101 Ways to Enjoy Living Abroad

Essential tips for easing the transition to expat life

Karen McCann

101 Ways to Enjoy Living Abroad

Essential Tips for Easing the Transition to Expat Life

By Karen McCann

Author’s note:

Some of the content in this work originally appeared on my website

EnjoyLivingAbroad.com

or in my new book

Dancing in the Fountain: How to Enjoy Living Abroad

The website includes my blog along with stories, travel tips and information about my book. If you’d like to receive occasional emails about new

blogs or interesting new travel information and perspectives, subscribe by clicking the link below:

My Blog

Visiting my blog will give you the opportunity to participate in the ongoing discussion about the expat lifestyle, travel, houseguests, kids, dogs,

strange foods...all the basic building blocks of life. Even if your expat days are far in the future or the past, I hope you’ll add your voice to the conversation.

I have made every effort to provide accurate information and links to websites I have found helpful. However, I make no guarantees that the information in this work or on those web sites is perfectly

accurate or free from errors or omissions. I trust you to use common sense when considering whether and how to apply this information to your life and your expat journey.

© 2012 by Karen McCann All rights reserved. Please do not copy, sell or redistribute this information. If your friends

would like a copy, they can order one from my website EnjoyLivingAbroad.com.All photos and paintings in this work are by Karen McCann except for the

movie graphic on page 15, which is a Flickr photo by Luiz Fernando / Sonia Maria.

Whether you’re toying with the idea of living abroad, have made the decision to move or are already embarked on the expat lifestyle, these 101 insider’s tips can smooth the way. And before we go any further, let me just say that while living in a foreign country has its challenges, it can be easier, more fun and more affordable than you may think. You don’t have to wait until all the stars are aligned, the dog passes away and the grandkids are all happily married with good jobs. You don’t have to win the lottery so that you can spend a fortune restoring an Irish castle or Paris penthouse. Using a little common sense, and such money-saving suggestions as Tips 15, 45, 79, 82 and 94, your cost of living may actually go down or, as in my case, remain about the same as it was when I made my home in Cleveland. If you have a family, see the section Kids, Tips 34 to 44, and Taking Along Your Pet, Tips 22 to 30. While not every career can be uprooted and taken to another country, today many jobs can be managed over the Internet; see Tips 73, 86 and 94. And thanks to social networks, discussed in Tip 85, I am in closer contact with many of my loved ones than I was when we lived five minutes apart. In fact, my initial concerns about miss-ing family and friends evaporated when I learned that when you live abroad, in a destination city like Seville, they come to you. And before they do, you’ll really want to read over Tips 98 to 101 in the section Guests: How to Make Their Stay More Enjoyable (for You). In this book, I’ve compiled the best strategies I’ve tried, learned from expat friends or discovered the hard way, by doing the opposite and then having to sort out my screw ups. It’s everything I wish I’d known when I moved to Seville, Spain, in 2004, or before my shorter stays in other countries including Kenya, Thailand, Bhutan, El Salvador, Bosnia and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Although I’m an American who moved to Europe, I wrote this guide for anyone who is moving from one country to another. Being abroad in the world is enormous fun for the savvy expat. This guide will help you decide whether, where and how to make your move, enable you to avoid some of the pitfalls and cope with others, and give you the confidence that you need to relax and enjoy the ride. Karen McCann Seville, 2012

Living Abroad Can Be Easier Than You Think

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Before You Decide

1. Visit the place you’re thinking of moving, preferably several times, before you commit. Just because you had a single, glorious weekend someplace doesn’t mean it’s your ideal future home.

2. If you have a partner, agree in advance that either can veto the sug-gested destination. Dragging along a reluctant partner is no way to start out a new life overseas.

3. Consider your reasons for going.Is this the adventure of your dreams? Are you moving for practical reasons, such as a job, lower cost of living or a healthier climate? What are your expectations? What resources are you willing to commit to making the move a success?

The Pre-Departure Checklist

4. Get a passport. If you have one that will soon expire, renew it. If you have used up most of the pages, get extension pages.

5. Apply for a residency visa, which is typically a year rather than the three months of a tourist visa. Each country has its own rules for this, so check the destination country’s government web site; you may need to apply in person at their embassy, consulate or consular office. You’re likely to have to fill out a lot of forms, and the process may continue after your arrival in your new home.

6. Bring copies of immunization records if you’re traveling to a country that has specific requirements for shots or vaccines.

7. Make two copies of your passport, credit cards, bank cards, insur-ance cards, and other essential travel documents. Store them sepa-rately, and always in your carry-on, not checked luggage. If you’re issued a residency card, consider carrying a laminated copy so you can keep the original in a safe place where it is less likely to be lost or stolen._______________________________________________________________

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8. Notify your bank about your plans, so they don’t stop your credit cards as soon as they pop up in an unfamiliar place.

9. Set up on-line banking and bill paying.

10. Get an ATM card if you don’t have one. Traveler’s checks were essential in the past but unlikely to be needed today; unless you’re in a very remote location, you’ll find ATM machines everywhere.

11. Bring a laptop, and whatever other electronics you use regularly. You can buy computers and many accessories just about anywhere overseas, but they are often more expensive, and foreign keyboards have small but distracting differences.

12. Get an international driver’s license, available in the US at AAA for a modest sum and good for one year. Bring along your regular license, too; you may need to show both to car rental agencies or the police.

13. Have a complete physical; you don’t want any health surprises when you’ve just arrived in a new country.

14. Bring a good supply of your medications, in their original contain-ers. Find out about getting re-supplies by mail. Once you arrive, you can show your meds to a pharmacist and ask what’s available over the counter. Bring extra glasses, copies of your prescriptions, a first aid kit.

15. If you’re crossing an ocean, don’t take furniture, cars, or other large items unless A) it’s absolutely necessary, and B) you’re prepared to pay a fortune in shipping. I found it more economical (and more fun) to furnish my new apartment from scratch.

16. Arrange for someone to receive your mail, scan your bills and letters, and forward them to you by email; in some cases, you’ll want them to mail the originals to you as well. Some financial companies provide this service or you may want to ask a trusted friend, neighbor or relative._______________________________________________________________

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17. If you’re keeping your house, hire a house sitter or arrange to have someone check on your house periodically while you’re gone. Provide this person with a list of maintenance and service providers to be called upon if needed. Arrange for regular maintenance, such as leaf removal and pest extermination, to take place while you’re gone, under the supervision of the house sitter.

Best Packing Tips

18. Here’s the most valuable packing tip of all time: before you go, lay out all your clothes and all your money, then take half the clothes and twice the money.

19. Don’t bring any suitcase you can’t handle yourself. Roller bags are a must, and it’s better to have two smaller ones than struggle to lug around something you can’t really manage. Do not assume there will always be elevators or helpful bellhops when you need them.

20. Dress appropriately. For instance, don’t show up in a sophisti-cated European city in a safari outfit or scanty beachwear. It will be easier to get along with new friends and neighbors if your clothes don’t look silly or offensive to them. And read the weather reports. I grew up watching summer visitors to San Francisco shivering miserably in their shorts and t-shirts while temperatures dipped into the low fifties with bitter winds and fog.

21. Keep items of vital importance (documents, medications, spare glasses) in your carry-on; don’t risk them in checked luggage that could be lost in transit.

Taking Along Your Pet

22. Check with your destination country to find out about pet immigra-tion policies, starting with what documentation is required. Assemble these documents in a file, sometimes referred to as a pet passport, which will be needed at customs and useful with your new vet._______________________________________________________________

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Pack a few small things that remind you of home: family photos, treasured trinkets, a tablecloth that’s special for the holidays.

Don’t think you can fit everything in one small bag? Check out the New York Times story, “Ten Days in a Carry-on.”

23. Quarantine can often be avoided if you get a microchip implanted in your pet; check the policy of your destination country. Be sure to get a chip that meets international standards, not the US variety, which

can’t be read by international scanning machines.

24. Check with the airlines to make sure they ac-cept pets (including specific breeds) and to determine whether yours is small enough to travel in the cabin. If not, make sure there’s a heated cargo area suitable for pets and check the crate requirements. Ask the airline where you’ll be able to pick up your pet upon arrival, and for someone to contact if there is a snafu.

25. If you’ll be staying in a hotel, check hotel pet poli-cies in advance. Many hotels will accept pets but with restrictions, such as size and supervision, and may require that you pay a special fee or deposit.

26. Check apartment pet policies before you rent.

27. If you don’t see a veterinarian service that looks promising in your new neighborhood, ask others who are walking their pets in the park. If language is a barrier, go online to find an expat club and post the question on their website.

28. As a guest in the country and responsible pet owner, you’ll want to always be equipped to pick up after your dog.

29. You’ll soon find the parks that are most dog-friendly, so your pet can get in a little socializing. Don’t be surprised if it takes considerably longer for you to make friends with the humans on the other end of the leash.

30. For more information, go to Internet sites such as PetTravel.com, PetTravelCenter.com and PetsOnTheGo.com.

My dog Eskimo Pie was lost in the Madrid Airport for four hours. Luckily, this harrowing day had a happy ending. To read the whole story, go toEnjoyLivingAbroad.com.

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When You Arrive

31. Mentally unpack your bags. Accept that this is home now.

32. Reset your watch to local time; your internal clock will soon fol-low. Try to avoid saying things like, “Gee, back home right now it’s four o’clock in the morning.” That just makes you more tired and disoriented.

33. Assume everything will be different. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you discover things that are like home.

Traveling with Kids

34. You’ll need a passport for each child. Check your country’s gov-ernment website for new requirements; in the US, new policies require both parents and the child to apply in person, both parents’ names on the birth certificate, and more. If your child has a passport, check the renewal date.

35. Bring copies of birth certificates, especially if there is more than one surname in the family.

36. If your child is under a custody arrangement, bring copies of the custody papers. In some countries, you may need a notarized letter from an absent spouse giving permission for you to be traveling with the child.

37. Carry copies of your child’s immunization records.

38. Keep all medications in original containers, so customs officials can identify them and to make it easier to buy replacements from the local pharmacy; knowing generic names may help. Bring extra glass-es, copies of the prescription and a first-aid kit, too.

39. Bring entertainment for each child, such as books, playing cards, iPod, iPad, legos or coloring books and crayons._______________________________________________________________

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40. If you’re traveling with infants and toddlers, pack three or four days supplies of diapers, formula, wipes, etc. for the trip over. Unless you’re going to a very remote location (such as an Amazon village) you’ll be able to re-supply at the local pharmacy or grocery store.

41. Bring water and packaged snacks for the trip. Toddlers may also appreciate a few instant cereals or other familiar treats as an alterna-tive to sampling foreign cuisine during the early transition days.

42. Prepare your children psychologically for the changes they’ll experience. Talk to them about the differences to expect in their new environment (such as meal and school schedules), encour-age them to try new things, provide a few old favorites (packaged foods, family games) and be patient when they get frustrated or homesick. Check out Internet descriptions of the stages of cul-ture shock and coping strategies.

43. The Internet has great resources for finding out about schools overseas. Good places to start include the International Schools Review and the US Department of State, which pro-

vides information about English-language schools around the world.

44. There’s a wealth of information on the Internet about both the logistics and psychology of moving abroad with children. Good places to start include travelforkids.com, travelwithyourkids.com, and an article on traveling with kids on ricksteves.com.

House Hunting

45. While you may enjoy being a homeowner in your country of origin, you should seriously consider renting at least for the first year abroad. You can explore neighborhoods and options and, if necessary, have the flexibility to make a move to a more desirable locale once you’re more familiar with the neighborhoods and your patterns of daily life. You may find that it makes more economic sense, and is far less hassle, to continue renting._______________________________________________________________

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46. Check out real estate values by reading local papers (many avail-able online) and contacting local real estate agents (online, in advance, if possible). Don’t make any long-term (more than one month) housing commitment without seeing the place in person. We’ve all been sur-prised when the hotel that appeared so glamorous in the Internet pho-tos turned out to be a dive in a ghastly neighborhood. This is a decision you don’t want to repent at leisure.

47. In deciding between country, suburbs and city, consider your personality and lifestyle. Like peace and quiet? Then a rural setting may be perfect. Love sand and sea? Consider a beach community. Feel lost without a yard and garden? The suburban lifestyle may be for you. Social life and cultural activities a top priority? Prefer walking to driving?You might want an urban apartment.

48. Before you rent or buy, check out the neighborhood. Are there suf-ficient markets and shops nearby? Too many noisy bars? Great muse-ums and concert halls? Your kid’s school? A meth lab? You want to feel safe and have the activities of daily living within easy reach.

49. If renting, review the lease with someone who speaks the lan-guage and knows local real estate; if buying, consult a good lawyer. My move to a great Seville apartment was almost scuttled at the last minute by an unexpected no-pets clause; we negotiated an exception, but it could have gone either way. Dealing with legalese in a foreign language is tricky at best.

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Banking Basics

50. Set up an account with a local bank. Even with online banking in your country of origin, there are likely to be times when you need a lo-cal account, for instance to make automatic payments to a landlord. Be prepared for surprises, such as very different policies regarding interest or convoluted methods for transferring money from your home country.

51. Most likely you’ll be using ATMs a lot, so find out which ones ac-cept your bankcards (from the home country and your local bank), and what the charge is for using them. In Seville, I found that changing the type of savings account I had in my local bank gave me free withdraw-als at several other local banks; before, ATM withdrawals were costing 1.5€ each, and I’ve seen ATM transaction fees as high as 12€.

Learning the Language

52. Take classes. Unless you’re an extraordinarily gifted linguist, you won’t pick up a working knowledge of a language from hanging around listening to people use it. You need to learn the rules, masses of vocab-ulary words and a few tricks for committing it all to memory.

53. Take private classes if you can afford them. Your learning rate will skyrocket. And a private teacher can work with subjects that interest you: local culture, hobbies, food, work-related vocabulary.

54. Give it time; if you’re over thirty, you’ll likely need months for the basics, years to become fluent, a lifetime to work on your accent. Keep at it; the more you know of the language, the more enjoyable and com-fortable your life will become.

55. Be prepared to feel foolish. Making “stupid” mistakes is part of the process. If you wait until you’re perfectly fluent before you try your skills in the real world, it really will take forever. Give it a shot in the stores, cafes and other social settings. Most people appreciate the effort and will do their best to help you along.

Language classes are a must, but the best

training is real-world experiences such as

having to ask for things in markets and cafes.

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Culture Shock and Homesickness

56. Accept that things are different in your new home – not necessarily better or worse, just differ-ent. Try not to judge everything by how it’s done in your country.

57. You will always stand out as the foreigner. You’ll attract attention and may never be totally accepted, but that’s OK. You may encounter lo-cals who spend their entire life socializing with the people they met in kindergarten. But you’ll meet

others who will go out of their way to help you because you’re different and interesting.

58. Don’t ignore feeling blue, alienated or homesick. Accept it as natu-ral and apply home remedies; mine include a hot water bottle, dark-chocolate-covered almonds, a glass of wine and a lighthearted movie. If symptoms persist, I declare a few days of attitude adjustment, during which I take a lot of walks in the park, watch more lighthearted movies,

order new, fun books on my Kindle, and call friends to meet me at a tapas bar in the evening. A day or two of this usually helps me get back my emotional equilibrium. If you can’t shake the blues, consider therapy or determine whether it’s time for some changes in your life.

59. Read the anthropology classic Return to Laughter by Eleanor Smith Bowen, a novel based on her field experience living in a West AFrican

village.She starts out romanticizing her neighbors as living more natu-ral and strife-free lives. When she discovers their all-too-human faults, she becomes highly critical of them. In the end, she accepts the ethical and moral ambiguity inherent in all human communities and achieves enough perspective to return to laughter. I read this book in college and think of it often as I adjust to new expat experiences.

Working with micro-entrprises in Kenya was among the most heart-rending and exhilarat-ing experiences I’ve ever had.

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Making Friends

60. Just say yes to any reasonable offer. You may not feel like taking that art class, helping someone train a dog or going to a movie in a language you barely speak. However, during the initial phase of living abroad, it’s best not to turn down any reasonable opportunity. (Obviously invitations to participate in crimes and skulduggery should be politely declined.)

61. Remember your manners. You’re a guest in another country and need to abide by its laws and customs. For instance, if you live in a country where smoking is legal and common, it’s rude as well as coun-terproductive to attack people for lighting up in bars.

62. Most people don’t want to hear about America or be American; don’t keep making comparisons, especially comparisons that are unfa-vorable to your host country.

63. Locals have limited interest in your travels; they tend to get jeal-ous and/or bored if you go on and on about all the cool places you’ve visited that they will never see. Instead, try talking about local places of interest, such as nearby archeological sites or beaches; ask them for recommendations about monuments and restaurants you should visit.

64. Accept local attitudes towards punctuality and other social nice-ties. In some countries, being an hour late for a lunch date is consid-ered normal and nothing to get upset about. Find out what the local customs are and plan your social life accordingly. For example, include a few punctual Americans among your lunch guests so you’ll have someone to talk to during the time you’re waiting for the others.

65. Be open to new friends of all ages, especially among people who speak your language. When you live in a community with a small expat population, you can’t afford to limit your social life along strict genera-tional lines. If someone shares your language, interests and sense of humor, cultivate their friendship.

That’s me on the right, wearing a traditional flamenco dress to Seville’s annual spring fair. I know the big red flowers on our heads look silly, but when in Rome...

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66. Consider joining a social club or other organizations such as a choir or bicycling group. Even if you’re not normally much of a joiner, you’ll find this can be a great way to expand your circle of local friends. And nearly every city has some sort of social club for expats, which you can find on the Internet or through your consulate or embassy.

67. Don’t isolate yourself. Sometimes living abroad feels overwhelm-ing, and we all have days when we want to stay home and pull the covers over our heads. But the more you get out and interact with your new world, the sooner it will start feeling like home.

Working Abroad

68. You’ll need a work visa. If you’re moving overseas for a job, the human resources staff will likely take care of getting one for you; make sure they include your spouse and any children as well. If you’re living overseas on a residency visa, it may state that you are prohibited from working. However, if the right job opportunity comes up, you can most likely obtain a work visa with the help of your new employer.

69. If your language skills aren’t perfect or you’re unfamiliar with local business practices, be sure to get a qualified professional to help you review your employment and other contracts before you sign them.

70. Learn local business customs. Don’t assume that everyone has the same attitude toward, for instance, payment schedules. In Seville, I have savvy local friends who have waited years for contracts to be honored and payments rendered. Spend time talking to others in your company and your field to find out what to expect.

71. Read the book Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More than 60 Countries by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway. It’s a handy guide to business etiquette around the world and can help you avoid countless missteps in the workplace. It’s will give you a head start on learning how to conduct your social life, too._______________________________________________________________

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72. Be prepared for resentment. Any foreigner who is hired, especially for a desirable management position, is likely to inspire jealousy and hostility among co-workers. Try not to take it personally.

73. An alternative to employment with an existing company is to set up some sort of business you can run over the Internet. I have friends who find marketing work using craigslist and fulfill their contracts using Skype and email.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry

74. Eat the local food. OK, you don’t have to order the fried flies in Bangkok or the snake stew in Vietnam, but give the mainstream offer-ings a chance. You may be delightfully surprised. And try to resist im-posing your standards on local cuisine. I was once in Belize with a man who had been told he could get whole wheat bread everywhere, and whenever our group ate, he insisted on reviewing all available baked goods, sure he’d discover something with fiber. This thrice-daily ritual, dubbed “the Presentation of the Buns,” only proved what we all knew: his only choice was white bread.

75. Find out what the locals drink. In southern Spain’s hot climate, beer is far more refreshing and popular than wine, although the wine is excellent. The coffee is also first rate and comes in a variety of configu-rations, depending on your preferred caffeine-to-milk ratio.

76. Adapt to local eating schedules. If you show up at a Spanish restaurant for lunch before 2:00 pm or dinner before 9:00 pm, you’ll be eating alone and wondering why people told you this place was so jolly.

77. Vegetarians have a difficult time abroad. I know, because I used to be one. Travelling through the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, there was meat in everything, including the vegetable dishes, and for a while I ate nothing but bread and cheese – a far cry from the balanced, healthy diet I was trying to achieve. To survive the trip, I became a flexi-tarian, that is, mostly vegetarian but eating some meat as well.

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78. Throw a party. Even if you’re still struggling to understand all the nuances of entertaining in the local style, get people together in a room with food, a little wine or beer if appropriate, music and a festive at-titude, and good things tend to happen. The locals will appreciate the effort, even if you don’t do it exactly the way they expect.

Best Transportation Options

79. Walking is the most practical form of transportation in many places, especially small cities and towns. It’s a great way to get around, get exercise and get acquainted with your new community, to say noth-ing of the cost savings over other forms of transportation.

80. Bicycling is a good alternative depending on your stamina and the town’s geography. Many cities, such as Paris, Helsinki and Copenha-gen, have city-owned bikes you can rent for a modest fee and leave in public lots, so you never have to worry about their security. It doesn’t mean they don’t get stolen, it just means that’s not your problem. 81. Taking public transportation such as buses and trains is usually cheap and convenient in most foreign cities. Rural and suburban areas have less frequent schedules but in most cases, it’s how everybody gets around and is great for both transportation and people watching.

82. City dwellers may find it more economical and convenient to rent a car when needed. Add up the cost of buying a car, paying for insur-ance and renting garage space, then divide that figure by the number of times you’re likely to use the car. If it’s just for infrequent weekends in the country, you may find you could rent a top-of-the-line car when needed and still have change left over.

83. If you live in the suburbs or country, you’ll likely need a car on a regular basis. Every nation requires different paperwork, and you’ll want to be extremely careful, especially if buying a used car, to make sure the car is really transferred to your name and that everything’s in order. For more, check out Internet accounts: here’s one._______________________________________________________________

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Communication

84. Phones are a must, although many people don’t bother with lan-dlines any more. A lot of expats start with a mobile phone that lets you pay for the calls you make, sometimes called a go-phone. Once you have a feel for your calling pattern, an annual contract may prove more economical.

85. The Internet provides email for basic correspondence and paying bills. It also lets you stay connected with family, friends and business associates through Facebook and other social networks. If you haven’t already, this is probably a good time to sign up at facebook.com. It’s free, and you’ll soon know more about your loved ones’ lives than you did when you lived in the same town, or even the same house.

86. Skype is a very low cost Internet telephone service; sign up for free at skype.com. It costs nothing to call other Skype users and pennies to phone others. It includes video, too! This is a great boon to expats for business and personal calls.

Entertainment

87. Is it possible to live without TV? Yes, and if your new country doesn’t offer the kind of programming you’re looking for (say, movies in English), you may want to skip it in favor of the other options shown below. Or you can look into getting satellite TV from your home country.

88. Renting or purchasing DVDs in your new country is great for expats because you can select the soundtrack language; check the box to be sure English is one of them. If you don’t have a TV with DVD player, watch them on your computer. Be aware that DVDs have regional coding, which means that DVDs that work on, say, an Ameri-can computer or DVD player can’t be used on most foreign systems, although you can purchase or adapt some DVD players for dual use. For details, and a list of country codes, check out the wikipedia article on DVD regional coding._______________________________________________________________

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89. If you’re used to streaming favorite US shows on the Internet, you’ll be disappointed to discover that many sites, including Netfix and most TV stations, block streaming outside the US. Some, such as the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, can be streamed from abroad, so check your favorite sites. Downloading movies and TV programs is illegal in most countries, although the degree of enforcement varies considerably.

90. If you love books, a Kindle or other e-reader is a must, as the sup-ply of English language books is likely to be slim and costly in a non-English-speaking country. Yes, Kindle doesn’t have the comfy feel of a traditional book, but you get used to that quickly. And you can buy an e-book for $8 in under a minute rather than spending $20 for the same book in paperback at a local store or via mail order.

91. If you miss English-language radio, check out podcasts on the Internet. You just click and play, or download them for later. Some are free, such as many of the NPR and BBC shows, while other sources, such as the Apple iTunes store, charge a fee.

92. The tourist office and local publications can provide lots of infor-mation about guided tours, local points of interest, concerts, exhibitions and more. Don’t be surprised if some information turns out to be out-dated or inaccurate.

Health Care

93. Your US insurance may provide coverage, but in many places it pays to buy low-cost private insurance as well. In Spain, our private in-surance entitles us to go to private clinics with much faster service and, if necessary, to have a doctor visit us at home. Yes, that’s right, house calls! They’re common in many countries.

94. Find out the location of the nearest and best hospitals and clin-ics. If an Internet search doesn’t provide this information, check with friends, your landlord or the local pharmacy.

Desperate for more reading material, I launched an annual book exchange for the local expat women’s club. Everyone donates used books and can buy any book for 1€ each.It has become an annual tradition and a popular social gathering. I’m less desperate now that I have a Kindle, but I still look forward to this event each spring for the unexpected trea-sures I always find.

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95. The local pharmacy is often your best access to the health care system. Pharmacists are trained to provide medical advice and, in many places, can sell you medications that would require a prescription back home.

96. Homeopathy is common throughout Europe and elsewhere, with many pharmacies stocking homeopathic remedies. A growing number of practitioners offer various forms of what’s sometimes called alterna-tive medicine, such as acupuncture, naturopathy and Reiki. Health food stores offer herbal, homeopathic and other remedies.

97. Have a ¨Plan B.” If you don’t feel confident about either the quality of care available or your ability to access good care due to language difficulties or highly specialized needs, consider emergency medical evacuation insurance.

Guests: Suggestions for Making Their Stay More Enjoyable (for You)

98. There are two types of guests: the independent ones, and those who need a lot of handholding. You may not be able to identify them in advance; little old ladies can be more fearless than twenty year olds or ex-Marines.

99. Be clear up front about the duration of their stay. Twice I’ve had people arrive for a weekend and stay nearly two weeks. If they are planning a visit of more than a few days, suggest they will be more comfortable in a nearby hotel.

100. Do a little pre-trip planning with them via email. If they will be staying with you, describe the accommodations; for example, let them know if there’s no TV or if they will be sleeping on a couch or inflat-able mattress. Tell them about local conditions, for instance that almost no one speaks English and everything will be closed for siesta in the middle of the day. Suggest that they read guide books and do Inter-net research to come up with things to do on their own. Explain that

In Seville, I can get many familiar herbal remedies. A prescirption drug that costs $35 a month in the US just for my co-pay is sold over the counter for about $5 a month. However, not all medications are cheaper or readily available.

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while they are on vacation, you are not, and although naturally you’ll want to spend time with them, you will have other obligations to fulfill during their stay. Of course, some guests will ignore all of this; see Tip #98.

101. House guests who overstay their wel-come are often impervious to hints that they should move on. One friend of mine, unable to budge such a guest, announced he was leaving town, packed a bag and escorted

the guest out the door. When the guest was well on his way, my friend returned to his apartment and resumed his life.

And Two Bonus Tips About Sharing What You’ve Learned

102. When you’ve lived abroad for a while, you’ll find that you have accumulated a wealth of useful knowledge about how to adapt to the environment. Be generous about sharing this information with other expats, especially the newcomers.

103. Share your experiences with others in letters home, postings on Facebook, a blog, or even a book. I’ve just written a book called Danc-ing in the Fountain: How to Enjoy Living Abroad; for more see my website EnjoyLivingAbroad.com. I had a great time reliving so many of my most exciting adventures. It made me realize how lucky I am to feel so at home in a foreign country and to have these opportunities to share what I’ve learned with a wider audience.

________________________________________________________Good luck! I hope this has helped you on your journey. For more on my experiences, to let me know about yours, or to get on my mailing list for more travel tips and stories, visit my blog. Happy travels, Karen McCann_______________________________________________________________

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