Expat Life

Guide to French banking

2007-01-12T04:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to France. That has a nice ring to it. Welcome to banking in France. That is a bit more intimidating, I'd say. Whether you are relocate to France short-term or moving indefinitely, banking is an issue to be tackled at some point in the process. When opening a bank account there are numerous variables to consider, and often the language barrier only serves to complicate matters. Understanding the French banking system will give you a head start to deciding which options are best for you and also choosing a provider...

This article appeared on Expat Exchange, the largest online community for English-speaking expatriates with an average 125,000 visitors monthly. Read full article here.

Biting back at culture shock

2007-01-11T02:03:00.000-08:00

I think "culture shock" is a misnomer. When you think of a shock, it's something that strikes in an instant. In most cases, culture shock is more something that eats away at you. Bite by bite. Gnawing slowly at your defenses until you find yourself crying on the floor because the phone bill arrived - and it's in French!

This article appeared on Just Landed, a pan-European mobility portal working with a wide network of local country managers and international partners. Their website had over 6 million page views in 2005. Read the full article here.

Transitioning in France

2007-01-10T04:59:00.000-08:00

You've found a wonderful new home in France and you are ready to move. Where do you start? Let us walk you through the details and information you'll need to know for an easy transition to your new home, either in France or abroad...

This article appeared on Expat Exchange, the largest online community for English-speaking expatriates with an average 125,000 visitors monthly. Read full article here.

Day in the Life of Jana Rosenburgh

2007-01-09T02:04:00.000-08:00

Jana wakes up in the morning to hear someone knocking loudly on her door. She quickly wraps a long piece of cloth around her waist, covering her shorts, and opens the door. A girl of about nine years old hands Jana a baby and says, “Dafa feebar,” which means, “She is sick,” in the Wolof language...

This article appeared in English Now, which is distributed in North America, Europe and North Africa.

The ugly American

2007-01-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

The English are quite proper and drink tea.
The French wear berets and carry baguettes under their arm.
The Italian are fashionable and drive Vespas.
The Japanese are loaded down with cameras.
The Scottish play bagpipes and wear kilts.
The Germans drink beer and make good cars.

These are stereotypes we as Americans often have of other cultures. But did you know that there are stereotypes about Americans too? There's even a name for it: the Ugly American. Not too pretty, is it? An Ugly American is the person who travels abroad and doesn't even attempt to be culturally appropriate. Generally they are first spotted by their loud voices in public or incredibly casual clothing, by French standards...

Table etiquette in France

2007-01-07T10:38:00.000-08:00

This article appeared on France for Visitors. Read full article here.

Meet Elizabeth Musser

2007-01-07T02:14:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth Musser wanted more from life than comfort and security. While in college she was asked what she wanted to do. Her answer was to live in another country, help people, travel and write. It seemed like an unrealistic dream at the time, but her dream is a reality today...

This article appeared in English Now, which is distributed in North America, Europe and North Africa.

Send me mail

2007-01-06T10:47:00.000-08:00

This article appeared on Destination Abroad. Read full article here.

Essentials for moving abroad

2007-01-05T00:09:00.000-08:00

So you are moving abroad. Your passports are ready and tickets have been purchased. There’s only one obstacle left. How do you choose which items go into the precious little space allotted by the airlines to transport your life from one world to another?

Getting a loan in France

2007-01-04T10:49:00.000-08:00

This article appeared on Destination Abroad. Read full article here.

Real Post Reports - Dakar, Senegal

2007-01-04T02:08:00.000-08:00

This report appeared on Tales from a Small Planet. Read it here.

Day in the Life of Erin Chupp

2007-01-03T02:14:00.000-08:00

Erin Chupp wanted to explore the world and also gain work experience. With a little help from an internet search, she found a perfect match...

This article appeared in English Now, which is distributed in North America, Europe and North Africa.

Expat Interview - Lyon, France

2007-01-02T05:31:00.000-08:00

"The longer we're here, the more I like it," is one of the things that Kari has to say about living with her husband in Lyon, France. While they don't plan to make France their permanent home, they're immersing themselves in the French experience as much as they can. Becoming more fluent in the language, enjoying the baguettes, and debunking stereotypes about the people are just some of the things that Kari is doing in Lyon.

Read my conversation with Expat Interview here.

Meet Julie Masson

2007-01-01T02:13:00.000-08:00

Julie Masson, or Senora Masson as her students call her, was the first person from Iowa State University to practice-teach in a foreign language. Previously, students had taught abroad, but only in English-speaking schools. This opportunity gave Julie the experience of learning more than just how to teach a foreign language, but how to teach more effectively in that language.

This article appeared in English Now, which is distributed in North America, Europe and North Africa.