Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
35
From The Desk Overseas Living 101: Overseas Living This Month In
Of Founding 9 Must-Answer Questions For Letter Tops: Global News:
Publisher Kathleen Planning Your Retirement The 5 Easiest Places To
Notre Dame’s First Mass Since
Peddicord: Overseas... Move Overseas...
Tragice Fire; Irish Island Wnats
Americans; Beware Greeks
10 Best Places To Retire
Bearing Food; Sommarøy Wants
In Europe... To Become A Time-Free Zone;
Needed: Expert Gardener For
P.22 Medieval Castle In England; New
Zealand Prioritizes Happiness
Earning Anywhere: Over Economic Growth; No More
P.7 Stretching Your Wellness
Practice To New Frontiers...
Single-Use Plastic By 2021 In
Canada; Power Outage In South
Reader Questions America; and more news from
Answered: around the world…
Budgeting For Medical Care;
Life-Changing Overseas
Recommendations; 11-Year P.25 P.38
Resident In Panama Without Spotlight On Coming Next Month
Citizenship; What Are My From Colonial Splendor To
Retirement Options During Indonesia: White-Sand Beaches, Mazatlán
Algarve’s Off-Season?; and more 6 Island Destinations That Offers A Beaclfront Lifestyle
of your questions answered... Aren’t Bali...
That Has It All...
feature: P.10
How To Make A Living As A
Freelance Writer
2 Overseas Living Letter
publisher's
note
10 Best Places To Retire In Europe staff
Volume 12 Issue 7
Dear Overseas Living Letter Subscriber, July 2019
Last month, I shared our picks for the 10 best places to live or retire in Latin America. Kathleen Peddicord
Founding Publisher
However, not everyone is cut out for life in the developing world or the tropics.
Harry Kalashian
If your retirement dream is all about Old World living on the Continent, here are your 10 best options Publisher
in 2019…
Kat Kalashian
Algarve, Portugal Editor-in-Chief
The big attraction of lakeside Annecy, the Pearl © Copyright 2019 by Live and Invest Overseas.
of the French Alps, are its ski slopes in winter, but All Rights Reserved.
this is an appealing place to be year-round. In
Protected by copyright laws of the United States and
summer, the lakeshore bustles and not only with
international treaties. This newsletter may be used only pursuant
tourists. Unlike other top ski destinations in France, to the subscription agreement and any reproduction, copying, or
fairy-tale Annecy is not a tourist town but a living redistribution (electronic or otherwise, including on the World
Wide Web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without
community that is more cosmopolitan than a the express written permission of the publisher, Live and Invest
typical haunt of Euro-snow bunnies. Annecy has Overseas, Calle Dr. Alberto Navarro, Casa No. 45, El Cangrejo,
been awarded the titles of City of Art and History Panama, Republic of Panama.
and also City in Bloom and can seem like an open-air museum. Every July its streets are given over to Any investments recommended in this letter should be made
Les Noctibules, an annual art festival, and, every August, the much-anticipated Fête du Lac features only after consulting with your investment advisor and only after
the biggest fireworks show in Europe. reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.
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Budgeting For Medical Care? I trust your gathering will go well. I think your business model is very smart and
service very helpful. Thanks for doing what you do.
I am currently taking your 52 Days To Your New Life Overseas course and I am doing Sincerely,
the calculation for my budget overseas.
Bill C.
The calculations are straightforward, but my biggest concern is costs towards health,
which this budget doesn’t take into consideration. What if I needed to fly somewhere
to get specialized care or had to fly back to Canada—that could be costly. I do not 11-Year Resident Without Citizenship
have private insurance.
I have been a resident of Panama since 2008 and would like to obtain my citizenship.
Your suggestions would be appreciated I have been told that it is not easy to obtain and that I need to spend three months
waiting for meetings, which could happen at any moment.
Cristi F.
Is this the case as you see it? What is your recommendation, considering the fact that I
We don’t include medical costs in this very general move-overseas budget, because have been a resident for the requisite number of years to obtain citizenship?
it will depend greatly on where in the world you’re considering to move. If you have
some idea of where you’re headed, we can help give you some more specific ideas Thank you,
of cost.
Kris J.
If you’re set on not seeking treatment locally in your new home, one thing to
You have to show a connection to Panama to be eligible for citizenship. If you simply
consider is buying a medical evacuation policy to get back to Canada in case of a life- have a residency card in Panama but don’t actually live here or spend much time here,
threatening health issue. then you’re not likely to get approved. Also, remember that you must have five years of
permanent residency—any time spent under a temporary status does not count.
Also, keep in mind that many countries require you to have private health insurance
in order to get residency. European countries are definitely on this list. Even Portugal, If you originally got residency in 2008, that was before the Friendly Nations residency
which allows you to access the public health system just by being a resident, requires a option, which means you originally got temporary residency that required several
health insurance policy to get residency. renewals… unless you’re under the pensionado residency, which is permanent
residency from the first approval. Pensionados were not originally eligible for
naturalization, though that law has changed in the past few years.
These can be affordable, especially if you take a reasonably high deductible, like
US$5,000. You need to speak with an immigration attorney to discuss your specific situation.
Friends who have gone through the process mentioned it took three years from start
Life-Changing Overseas to finish.
Recommendations
And, remember, technically, you’re meant to give up all previous citizenships. While
Panama doesn’t require you to provide them with a sailing permit (renunciation
I have plans to visit Medellín in July to become familiar with the city and country—
certificate) from your current country of citizenship, they have the option to revoke your
largely on the recommendations you have been making about how wonderful it is, naturalization if they find out you didn’t renounce previous citizenships. I haven’t heard of
and I had to book my travel dates to accommodate my girlfriend’s calendar. And… as that happening to anyone, but you need to understand the rules and the risks.
luck would have it, our time there does not coincide with your conference dates.
We are also going to Panama to do the same thing. Having a subscription to your What Are My Retirement Options
Panama Letter has been very helpful. If all goes well, we will also be visiting Portugal During Algarve’s Off-Season?
at the end of the year… again to do some recon and make some decisions about
where we will target our efforts for investing and living. I purchased the conference I have heard that some towns in the Algarve tend to basically shut down during the
materials from your last conference in Portugal and have been listening intently and winter months when the tourist season is over. I want to retire in the Algarve, but I want
reviewing the material in preparation for our trip there. to be sure that the town I choose to retire in stays alive after the tourists go home.
Can you make some suggestions that I can research further on my own? Ecuador’s Inheritance Laws
Thank you My father and his second wife (not my mother) have retired in Ecuador. They
purchased a condo as a rental/investment property. I am not sure if the property was
Frank F. registered in both of their names or just his or just hers at time of purchase.
The city of Lagos is probably the best bet. July and August are tourist-heavy (and a bit My father has terminal cancer, and my understanding is that upon his death,
in June), but it’s definitely open year-round. Ecuadorian law would require that half of the property be inherited by his children (if
in fact it is owned jointly).
The best thing to do would be to visit the area in November or February and see what
towns have what you’re looking for. In the case that they transferred ownership to her name solely after the fact, would
that nullify my rights to the property? My fear is that, in my dad’s weakened state,
On your visit, take a look at the following (listed from East to West): his wife has made the necessary arrangements to create a will that states he does
not have any children or living relatives. I have currently reached out to an agency
• Tavira in Ecuador to provide me with a current/historical title on the property in question. I
• Olhão would appreciate any advice you have to share with me.
• Faro
• Loulé Janelle B.
• Quarteira
• Albufeira If the property was transferred to his spouse and she owns 100% of it, then the kids
• Portimão get nothing from the father.
• Lagos
• Luz If the property is held fifity-fifty by father and spouse, then the kids get the father’s
50%. Nothing goes to the spouse.
Even with a will, 75% of the property has to go to the kids. Only 25% can go to
Is A Retirement Conference In someone else. However, if the wife has told the government there are no children,
Canada Your Future? that’s where the problem would be. If there aren’t any kids, then the spouse
automatically gets 50% and parents of the deceased get 50%. (If no parents, then the
spouse gets 100%.)
I have watched your video about the upcoming retirement conference in Texas and
am very interested but everything talks about the challenges from moving from the You definitely need to speak with an Ecuadorian attorney.
United States.
I live in Canada and am currently 57 years old. I am looking at retiring at 60 or later Using The 52-Day Course To Budget
depending on financial and family circumstances. I plan to live out of the country for
four to six months of the year—not necessarily always in the same place or same
time... I would also require some form of additional income to make this happen.
I have dual U.S. and Irish citizenships. I’m hoping to spend three to five years in
Will you be having a conference in Canada with experts and expats from Canada in Portugal, two to three years in Jordan, and perhaps a year in Oman before “retiring” in
the future? I need to know about Canadian laws, taxes, medical, etc. I am not ready Ireland for about six months per year and the other six months in the United States.
to move yet, so I can wait a couple of years for a conference to be held here that I can
plan to attend. How do I compile the Day 5-type budget information that’s included in your 52 Day
course for places not on the list?
Yours truly,
In Jordan, for example, I would likely live in Amman, Aqaba, and Mazra’ah— I
Brenda H. imagine all three would have different costs and needs for budgets—but I don’t
know how to start researching those. Do you have any insights? Please point me in
We probably won’t have a conference in Canada any time soon… the right direction.
All the general expat and country information at our U.S. event is pertinent for Thanks for this, and thanks again for the course!
Canadians and any other nationality.
Anne K.
It is the tax side of things that is different for Canadians, but this conference doesn’t
dig too deep into taxes. However, we do have a Canadian expat tax expert we refer In places where we don’t have an on-the-ground presence, Numbeo is a decent
Canadians to. resource. It’s a user-generated expat budgeting site. It can be hit-and-miss, however,
as bigger cities (those with more expats)have more data, meaning better averages.
If you’re really planning on spending only four to six months outside of Canada, your It’s less reliable for less-expated places, and some cities might not be covered at all. In
Canadian tax situation won’t change and you won’t end up with a tax situation in that case, though, there’s a country-wide average that can at least help give you some
another country if you’re not there for more than six months in a calendar year. general cost ideas.
As many Live and Invest Overseas readers can attest, living abroad is demand for English teachers in China, Russia, Japan, and other countries, it’s
one of the most enlightening, fascinating, and memorable experiences relatively easy for a native English speaker to get a job as a teacher online.
you can have in life. A common objection to making the leap abroad is
money. “I can’t afford it,” I often hear from hopeful nomads. “I don’t have While living in Mazatlán, Mexico, I worked for a school in Beijing, China.
enough saved.”
And while that job offered more than enough money, the time difference
The good news is that in today’s interconnected world, it’s possible between the two cities was so great that my working hours were brutal.
to work just about anywhere as long as you have a stable internet
connection and a laptop. I worked from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday to Saturday. Each class was 45
minutes long with a 15-minute break in between. I was 27 at the time and
not quite ready to give up my social life, so in order to have at least some
Teaching English Online And Its Downsides
waking hours in common with my friends, family, and girlfriend, I had two
Like many Live and Invest Overseas readers and contributors, I went the sleeping cycles: four hours of sleep before my shift and four more hours
teaching-English-online route to support myself abroad. Given the high after it.
I’m not writing this article to diminish online-English-teaching jobs—I It isn’t essential that you pick topics you already know lots about, as
have nothing but gratitude for my former employers. But many a huge part of your writing time will be spent on research anyway.
English-teaching jobs require you to teach in high-demand time slots, But don’t discount the old adage about writing what you know. It’s
which often fall in the wee hours of the morning. easier to begin writing about a topic you’re already familiar and
comfortable with.
I want my fellow nomads to enjoy their time abroad and show
them they have more options than just teaching English to support
themselves. That’s why I’m sharing the nine steps that will help you get Which Of Those Topics Have Demand?
started as a content writer and overcome the first and most difficult
milestone: making your first US$1,000. Now that you know which topics you want to write about, it’s time to
investigate to see which of them are in demand. Unfortunately, there
isn’t a magical app that can give you an immediate answer. You need to
1. Find Your Niche do due diligence and spend some time researching the writing market.
The most important step to get your content-creation business going is All-mighty Google is your friend here. Take your list of topics, google
deciding what to write about. Back in the early days of blogging, it was each of them, and see how many blogs you can find that cover that
topic. Your search could look something like “top 100 foodie blogs,” or
possible to have a successful blog that covered a wide variety of subjects.
“best gardening blogs,” or “recommended tech blogs.”
But in today’s world, where there are an estimated 505 million blogs,
countless content-marketing firms, and a legion of “influencers” on social Go through the results and pay special attention to blogs that have
media, it’s foolish to try to be a jack-of-all-trades. high reader engagement. You can easily identify them by the number
of comments their articles have. If one of your topics has only a few
But don’t let those statistics scare you. Content creation is a crowded blogs dedicated to it and yet its audience is highly engaged, circle that
field, but our collective hunger for online content is insatiable and only topic on your list. You may’ve found yourself a gold mine.
A good way to find out if there are people willing to pay you is to One thing you can’t avoid is hard work. It takes lots of work and
visit freelance writing job boards, such as ProBlogger, BloggingPro, determination to set up a successful business, and your writing
FlexJobs, Mediabistro, and Upwork. Browse the job listings or do business is no different. You need to hustle.
keyword searches to get an idea of which topics are in demand.
But at the same time, there’s no need to drop everything else in
Technical topics, such as technology, programming, economics, taxes,
your life and neglect your friends and family to make it happen. It’s
and engineering are always in demand.
all about finding the balance between working hard and working
smart. Remember that the whole point of becoming a content
As you continue your market research, you should narrow your search
creator is to be able to support yourself abroad and still be able the
to customers living in affluent countries, such as the States, Canada,
enjoy your time there.
the U.K., Australia, France, Finland, Sweden, etc. It isn’t impossible
to find well-paying jobs elsewhere… but the cold reality is that Freelance content writers typically charge a per-word fee or a per-project
professionals in affluent countries are more likely to have larger fee. Some clients prefer to pay by the hour, although that isn’t common.
marketing budgets and thus the ability to afford your writing fees. Regardless of the billing method, how much a writer can charge depends
on a multitude of factors, such as experience, writing niche, negotiation
Once you have identified a writing niche that you enjoy, has demand, skills, geographical location, and, most importantly, reputation.
and people willing to pay you to write about it, congratulations.
You’ve just completed your first step towards becoming a freelance Writers living in poor, developing countries can afford to charge less
content writer. than writers living in affluent countries, as dollars go further there.
If you’ve ever seen a cop show, a client persona is like an artist’s rendition
of a suspect. In your case, it’s what your perfect client looks like. Just like 4. Build Your Social Proof
a detective builds a sketch of the suspect by asking witnesses, checking
camera footage, and running forensic tests, you’ll build a client persona The key to your long-term success as a content writer is building up your
by making a list of your client’s identifying features. reputation. You must establish yourself as a credible, knowledgeable
expert, with the social proof to back your work.
Details to add to your client persona include the client’s age, gender,
location, goals, values, job roles, challenges, pain points, and their role Social proof theory states that people in unfamiliar environments will
in making hiring and purchasing decisions. HubSpot offers several client- adapt their behavior by observing what others are doing. That’s why
persona templates you can use, and you can google “client persona when we travel to a new country, we’re more likely to eat at restaurants
templates” to find additional examples. with lots of local people standing in line than those with only a few
patrons. The subconscious reasoning is that if so many locals like the
For example, as a real estate content writer, one of my client personas
place so much, then it must be good.
looks like this:
• Name: Content Director Chris There’s a reason why movie trailers include positive comments from
famous reviewers and why companies are willing to pay celebrities millions
• Age: 30 to 50 years old of dollars to advertise their products on TV… Social proof works.
The first step towards building your credibility as a professional writer It takes time to build an audience, and your website and blog articles
is to create a website and a blog. You’ll have get yourself some hosting won’t do much on their own at first. But you can take proactive steps
towards increasing your blog’s viewership, such as joining discussions
space, but don’t worry, hosting space is affordable, and the return on your
about your niche in forums and social media, doing credited guest writing
investment of building a website will be huge.
for other blogs (more on that later), and purchasing ads from Google or
Facebook.
As you continue to create valuable content for your niche, eventually your
Setting Up A Website Or Blog blog will gain more and more traction, and it’ll be easier to get more
writing jobs from other companies.
You don’t need to hire someone to create and set up your website. It’s
easier than ever to build it yourself and surprisingly straightforward,
too. Many hosting companies offer packages to make easy for new 6. Create A Social Media Presence
bloggers to create their own WordPress sites, such as HostGator, Wix,
and Bluehost. They also offer getting-started guides you can use. Whether you love or hate social media, you can’t deny that it’s ubiquitous
I won’t go into detail about how to build your own website and blog and powerful. In its most basic implementation, social media makes
here: That merits an article of its own. Check out YouTube tutorials it easy to engage your audience and stay up to date with the newest
about the steps needed to create a WordPress site and get you developments in your writing niche.
blogging as soon as possible.
With over 1 billion users and 890 million daily active users, Facebook
provides you with one of the biggest potential audiences on the internet.
7. Start Building Your Client List Now that you have a good number of decision makers’ email addresses,
it’s time to contact them. Before you draft an email, though, establish
your goals. As a new content writer, you want to achieve at least one of
Now that we have the preliminary stuff out of the way, it’s time to take the following goals:
your client persona from Step 2 and start finding prospects. There are
countless ways to market your services, and you should spend some • To become a regular, credited contributor: The best-case
time researching marketing techniques. However, the strategy I show scenario is that you establish a working relationship with a
you here is one that has given me great results, even though it requires client and become a regular, credited contributor. Not only will
the simplest of all marketing tools: email. you be getting paid for your work, but you’ll receive credit as a
contributor. Credited articles increase your social proof, which
Direct email marketing isn’t as flashy as social media marketing, nor leads to more work and eventually higher writing fees.
does it require you to buy targeted ads. It’s as simple as it gets, and
yet, it’s extremely effective. Email marketing works because whether • To become a regular ghostwriter: A ghostwriter is a writer
you’re a high school student, a CEO, or a priest, everyone has an email that isn’t credited. Ghostwriters usually charge more for their
account. And the people you’ll be targeting check their emails several articles as they don’t receive any credit for them. Although the
times a day. extra money and chance to practice your writing skills from
ghostwriting are great, the lack of credit means you won’t get to
Your first step in building your client list is obtaining 30 to 50 high- improve your social proof.
quality email addresses, meaning the email addresses of people that
fall under your client persona descriptions and decision makers about • To become a one-time, credited contributor: Under this
your writing services. A great place to start gathering those emails is arrangement, you still get paid, you get credit, and you also get
blogs that cater to your niche. much-needed practice. If the quality of your work is high enough,
it could lead to future work.
If you remember Step 1, where you searched for writing niches with
high demand and with people able to afford your writing fees, you can • To become a credited guest writer: Guest writers don’t get
repeat the process here. For example, if your niche is personal finances, paid in cash, they get paid in exposure. And before you run away
Drafting Your First Client Email Of course, drafting a personalized email such as this one takes time and
effort. You might feel tempted to create a generic email and send it to all
Your first email can be something like this, but feel free to modify
as needed: your contacts in a single salvo. But you don’t need to have hundreds of
clients when you’re first starting—you only need five or six good ones.
Subject: Hi [person’s name here], do you need a content writer for
[blog name here]? In fact, that’s probably more than you can handle on your own at first.
Body: Hi [person’s name here], how is it going? Start slow and on the right foot. Treat your prospects like the valuable
clients they are instead of numbers in a database. I mean, isn’t that how
My name is [your name here], and I’m a [your niche here] content you’d want to be treated? As you gain more and more experience, you’ll
writer. I wanted to know if you are currently looking for content become more productive and be able to handle larger workloads.
writers for [prospect’s blog name here]. Recently, I’ve contributed as a
writer for [list a few clients you’ve contributed to], and I would love to
write for [prospect’s blog name here].
I’ve recently read [name of article on prospect’s blog you actually
enjoyed] because [reasons why you enjoyed the article].
I would like to propose contributing the following article:
Title: [title of article you propose writing for your potential client]
Concept: [a short summary of what the article will be about]
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
[your name here]
If you don’t get an immediate response from your prospect, don’t If you don’t get any replies from your second email, again, don’t give
up. Wait a week or two, and try contacting them again. There’s no need
give up. Wait a couple of days and send a follow-up email. It could be
to stick to a template. Be direct, get to the point, and explain how
something like this, but again, feel free to personalize it: your services will help your prospect. Don’t make it about you, make it
about them.
Subject: Hi [prospect’s name here], this is [your name here] again
from [your blog’s name]
9. Repeat Steps 2 To 8
Body: Hi [prospect’s name here], hope all is well.
At this point, it’s a just a matter of going back and refining your work
I sent you an email a few days ago asking if you needed a contributing loop. Repeat the previous steps and develop your client personas,
writer for [prospect’s blog name here]. I’ve previously worked for update your personal blog, engage your readers on social media, gauge
[If you have already written articles for other clients, mention some your social proof, adjust your workload, find more contacts, and offer
of them here in order to provide social proof], and I would love to your services.
contribute for [prospect’s blog name here].
As the quality of your writing improves and you begin to land more
I recently read [name of article on blog you actually enjoyed], and I and better-paying writing jobs, you may need to invest in a Customer
Relationship Management (CRM) program, so that you can keep track
really liked it because [reasons why you enjoyed the article].
of all you interactions with your clients. You may even need to hire
In my last email, I proposed writing the following article: other writers to keep up with your writing demand and have enough
time to enjoy living abroad.
Title: [title of article you propose writing for your potential client]
If you follow these steps and put in the work needed to make it
Concept: [a short summary of what the article will be about] happen, you’ll not only make your first US$1,000 but also establish the
foundations for a successful content-writing business.
Is that an article your readers would enjoy?
Planning a retirement overseas? Last month to address every question together, and supportive and enthusiastic about your plan
I walked you through the six main steps you must allow all sides a voice. Making to launch a new life in a new country.
you’ll need to take to get yourself set up a success of a new life overseas requires
energy, commitment, and a positive And probably some of them will be.
within new borders. This month, let’s look
at the nine questions you should answer at attitude. You don’t want to force someone
Others, though, will think you’ve lost your
this getting-started stage of your grand go- into it.
mind. They’ll forward you media links and
overseas adventure: If you’re planning to move with children, State Department warnings to show you
then at least one of your priorities is clear: how dangerous and ridiculous an idea it is
Question #1: Are you The children. You’ll want to take their to think about leaving the safety of home
planning to move alone? comfort, care, security, and education into and heading off to some exotic foreign
With a significant other? account above all else. land, where you’ll be at the mercy, they’ll
With other family members? Question #2: How concerned
assure you, of non-English-speaking thieves
and scallywags. Plus you’ll be lonely...
With children? are you with what your homesick...
family and friends think?
As I said, if you’re moving with a significant You need to make up your mind right
other or with other family members, you Your family and friends may surprise now that you won’t be dissuaded by any
must work to consider every issue and you (and me). They may be nothing but of it. Stay the course. You’re on the road
The good news is there’s still lots of room for yoga studios, retreat centers,
What About Permission?The Nitty-Gritty Of spas, and training facilities overseas. In Panama, I’m happy to see the
Owning A Business Overseas wellness community growing and more like-minded people migrating
here all the time. If you have something positive to share with the world,
You’ll need to pursue certain legalities depending on how established I encourage you to move in that direction… Maybe our paths will even
you’d like your business to become. In Panama, the first step is a cross at some point.
Bali gets a lot of attention from tourists and The good news is, Bali is just 1 out of 17,000 ago: underdeveloped, tranquil, beachy…
expats, and it’s understandable… it has islands in Indonesia, and much of what it has today, it’s where you escape to when the
some of the most phenomenal beaches in the to offer is available elsewhere. Here’s a list of busyness of Bali gets to be too much.
world, friendly locals and interesting culture, six Indonesian-island destinations worthy of
and stunning natural beauty… all of which your consideration…
have made it an almost mythical destination
among travelers.
Nusa Lembongan
Surfers helped kick Bali’s notoriety off in the
70s back when it was mostly virgin jungle and
beach. It’s seen steady increases in tourism
and development since then… but these have
reached a fever pitch in the past 10 or 20 years.
Getting here involves crossing the Bali Strait
Sadly, many parts of the island today are
and some of the deepest, most unpredictable
overrun with tacky hotels, restaurants, and
waters in the world. To do this, you need
tourists. Overdevelopment and pollution have
to catch a fast boat from Sanur on Bali’s
marred its natural beauty, and it’s on the brink
Nusa Lembongan (NOO-sah lem-BONG-an) southeastern coast. The sometimes-risky
of losing precisely what made it so appealing in
embodies what Bali was 20-something years journey takes about two hours but is worth the
the first place.
Malioboro Street
On-land activities include renting a moped It’s a small city, but the most common way of
or bike and tracing the circumference of the getting around is by pedicab, known as becak
island. Dramatic cave formations, jagged (beh-CHAK) to locals. Although the legal
limestone cliffs with crashing waves and status of these muscle-powered contraptions
water plumes, mangrove forests, tidal pools, is questionable, they provide an entertaining
temples, and seaweed farms are just a few of way to see the city. Just make sure you barter
the things you’ll see along the way. aggressively before you get on one.
Senggigi
fascinating culture and friendly demeanor. German, Australian, Korean, French, and entertainment options are limited, and people
Their cultural stronghold is Samosir Island, the Norwegians—to name a few—live here full- like it that way.
Singapore-sized island in the center of Lake or part-time and operate business like hotels,
Toba where you’ll find traditional homes (with restaurants, dive shops, etc. Most activities that locals get involved
curved roofs that look like the hulls of ships), in here involve water, whether they surf,
cemeteries, and other vestiges of the Batak Senggigi refers to the general region made up snorkel, scuba dive, or spear fish. The
way of life. of the following areas that are connected by surrounding area is lush and hilly, so
coastal road: Mangsit, Kerandangan, Senggigi, exploring the backroads on your moped or
Lake Toba and Samosir Island may not be known and Batu Bolong. While each area boasts its by hiking are popular pastimes. Lombok,
to mainstream international tourism, but they are own stretch of beach, they are in different like every major island in Indonesia, has
firmly on the Banana Pancake Trail—the route stages of development. The most laidback its own culture and unique flare. Shopping
around Southeast Asia followed mostly by western lifestyle is found in Kerandangan, which is for Lombok handicrafts, like intricately
travelers and backpackers. Hot springs, freshwater situated in a large bay and has little by way of carved woodenware, hand-woven baskets,
swimming, waterfalls, lots of hiking, and primary shopping or nightlife. tapestries, and local pearls is another activity
jungle are a few reasons it’s so popular. you can do here.
Isn’t it easier to just stay home? Moving overseas is also a chance for new adventure. Suddenly before you
is the opportunity to learn a new language and make new friends… to try
If that’s how you’ve been talking yourself out of moving overseas, then you’re unfamiliar cuisine and get used to a new pace of life and new customs…
not alone. Every would-be expat has, at some point, been haunted by this
very thought. Often, breaking free from the old familiar is a chance to follow a healthier
lifestyle, too. Free from the nine-to-five grind of U.S. life, you’ll find you
Of course, it’s no mean feat to insert yourself into a whole new life overseas. You have more opportunity to explore the outdoors, connect with nature, and
experience the beauty of your new country. You may find you can walk
have plans to make, procedures to follow, and unchartered waters to brave.
everywhere you need to be—and ditch the car for good. With more fresh,
seasonal produce at hand, your waistline may shrink… simply by default.
But, by giving up and staying home, you’d be denying yourself the chance to:
If all this isn’t enough to convince you to move forward with your search
• Live a richer lifestyle (often for less than the budget you live on at today, then consider this:
home)…
• Choose your ideal climate (leave behind snow forever, enjoy warm Right now, due to a strong U.S. dollar, the cost of living (and of acquiring
temperatures year-round, or experience four distinct seasons)… property)—both in Latin American and European markets—is
• Finally have the time to focus on the things you love to do (even if you’re considerably lower than it was a decade ago. In other words, your budget
not ready to retire, you could fund your new life by working just a few will buy you a lifestyle overseas that is far better than what you could
hours a day… leaving plenty of time to enjoy the good life)… afford in the United States.
30 Overseas Living Letter
Now, while a move anywhere in the world is doable, with a positive mindset reef makes it one of the world’s premier diving locations. The mountains and
and the right help at hand, some countries are easier than others… rain forest have great walking and climbing routes available with a range of
exotic flora and fauna for you to experience. The pace of life is generally slow
The five destinations I’ll introduce you to below are the easiest places for U.S. and friendly.
citizens to start over. These havens are easily accessible from the States (some
What makes it so easy to move here: If you are 45 years or older, you
you can even drive to)… they offer straightforward residency programs
can move here via the Qualified Retirement Program (QRP)—one of the
specifically designed to attract expats... and, in all, you can live a much richer
fastest residency deals available. You only need to show a minimum monthly
life on as little as US$1,200 (that’s less than the average Social Security check). income of US$2,000 a month to qualify and spend 30 days a year in Belize to
maintain your QRP status.
Let’s get started with this hit list of retire-overseas havens…
If you are bringing a pet overseas with you, then Belize is your best choice.
Simply get an application form from the Belizean Agricultural Health Authority
Belize and some certificates from your vet to confirm the animal is rabies-free. On
payment of a US$20 entrance fee, your pet is legally allowed in Belize.
Residency: You can apply for residency easily in Belize. You must pay a fee
of US$1,000 and stay in the country for 50 consecutive weeks. This can be
done by entering the country using a tourist visa, which you can renew every
30 days until you reach 50 weeks. As mentioned above, if you are at least 45
years of age, you can qualify for QRP residency by proving that you can bring
more than US$2,000 a year into the country.
Flight: Flights to Belize are easy to come by and fairly cheap from the United
Belize has its mainland in Central America and boasts hundreds of tiny islands States. For the adventurous, it is possible to drive down through Mexico. You’ll
need a solid vehicle for this, as roads along the way can be unreliable.
in the Caribbean. Mainland Belize has a lush vegetation of rain forest and
jungle as well as mountains and grassy plains. The islands offer white-sand
Health care: Public hospitals are free and of a good standard. Private health care
beaches, a relaxed pace of life, and some of the cheapest property deals in
is also available, but it can be expensive if you don’t have an insurance policy.
the Caribbean.
Off the coast of Belize is a barrier reef that’s second in size only to the Great Colombia
Barrier Reef in Australia. This reef provides a rich habitat for all kinds of
marine life, including over 500 species of fish.
Belize is also one of the least densely populated countries in the world.
The cost of living here is very low, especially by Caribbean standards. Even
established expat locations—like Ambergris Caye where prices are probably
highest—provide excellent value and are far cheaper than living in most
parts of the United States.
The cost of living is low, and you have a huge stock of natural produce to eat.
Colombian coffee is among the best in the world.
Though it’s taking the rest of the world some time to catch on to, Colombia
is also much safer now than in the past. Though some rural and ghetto areas
still experience drug-related crime, tourist and expat areas are generally as
safe as major U.S. cities.
Residency: The Dominican Republic is one of the easiest and quickest You may know Mexico for its Corona and Sol beers, but did you know it
places in the world to acquire residency. If you can prove your income, you also has a budding wine-growing area? Like California in a lot of ways,
should be able to get a retirement residency within a couple of months. but without the price tag, Mexican wines are starting to gain attention
You will need to have lived in the Dominican Republic for five years on a worldwide. Vineyard tours and tastings are attracting more tourists and
temporary residence permit before you can apply for permanent residency. boosting property prices.
Flight: The DR is a short—and fairly inexpensive—flight from the United Mexico has a wide range of attractions from Aztec ruins and ancient
States. Most major cities have direct flights here, and budget airlines also observatories to sleepy towns. Festivals are a huge part of the culture here.
operate this route. The big ones, like the Day of the Dead, will bring whole cities to a standstill.
Currency: The currency is the Dominican peso. However, because the What makes it so easy to move here: For a start, you can simply pack
Dominican Republic is a tourist hot spot, most places will accept U.S. dollars up your belongings and drive to Mexico. Moving from the United States to
and euros. Mexico is a well-trodden path, and you’ll find plenty of long-established expat
communities here. Real estate agents in Mexico are experienced in dealing
Health care: The health care in the Dominican Republic is great value— with U.S. clients and will be able to make sure your move goes smoothly.
though not quite at the standard of Panama and Mexico. That said, unless
you require specialist treatment, the DR will be able to meet your needs. Residency: Obtaining residency in Mexico is straightforward. A Temporary
Dental care, however, is excellent, and the country also has great facilities Residence Visa allows you to stay in Mexico for up to four years. During this
for laser surgery. time, you can travel in and out the country as often as you need. After four
years, you can apply for permanent residency at your local Mexican embassy.
Mexico
Flight time: Moving to Mexico could be as simple as jumping into your car
and driving down. But Mexico is also an easy flight from most U.S. cities.
Lifestyle: The lifestyle in Mexico is varied but always relaxed. The cities
have opera, museums, and galleries, in addition to excellent restaurants.
In the countryside, you can find folk parades, fiestas, and other traditional
pastimes. On the coast, Mexico has surfing, fishing, snorkeling, and
diving… as well as miles upon miles of excellent beaches. The cost of living
is lower than the United States, and the lifestyle can also be healthier owing
to fresher meat, fruit, and vegetables.
Currency: The currency is the Mexican peso. In tourist areas, you can pay
for things in U.S. dollars but will get an uncompetitive exchange rate.
Increasingly, businesses are insisting on payment in pesos.
“Closer-than-ever” Mexico is the #1 expat destination for Americans, and it’s
easy to see why… The climate is superb with hot summers, mild winters, Health care: In general, the health care in Mexico is excellent and far
and plenty of sunshine. Some parts of Mexico can be fiercely hot, while cheaper than in the United States. Charmingly, doctors still make house
others—like Lake Chapala and Cuernavaca—offer a more temperate calls, and most speak English. On average, a visit to the doctor or specialist
climate. Really, Mexico has something to suit everyone. will cost around US$30.
the Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit, who led craftspeople—and they’re all ready to
Gardener For the mass. collaborate. Residents promise a five-minute
Medieval Castle morning commute and real estate starts at
President Emmanuel Macron set a five-year US$56,390.
target on the cathedral’s restoration, hoping
it will be ready for the 2024 Summer Olympic The open letter has led to “hundreds and hundreds”
Games in Paris—causing much controversy. of inquiries. Interested parties can find out more
France’s Culture Minister Franck Riester would via the island’s website or Facebook page.
prioritize quality over speed, saying that if more
time is needed, so be it. However, the difficulty of obtaining residency in
Ireland these days shouldn’t be discounted. The
As of June 14, only US$90 million of the entrepreneur option for tech-type businesses
US$955 million required for the reconstruction must be funded to the tune of 75,000 euros.
has been acquired. Otherwise, you’ve got to invest 1 million euros in
the country or prove an annual income of 50,000
In St. Michael’s Mount, a small island off the Irish Island Wants euros to prove self-sufficiency.
coast of Cornwall, England, a highly skilled Americans
gardener is needed to care for the gardens on Beware Greeks
the island’s castle grounds. A particular kind of
horticulturalist is required for the job, as many Bearing Food...
are plants that you wouldn’t usually find in
Cornwall, such as puya, agave, and aloe. Greece’s finance ministry plans on raiding over
50,000 restaurants in Mykonos for scamming
Agility is also a must… many of the plants tourists out of hundreds of dollars through
are growing out of the bedrock of the castle exorbitant food bills.
and even watering them can be a daunting After multiple complaints from tourists and
task. Connecting the gardens is a stairway CC BY-SA 3.0 GEYO JOHN
locals, dozens of restaurants were closed down by
with incredibly steep steps, making the job undercover Greek police in the past month alone
challenging for those with mobility limitations. Down to only 469 inhabitants, the Irish island of
due to blatant overcharging.
Arranmore is writing open letters to the people
You’d work closely with the current custodians of of the United States to come on over. With rich Tourist rip-offs are so obscene at Aegean
the island, Lord and Lady St. Levan, while living history, dramatic cliffs, and some of the world’s restaurants that one couple was charged
in a Victorian terraced house with breathtaking best seafood there’s a lot to like here… but US$136 for two glasses of prosecco, a woman
castle views. If this doesn’t sound like the ideal traditional industries (farming and fishing) are on was charged US$93 for eight soft drinks, and
job to you, the island is also seeking an island the decline, and young locals have traded rustic another tourist was billed US$565 for just six
manager and a castle steward. island life for bigger cities. pieces of calamari.
Restaurant employees lure customers into
Arranmore hopes U.S. citizens might revive their
Notre Dame’s First purchasing small plates with high price tags by
economy by transforming the island into the first
offering a fake deal that includes free sunbeds,
Mass Since Tragic Fire “offshore digital hub.” or a “special combo,” only to be billed a ghastly
Now boasting high-speed broadband internet amount later on.
On Saturday, June 15, the first mass in Notre Dame and a co-working space called MODAM that
was conducted after the devastating fire that did Although the Greek finance ministry has tried
can be rented out for 20 euros (US$22.58) ending Mykonos scam culture for years, tax
significant damage to the historic cathedral two per day, offering video conferencing, smart evaders (who deprive the state of approximately
months prior. It was a small event, with about 30 technology, and telecommunication abilities, the US$16 billion in undeclared revenue each year)
people attending the celebration in the Chapel of infrastructure is already in place. continue to deny customers menus, dance around
the Virgin, which was undamaged by the fire. For giving prices or avoiding answering the question
safety reasons, all attendees had to wear protective Plus, Arranmore is home to graphic designers, altogether, and list prices by grams rather than
hard hats, which was “a bit strange,” according to photographers, app developers, and skilled per portion.
OLL S
ubs
save cribers
US$5
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LIOS PRIVATE NETWORK WEEKEND LIVE AND INVEST IN COLOMBIA
MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA MEDELLÍN, COLOMBIA
JULY 13–14, 2019 JULY 17–19, 2019
OLL S OLL S
ubs ubs
save cribers save cribers
US$5 US$5
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RETIRE OVERSEAS CONFERENCE OFFSHORE WEALTH SUMMIT 0
HOUSTON, TEXAS PANAMA CITY, PANAMA
SEPT. 7–10, 2019 OCT. 9–11, 2019
But Mazatlán is also a haven for Spanish colonial buffs who want to live near—or on—the ocean. Its historic center has enjoyed a major restoration
over the past 10 years and is now a source of pride for expats and locals alike.
Best of all, both the beach and colonial lifestyle offer countless fine-dining options, quiet coffee shops, energetic and friendly bars… as well as a
dynamic and active real estate market.
An active live contemporary and classical music, theater, and arts scene—a great way to enjoy time with your friends and neighbors.
You can “go local”… or not. You can choose to live among expats, speak mostly English, and ease your way into Mazatlán aided by people who have
come before you. Or live in a Mexican environment, speak mostly Spanish, enjoy a lower cost of living, and immerse yourself in Mexico’s charming
culture.
Prices are great. Whether you’re dining out or buying a property, you’ll find prices are amazing at today’s exchange rates… property prices are low
compared to other beachfront markets around the world—including elsewhere in Mexico.
Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Auto Zone… Mazatlán has local shops and Mexican supermarkets a-plenty, both big and small. But nothing beats a
Walmart or Home Depot for convenience.
Hundreds of us expats have settled in Mazatlán to enjoy its warm weather, active social scene, beautiful beaches, and stunning sunsets.
With convenient air service to the States and Canada, a safe highway to the American border, and all the amenities and services you could want,
Mazatlán could well be a good choice for you, too.
From Mazatlán’s best restaurants… to Mexico’s super-easy residency… to exciting nearby pueblos to explore… we’ll have all the details in next
month’s issue of Overseas Living Letter.
Overseas Living Letter 38