Expat Twitter Round-Up
Erin
29 August, 2011 09:30
Expats are a worldly crew, generally knowledgeable about the world around them from everyday happenings to major international news. We decided to collect some of the top tweets of the week for expats, travelers, and those interested in the global pulse. (More)
Bike Share for Locals and Travelers
Erin
24 August, 2011 09:10
Traffic, congestion and pollution have long been a plague on cities. While public transportation helps to abate some of these problems, it is not always available. One of the best options in many cities is to take to the road - by bike. Two wheels rather than four can not only lessen the environmental footprint you have on the world, it can also provide faster transport, it's cheap, has distinct health benefits, and it can also help you form a stronger bond to the city around you.
City Bike Programs
Many cities are now seeing the value of having a community of bike riders. City governments are adding bike lanes, riders are forming groups, and routes and tips are posted online. "Utility cycling" is a term that refers to cycling not done primarily for fitness or recreation, but as a means of transport. Bike sharing and inexpensive rentals are gaining in popularity for both tourists and residents. Cities want people to get out there, and get riding. (More)
Guide for expatriates in Zurich
EasyExpat
23 August, 2011 09:30
We are proud to launch our new city guide for expatriates in Zurich.
Switzerland brings forth images of majestic peaks with brown cows dotting the hillside, but the country is so much more. It is a country that offers refined delicacies like Swiss cheese and chocolate, the austere Alps and the unquestionable security of it's banks.
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland. It is spelled Zürich in German or Züri in Swiss German. It is Zurich in French, Zurigo in Italian, and Turitg in Romansh. The city has 380,500 inhabitants. The greater Zurich metropolitan area is composed of a population of nearly 2 million inhabitants. The city is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic.
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Expat Twitter Round-Up
Erin
22 August, 2011 08:58
Expats are a worldly crew, generally knowledgeable about the world around them from everyday happenings to major international news. We decided to collect some of the top tweets of the week for expats, travelers, and those interested in the global pulse. (More)
Respecting Ramadan as an Expat or Traveler
Erin
19 August, 2011 09:22
What is Ramadan?
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is the Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan. Believed to be the month that the Qu'ran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad, participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking smoking, sexual intimacy with their partners and negative behaviors like swearing, lying and getting angry from Imsak, which is just before sunrise, until Maghrib, at sunset. This is in order to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice. Ramadan is much more than abstaining, Muslims believe Ramadan is a time to read the entire Qu'ran and is an auspicious month for the revelations of God to humankind. (More)
Edinburgh guide for expats in French / Guide pour expatriés sur Edimbourg en français
EasyExpat
18 August, 2011 09:45
We have now fully manually translated our original guide in English into French.
Scotland is an ancient, mystic land of the common man, and the original intellectuals; lush green valleys and rolling hills; the intimidating dish of haggis, legendary whiskey, and fried Mars bars. As identifiable as Scottish brogue, family tartans and bagpipes appear all over the world as reminders of the great, little land so many people come from. The gregarious people have a reputation as storytellers with many legendary writers like Sir Walter Scott, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Irvine Welsh, and JK Rowling all leaving a mark upon the world. Scotland has also produced the inventors of the television, telephone and penicillin, and the cloned sheep Dolly. It is part of the United Kingdom, and yet, it's own separate jewel. (More)
Expat Twitter Round-Up
Erin
15 August, 2011 09:42
Expats are a worldly crew, generally knowledgeable about the world around them from everyday happenings to major international news. We decided to collect some of the top tweets of the week for expats, travelers, and those interested in the global pulse. (More)
The Art of Tipping: Customs and Traditions Explained to Expats
Erin
10 August, 2011 08:19
Tipping is complicated, and is only made more so when traveling somewhere new. Standards are different almost everywhere you go, and different establishments often have different tipping expectations.
Why Tip?
A tip or gratuity is a voluntary extra payment made to certain service sector workers in addition to the advertised price of the transaction. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom and tipping rules vary by country, by region, and by scenario. The amount of a tip is usually at the discretion of the patron being served. In some circumstances failing to give an adequate tip is a reprimand for poor service, but if done unknowingly can be a serious faux pas.
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London Riots: is it only about looting or shall we look for the reasons behind it?
Erin
09 August, 2011 16:18
The world looks on as media outlets report that London is burning. Rioting and looting that took place over the weekend have continued and spread out from the poorer sections of London to as far away as Birmingham, Liverpool, & Bristol.
What Happened
The event appears to have started after the shooting of Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father of four, who was fatally shot last Thursday night in North London's Tottenham Hale section. It appears Duggan was a passenger in a minicab that was stopped as part of an initiative to recover illegal guns in the area. Details remain vague, but it appears an illegal firearm was found at the scene and shots rang out, though The Guardian asserts that ballistic reports now show that all of the gunfire came from police. A peaceful protest was planned for Friday evening with the family wanting to meet with police officials to get answers, but the protester's pleas were unanswered. It was at this point that frustrations boiled over and the protests turned violent. This is the worst outbreak of social unrest in Britain in 25 years since the Broadwater Farm riots.
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Expat Twitter Round-Up
Erin
08 August, 2011 09:32
Expats are a worldly crew, generally knowledgeable about the world around them from everyday happenings to major international news. We decided to collect some of the top tweets of the week for expats, travelers, and anyone with their eye on the global pulse.
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