Expat Focus

A Mexican Restaurant in Panama – Our New Business Abroad

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:06:29 GMT

by Expat Focus columnist, Stephanie Angulo When my husband and I moved to Panama last January, we were looking forward to a slower pace of life. Considering that we were only 30 and 32 at the time, we weren’t looking for retirement. We knew we were interested in business opportunities available in Panama, but the last thing we ever thought of opening was a Mexican restaurant in La Chorrera, Panama (a city about 30 minutes outside of Panama City). Article continues here

Interview with Judy Rickatson, Social Media Director at Families in Global Trans

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:11:11 GMT

I guess you could call me a professional trailing spouse. I was born and raised in the UK and unwittingly married a Third Culture Kid. Soon after, we immigrated to Canada where I built a successful career in real estate. When my son was 9 years old my husband’s job took us to Azerbaijan just after its independence from the Soviet Union, which was a huge culture shock, but also a life-changing experience (in a good way!)... Interview continues here

Conquering My Driving Demons

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:17:39 GMT

by Expat Focus columnist, Aisha Isabel Ashraf For a long time, before exchanging my British driving licence for a Canadian one, I would mentally rehearse driving here. Closing my eyes, I would imagine every part of the journey into town, all the intersections, traffic lights and lane changes, haunted by the fear I would end up on the wrong side of the road and terrified of the potential carnage... Article continues here

The Pitfalls of Exotic Expat Investment Strategies

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 22:19:21 GMT

by Expat Focus investment partner, Tom Zachystal For the better part of this year investment markets have been largely trendless. There have been many ups and downs but no clear breakout to either the down-side or the up-side. The current state of things, a slowing and fragile economy in Europe as well as issues with sovereign debt, better economic data in the US, and perhaps a more stable outlook in Asia with lower inflation and still good growth, support the view that we may be in for an extended period of up and down investment market performance. In such a market, and... Read more here

Missing the Movies?

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:20:55 GMT

by Expat Focus columnist, Stephanie Angulo Just because you move abroad doesn’t mean that everything in your life is suddenly 100% different. You will find yourself partaking in many of the same activities you did back home, like going to the movies. The hubs and I have always been avid movie goers and didn’t let moving to Panama, a Spanish speaking country, slow down our movie date nights. Waiting in line to see midnight showings of Lord of the Rings, all the Matrix movies, and Ironman 2 barely scrapes the tip of the iceberg. Since our big move in January of this year, we’ve learned a few tips and tricks to enjoying our movie theater experience in Panama. Article continues here

Christmas in England

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:37:09 GMT

by Expat Focus columnist, Michelle Garrett A few days before my first English Christmas, I walked along wet cobbled streets, past the warmly glowing windows of the little honey-grey stone houses built right up to the sidewalk. The faint coal smoke trail lay a trace for my memories forever. Now when I smell coal smoke on a cold night I am brought back to my first winter in Britain. Article continues here

Interview with Tai Aguirre, Producer and Host of “The ExPat” Radio Show

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:50:57 GMT

My road to ultimately creating the Expat Show was a series of wild events one can only describe as unpredictable, long, winding and nightmarish! Hope you will bear with me. To start, I come from an entrepreneurial background. I think anyone who has that quality in their blood knows how important it is to create and be independent... Interview continues here

POLL: What is the greatest challenge for your expat career?

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:25:08 GMT

Expat Focus is delighted to announce that we will shortly be hosting a regular monthly column from highly respected international career coach Megan Fitzgerald (www.careerbychoice.com) aimed at helping our visitors make the most of their global career opportunities. Megan would like to learn more about the issues which are most important to YOU, the reader. Can you spare a few seconds to complete the poll available here?

Which expat writers/bloggers do you recommend?

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:37:30 GMT

Expat Focus is expanding its range of regular columnists and we're looking for your help! Is there a particular writer or blogger on expat issues you admire? Please let us know by emailing Carole on carole@expatfocus.com - thank you!

Expat Focus has a new look!

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:25:35 GMT

The site maintenance scheduled for 4/11/11 was successfully completed 5 hours ahead of schedule. Regular visitors will notice that in addition to one or two technical changes the site has also benefited from a radically improved design. We hope you like the new look and that it enables you to find the information you're looking for faster than ever before. Should you notice any technical problems while using the new site please email admin@expatfocus.com so that we can investigate, thank you.