Where is Life Best?
Erin
28 June, 2011 13:40
Established in 1961, this organization seeks to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. They do this by providing a forum in which governments can work together to share statistics, evaluate issues, and find solutions to common problems. Their site offers comparative data for quality of housing, salaries, levels of education, and more.
OECD Better Life Initiative
OECD tries to define what makes a better life. While this is highly influenced by personal preferences, there are common indicators. The OECD Better Life Initiative offers a dazzling interactive tool to match your preferences with the country that most closely matches those results. The statistics of 34 countries are evaluated on:
The Index allows you to put different weights on which topics mean the most to you, creating a personalized chart of what defines well-being and what country best fits those criteria. (More)
German Pension Plans
Erin
24 June, 2011 08:59
This article is part of a series describing different pension systems around the world. You will find the other articles already published at the bottom.
History of the German Pension Plan
Otto von Bismarck was a national-liberal statesman of the late 19th century that had the ear of Emperor Wilhelm. He is credited with establishing social insurance, partly which benefited the elderly and sickly. From 1891 it has been possible to obtain an old-age pension if over the age of 70 years old. This was a little dubious as the average life expectancy was 45 years at the time.
(More)
Going Abroad as a Physically Disabled Person
Erin
21 June, 2011 12:24
It is estimated that more than 1 billion people in the world are living with some sort of
disability, about 15
percent of the world's population.
Being disabled offers all sorts of challenges that can be
exacerbated in unfamiliar situations. This is especially true for people
traveling or living abroad. Despite these difficulties, many people
with physical handicaps are able to travel and live anywhere they want.
Common Issues
Transportation is one of the most difficult problems to overcome. From uneven sidewalks, to the lack of elevators to inadequate seating, moving around a foreign country can be especially difficult.
Elevators are an invention of the developed world. Many places throughout the world can only be accessed by stairs.
Hotels and theaters may have limited or non-existent handicapped facilities.
Further alienation from the place and people you are traveling among. (More)
Expat Humor - When it Translates
Erin
15 June, 2011 12:20
Some countries pride themselves on their engineering prowess. Others offer a better quality of life with low working hours. And some nations are better than others at making the world laugh.
A recent international poll of more than 30,000 people in 15 countries has ranked which countries are funniest...and which are not. Conducted by social networking site Badoo.com, the poll reveals different perceptions nations have of each other, and how that relationship affects perceptions. (More)
Bug on America's Green Card Lottery
Erin
10 June, 2011 09:25
Recently, one of the most coveted lottery winners were announced. The prize? Visas to the United States.
This announcement happens once a year, but this year was a bit different. A computer glitch allowed 22,000 people to be misinformed that they had won one of the valuable visas. The State Department is now in the awkward position of notifying these "winners" that they will not be welcome in the States.
To understand this situation, you first must understand the complicated Green Card System. (More)
Guide for expatriates in Berlin
EasyExpat
07 June, 2011 13:57
We are proud to launch our new city guide for expatriates in Berlin.
People from Berlin often point out that Berlin is not Germany. Though
it is the capital, the city is distinct and different from the rest ofteh country. However, there are many symbols of Germany's rich history in
Berlin, from the grandiose Brandenburger Tor to the bomb-scarred
side-walks. In the center of the city, an island of world-class
museums showcases the history of Berlin and artifacts from around the world.
The city is far from being all about history. Insane night-life, the
ever-changing restaurant scene, the omnipresent cranes, and a new
neighborhood usurping the crown of "the coolest" every decade or so proves the
city is alive. Even the people of Berlin are constantly changing. It
has a reputation as a place filled with people from elsewhere. Someone
who has lived in Berlin for ten years will see themselves as a "true
Berliner" compared to the person who has been there for only five. (More)
Luxembourg guide for expats in French / Guide pour expatriés au Luxembourg en français
EasyExpat
03 June, 2011 12:55
We have now fully manually translated our original guide in English into French.
Luxembourg is a mighty little country, although most Luxembourgers would resent the use of "little". It is the sixth-smallest country, yet holds the prestige of being the only Grand Duchy in the world. It is also one of the top three richest countries in the world with a matching high standard of living.
Many people have come to enjoy it's treasures; Luxembourg has the highest proportion of inhabitants with a foreign passport among the EU countries. Stunning natural beauty, a dynamic banking sector, and international flair are packed into this tiny powerhouse.
(More)
