The Prepared Expat

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As we enter a new lunar calendar year, read about some changes coming to The Prepared Expat in the year ahead!

https://thepreparedexpat.com/next-steps-for-the-prepared-expat/

Thanks! It’s a fun (albeit long!) holiday season 😀

Happy Lunar New Year! Whether you celebrate Lunar New Year or not, The Prepared Expat sends greetings to you around the world!

Whether you celebrate Lunar New Year or not, The Prepared Expat sends greetings to you around the world!

Orbiting Home: Surviving Expat Life with Astronaut Wisdom Astronaut Scott Kelly's year in space offers profound lessons for expats. From embracing longing to appreciating what's missed to strengthening connections, learn how these insights help expats thrive in the challenges of life abroad.

Orbiting Home: Surviving Expat Life with Astronaut Wisdom

Astronaut Scott Kelly's year in space offers profound lessons for expats. From embracing longing to strengthening connections, learn how these insights help expats thrive.
#expatlife #astronaut

No Context, No Clue: Why Expats Miss the Point (and What to Do About It) Ever feel like everyone’s in on a joke you don’t get? As an expat, missing cultural context is like watching a movie without subtitles. This article uncovers why symbols, references, and shorthand matter—and how cracking the code of cultural fluency can turn confusion into connection.

Ever feel like everyone’s in on a joke you don’t get? That's expat life. This article uncovers why symbols, references, and shorthand matter—and how cracking the code of cultural fluency can turn confusion into connection.

#expatlife #languagelearning

Phonetic Finesse: The Art of Being Understood Close enough is often not good enough. Learn why phoneme differences and hearing challenges produce obstacles in communication and, more importantly, how you can overcome those challenges so that you are understandable and comprehensible to locals.

Phonetic Finesse: The Art of Being Understood

Close enough isn't good enough. Learn why phoneme difference produce obstacles in communication and how you can overcome those challenges so that you are understandable to locals. #languagelearning #language

Between Two Worlds: Surviving as an Expat When Countries Clash When countries clash, the stakes are higher for expats. Explore practical strategies for navigating the tense reality of living between two worlds. Don’t wait—get informed, stay safe, and thrive abroad.

Between Two Worlds: Surviving as an Expat

When countries clash, the stakes are higher for expats. Explore practical strategies for navigating the tense reality of living between two worlds.

#expatlife #danger #risk #emergency #war

The 2024 TP Awards! The Prepared Expat celebrates its first year by distributing the TP Awards, including The Accidentally Viral, Can't Unsee That, Biggest Flop, & Control-Z Awards.

The Prepared Expat celebrates 2024 by distributing the TP Awards, including The Accidentally Viral, Can't Unsee That, Biggest Flop, and Y'all Are Nerds Too? Awards

Merry Christmas! I wish you a most wonderfully Merry Christmas this year!

I just want to wish you a most wonderfully Merry Christmas this year!

Forget This! Outsmart Your Brain with the Power of Lists Struggling to keep track of life's endless details abroad? Discover how simple lists can be your secret weapon for navigating expat challenges. Unglamorous checklists can transform chaos into order and help you thrive, not just survive, abroad.

Forget This! Outsmart Your Brain with the Power of Lists

Struggling to keep track of life's details abroad? Discover how simple lists can be your secret weapon for navigating expat challenges. Unglamorous checklists can transform chaos into order

There's currently a tie for the People's Choice Award of best article of 2024 on The Prepared Expat! I need YOU to vote to break the tie and choose which article gets the coveted People's Choice TP Award!

Vote now! surveymonkey.com/r/2PHMWQN

I’m so glad! Any specific topics you’re interested in, and I can point you to articles you may like. There’s a lot of archives!

Guess what! Wordpress supports BlueSky's integration and so now that's everywhere on my site. Thanks for the suggestions!

Lessons Learned: David & Goliath, and Escaping Relative Deprivation Comparisons steal joy, but you don’t have to stay trapped. Learn how expats can escape the grip of relative deprivation and grow in contentment wherever you are in the world.

Comparisons steal joy, but you can break free. Discover how expats escape relative deprivation by focusing on gratitude and perspective. Stop measuring your worth against others and find contentment!

Haha, I’ll submit a request to Wordpress!

Great suggestion! I’ll see if I can, but not sure if the site supports that yet. It definitely should!

The 2024 People's Choice Awards! Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Vote for The People’s Choice TP Award

Your opinion matters! Vote for The People's Choice TP Award for the best & worst articles of this year. Loved one? Hated one? Let me know—it’s quick, anonymous, & kinda fun! 🗳️ Cast your vote now:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/2PHMWQN

Learn Smart, not Hard: A ZPD Reality Check Unlock the secrets of effective learning with the ZPD. Discover how to harness this powerful psychological framework to accelerate your skills, improve performance, and maximize your learning. Lear…

Learn Smart, not Hard: A ZPD Reality Check

Struggling to find the perfect #languagelearning balance? Discover how to master the art of ‘just right’ in your #learning:

thepreparedexpat.com/learn-smart-...

#language #polyglot #expat

The Write Defense: How Tactical Pens Keep You Safe Expats unfortunately face higher risks of crime than locals. Learn how this small tool can help you stay safe, anywhere in the world.

The Write Defense: How Tactical Pens Keep You Safe

Expats unfortunately face higher risks of crime than locals. Learn how this small tool can help you stay safe, anywhere in the world.

thepreparedexpat.com/write-defens...

#selfdefense #expat #expatlife #expatblog #safety #expatsafety #tacticalpen

Food is definitely a factor to consider, though it’s often one of the easiest things to adjust. The k for you don’t localize, the more expensive things are, but if you cook for yourself & bring your own spices, there’s tons you can do differently

Death by Assumption: The Expat’s Hospital Survival Guide Think you know how hospitals work? Think again. One expat’s life-or-death story reveals how dangerous assumptions about foreign healthcare systems can be. Learn how to navigate medical emergencies …

And also a bit on medical care: thepreparedexpat.com/death-by-ass...

Expat Health Insurance Demystified: Your Essential Guide Navigating health insurance as an expat can be complex. This guide will help you know how to buy health insurance as an expat, what coverage to get, and how to use it while in your host country.

So my stuff is mostly after having decided a location 😀. But I can help you with insurance! thepreparedexpat.com/expat-health...

Mine? Haha. Any specific topics I can point you to?

There’s a lot on my website that I hope will help you along your journey. Any specific pain points right now?

Expat Thanksgivings: Thriving Abroad One Blessing at a Time Gratitude isn’t just a virtue, it’s essential for your expat life. If you want joy, peace, patience, or love, learn to intentionally cultivate gratitude. Learn how to recognize your blessings and create a life worth celebrating, one moment at a time.

Gratitude is essential to create joy, peace, patience, and love in your expat life. Discover how cultivating gratitude can help you recognize blessings and create a life worth celebrating.

What a great idea!

Welcome all my new peeps! I've been an expat for over a decade and I write & post in order to equip you to survive and thrive as an expat.

If you're an expat or a language learner, I'd love to connect!
#expat #expatblog #languagelearning #languagelover

Death by Assumption: The Expat’s Hospital Survival Guide Think you know how hospitals work? Think again. One expat’s life-or-death story reveals how dangerous assumptions about foreign healthcare systems can be. Learn how to navigate medical emergencies abroad before it’s too late—because preparation could mean the difference between life and death.

Think you know hospitals? One expat’s story shows how deadly assumptions can be. Learn to navigate foreign healthcare before it’s too late—preparation can save lives.

Frame of Mind: Your Perspective Matters More Than Your Problems Discover how reframing challenges can change your expat experience. This article explores the power of perspective shifts to reduce stress, boost adaptability, and build meaningful connections in a foreign culture. A mindset shift could change everything!

Frame of Mind: Your Perspective Matters More Than Your Problems

Reframing challenges can transform your expat experience! Learn how shifting perspective reduces stress, boosts adaptability, & builds deeper connections.

Lessons Learned: Lone Survivor and Perseverance of the Moment Persevering amidst challenges is essential for an expat, but it’s difficult unless you know the trick of “perseverance of the moment.” Learn this trick from “Lone Survivor,” the true st…

If the reason you're learning a language or living as an expat is small, then you'll quit when things get hard. And maybe you should, since it doesn't matter.

But if what you're doing matters, then persevere. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy. The things that matter are always hard. Don't give up.