Hug or handshake? The kiss? The double kiss? The triple kiss?
Saying "hello" is more complicated than just knowing the language. So much of communication is non-verbal, greetings across cultures requires you to learn to speak another language with your actions. Greetings are determined by social etiquette, relationship of the people, and geographic location.
Tips on Being Polite
If you approach situations in a positive spirit and are flexible, rarely will you go wrong in a greeting. (More)
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)
This is the first in a series of articles concerning visa options. We will cover the different types of visas and how to apply. The next in the series will cover the visa process in Australia, Canada, the Schengen area, and the United States. Get ready to go abroad!
If you've ever wanted to live or work (legally) in the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales), you've come to the right place. Below you will find information on visa regulations for long-term visitors, students, and individuals moving to the UK to work or to join spouses, partners or other family members. This is the second in a series of five articles: in the coming weeks there will be installments that investigate visa requirements for permanent residents, students, workers and certain other visitors to the United States, Australia and the Schengen Area of western Europe. Each article will focus on how to meet the requirements for obtaining a visa and/or work permit for the country or region.
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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)
It may seem like the "Sh*t Girls Say" videos have run their course. They probably have. But a new crop of "Sh*t Expats Say" have proved entertaining and surprisingly accurate. From expat Berliners to women to things an expat would never say, take a look at what expats are saying. (More)
In a previous article, we have seen that the UK’s lack of language skills could cost the country £17 billion of loss in GDP (and although beginning in the 1990s, decline became more rapid after 2004, thanks to Tony Blair who had the brilliant (!) idea to make
languages optional for GCSE, in order to show a better success rate).
All expatriates understand the benefits of languages. How frustrating it can be to be abroad and not be able to deal with simple things such as shopping or transport, without even talking about utility companies, properties or tax. Today we count about 7,000 different natural languages (as of 2009, SIL Ethnologue catalogued 7,358 languages grouped into 121 families, but the number may vary between 5000 and 10,000 depending on the definition of "different" languages or dialect), often spoken by only a few (96% of those languages are only spoken by 4% of the population). How many will still be there in 2100? Maybe only half of them as they often die out with the people that spoke them.
(More)
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)
Everyone who has traveled or lived abroad can attest to the importance of knowing the language. Simple transactions like finding a bathroom and buying groceries can be ridiculously complicated without a basic understanding of the local language. But what about the situation back home? A new report from Education and Employers Task Force reveals that an inability to speak a foreign languages in the UK is costing the country billions. The report estimates that the UK is loosing 1.2 point of GDP (roughly £7.3 billion) with the majority of UK residents unable to speak any other language but English.
The Decline in Foreign Language
Beginning in the 1990s, a decline in foreign languages could be seen in the academic and work environment in the UK. This was accelerated after 2004 when a reform to the national curriculum made language learning at Key Stage 4 (KS4) or GCSE level optional. In response, fewer students took on foreign language courses and research shows a steep decline inattendance in the five years following 2004.
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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)
In Athens, many shops are now closed in the city centre. In Dublin, you can see many advertisements showing Sale or Rent near Grafton Street. Spain has a record 20% unemployment. In Greece, the economic collapse has affected how many people are unemployed. With the different austerity budgets, people cannot even get a less qualified job. Many of the jobs requiring the fewest skills - taxis, drivers, barmaids - have already been taken by immigrants.
With the crisis in Europe (and the US), it is interesting to see that more and more people have decided to immigrate and leave their home country. They are looking for more comfortable life somewhere else and are attracted by countries recruiting and with positive economic growth.
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Deciphering the Complicated Culture of Greetings
28 March, 2012 14:36
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. 
