Posts Tagged ‘overseas removals’

Britons Moving Overseas Experience Language Woes, Communication Issues

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Spain has always been a popular destination for British expatriates and holidayers, but as a cultural destination it possesses quite a different way of life. Many British expatriates and overseas workers experience some severe growing pains, particularly surrounding the Spanish language and slight cultural differences.

While furniture removals and Spanish relocations are relatively simple, the cultural side of moving to a new country can be quite a taxing difference. For Brits in Spain, language is often a divide between living a full Spanish life, and remaining in a life as a Briton overseas. Expatriates often tell stories about Spanish taps and bathroom hazards, where ‘C’ could mean hot – caliente – or cold.

While Spain’s consulate services and public assistants are drafting changes to language and expatriate assistance programs, cultural divides remain an issue in many other top expatriate destinations. Beyond the logistical side of overseas removals, a range of challenges can pop up when Britons are exposed to foreign customs and business methods.

For British expatriates in Spain, a common issue surrounds housing. Dream villas and beach-side houses are purchased to fulfil a dream relocation or retirement, only to be declared illegal or unsafe for residency. Similar issues are frequent in the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and other countries where British expatriates reside.

Our advice: sort out the logistics or international removals first, and have a backup plan ready for the practicalities. Cultural divides can result in some scary situations, but are almost always controllable with some pre-planning.



New Zealand, Japan, Denmark Top List of Peaceful Overseas Living Destinations

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

A Presidentially endorsed Australian research group has released its 2009 Global Peace Index, naming and ranking countries according to their peacefulness and lack of violence, both social and political. Popular expatriate destination New Zealand has topped the list, with other top 10 finalists including Japan, Iceland, Denmark, and Canada.

As many Britons tire of military action and global political efforts, peaceful politics are becoming a major factor when deciding which country to move to. A large number of expatriates leave the UK for more peaceful soils, not just in terms of overseas military action, but when at-home crime and social issues are taken into account.

While rankings for the UK are unavailable, the United States reported a poor showing, appearing in 83rd place 144 nations polled. The survey was based around 23 ‘violence indicators’, including military size, jail population, the amount of guns and other weapons, and incidences of urban violent crime. With stories of ‘Broken Britain’ appearing all too frequently on TV, it’s certainly not unusual to think that social issues could be behind Britain’s no-show in the top rankings.

Alongside weather woes, social issues and frequent violence is a major factor behind many Britons leaving for other countries. While international removals are slowing from their peak three years ago, many Britons are still interested in overseas removals for life on more peaceful shores.



40% of Brits Aged Above 55 Consider Moving Abroad

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Retirement in the UK is often a gloomy prospect. There’s the distinct lack of sun, the somewhat harsh winters, and the potentially high cost of living. Stories of struggling pensioners are frequent bait for the tabloids, and the living conditions of many retirees are slowly getting less comfortable.

With many British pension plans paying out internationally, a number of UK citizens are considering moving abroad for their retirement, new studies show. Of the retired Britons surveyed, over 40% noted that they were considering moving overseas during their retirement, with approximately 38% of participants claiming that a move within five years was likely.

Expat-friendly locations such as Spain and France still top the list of potential destinations, while developing nations are becoming frequently eyed up as potential cost-cutting lifestyle choices. Many retiring Britons opt to travel overseas to take their income further, using low-cost countries outside the European Union to counteract the pound’s ever-decreasing value.

Many retirement-aged expatriates barely consider currency fluctuations and income in their search for an overseas destination, figures show. Many are simply searching for a better lifestyle, often in a location with lower spending requirements. With many overseas removals companies offering competitive service, moving an entire home’s worth of possessions overseas is becoming less costly and more realistic for many expats.

With Britain coming off one of the harshest winters in recent history, the draw abroad could be stronger than ever. With the right combination of planning, long-term investment, and overseas removals preparation, many Britons could be making the right choice in moving overseas.



Page 1 of 712345»...Last »