips for getting accustomed to the local community? Leave a comment below, or message us on Twitter.

For more information on moving abroad, click here.  

Guest Blogger Series: Introducing… Laurel Robbins

Can your host country ever feel like home? How long before you stop exploring your new environment and call it “home”? 

Laurel Robbins, our guest blogger this week shares with us her account on settling in and settling down, and how she plans to keep the adventure of being an expat alive.

The next stop is… Closer to home

 Source: Creative Commons/ LenDog64

I was so excited when I moved to Germany. I spent my first year as an expat in Stuttgart where I extensively explored my new home. After learning that there were 400 castles in my state, I vowed to see them all. I failed miserably, but did make a pretty valiant attempt if I say so myself. Much to my husband’s chagrin, I dragged him 100km south to see Germany’s only Easter Egg Museum. I also insisted that we visit the world’s largest Pig Museum – which lucky for me was located right in my city and remains one of my favorite museums! And I can’t count the number of weekends I dragged him to see a castle or a castle ruin that even most locals hadn’t heard of. 

We moved to Munich my second year in Germany, where I now live. As an avid hiker, I’ve done a decent job of exploring the Alps and continue to do so, but I can count the number of castles I’ve visited on one hand in the last six months and I haven’t been to a castle ruin in months. Frankly, I couldn’t even tell you where the nearest castle ruin is too Munich. Nor have I explored most of the medieval towns all a short drive (by Canadian standards) from Munich.

What happened? Life? Well yes, I’ve been busy, but we’re all busy. I’ve settled into the pattern than many of us fall into when we feel at home. I’ve stopped exploring. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still an avid traveller and have a ton of travel plans this year, that isn’t the problem. The problem is I’m not making the time to see everything that is right in front of me. You know, the sights that I don’t have to get on a plane to see. I love living in Germany, but perhaps I’ve gotten complacent, or castled out along the way.

This is not how I want to live my life. I don’t want to be one of the locals who just assumes that “one day” they’ll make it to such and such a sight – the one that every tourist who is visiting manages to visit despite their short time here. “One day” may never come if you leave it to chance.

So what to do? I’m drawing inspiration from my German comrades who love to plan and am planning for that “one day” to be today. Starting in 2012 I have planned to visit at least one museum per month and am three for three so far. Now that the weather has warmed up, I’ve made plans with other expats, who have also become complacent to visit some of the medieval towns that are only an hour away by train. 

When it comes to traveling locally, my “one-day” will be today. 

When was the last time you visited a local sight?

About the Author

Laurel Robbins is a Canadian freelance travel writer and travel blogger based in Germany.  She writes about exploring Europe and beyond for outdoor adventures, off-beat locations, local cuisine and monkeys at Monkeys, Mountains and Maultaschen.  You’re most likely to find her hiking on a mountain somewhere or diving with sharks.

Expat Entrepreneur: Pierre Waters, founder of moving2madrid

Expat Entrepreneur is a brand new series on Expat Explorer that invites founders and CEOs who have set up businesses abroad to offer their advice and insight for fellow expats thinking of going down the start-up route.

The first in our series comes from Pierre Waters, the founder of relocation service Moving2Madrid.

Source: Creative Commons/ Fellowship of the Rich

Why did you decide to become an expat entrepreneur?

I first chose Madrid because I believed - and still do - that it's the best place out of the entire Spanish-speaking world that offers the best balance between quality of life and business opportunities for foreigners.

After 2 years working as a strategy and management consultant, I decided to launch my own business in Madrid because I did not see in the market what I needed to make my move to Madrid zen. I believe in challenging the status quo and bringing new simple and human solutions to foreigners moving to Madrid. 

If you could give one piece of advice to other expats setting up their own businesses, what would it be? 

It is often said that Spain is often a cycle behind entrepreneurial innovation and quality standards in the US.

My advice would be to leverage your experience from working in other countries with higher quality standards and innovation and aim to work with the highest ambitions here. That way you raise the bar naturally and prevent yourself from getting too complacent with the norm in your host country.

What challenges did you encounter when setting up your business and how did you overcome these?

The obvious challenge is the language. My recommendation is to go full immersion to truly pick up the language. Living with three Mexican flatmates, playing rugby with a 100% Spanish team and studying in a Spanish university and always trying to only work in the language, meant that within 6 months I was fluent enough to land a top consulting job at Accenture Management Consulting.

The less obvious, but most important challenge, is procrastination. My advice is do not delay launching your product just because you think you need more time. Just do it, ship your product and see what the real world feedback (sales) is. For me, that's the only way to go.

The other challenge I encountered was the administrative challenge. The administrative and legal framework may not be helpful in Spain for entrepreneurs but get over it! Remember that this is the barrier to entry for not-so motivated entrepreneurs.


What common mistakes do expats, in general, make when setting up their business?

I would say, don't say “yes” to all clients. Choose them because you have aligned values and expectations.

Listen to your gut feeling. Read “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell if you don't believe me. Of course, we all procrastinate some way or another, but if some part of your business is killing you, outsource or ditch it.

Do what you love. Read “Crush it” by Gary Vaynerchuk. Not because it is a great quote to say to friends, but because passion is the main fuel entrepreneurs work with. You have to love what you do, or you will not be able to really crush it.

In my case, 3 months after starting, I realised one part of my business was doing great and I was dreading the other part. What I learned was to change my assumptions of my business and “pivoted” to focus on what worked well. I'm now happier and more profitable. 

What resources did you find useful or tapped into to get your business off the ground?

I relied on these three essential sources to get my business of the ground. In fact, it will be more correct to call them sources, rather than resources, and these are aspiring leaders in the industry, fellow entrepreneurs and my partner whom I draw my source of passion and knowledge.

My entrepreneurial heroes, whose books and ideas fuel my passion and entrepreneurial practice include:

- Seth Godin author of Purple Cow, Tribes
- Gary Vaynerchuk -Crush it
- Tim Ferriss - 4Hour workweek
- Simon Sinek - Start with why
- Eric Ries - Lean Startup
- Jason Fried - Rework

For me, instead of looking for a mentor, I have heroes and I read and learn from them!

Secondly, I tapped into my group of entrepreneurs. As you know, studies show you're as successful as the people of your close network. That's why you have to find a group with the same values, and see those guys often.

I was lacking such a group in Madrid, so like any entrepreneur would do when they want something that does not exist, again a bit like my business, I created it: The Guiripreneurs (Guiri means foreigner in colloquial Spanish) - www.guiripreneur.com

It’s been absolutely brilliant creating a close-knit community here. We now have over 160 members in the group and growing, have meetups every other week and obtained the backup of the economic development agency of Madrid, “Madrid Emprende”.

I also belong and help organize a group of French-speaking entrepreneurs: Franc-Risqueurs.

Both these groups bring me motivation, friendships, knowledge and business.

Finally, my partner in life, Florence, supports me in everything I do, gives me sound advice and reminds me why I became an entrepreneur in the first place.

What would you do differently if you could do it again?

Two things. I would test as many ideas as possible with side projects earlier and learn to design and code, instead or while going to business school. 

About Pierre

Pierre is a French and British entrepreneur living in Madrid since 2008.

He believes in challenging the status quo to enable expats and entrepreneurs to live the life they want.

That’s why he created Moving2Madrid, the first "human" relocation company in Madrid, the first one to propose an all-inclusive personal relocation package with transparent pricing to make your move to Madrid easy.

Pierre loves to play rugby 3 times a week and discover new places and foods. He shares his life with Florence, French also, also from Paris, also an entrepreneur, whom he met in Madrid dancing salsa!

If you would like to connect with Pierre, email him at pierre(at)moving2madrid(dot)cm

Expat Explorer nominated for a Webby Award

We’ve got some exciting news to share with readers of this blog - Expat Explorer has been nominated for a Webby award! 

Source

Described by The New York Times as “the Oscars of the Internet”, the Webby Awards are the highlight of the online awards calendar and is the “leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet”.

Being a Nominee means that HSBC is in the top 3% in over 10,000 entries worldwide and now in the final, running up against Mint, CNN Money, Wikinvest and Wonga in this category.

We’ve come a long way since the Expat Explorer survey was born in 2008. From basic PDF reports, the research results were developed digitally and last year became a highly interactive online resource, making it easier than ever for expats to find out about how their host country fares in terms of economics, experience and raising children. Today, it remains the largest global survey of expats.

The overall winners of the Webbys will be announced on the 1^st May but for those who wish to support Expat Explorer for the People’s Voice Award, you can cast your votes here: http://pv.webbyawards.com/ballot/42

The closing date for votes is Thursday 26^th April 2012.

Expat Excellence featuring Chris Pavone

This week’s Expat Excellence features author of international thriller - “The Expats”, Chris Pavone on his inspiration for the novel and experiences as an expat abroad.

Q&A with Chris Pavone

Source: http://www.chrispavone.com/

What inspired you to go to Luxembourg?

I moved to Luxembourg to follow my wife’s job back in the day. Before then, I had never lived anywhere other than New York City, except for college in the 1980s. My younger brother had lived in China, but for me, I’d never even considered trying the East Side of Manhattan, let alone another country. I regretted this hole in my life experience, this long-term act of low-level cowardice and I was excited to overcome it when we decided to relocate.

What inspired you to write a book based on your experiences abroad?

When we moved, I left behind not only my career but also much of my identity to follow my wife’s job. It was a complete change for me, where instead of doing what I’d been doing for my whole adult life—living in New York City, editing books mostly—I was now doing laundry and cleaning, tending to small children and living in a new household in a strange land, while my spouse worked constantly.

I found that it was within these circumstances, one needed to reinvent oneself. It was this real-life circumstance that inspired the book: the possibility—sometimes the necessity—of self-reinvention, which is one of the defining aspects of living abroad.

Do you have any plans to move abroad again, or was it just the one posting?

At present, we are not planning on moving abroad again. But then again, we weren’t planning on it the first time, so who knows what will come our way…

What advice would you have for expats moving to Luxembourg?

I strongly recommend the American Women’s Club for expats moving to Luxembourg. It is a wonderful organization, filled with friendly, helpful people who create a supportive environment for expats. It’s easy to meet like-minded individuals at the various events they run: wine tastings, cooking classes, tennis… and whatever else that takes your fancy. You’ll learn a lot of what you need to know, and meet a lot of people who are all in your situation.

What was your favourite moment as an expat?

We were in Paris for the weekend (something we did regularly) having dinner with our five-year-old boys at the beautiful Le Petit Zinc, in St-Germain. Near the end of our meal, an old man stopped by our table; we learned from the waiter that he’d been a regular for decades. He leaned down to my wife, and told her in French that our children were very well-behaved. That compliment from a stranger, given to Americans (!) who had brought their schoolchildren (!!) to a white-tablecloth restaurant, made me feel that we’d turned a big corner.

What advice would you have for expats moving to New York?

New York is a giant mass of small communities—of micro-neighborhoods that are just a few blocks square, consisting of the few hundred parents in a primary school, of people who work in a range of businesses, of ceramicists and tennis players and cellists and novelists who sit in downtown cafés with laptops. Whatever your passion or interest, you can easily find people who share it, and help to build a foundation for your new life when you first move. Don’t be afraid to pursue that passion and find your people.

About the author

Chris Pavone grew up in New York City, and worked at a number of publishing houses over nearly two decades, most notably as an editor at Clarkson Potter, where he specialised in cookbooks.

He is the father of twin schoolboys named Sam and Alex, and an old cocker spaniel named Charlie Brown (he’s brown), and the husband of Madeline McIntosh. He lived in New York City for his entire life, except for college and the year and a half that we lived in Luxembourg, where he started writing The Expats in the cafés of the cobblestony old town. 

Why expats love the porteños way of life

In the second instalment of the FT View from series, supported by HSBC Expat, the FT explores Buenos Aires, one of South America’s most historic and energetic cities.

With its gorgeous architecture, vibrant café culture and colourful artistic and literary scene, Buenos Aires offers a seamless blend of tradition and abundant opportunities for foreigners seeking new beginnings. This may be the secret behind why so many expats are attracted to the charm and enchanting qualities of this Argentinian city.

Source: Creative Commons/ Carlosoliveirareis

People who live in Buenos Aires are often referred to as porteños, meaning “person of the port”. We came across this article on The Real Argentina where the writer describes “porteño is more than just a geographical indicator, it’s a way of being. Porteños have their own slang (‘Lunfardo’), their own fashion, their own complex psyche and their own attitude.”

It is not surprising that expats in Buenos Aires tend to agree that the city offers a perfect balance of a modern and more relaxed lifestyle as experienced by Lisa Lazenby, a health food store manager. In this FT View from article, Lisa highlights the difference between the way of the life where she grew up in and the way of life where she now finds herself in:

“In America, we’ve been trained that efficiency is the utmost ideal and I think that is second or third for Argentines,” she says. “It teaches you lessons about other ways to live.”

Have you experienced life in Buenos Aires? We’d love to hear what it is like. Feel free to get in touch in the comments box below, or send us a message on Twitter. 

Expat Excellence featuring Gillian Kemmerer – Part 1

The first in a three-part series by Gillian Kemmerer, founder of Ready Set Jet - a fantastic resource geared towards Generation Y expats, looks at common concerns of expats under-29 encounter.

Since many Gen Y expats are studying abroad, or at least living alone for the first time in a foreign country, they may experience more specific fears and interests associated with spending time overseas, compared to serial or silver expats.

Part one focuses on the topic of overseas education and qualifications.

International University Accreditation Standards

(source: Oxford-Royale)

The study abroad twittersphere took a collective sigh of relief when Rick Steves wrote a January editorial forUSA Today entitled, “Study abroad is necessity, not luxury”.  Many experts and educators were shaking their heads in a collective, emphatic yes. Study abroad has become a way of life and integral learning experience in today’s hyper-globalised world; it has morphed into a requirement rather than an extended vacation.

It is no surprise, then, that many under-29 expats across the globe are leaving their homes in search of educational pursuits abroad. Studying is a natural, well-planned, and applauded way to gain international experience while sharpening skills and being exposed to varying viewpoints. Though employers and educators alike heavily applaud these opportunities, I find a common concern that sweeps this demographic is: “How will my international degree translate when I return home? Will employers recognise it as prestigious, and is it a smart investment of my money?”

For anyone considering pursuing a full-fledged degree abroad, I give heaping encouragement with a few words of caution. The United States is hot on rankings, particularly when it comes to education, so it is natural to tend toward international institutions with recognisable names. Think: Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD. These rankings can, at times, blindside our sensibilities and encourage us to pursue opportunities based on brand name alone. I suggest that anyone considering an international degree look to these important factors before hitting the world rankings.

1.     Is your international university accredited?

If you are concerned as to whether or not your international degree will be “accepted” upon return to the United States, your first step must be researching the accreditation standards of the institution itself. International accreditation standards are rigorous and necessary evaluations of an institution’s offerings; while I am the first to recommend taking “rankings” with a grain of salt, I would never suggest attending a university that does not have a legitimate accreditation.

International accreditation standards vary from country to country. Any university abroad that claims to have “American” ties (example: The American University of Cairo) should be checked through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (www.msche.org) for their accreditation. In other cases, check out the Committee on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)’s list of international education evaluation systems. Once you locate the evaluating body in the country you are interested in, you can verify whether or not your graduate degree is deemed “up to snuff” on home turf.  This is the first indicator of how your degree will be “received” by employers or graduate schools once it is awarded.

2.     Who are you trying to impress?

When a student asks me whether or not I’ve heard of the international university they’re attending, I always ask if they’ve put the same question to their future employers. If your end goal after receiving a degree is to land a certain job or enter a profession, the best people to ask about your international experience are the people who will hire you someday.

Not everyone has heard of the leading departments in your field. There may be incredible educational opportunities—ones that surpass their American counterparts, for example—located abroad within your profession. Make an appointment to speak with a potential future employer or academic in your field and bounce ideas off of them. They may know better than you the best international experiences to suit your passions.

3.     Sometimes it’s about what you learn, and not where you learn it.

Have you ever heard of IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain? Employers in the finance world may or may not be aware of this superstar institution—ranked in The Economist’s Top 10 MBAs—but they will regardless be incredibly impressed with your fluency in Spanish upon graduation. IESE requires all students to be business proficient in Spanish before leaving Barcelona, and employers will certainly value that prime asset alongside your rigorous exposure to the case method.

Whether or not your future employers, professors, or colleagues have heard of your international institution, they will admire the exposure, language skills, and interesting perspective you bring to the table. An international degree suggests a certain level of resilience and curiosity that is highly attractive in fast-paced corporate environments.  You may not have attended a university with the same name recognition as Harvard or Yale, but you will boast experiences that are both valuable and in-demand. 

About the author

Gillian Kemmerer is the founder of Ready Set Jet, a resource geared toward Generation Y expats. She loves to hear from young people living out their dreams abroad on the RSJ Twitter (www.twitter.com/RSJblog), and is both an avid compound archer and rabid FC Barcelona fan.