Moving to a new country can be an exciting adventure, offering the promise of new experiences and opportunities. However, along with the excitement comes unique challenges, particularly for expat partners who often find themselves navigating unfamiliar territory personally and professionally. In a recent conversation, we delved into the three “I’s” that shape the expat experience: Identity, Isolation, and Influence. Identity: One of the fundamental challenges expat partners face is maintaining a sense of identity in a new environment. The familiar roles and routines they once had may no longer apply, leading to feelings of disorientation and loss. As one participant highlighted, the influence they once held may diminish as they adapt to their new surroundings. However, finding ways to redefine […]

This post is inspired by sundaebean. Tired? Surprising Sleep Tips for Expats Reclaiming Rest: Why Expats Need to Prioritize Sleep As expats, we often find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of professional and personal commitments—so much so that sleep becomes an afterthought. It’s not uncommon to hear our peers complain about sleep deprivation and burnout (we may even be the ones voicing those complaints). For this edition, I want to explore how we can regain control by setting clear boundaries and embracing better sleep hygiene—an idea inspired by sleep expert Christine Hansen, founder of Sleep Like a Boss. Understanding the Sleep Struggles of Expats Before setting new habits, it’s important to understand why sleep becomes such a challenge for expats. Quite […]

Londoners Michael (48) and his husband Rob (35) received an offer to move to Hungary with Michael’s work, but they declined it due to a new law that discriminates against gay couples. They decide to move to Zurich, Switzerland instead. Michael enquires with his employer, a global bank, and they have a great role for him in the business development area. He feels safe at work in Zurich, and his career continues as if he had not left the country. He regularly gets promoted, and his salary increases steadily. He plans to retire in the UK, so he keeps his pension ties with the UK, and the bank offers him a long-term assignment contract to Switzerland with initially three years […]

Living as an expat in Zurich can be both exciting and expensive. When I moved from a fixed income to a fluctuating income I learned a lot of tips and tricks to be able to survive in Zurich as a lifestyle expat. I realized that many of you might struggle with your income and that you would love to have these ideas. They can also help you to be more environmentally friendly. Here are my 12 Tested Tips for Saving Money in Zurich as a Lifestyle Expat 1. Budgeting: Create a detailed budget to understand your income, fixed expenses, and discretionary spending. This will help you identify areas where you can reduce expenses and save money. Worksheet 302 Global People […]

Guest post by Oyindamola Adedokun It is no gainsaying that globalization has truly changed the modalities of doing business in the 21st century. The increased rate of interconnectedness and global interdependence has generated the need for many companies to spread their tentacles abroad if they must have a competitive advantage and wield global relevance in today’s fast-changing global economy. The development and geographical expansion of international corporations are however not usually a walk in the park.  There’s a wide array of expatriation processes that must be networked in order to manage a subsidiary or branch in a geographical territory or culture that is different from the headquarters.  Before we explore the factors that determine whether or not an international assignment […]