Expat in a country that speaks the same language as you – Blessing or curse?

The netball game just finished. Olivia is in tears. Her team lost 10 to 0. Sandra, her mum, is fuming on the bench. ‘Why is the game so violent, the referee so biased, the girls from the … [Read more...]

Giving And Receiving Gifts – The Secret Rules For Expats

Ever wondered what to bring when invited for the first time to a local family in your new host country? Do you remember this awkward feeling - a mix of joy and constraint - when receiving a … [Read more...]

Male Trailing Spouses: An Inconvenient Truth

Most trailing spouses are women, but in the last 15 years a new trend in the expat world is ramping up: the male trailing spouse. Defying convention, these men are pioneers in unchartered … [Read more...]

15 Surprising Facts About My Host Country

Let’s face it.  “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust        Click to tweet You know this feeling. Without thinking … [Read more...]

Learning A New Language: 8 Tips That Really Work

You may believe an ability to learn new languages is something you’re born with, but it’s much more about belief and practice than natural talent. That’s what Carol Dweck, Stanford University … [Read more...]

3 Questions to Nobel Prize 2012 Serge Haroche

To start 2013 with a (big!) bang, I’m extremely honored to welcome Serge Haroche, Nobel Prize Winner 2012 in Physics.   Receiving his prize on Dec 10th, 2012 in Stockholm, Serge … [Read more...]

Bilingualism: 3 questions to expert François Grosjean

François Grosjean is Emeritus Professor of psycholinguistics at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. He is bilingual himself (French and English) with more than 30 years of experience in … [Read more...]

Facing Natural Disaster As an Expat: Lessons Learnt From the Eye of the Storm

Hurricane Sandy has now gone. But it has left behind the traces of its wrath: devastation. In New York City, Angela, recent expatriate to the United States is still shocked. She came from Spain … [Read more...]

What You Can Learn From a $5 Billion Cross-Cultural Mistake

When you move to another country, you know you’re going to change but you don’t know exactly how. You come with your suitcase, a bit of money and your language. You carry your beliefs and a set … [Read more...]