We all  have had our ups and downs in our lives,some more than others. But, how we end up in the end, determines how we actually see the peaks and valleys. The storms helps us to change to a better and stronger person.  Be ye transformed by renewing your mind: read  Transformations: Give Up The Struggle by Renee Wiggins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igsRogBmwrg&feature=youtube_gdatae

Markinch ‘green’ activists are to find out about a community energy project.

Markinch Environmental Action Group’s public meeting on Thursday will feature a talk by Alistair Roberts of RENEW, a local not-for-profit supply company.

The group has been going from strength to strength since it was set up in March.

It now has over 20 members from the town, Coaltown of Balgonie and north Glenrothes, with new people turning up to every meeting, helping generate lively discussions on a range of local issues.

The group aims to build a strong foundation for Markinch to be a thriving, self-sufficient and sustainable community.

It is also currently focusing on allotments – of which there are none in the town – and transport, with a bid to boost bus links with the rest of Fife, improve cycling provision and encourage commuters to use the railway station’s secure car park rather than use the streets.

Galatians 5:16-26

Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

Have you ever noticed that in winter some oak trees retain crisp, dry leaves long after the maples, the elms, and the walnuts have become bare skeletons? Even the strong winter winds and the early spring rains do not strip the oak branches completely. But as springtime progresses, something wonderful  happens. Tiny little buds start appearing at the tips of the twigs, pushing off the dried remnants of the preceding season. What the winds and rain could not do from without, the forces of new life do from within.

At times, old habits cling to our lives with the same tenacity as those oak leaves. Even the winds of trial and suffering do not remove all the lifeless leftovers of our fallen human nature. But Christ, who dwells in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, is at work. His life within us continually seeks to push off the old habits, renewing us when we confess our sins, steadying us when we falter, and strengthening us to do His will.

When every effort to cast off an old sinful habit ends in failure, remember the mighty oak. Thank God for His Spirit who lives in you. Keep saying yes to His gentle urging to be kind, loving, honest, strong, and faithful. He’ll push off t hose “lifeless old leaves.” —djd

When stubborn sins tenaciously hold to their former place, we must rely on Jesus’ strength and His unfailing grace. —sper

The best way to get rid of a bad habit is to start a good habit — rely on God.

“While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation” ~ Maya Angelou

Otters in La Manche Cove, Newfoundland

I need to spend time reading and journaling each morning. This is a time of renewal and growth, for me a way of getting ready for what the day brings. At this time I am always at peace does that peace follow me through the day? Not always but it is always there to recall and draw on. To truly change and grow I need as do we all ,to consider what I am hoping to get out of today.What am I hope to give to today? It is never all about getting and should never be. It should be about giving, of your time ,your talents, your care. This in turn sets you up to receive. It is far better to be loved by others than love of self, far better to serve others than yourself, care for others than yourself. We don’t know what others are going through, just like they don’t know what you are going through.

Another day, another bunch of crazies band together to spread their religious bile.This new group, called RENEW, describe their mission statement as:

The mission of RENEW is to defend the dignity of the human person and the institution of marriage.  We work to protect the dignity of the human person and seek to change attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that allow for the total disregard of moral values.

 We believe that the continuing commericalisation of human sexuality, the objectification of women and the lack of moral values is immensely damaging to society, therefore we aim to influence, educate and lobby the industries responsible and the government so as to counteract this.

However, their main aim seems to be to petition against the Civil Partnership Bill. WON’T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!! They couldn’t possibly allow gays to have a handful of the rights that they have. Sean Brady must be delighted!

Their site lists their campaign issues as: 

The promotion and protection of marriage and family life

To influence government legislation which protects and supports family life

The teaching of sex education is primarily the role of the parent and must be taught in accordance with Catholic principles which always respects the child’s natural modesty

The protection of children against sexualisation by the media and the entertainment and commercial industries.

To end the commercialization of human sexuality and the objectification of women through the media, sex industries and on the internet

To lobby the government to strengthen the obscenity laws and to impose heavy sanctions for the breaking of those laws

The regulation of the media and advertising industry by an impartial body, independent of the industries concerned

Ah, ye olde “protection of marriage and family life” argument. Please people, some originality. It’s getting boring. Seriously. Come up with a new argument. Or maybe even some backing evidence for this bull. How does two men or two women getting married in anyway impinge on your monotonous lives which lack so much that you must spend them peddling hatred and promoting discrimination? Like how sad do you have to be?!

In their events section, they applaude their own launch with the following article:

RENEW, a new national advocacy and lobby group, launched in Buncrana last week has been hailed a “vision for modern Ireland.”  The organisation has been founded by Mary Doherty from Buncrana.
RENEW seeks to influence and renew modern day thinking in regard to human behaviour and to position itself as an authoritative voice on Christian moral values.
Guest speaker, the most Reverand Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty, said he “saluted Mary Doherty in bringing her vision to this stage.  I’m here because I am in agreement with a lot of her aspirations. I acknowledge Mary’s vision which she has been articulating for a very long time and doing so very convincingly. RENEW has produced a valuable piece of work for people who care about the future of young people.”

RENEW has made a series of recommendations that it would like to see pursued by Government to protect children and families against the commercialisation of human sexuality in modern day Ireland. They include:

• The greater encouragement of marriage by the Government by offering affordable homes, incentivised tax laws and affordable childcare;
• A stated policy position on the promotion of marriage and the family unit;
• A Government information campaign against the commercialization of human sexuality and the objectification of women and the sexualisation of children by the media and entertainment and commercial industries;

We are supporting Media Watch UK in pressing for a European agreement on programme standards in the area of multi-media broadcasting.
Speaking at the launch Mary Doherty said her vision for change will continue around the country with a county-by-county publicity and media campaign.  “I was delighted with the turnout at our launch and the reaction from the public since it.”

Here are the lovely people behind this:

Perhaps most worringly of all is the letter that they are sending to TD’s. The only place I could find this letter was on the blog of Maman Poulet, so she did the work on this one. The text of the letter is as follows:

Dear Deputy,

 

RENEW is calling for the scrapping of the Civil Partnership Bill for the following reasons:-

 

It’s unconstitutional because it’s against Article 41 of the Irish Constitution. Article 41 states that ” The State recognises the family as the natural, primary and fundamental unit of society, and a moral institution. The State guarantees to protect the family because it is the necessary basis of social order and indispensable to the welfare of the nation and the State.

 

Making laws that recognise same-sex unions is legislating for immoral, perverse and deviant behaviour.

 

This Bill contradicts right reason because it is not in accordance with the natural moral law.

 

Therefore this Bill is not legitimate since it fails to recognise the inalienable and imprescriptible right of every human being.

 

It is grossly unjust and immoral because it is so harmful to the common good.

 

It is a blatant attack on Marriage and Family Life.

 

The government and the opposition parties assured the people that the “guarantees” secured by the government ensured that there could be no undermining of the Constitutional protections for the family and human life.

 

We call on you as our public representative to see that this Bill is scrapped and show the people that they were right to trust the government to protect the family founded on Marriage since this was one of the issues many people voted NO too in Lisbon 1, then voted YES in Lisbon 2 because of the guarantees.

 

We are asking you to respond to us via email at info@renewcampaign.com and outline your position on the Civil Partnership Bill.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 Mary Doherty

What the hell like?! My only hope is that the TD’s recognise this as being one of the crazy letters and puts it to one side. However, the worrying this is that if they get enough of these letters, that they may sit up and take some notice… There are some TD’s that are getting a letter/visit a day in opposition to the Bill.

Therefore, the LGBTQ community and any supporters of Civil Partnership and gay marriage need to go visit their TD’s and outline their concerns. MaarriagEquality are running a campaign on this. To learn more, go to www.marriagequality.ie and get involved. We can wait around on this one, as the Bill will be discussed on the 3rd of December if my sources are correct….

Don’t wait around on this. The crazies are rallying the troops. We should be too.

Another day, another bunch of crazies band together to spread their religious bile.This new group, called RENEW, describe their mission statement as:

The mission of RENEW is to defend the dignity of the human person and the institution of marriage.  We work to protect the dignity of the human person and seek to change attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that allow for the total disregard of moral values.

 We believe that the continuing commericalisation of human sexuality, the objectification of women and the lack of moral values is immensely damaging to society, therefore we aim to influence, educate and lobby the industries responsible and the government so as to counteract this.

However, their main aim seems to be to petition against the Civil Partnership Bill. WON’T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!! They couldn’t possibly allow gays to have a handful of the rights that they have. Sean Brady must be delighted!

Their site lists their campaign issues as:

•  
  • The promotion and protection of marriage and family life
  • To influence government legislation which protects and supports family life
  • The teaching of sex education is primarily the role of the parent and must be taught in accordance with Catholic principles which always respects the child’s natural modesty
  • The protection of children against sexualisation by the media and the entertainment and commercial industries.
  • To end the commercialization of human sexuality and the objectification of women through the media, sex industries and on the internet
  • To lobby the government to strengthen the obscenity laws and to impose heavy sanctions for the breaking of those laws
  • The regulation of the media and advertising industry by an impartial body, independent of the industries concerned

Ah, ye olde “protection of marriage and family life” argument. Please people, some originality. It’s getting boring. Seriously. Come up with a new argument. Or maybe even some backing evidence for this bullshit. How does two men or two women getting married in anyway impinge on your monotonous lives which lack so much that you must spend them peddling hatred and promoting discrimination? Like how sad do you have to be?!

In their events section, they applaude their own launch with the following article:

RENEW, a new national advocacy and lobby group, launched in Buncrana last week has been hailed a “vision for modern Ireland.”  The organisation has been founded by Mary Doherty from Buncrana.
RENEW seeks to influence and renew modern day thinking in regard to human behaviour and to position itself as an authoritative voice on Christian moral values.
Guest speaker, the most Reverand Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty, said he “saluted Mary Doherty in bringing her vision to this stage.  I’m here because I am in agreement with a lot of her aspirations. I acknowledge Mary’s vision which she has been articulating for a very long time and doing so very convincingly. RENEW has produced a valuable piece of work for people who care about the future of young people.”

RENEW has made a series of recommendations that it would like to see pursued by Government to protect children and families against the commercialisation of human sexuality in modern day Ireland. They include:

• The greater encouragement of marriage by the Government by offering affordable homes, incentivised tax laws and affordable childcare;
• A stated policy position on the promotion of marriage and the family unit;
• A Government information campaign against the commercialization of human sexuality and the objectification of women and the sexualisation of children by the media and entertainment and commercial industries;

We are supporting Media Watch UK in pressing for a European agreement on programme standards in the area of multi-media broadcasting.
Speaking at the launch Mary Doherty said her vision for change will continue around the country with a county-by-county publicity and media campaign.  “I was delighted with the turnout at our launch and the reaction from the public since it.”

Here are the lovely people behind this:

Perhaps most worringly of all is the letter that they are sending to TD’s. The only place I could find this letter was on the blog of Maman Poulet, so she did the work on this one. The text of the letter is as follows:

Dear Deputy,

 

RENEW is calling for the scrapping of the Civil Partnership Bill for the following reasons:-

 

It’s unconstitutional because it’s against Article 41 of the Irish Constitution. Article 41 states that ” The State recognises the family as the natural, primary and fundamental unit of society, and a moral institution. The State guarantees to protect the family because it is the necessary basis of social order and indispensable to the welfare of the nation and the State.

 

Making laws that recognise same-sex unions is legislating for immoral, perverse and deviant behaviour.

 

This Bill contradicts right reason because it is not in accordance with the natural moral law.

 

Therefore this Bill is not legitimate since it fails to recognise the inalienable and imprescriptible right of every human being.

 

It is grossly unjust and immoral because it is so harmful to the common good.

 

It is a blatant attack on Marriage and Family Life.

 

The government and the opposition parties assured the people that the “guarantees” secured by the government ensured that there could be no undermining of the Constitutional protections for the family and human life.

 

We call on you as our public representative to see that this Bill is scrapped and show the people that they were right to trust the government to protect the family founded on Marriage since this was one of the issues many people voted NO too in Lisbon 1, then voted YES in Lisbon 2 because of the guarantees.

 

We are asking you to respond to us via email at info@renewcampaign.com and outline your position on the Civil Partnership Bill.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 Mary Doherty

What the FUCK like?! My only hope is that the TD’s recognise this as being one of the crazy letters and puts it to one side. However, the worrying this is that if they get enough of these letters, that they may sit up and take some notice… There are some TD’s that are getting a letter/visit a day in opposition to the Bill.

Therefore, the LGBTQ community need to get up off their asses and go visit their TD’s and outline their concerns. MaarriagEquality are running a campaign on this. To learn more, go to www.marriagequality.ie and get involved. We can wait around on this one, as the Bill will be discussed on the 3rd of December if my sources are correct….

Don’t wait around on this. The crazies are rallying the troops. We should be too.

Well you can live in the Philippines on $500 per month and here’s how.

Apartments in Cebu, one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, can start from around $150 (£103) per month.  Not that Cebu is particularly off the beaten track.  Cebu city boasts 5 star hotels, casinos, shopping malls, golf courses and nearby sandy beaches.  If you’re prepared to take cost savings further you can rent a room in a house.

Home to around 115,000 people, the city also offers nearby whale and dolphin watching, excellent beaches and is fast becoming a prime location for those wanting to retire in the Philippines as it has a large number of medical clinics, good city amenities, as well as a laid back lifestyle.

Next, on to the secondary products such as food!  Lets say you use half a litre of milk per day, 3 litres of bottled water per day, breakfast on two boiled eggs, buy a kilo of rice every 3 days and usually eat out every lunch time and evening at a local roadside stall – something like sizzling pork cheeks or Tapsilog (beef fried rice and eggs), and you obviously get through a kilo of coffee a week, average costs for a month would run to around $350 (£240).  So a months worth of groceries plus accommodation costs would still allow you to live on less than $500 per month in the Philippines.

In many of the more touristy and popular parts of Spain English is widely understood – so this can be good for those who don’t fancy the thought of having to get to grips with another language in order to move abroad.  And for those for whom the idea of moving to such an area is abhorrent, there are plenty of pockets of more rural Spain where there are no English people!  This means that in theory, no matter what your preference, you can find a place for your retirement in Spain.

How to live abroad cheaply, if you’ve decided to get out of the rat race during the current economic doom and gloom but haven’t really got much in the way of cash, or if you’re thinking about retiring early, or maybe you just want to be a beach bum for a few months, why not get yourself over to Thailand?

The first consideration is going to be accommodation.  You’re not going to be able to put yourself up in the Bangkok Hilton on a budget of $500 a month living in Thailand, but accommodation can be found from as little as $30 (£20) a month for a small apartment without air conditioning in places like Chang Mai up in the mountains of northern Thailand.

Whilst it would be very tempting to go straight into trying to fit a months worth of nightlife in Thailand into $400 it’s probably better to consider the cost of food as your next priority.  The majority of lower end apartments won’t have cooking facilities so it’s going to be a case of eating out.  Obviously you can eat in a restaurant every night, but again budgetary requirements won’t cover this.  You can however get fantastic Thai food from street side food stalls.  A good meal for one will cost around $1.10 (£0.75), and it usually consists of rice with spicy chicken, spicy pork or spicy something else!

Obviously you’re going to need to get out a bit while you’re living in Thailand, and with $220 remaining we can do that.  Put aside around $30 (£20) for a months worth of laundry and we are now down to $190.  Going out to dinner without getting too heavy on the alcohol should run to about $12 (£8.25) per person, and getting to and from your preferred spot shouldn’t be too expensive as a 3 kilometre taxi ride will run to about $0.40 (£0.27), so you can look to spend around $72 (£50) a month on eating dinner out once or twice a week and maybe $25 (£17) in taxi rides.

Just the mere suggestion that Blair could be considered for this new post means that Europe needs to be left well alone in terms of a destination for expat Britons, and when you throw in the uncertainty surrounding the future of the euro as a strong global currency, it really does make sense to research alternative nations to call home.

Unfortunately for us Brits, countries in Europe are generally the easiest for us to move to with the least bureaucracy involved in the relocation process – but in this report we’ll show you how, with just a little more effort, you can move further afield and perhaps achieve a far more positive lifestyle abroad.

Of course, this could just be media speculation alone, but strong voices have already come out both in support and against Blair’s standing – so there may well be truth in the speculation…

To us it’s a terrifying prospect – Tony in charge of Europe?

As if things in the euro zone were not bad enough already…

As Britons using sterling we’ve also been affected by this concept – our purchasing power in the Eurozone has never been worse.  But we have to recognise that things in Europe itself, and within the Eurozone in particular are no better because there is an intrinsic inability to respond to inflation so the purchasing power of the euro is rapidly eroding in several countries.  This could create a situation for a retiring Briton where their sterling based income buys few euros, and those few euros buy absolutely nothing at all in the new nation they decided to call home.  It’s a terrifying prospect…

According to Laurent Jacque, professor of international finance and banking: “However traumatic it may be to reinstate national currencies, some countries could decide to abandon the euro to recover their economic competitiveness…But this is unlikely in the short-term, if only because national debts denominated in euros would become very expensive to service with a newly restored but devalued currency for the seceding country.  Even so, further deterioration of an already fragile social climate (such as the recent demonstrations in Greece) fuelled by a brutal acceleration of unemployment, may push some countries to this solution of last resort.”

New Zealand, Canada and Australia are all favourite long haul destinations with escaping Brits, but each requires one to complete a merry bureaucratic dance just to gain temporary residency.  What’s more, the skilled migrant programmes that each nation uses to attract the best professionals from around the world have been slashed as each of the three nations has its own economic issues and therefore each requires fewer newcomers thank you.

Alternatively what about nations that have yet to emerge onto the British expat radar but which are growing significantly in interest for Americans?  Argentina or Mexico perhaps?  Both are stunningly beautiful countries with fabulous climates, plenty of potential for anyone with confidence and get up and go for example.

Panama for Retirement Abroad

Panama has been on the American radar for some time as an overseas retirement destination, but for us Britons, because it has not be straightforward to get to in terms of direct flights, we have overlooked it.  However, to overlook Panama is to overlook what could be your perfect retirement paradise.

It’s easy to get to and from the States so you can have first world services etc., almost on your doorstep if you’re worried about that – although if you live in or around Panama city, you’ll be surprised how sophisticated it is.  Panama City is considered the safest city in Central America, and it is home to fabulous shopping, first class health care and the quality of life in Panama is good and affordable meaning you can have your cake and eat it!  Real estate away from the main urban areas is also affordable, particularly as Panama boomed recently and is undergoing a decent negative price readjustment!!

The countries which compose the European Union have always attracted a large number of expatriate Americans, in part because of Europe’s culture, history, and scenic beauty, but also in because Europe used to offer many well-paying jobs for foreigners. Over a million Americans currently call Europe their home, and the draw of the “Old World” for North American citizens continues unabated. Unfortunately, the ongoing global recession has significantly dampened the prospect for Americans to find work in Europe. All European countries suffer from high unemployment, government cutbacks, and reduced growth. But despite the current crisis there are still jobs available for foreigners in a variety of fields and roles. Below I have outlined several options for people who are interested in working in Europe but do not have European citizenship or a residency permit.

Get your Foot in the Door

Foreign Language Skills

Do your Homework Ahead of Time

Jobs for Highly Skilled Professionals

Visas for the Self-Employed

Work Exchange Programs for Students

Internships

Teaching English

Temporary and Seasonal Work

General Considerations

For expatriates, the main difference between South American countries is not immigration laws, which are similar, but the varying cost of living and the local culture.  Each South American country has a unique culture and way of life that sets it apart from its neighbors. Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile have a strong European cultural influence due to many immigrants from Europe, whereas in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, the culture of the native people is dominant in many regions. Brazil, on the other hand, is a fascinating conglomerate of European and African cultural influences. Some countries such as Ecuador and Uruguay are known to be great destinations for expatriates, largely due to their low cost-of-living and easy regulations for investing and buying property. But there is more to immigrating to South America than finding the cheapest destination. Cultural considerations are equally important, since you will be dealing with the local people, way of life, and culture every day.

In general, foreign visitors to South America are allowed to stay from three to six months per year. If you want to stay longer you need to apply for a visa either as a student, employee, retiree, or investor. With the exception of a residency visa obtained through a relative who is a citizen of that country, all other residency visas–such as retirement and investment visas–are temporary and need to be renewed regularly. Having a temporary residency visa does not mean that you are entitled to work. To be able to work you need either a work visa (dependent on a job offer) or permanent residency. The most common way for foreigners to establish residency in South America is buying property or establishing a business. Such an investment entitles you to a temporary residency visa, which needs to be renewed every one or two years.

Permanent residency status is usually only granted if someone is married to a citizen of that country or after someone has legally resided there for a number of years with a temporary residency visa. If you have legally worked in South America for a number of years or have had temporary residency as a retiree or investor, you are usually eligible to apply for permanent residency. Once you obtain permanent residency status in a country you will eventually be able to apply for citizenship, although the waiting period for citizenship varies from country to country. Regardless of the type of visa you have, if you overstay the period of time you are legally granted, expect to pay a fine if you are caught.

Visa fees vary from country to country, and sometimes additional fees are required. For example, Argentina charges US$100 for the residency visa application, and an additional US$200 immigration fee to applicants for residency visas. Consulates may also charge an additional fee if you need to sign a work contract at the consulate and have your signature notarized. In some cases you may also have to appear at the consulate in person, either for an interview or finger printing.

Private Income and Retiree Visas

Work Visas

Student Visas

Investor Visas

Other Options

Additional Information

To offer an idea of the size of U.S. expatriate communities in South America, I have collected data from the U.S. State Department Background Notes:

All creation is a song of praise to God.   (Hildegard of Bingen, Mystic)

Waterfall on Newfoundland's East Coast Trail

Find some time away;
reconnect acquaintances
and loves neglected.

I’m headed to Vegas with the wife today.

We’re going to get (re)married by Elvis for our ten year anniversary.

Personally, I hope it’s by a fat, jumpsuit wearing Elvis, but any Elvis will do.

It makes sense.

I love the Rat Pack, she loves Elvis—The movie Swingers was somehow a strange cornerstone of our budding romance so many years ago, it’s soundtrack becoming our own.

Quite frankly, I’m still somewhat amazed we didn’t run off to Vegas the first time around, when we were young and impetuous.

As we stroll down the busy streets, stare in wonderment at the bright lights surrounding us and watch the fountains of the Bellagio dance, I’m going to squint my eyes really hard and try to see the old Vegas—Sinatra’s Vegas.

The martini swinging, mob run Vegas.

Now, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the new Vegas—quite frankly I’m excited to see that one, too; the lights, the roller coasters, the fountains…all of it.

But…

I just want to catch a glimpse of the old Vegas—the original Vegas, no matter how dusty and dirty it may be.

Though I hear that Vegas is merely a ghost now, hovering over the new, family friendly version, laid to rest in the wake of the Sands.

I’m going to do my best to chronicle my first Vegas experience, from the Elvis wedding, to cocktails in Old Town, to my first attempt at gambling…but I can’t make any promises. I don’t even know if I’ll have wifi where I’m staying.

For you, however, I shall try my hardest.

Though, don’t expect a madcap tale of hallucinogens in the desert and imaginary bats swarming around us.

Maybe a few cocktails, but there is nothing gonzo about this trip.

Aside, perhaps, from vacationing while unemployed.

SKIN TINGLING IN THE LIGHT OF A NEW DAWN.

LIFE, RENEWING ITSELF WITHIN MY EMPTY SHELL.

MISERY FADED, TERROR WAS FINISHED. I LIFTED

MY ARMS TO THE SKY, REACHING FOR REBIRTH.

I FLOATED GENTLY, HIGH ABOVE THE FOLIAGE

WITHOUT FEAR, FOR MY LIFE HAS JUST BEGUN.

Yep, I guess she knows what she doing. Talk show host Wendy Williams gets her show re-upped through the 2011-2012 season. After a slow start Wendy’s show began to catch on as ratings increased 43% among women 18-34, and 37% among women 25-54.

Congrats Wendy! Keep doing you.

Your Social Life Abroad – Shared experience by an expat wife

This is her story;

In Saudi Arabia, where about one-third of all residents are from other parts of the world, expatriates live on enclosed compounds isolated from the local community. As a result, they reach out to each other and forge social ties with an ease rarely experienced at home.

Activities for expats there included sports, music, drama, dancing, art and cultural events. The hospital where I worked as a nurse has a social club that sponsors day trips in the Riyadh area as well as aerobics classes. Various groups organized overnight desert camping trips.

I went on desert walks and runs with the Hash House Harriers, a running/social club found in many countries. I took a scuba diving course became PADI-certified along with other expatriates in the Red Sea in Jedda.

Being a married expat is different from being a single person who is dating, and living in England is also a very different type of expat experience. Being part of an expatriate community isn’t an option here as it is in certain other areas. I value having expat friends, and I also want to assimilate into the local community.

Tips for Expats

Do your homework before moving overseas

Before making your move, do as much research as possible to learn about your future home and to quash any preconceived ideas. Investigate websites geared toward expatriates. Look for viewpoints of outsiders who have been there, regardless of where they’re from.

Be open to new experiences

Seek out other newcomers

If you live in a small community, you may need to venture to a metropolitan area. I met other expatriate nurses by traveling to London for events hosted by the healthcare recruitment agency that helped me land my job.

Angela Henry, an American expatriate who has lived in Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and now Singapore, suggests attending functions of women’s organizations. For a list, see the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (www.fawco.org). Don’t discount a group because you don’t fit its demographics. The American Women’s Club of Thailand (www.awcthailand.org) is open to all nationalities, and there are other similar examples.

Get to know the local people and culture

Local people are surrounded by familiar support systems and may not recognize the needs of a newcomer who is an outsider. This is understandable.

Often there are language hurdles to overcome. My sister. who teaches English in Milan and is fluent in Italian, advises making every attempt to learn the language of the country where you’ll be living. Even after living there off and on for over a decade, she says she still feels somewhat like an outsider.

Cultural differences can be a hurdle, too. In Saudi Arabia, English was the official language of the hospital where I worked but patients spoke mostly Arabic, so I learned some Arabic. I found that misunderstandings arose more because of the way things were said rather than the actual words, particularly between men and women. Tone of voice is important when asking a local male staff member to do something.

With English people, I find the similarities greater than the differences, But even among English speakers, some miscommunications occur. If I say that someone called, people here in England assume that the person popped in for a visit, while I mean that the person telephoned.

To get to know local people, put in an appearance in places where they go. Consider churches, charitable groups, schools, athletic clubs, exercise classes, cases, dance clubs, to name a few. Showing up just once may be all it takes to spark a connection with someone who shares your interests.

Regardless of where you are, how long you’ll stay and whether you want to date or make friends or both, a conscious effort is required. Seek advice from colleagues and acquaintances. Investigate social groups and events, and plan ahead.Ê

Resume from my wife diary

Your spouse has been offered a job and the move seems exciting and full of possibilities. Then you find out you won’t be able to work. Maybe your skills aren’t transferable, or maybe the new country has employment restrictions. Whatever the case, you’re about to join the ranks of the unemployed abroad, otherwise known as trailing spouses.

If you do go, you may be able to work even if you were initially told this would be impossible. Some individuals I knew in Hong Kong were in this predicament. They took matters into their own hands, and once the working partners were well established, they explored a variety of options and eventually found jobs after receiving sponsorship from employers.

There are other possibilities: freelance work, starting a business and working without pay. Or, you could choose to further your education, locally or via the Internet. Any skills you acquire can be valuable in the long run.Your spouse has been offered a job and the move seems exciting and full of possibilities. Then you find out you won’t be able to work. Maybe your skills aren’t transferable, or maybe the new country has employment restrictions. Whatever the case, you’re about to join the ranks of the unemployed abroad, otherwise known as trailing spouses.

Set Some Worthy Goals

Whether or not you’re working, you’ll want to make the most of your time abroad. The first thing you should do, I firmly believe, is buy yourself a really good camera. It can help you stay in touch with family and friends who are continents away, and it can let you assemble a pictorial memoir of your experiences

The second thing is draw up a list. Sit down with a glass of wine or a cup of java, if you prefer, and a pen. Now think of all the things that prompted you to agree to this move in addition to the companionship of your spouse. The lure of travel? The opportunity to appreciate a different way of life or to learn a new language? Write a list of all the things that you want to do, and keep adding to it. When you see something interesting in a newspaper or magazine clip it out, save it and add it to your list.

When we moved to Hong Kong, my list grew weekly. My list at first included – visit different countries though the region, learn Cantonese, and see the Great Wall of China. The longer I was there, the more variety in the items on my list. Looking back, I can see how different interests prompted new adventures.

One of my goals was to get fit. I learned tai chi, did a couple of classes of fan dancing and sword dancing, and then fell in love with dragon boating. I became the captain of a dragon boat team, bought a share in a boat and paddled in local races across Hong Kong. In the off-season, I stayed in shape by paddling an outrigger canoe, and paddled from Hong Kong to Macau and back. Our team was met by Immigration at Hac Sa beach, and it was an amazing experience paddling out of Hong Kong into the South China Sea and then back, past all the huge cargo ships laden with containers, past Pokfulam, past Aberdeen Harbour through to Deepwater Bay.

My next goal was to run. Although I started out as a particularly hopeless runner, I set my target on doing the Hong Kong mountain races. I started by running across the Hong Kong countryside in pouring monsoon rain. Next I ran a 10-kilometer race through the tunnels of Hong Kong in the early morning along with about 10,000 others people, and finally managed to run the 15-kilometer mountain races, my feet laden with red clay and my body slick with mud.

My next challenge was local cuisine. I decided to learn to appreciate congee. So I roped in a couple of friends, and we toured the dai pai dongs of the city trying different varieties of congee. My favorite? Fish with ginger and sliced shallots. A friend introduced me to turnips cake, fungus soup and fried esophagus. I toured the markets, and ate salted eggs, hundred-year-old eggs and dried Chinese sausages. I experimented with fresh tofu, ate taufu fa with hot ginger syrup, toured the wildlife markets in Guangzhou, became a restaurant critic and learned how to make Indian parati in the streets of Lan Kwai Fong.

Learning more of the local culture was also on my list. I learned Mahjong, bought an abacus, took classes in Chinese herbal medicine, joined a group that did historical walks though Hong Kong and visited Zhuhai on furniture expeditions. I toured the cargo terminals, dressed up in jockey clothes in the Hong Kong Jockey Club and appeared in the Apple Daily newspaper.

I organized a clean-up day for a local beach, danced on the bar in Wan Chai and sang karaoke. I learned how to bargain, I ate rat and I drank snake wine. I learned how to string pearls. I did a stint as a model, inspected factories in China, taught English at primary school and interviewed politicians. After freelancing for a while, I eventually went to work full time.