Uruguay’s lack of architectural uniformity entices visitors toward permanent residency. Turn a corner, and you might find an English-style house with a thatched roof, a quaint beach cottage, a humble adobe or a stately manor. The possibilities are endless. Uruguayans have a strong sense of personal freedom, which prevents the development of neighborhood associations that the color of your house, the condition of your lawn and anything else that should be your own decision. On top of that, rents are reasonable if you know where and how to look.
Uruguay: How to Rent in Paradise
January 26, 2012 by 2 Comments
Local Markets, Supermarkets and You
January 19, 2012 by 1 Comment
One of the first things you will notice in numerous countries outside the Western world is that many of them rely less on supermarkets than they do on local markets. And while the term “organic” might be nothing more than a gimmick in places like the United States (where I watched my mother pay $2 USD for a single cucumber and $4 USD for single onion in 2010 at her local Safeway in Colorado), once you get into the real world outside of the FDA-approved food industry you will discover a wide open world of true organic produce. The kind that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg and doesn’t need an organic label on it because the locals aren’t chemically engineering their produce, but rather growing it the way nature intended. It is simply organic by its very nature. [Read more...]
Public Transportation around the World
January 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
While those of you who were born and bred outside of the United States were weaned on public transportation from the time you were a youngster, those who hail from the United States have faced an entirely different set of standards when it comes to public transportation. Unless you happen to hail from a major city in the United States, chances are your primary mode of transportation was a vehicle of your own. Although places like New York and Chicago have excellent public transportation options, not all major cities in the U.S. are so lucky, and if you are one of the average, everyday sort of Americans you likely view public transportation with disdain. [Read more...]
Morocco Classified: How To Job Hunt
January 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The best way to look for a job in Morocco is by word of mouth. As with anywhere, if you have a large network, the stronger the chance that you’ll hear about a job opening in your field or skill set. So go out there and try to connect. Get to know people in similar circumstances as you by joining FaceBook groups or other online social networks. [Read more...]
Essential Tips for Relocating to London
January 10, 2012 by 3 Comments
Moving to a new country is no small task. That is especially true when you move to a large international city like London. While the move may seem daunting at first, there are some simple steps you can take to make the process go smoothly. [Read more...]
Getting married in Canada
January 10, 2012 by
I love weddings; so much so that I’ve ‘married’ my husband of 10 years in the Czech Republic, Cyprus, and India. We’ve had a Czech wedding ceremony in a castle which dates back to the 11th Century, a party on one of Cyprus’ exquisite beaches, and a traditional walk around the fire in the captivating city of Mumbai, India. [Read more...]
Sip and Surf: Free Wi-Fi Cafés in Rabat
January 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment
While Rabat is known to be the modern capital of Morocco, it is tricky locating free wi-fi hotspots. Some web sites boast of cafés with wi-fi, but you go to check them out and you either have to pay for the wi-fi or wi-fi is simply a hollow myth there. So I have visited cafés and restaurants and have verified the following locations to be equipped with wireless—and, most importantly, it’s free! [Read more...]
Your ticket to study abroad: the TOEFL exam
January 3, 2012 by 6 Comments
The TOEFL [Test of English as a Foreign Language] exam is a requirement for admission to almost every school in the United States. Additionally, many employers require passing TOEFL scores. The TOEFL was first developed by Dr. Charles Ferguson at Stanford University in California and has undergone many transformations since then. Since 2006, TOEFL has been administered via computer and pencil and paper tests are no longer given. [Read more...]
Morocco for Anglophones: English-Language Bookstores
December 29, 2011 by 2 Comments
The book market in Essaouira
I am the most un-expat-like person I know.
I don’t care where one can purchase bagels in Morocco—all the Moroccan varieties of fresh bread more than fill my belly and stimulate my senses. I don’t look for hairdressers because I trust one woman to cut my hair and she’s back in Los Angeles. And, lastly, I am not looking for English-speaking housekeepers and nannies—many of the self-named expat “ladies” with children do quest for nannies even though some don’t work outside the home. I don’t have children and I can clean my own place—although God knows I need to do it more often. But, there is one thing that I have hankered for in Morocco and that is English books. I read Arabic and French, but English is my comfort language. I can download books, but the delight of snuggling with a book to soothe both body and mind cannot be matched by digital.
Studying abroad in the United States: selecting the best schools
December 27, 2011 by 2 Comments
As 2011 comes to a close, there are over fourteen million students enrolled in nearly 6000 schools of higher education in the United States. If you are reading this, chances are you may soon be one of them. But how to choose? There are a lot of issues for you to consider: what do you want to study? Do you have a niche- a small specialty area? Is there a specific professor or program you seek? Before answering these questions, it will help you to understand, in general terms, the type of schools you will find in the United States. [Read more...]
