Who Gets the Better Deal, Western or Eastern World Expats?

I recently came across a very interesting article in The Economist entitled “A Tale of Two Expats.”  As many of our readers are expats or at least know someone who is an expat, I figured this would be of interest to many of you.  The article specifically talks about the lives of Western expats in China and Chinese expats in the West, but I think many of the issues they discuss applies to any expat, no matter where you live now and where you come from. 

The article cites two men, one anonymously named “James Smith, an Britist expat in China, and the other named Mr. So, a Chinese expat in London.  The article generally takes the stance that life is easier for Western expats in China then it is for Chinese expats in the West. 

Mr. Smith talks about the difficulties of working and living in China such as the strict and inconsistent rules, the highly polluted air, and the many examples of government intervention in business.  There are many pleasantries that come along with these drawbacks, though, such as the higher salary, cheaper cost of living, and the ease of doing business in an economy that is quickly growing in the midst of a global recession. 

On the other hand, Mr. So has come from a country with a booming economy and low cost of living and moved to a country with a failing economy and in a city that is among one of the most expensive in the world.  Because the West doesn’t cater to the Chinese like the Chinese caters to Westerners, many Chinese expats have trouble getting around if they cannot speak English, which many of them don’t.  On the other hand, many Chinese speak English and Mr. Smith can always find his way around because the subways and roads also have signs in English. 

Many Chinese Executive expats go to the West because they are forced to, where as Westerners who go to China do it because they want a piece of the quickly growing economy, and because of the lucrative expat packages.  Chinese expats generally do not get allowances for their families, so they are often alone, where as Western expats can generally bring their families and put their kids in a nice private school.  Perhaps these reasons are why many Western countries ranked so low in the 2010 Expat Survey.

Do you have any input to share about the negative/positive aspects of being an expat?  If so, please share them in our comments section below! 

By @StanaMark 

How to Enjoy the Holidays Abroad

There’s nothing more important than being with loved ones around the holidays.  When you’re living or traveling abroad, you may not get the opportunity to be with your friends and family from home, which can certainly be hard.  We have composed a list of some tips to help you travelers feel at home and still have fun during the holidays. 

Volunteer.  If you have some time off around the holidays, why not use it to do something good for others less fortunate than you?  It will definitely make you feel good, and you will meet other good people while helping out. 

Explore a new religion.  For many, religion is an important part of the holidays.  Even if you are living in country with a different local religion, why not go and see how they celebrate the holidays?  It is always good to feel like a part of a community around the holidays, and you will have the opportunity to learn a thing or two.

Give gifts.  Sure, everyone loves receiving gifts around the holidays, but there is no better feeling than giving a gift to someone who truly appreciates it.  Organize a “secret Santa” at work or another type of gift giving event; this will bring people together and make everyone happy.

Decorate.  There’s nothing better than coming back to your home and seeing it fully decorated with holiday spirit.  If you celebrate Christmas, go out and get yourself a tree, even if all you can find is a fake one.  While you may want to try out new customs in the country you are living in, there’s nothing wrong with coming home to a place decorated just like it would be at home.

Start new traditions.  You’re not going to get anywhere sitting around missing your old holiday traditions.  You are in a new country with different holiday traditions and practices, now is the perfect time to start brand new traditions to look forward to.  Get together with a few friends and do something out of the ordinary, even if it isn’t related to the holidays.  As long as it’s a memorable experience, you will always look forward to it and you can carry on the tradition for years to come.

Most importantly, stay in touch.  Just because you are far away from home doesn’t mean that you can’t stay in touch with friends and family.  Call your close family frequently, but also try to get in touch with the people that you may not see as often.  It will make them feel good to be remembered, and you will be glad you kept in touch.  With Stanacard, you can talk to friends and family at home as much as you want, and they can call you for free just by dialing your local number with our call forwarding feature.

Enjoy the holidays, and please share some stories of any special ways that you dealt with being abroad for the holidays in our comments section below!

By @StanaMark

Expat Economics

According to the HBSC expat survey, two thirds (66%) of expats report that since moving away from their country of origin, they have achieved more disposable income.

This holds true because they know that their talents and strengths are almost always just as, if not more marketable elsewhere. One hundred percent of expats in Bahrain agree that they have more disposable income than they did previously.  The numbers are also extremely high in Bermuda (96%) and Qatar and Saudi Arabia (92%)

In addition to spreading their talents in other countries for a higher salary, it is often the case that the cost of living is cheaper too, resulting in more disposable income.  Those who relocate for a specific job are often given free housing, as well.  Twenty percent of expats have reported that they are able to pay off more debt than when they lived in their original country.

Not all expats are in the financial or business sector.  Many college students go abroad to teach post-grad.  There are huge hubs of them in South Korea and Japan.  It’s a great way to live for cheap and earn a lot of money to save up for the next move or to pay off student loans, especially since finding a job in the United States is looking more and more bleak. 

Whether looking for more financial stability, a way to pay off debt, or just a way to experience a new culture, expats seem to be quite happy with their decision.

If you’re an expat, speak up!  Tell us about your experience.