Americans Play Ball in Venezuela

You may think it’s unlikely that you will find American Expats in Venezuela and that is true. The number of Americans have dwindled, but baseball has kept some. Venezuelans love baseball and the Americans who play and run some of the best teams in the country. “Mr. Bailey’s fame also makes him among the rarest of persons here: an American who has attained public success and admiration in President Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela. His feat stands out in a country where the government makes distancing itself from the United States and quarreling with Washington central features of its existence. “At first it was like, ‘What in the world are you doing?’ ” said Mr. Bailey, referring to the reaction of family and friends when he moved to Venezuela in 2002. “But baseball is baseball,” he explained. “Everywhere I go, the pitcher’s mound is at 60 feet 6 inches, and the bases are 90 feet, so it’s the same everywhere.” Baseball does seem, at first, immune to the deterioration of political ties between Caracas and Washington. American scouts still venture to villages deep in the interior to find talented ballplayers. Venezuelans like Johan Santana are still plucked from obscurity to become stars in the United States.”

Read more from The New York Times

Economic Recovery Means Hirer Rents In Kuwait

Since the end of the war with Iraq in 2003 Kuwait has experienced a reconstruction boom. The economy only slowly in 2008 and looks to pick up again in 2010. With the up swing pending so is a rental increase. The increase in rentals is slated at around 10% and this is tough news for some expats in Kuwait. “The situation has happened before, the expatriates spoke and tried to create ‘noises’ through newspapers and the media. What has happened? Nothing! We can’t do anything but bite the bullet in the end, that’s the truth. We just have to accept that,” the expatriate commented. The expected economic recovery to be made in 2010 could intensify the demand for apartments, thereby leading to increased rents, Markaz mentioned.”

Read more from Kuwait Times

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Making it Easier to Vote While Abroad

As Tuesday’s voting comes to a close in the USA many Americans overseas may have missed the chance to vote. Not to mention that research shows 1 in 4 overseas ballots end up not being counted. A federal bill has been passed that requires all states to have an electronic voting option for military and civilians living overseas, which should make voting easier. “The bill, which will take effect before next year’s federal elections, bars states from rejecting military ballots that have not been notarized, a difficult procedure in the bases of Iraq and Afghanistan. It also requires the Federal Voting Assistance Program at the Department of Defense, which is the main source of election-related information and assistance for many military personnel, to include voter registration and absentee ballot request information at every base.” Read more from NY Times

British Expats Leave Their Mark in Moscow

When expats move abroad they inevitably leave their mark in their new country. In Moscow a British expat takes a look around to discover the city’s British influences. From business to education to food and more British expats have left their mark – “Phoebe Taplin, a British journalist and Muscovite, looks at the connections and describes some of the influences British expatriates have on life in the Russian capital… Complete with authentic-looking furnishings and a Union Jack-clad cloakroom attendant, it is certainly one place to drive away homesickness for a couple of hours. The “Molly Gwynn” chain, run by the same company, advertises itself as ‘your new local’.” Read more from Russia Now

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We take a look at expat news this week:

 

Overseas American Week: representing your interests

 

For over thirty years, AARO has been representing the interests of overseas Americans on such issues as voting, taxation and citizenship. Each year, AARO organizes a lobbying trip to Washington called “Overseas Americans Week” to press for change on all of these issues and more. This year’s OAW will take place the week of March 30. To follow OAW as it happens, sign up for the weeklong OAW blog emails by writing to aaro[@]aaro.org.

You can follow this week in Washington on www.aaro-oaw.org.

Andy Coyne, Executive Vice President and Kathleen de Carbuccia, founding member and president of AARO. 

 

 

Smile and Copenhagen smiles with you

 

“Expats get a sweet welcome and some helpful hints from high places during the city’s official welcome

City Hall pancakes are normally reserved for heads of state, visiting dignitaries and world champion sports teams.

But on Monday afternoon the sugary sweet capital crêpes were dished up for another group the city is looking to make feel at home here – expatriates.

Jakob Hougaard, Deputy Mayor for Integration, welcomed the crowd of about two hundred foreign residents to the ‘Welcome to Denmark’ event and to their new city.

‘You’re part of the story of Copenhagen,’ he said. ‘I know that not every day is going to be a fairy tale here, but the story you are going to participate in is about the city of today.’
Statistically, Denmark is good at attracting highly qualified professionals that are in high demand, according to Katia Østergaard of the Expat in Denmark network, who also spoke during the welcome. The challenge, she said, is retaining them. Some 60 percent choose to leave after only a short stay.

Read more from The Copenhagen Post

 

Expats hit by recession blues

 

‘There are still more opportunities here in Asia than in New York or London, and even more so when the economy picks up,’ said Mr Maes, who holds an Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate which allows skilled foreigners to stay in Singapore for up to one year to look for a job. He is in the process of applying for an employment pass.
Foreigners who have previously worked here can apply for a Personalised Employment Pass, which is not tied to a specific employer and allows former work pass holders to stay for up to six months between jobs to seek new employment.
Foreigners who start legally registered entrepreneurial businesses can apply for the EntrePass, which lets them stay for up to two years and can be renewed.
Though the Ministry of Manpower has no official figures on the number of work permits being applied for or cancelled, recruitment firms here say that they have seen a slight increase in laid-off expats in the last three to six months.”
Read more from the Straits time

 

Can’t Find Work? Look Abroad

 

“As the economic crisis deepens and Americans everywhere are facing the prospect of unemployment, a steady source of income would seem hard to come by. Employers are pessimistic, competition for new jobs is tough and small businesses are struggling to turn a profit. Meanwhile the rent is still high, the bills are coming in and the banks are in no mood to talk about loans.”

So why not just leave?

More from Consummer Affairs

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We take a look at expat related news this week.

£25 a Spanish villa?

A British expatriate in Spain is using raffle to sell property which he has valued £5 million. IHT reports on Wayne Connell who has decided to sell his family’s Spanish property in this unusual way. « Tickets cost £25 (about €31) and are available through his Web site. A maximum of 200,000 tickets will be sold, he says.”

Shrinking pensions

Expat pensioners lose £160 a month as sterling slumps. British pensioners living in Europe have seen their state pensions fall by about £160 a month over the past two years as a result of the decline in the value of the pound, according to new research.  Read more from the Telegraph.

 

Expat Voices:

Here is a collection of reactions to the victory of Barack Obama at the US presidential election through videos of American expatriates around the world.

• A bi-partisan crowd gathering in Central, Hong Kong on election morning:

 

 

• Expats in Phnom Penh celebrate Obama’s victory:

• Interviews of American expats in Prague on election night:

 

• Reaction in Cape Town’s US consulate, South Africa

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in these videos are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily represent those of ExpatFinder.com.

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Over the past 12 hours, all eyes were on the election night in the United States of America. Televisions around the world were tuned to broadcast Senator McCain delivering his concession speech as the American voters where reported to have elected Senator Barack Hussein Obama as the next president of the USA.  Obama democrats abroad, republicans abroad, Americans overseas as well as citizen of other nations joined together to follow what is described as an historic night.

Barack Obama as a former expat kid himself growing up for a few years in Indonesia, has found a good echo in the American overseas community but we will have to wait to find out what are the results from American expatriate’s vote.

As the election results where broadcasted around the world and across time zone, we take a look at some groups of American expatriates and locals following the historic event:

 

Expatriates and locals in Vienna, Austria

Supporters of the U.S. Democratic Party try to enter a pub to follow the U.S. presidential elections in Vienna, Austria, November 4, 2008.
Copyright: Reuters Pictures

 
Expatriates and locals in Sydney, Australia

Women react as votes are counted during a US Democrats Abroad election day watch in Sydney on November 5, 2008. Copyright: AFP/Getty Images 

 

Expatriates and locals in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Supporters of US Democratic Party hopeful Barack Obama react in front of he Foreign Correspondent Club of Cambodia (FCCC) in Phnom Penh on November 5, 2008.
Copyright: AFP/Getty Images 

 

Expatriates and locals in Toronto, Canada 

Yonge & Dundas Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Copyright: Eyeline-Imagery 

 

Expatriates and locals in Beijing, China 

People follow the results of the US pesidential election from laptop computers during an election day event organized by the US embassy in Beijing. Copyright: AFP/Getty Images

 
Expatriates and locals in Chengdu, China

An American abroad stands next to posters of presidential candidates of Democrat Barack Obama (L) and Republican John McCain at the US election watch party in Chengdu, in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan on November 5, 2008.
Copyright: AFP/Getty Images 

 
Expatriates and locals in Paris, France

Copyright : francois_lafite 

 

Expatriates and locals in Berlin, Germany

The representation of German media group Bertelsmann in Berlin hosting a US election party
Copyright: qnibert00

 

Expatriates and locals Athens, Greece

A Greek American Obama supportes watch the early election results while attending the US election night by the Democrats Abroad in Athens, early November 5, 2008.
Copyright: AFP/Getty Images 

 

Expatriates and locals in Jakarta, indonesia

Americans residing in Indonesia Arian Ardi (L), Ron Mullers (C) and Phil Richard (R) celebrate the victory for the Democrat Barack Obama telecast live on the news in a cafe at a shopping mall in Jakarta on November 5, 2008. Copyright: AFP/Getty Images

 
Expatriates and locals in Seoul, South Korea

Members of Democrats Abroad Korea and Obama supporters watch an election broadcast on TV during the election Returns Party at the Orange tree November 5, 2008 in Seoul, South Korea.
Copyright: AFP/Getty Images

 
Expatriates and locals in Barcelona, Spain

People sit during an election night party organised by American Institute in Barcelona, to watch the results in the U.S. presidential elections, in Barcelona November 5, 2008.
Copyright: Reuters Pictures 

 
Expatriates and locals in London, United Kingdom

Supporters of United States Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, celebrate as they watch a TV broadcast predicting his victory in the state of Ohio, during an election party in the U.S. embassy in central London, early Wednesday Nov. 5, 2008.
Copyright : The Associated Press

 

Expatriates and locals in  Mexico city, Mexico

American citizen Ralston Darlington, a supporter of U.S. President-elect Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), watches Obama speak onscreen at an event sponsored by the Democrats Abroad in Mexico City November 4, 2008.
Copyright: Reuters Pictures 

 

Expatriates and locals in Amsterdam, Netherlands

President’s Night 2008 in de Melkweg
Copyright: PjotrP  

 

Expatriates and locals in The Hague, Netherlands

At the 5:00 a.m. post-election “Who’s the President?” Breakfast in The Hague, Netherlands.
Copyright: eselcee

 

Expatriates and locals in Manila, Philippines

Supporters of U.S. President-elect Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) watch election results at an event sponsored by the Democrats Abroad, in Manila November 5, 2008. Copyright: Reuters Pictures 

 

Expatriates and locals in Singapore, Singapore

Deanna Pesik, left, from California reacts as she hears results from television that Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States at an election results gathering in Singapore on Wednesday Nov. 5, 2008. Copyright : (AP Photo/ Wong Maye-E)

 

Expatriates and locals in Madrid, Spain

Copyright: marilink

 

And of course!  Expatriates and locals in Obama, Japan

Local residents celebrate as it is announced on television that Barack Obama has been elected the President of the United States in Obama, western Japan, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. Copyright: (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

 

Do you have pictures of expat gatherings on election night? send it over ( contact @ expatfinder.com ) or leave the link in the comments!

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We take a look at expat related news this week.

Financial crisis hits expats:
- Expatriates, among which a large proportion of British expats, who had savings at the Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander (Isle of Man) or Landsbanki in Guernsey where directly affected by the financial crisis. 

- Some expatriates or future expatriates will find there perks reduced by the projected cost cutting from companies. Banks in Singapore are already acting more cautiously on housing allowance and club memberships.

Expat behaviours make headlines in the UAE:
Two Britons were arrested this summer for having sex on one of Dubai’s beach. Reports on conflicting lifestyles and behaviors.

Expat Fair, show, expos
Last month we wrote about the expat Fairs around the world. If you didn’t get a chance to go there, you can check out a video from the I am not a tourist Fair in Amsterdam or the pictures from the expat expo in Geneva.

Elections:
- Both, candidate  McCain  and candidate Obama are reported to be actively seeking the votes from the expatriates. The fight for Florida might actually take place in Israel.

- Americans are not the only ones to vote this year. Canadians voted last week.  The national post reports on the frustration of Canadian expatriates particularly if they are currently living in in locations like Hong Kong, New York or London.

Expat Voices: Expatriates around the world are blogging about the US presidential elections:
- After reviewing the  Obama position on Americans abroad in September, American expat Peter Dahlen reviews The McCain Position on Americans Abroad

- You can check out what are the recent blog post from expatriates around the world by using the ExpatFinder Expat Blog search. You will have the latest blog posts about Barack Obama, John McCain, Joe Biden, Sarah Palin and much more… only Joe the plumber is not yet that famous abroad…

- Democrats abroad, Republicans Abroad, you can use the information search of Expatfinder.com in your campaigns to reach out to Americans abroad!

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