anyone now or has been an expat?

[nostatic]

Seems to be a lot of opportunity in Asia these days, and fairly robust support networks for expat communities. I have some connections in China, and could develop some in Vietnam and Thailand.

Any pros/cons to living for some number of years as an expat?

[arcsine]

well in Thailand there are lots of 14 year old boys that .......





ooops, did I write that?

[nostatic]

Originally posted by arcsine


ooops, did I write that?

you might have lived it, but without pictures it likely won't hold up in court...

don't ask me how I don't know...

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by nostatic
Seems to be a lot of opportunity in Asia these days, and fairly robust support networks for expat communities. I have some connections in China, and could develop some in Vietnam and Thailand.

Any pros/cons to living for some number of years as an expat?

Never been one but know a bunch, mostly British, a few American. They seem to fall into two catagories: in it for the money or in it for both the money (somewhat) AND the life experience in a part of the world they want to get to know on more than a cursory level.

The latter group seem to do well and have few regrets other than the tyrany that distance places on family ties. They live and embrace the culture, language and sensibilities of the country they live in.

The first group, most of whom I met in the Middle East during a non-accompanied tour (no family), were miserable and endeavored to ***** about all things indeginous. Money can't buy love.

A regret about my Navy career is that I never had the opportunity to do a three year tour in Asia, to take my family and give them that experience.

[nostatic]

I'm definitely in camp 2. I'd like to immerse there, and have my son be able to live there for a bit too...

[Dottore]

I spent 23 years as an expat - 17 in Asia and six in Europe.

As far as Asia is concerned:

Pros: You can live very well. You can make a great deal of money. The women are sensational. You can get very spoiled with hot and cold running maids and drivers. You will learn a lot. You will become less ethnocentric and develop a broader world view. You will meet very many interesting people. You are likely to be a "larger fish in a smaller pond" than you are now. You will become a citizen of the world. You will see the US as others see it - and this is often not pretty.

Cons: (in no particular order) You may well go native: marry a local, wear safari suits, drink pink gin and have nothing to say to one another in your declining years and end up chasing little brown boys. (Have seen this happen more than once). As the Asian economies develop there is an increasing premium on expats speaking the local language. Simply being the "great white hope" is no longer enough - with very few exceptions. Professional life is very competitive and you work long hours. They tax cars to death - and Porsches cost twice or three times what they do stateside. Moreover you need to buy a late model with good aircon - or you will die. The expat communities have much to do with serious drinking - so you liver is at risk. You will lead a far less healthy life than you are able to do stateside. Television sucks.

PM me if you would like more specifics. I now travel back and forth and still know that part of the world very well.

[singpilot]

+1. The ID is not from my singing ability. Was based in Singapore for 3 years. Mainland China for another 2. Bangkok for 2. Palma Majorca for 3. Zurich for 2.

Never had the taste develop for brown boys or gin, but did devlope all the other qualities.

Am in Santorini as I type this. Will be in Mikonos for the weekend. London next week. Was in TelAviv last week.

You develop a world view of things. Big picture attitude. Your kids will be better for it.

[Aurel]

Yeah, I`ve been an expat for seven years from France, living here...

Aurel

[lendaddy]

I'm trying to get my parents to do this, Costa Rica or similar. They could head out with a few hundred thousand and retire, can't do that here. If not for the grandkids they would be all over it (I'm convinced anyway). Go for it.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by singpilot
+1. The ID is not from my singing ability. Was based in Singapore for 3 years. Mainland China for another 2. Bangkok for 2. Palma Majorca for 3. Zurich for 2.

Never had the taste develop for brown boys or gin, but did devlope all the other qualities.

Am in Santorini as I type this. Will be in Mikonos for the weekend. London next week. Was in TelAviv last week.

You develop a world view of things. Big picture attitude. Your kids will be better for it.

+2 here. 11 years in Germany, 2 in Saudi, 4 in Mexico, 1 Guatamala and 1 in Denmark.

Spent 7.5 out of the last 9 months overseas. Its easier to say where I did not go in this time. Did not hit South America, Australia/New Zealand or Russia. Other than that hit ever continent and most of the countries, from Austria to Zambia.

Supposed to leave on Friday for London, then Sunday to Florence and next week to St. Petersburg Russia. Not sure if the trip will firm up but sure hope it does.

Agree with the other comments. Living around the world really opens your eyes and broadens your horizons.

Len, I love Costra Rica. Very nice place and people. Low cost of living. Would think of retiring there myself if I ever decide to retire!

[911-m5]

Dottore, Aurel and Joeaska,

May I ask what it is you do for a living that requires/lets you live abroad? I have wanted to do this for some time, but it seems difficult unless you are a computer genius or very highly skilled in .some obscure field. Any advice/suggestions would be great. I am more interested in Europe, but I have looked into teaching English in Asia - seems my only possibility.

Thanks,

Allan

[TimT]

I lived in Israel close to 3 years. Then a year in Saudi and a few months in Egypt. I worked for Perini, Morrisen Knudsen, and Flour Arabia. My field isnt anything exotic, Im an engineer.

In Saudi Arabi, we were so insulated from the locals that there was little to no interaction. In Israel given that I was there the longest I got to be more immersed in the culture, and see more.

Egypt was interesting to say the least

[Dottore]

Originally posted by 911-m5
Dottore, Aurel and Joeaska,

May I ask what it is you do for a living that requires/lets you live abroad?

I could tell you - but then I would have to kill you.

[Rad Hatter]

Am a Brit
Lived in Singapore 8 yrs, Tanzania 4yrs, Ghana 4 yrs, BVI Tortola 3 yrs, Bahrain 2 yrs, Bangkok 6 yrs, Indonesia 2 yrs, China 2 yrs, Hong kong now 6yrs.
My kids are way ahead in terms of maturity vs kids in the US or UK they are really multi-cultural and can interact at a different level.
I run 5 star hotels and that's the reason I have moved so much.
The life style is unique going to work surrounded by marble, chandileers, gourmet food, ...at home maids, drivers, cars, pension, bonuss' (fat ones), medical, dentist all covered, private education for the kids, return home leave travel, housing in luxury accommodation. Private Club membership, Porsche, BMW 8 series and a family car SUV.
Yep its a hard life.
I would never move back to the UCK ...oops UK.
Never !!
I will retire out here one day in Singapore where the sun shines every day and its bloody warm ...

Cant think of ANY downsides mate ....go for it.
The trick is not to get sucked into the decadent partying, booze, womanizing etc..... keep your head when all around you are loosing theirs etc

Afterthought thanks to
Robert Frost (1874–1963).

-THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20


Good luck with your decision....
Rich

[911-m5]

Gee, thaks for the help Dottore.

[cashflyer]

I know two expats. One living in the Philippines and one in Belize. The guy in the Philippines is divorced and living out his retirement years. His SS check gets sent to him and provides enough money in their economy that he just enjoys life with no worries. (Maybe that isn't really an expat so much as just a foreign retiree...)

The guy in Belize used to live in IL. One day I called and his phone was disconnected and his business was closed. When I tracked him down and finally got to hear the story, he said that he just got fed up with his life there. He sold his business, his house, and everything else, and he and his wife moved to Belize. Used his money to start up a new business there. He told me, "I have absolutely no regret. It is without a doubt the best decision I have ever made - for me and for my family."

[turbo6bar]

Originally posted by nostatic
Seems to be a lot of opportunity in Asia these days, and fairly robust support networks for expat communities. I have some connections in China, and could develop some in Vietnam and Thailand.

Any pros/cons to living for some number of years as an expat?

If you enjoy SoCal weather, you won't enjoy Vietnam and probably not Thailand. The coastal areas are more temperate, but still can be very hot and humid.

[Dottore]

Originally posted by cashflyer
I know two expats. One living in the Philippines and one in Belize. The guy in the Philippines is divorced and living out his retirement years. His SS check gets sent to him and provides enough money in their economy that he just enjoys life with no worries. (Maybe that isn't really an expat so much as just a foreign retiree...)

This is also a very common phenomenon. You can retire in parts of Asia for virtually no money. The Phillippines is a favourite because English is widely spoken and because it is incredibly cheap. You can buy a small house on a beautiful beach for USD 20 K and live like a king on USD 1,000 per month - or less. Moreover there are plenty of gorgeous young things willing to move in with you to look after you etc. A place that is becoming increasing popular is the old Spanish hill town of Bagiuo, north of Manila which is very cool and lush because of its high elevation. You can retire really very well there.

One issue that many of these retirees ignore however is that in their declining years access to good medical care is increasingly important - and this can be an issue in the Philippines.

Thailand is a similar story - though you run into the language issue there and it is not quite as cheap as the Philippines. However Thailand has the advantage that it has in recent years been developing as a centre for very sophisticated medical services. People travel there now from all over Asia for medical treatment and elective surgery such as hip replacements etc.

Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand has long been a favourite retirement place. After the fall of Rhodesia many white African farmers settled there and there is now a large expatriate community. Again the women are stunning and compliant, the weather temperate and Thai sticks everywhere. Some consider this paradise. And good hospitals are also readily available and inexpensive.

[jriera]

2 year in Singapore ('93 and '94), full expat package (house and car allowance, etc.), travelling all over SE Asia (from India to Japan to Australia) in a weekly basis, great times, great food, great people, still miss the hawker food stalls in Singapore, roasted puppy in Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, be able to go on weekends to Bali or Puhket.

The worst part was to come back. I will do it all over again in a blink.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by 911-m5
Dottore, Aurel and Joeaska,

May I ask what it is you do for a living that requires/lets you live abroad? I have wanted to do this for some time, but it seems difficult unless you are a computer genius or very highly skilled in .some obscure field. Any advice/suggestions would be great. I am more interested in Europe, but I have looked into teaching English in Asia - seems my only possibility.

Thanks,

Allan

Allan,

Singpilot and I are both pilots. Right now I could get a job in any of 20 different countries and move overseas again. Problem is that I have gotten used to living back in American and enjoy it, but thats not to say that I would not do it.

Just had one of my copilots move to Hong Kong and he loves it over there, and is trying to get me to follow. I love America and its my home and country but there are some very interesting parts of the world that keep calling my name...

Jordi,

If you find anyone looking for a pilot and your services, let me know. Might be talked into moving to the Far East for one last tour!