Expat survey: the best country that's not home

[mount_oregano]

If you're going to be an expatriate, what's the best country to live in? Canada — especially for its high quality of family life, ease of integration, and a good environment for children.

That's according to the most recent global survey of expats, Expat Experience, by HSBC Bank International. Australia came in 2nd, and Thailand 3rd.

The US came in 8th. Expats said getting healthcare and organizing finances were particularly difficult — but we already knew the healthcare and banking systems desperately need reform.

I live in Spain, which came in 9th, and would have ranked higher except that Spain speaks Spanish. The international community prefers English. But expats ranked it the healthiest place to live. Of course: lots of olive oil, red wine, sun, and siestas.

Of the 26 countries in the survey, the four worst were United Kingdom at 23rd, Russian Federation 24th, India 25th, and Qatar 26th.

Overall, survey respondents said the benefits of being an expat were financial rewards, improved quality of life, cultural opportunities, career development, and travel. The regrets were missing family and friends, language barriers, adapting to the culture, establishing a social life, and "constantly being a foreigner."

You can get the whole report and more information about expat life (and a lot of encouragement to make HSBC your bank) at:
http://www.offshore.hsbc.com/1/2/expatexplorer

— Sue Burke

Comments

[mount-oregano.livejournal.com]

Well, Spain is fully in the 21st century: traffic jams, Internet, digital TV, and even more mobile phones than in the US. However, there's 18% unemployment right now. The economy here crashed at the same time as the US mostly due to real estate speculation but also pulled down by the economic problems in the rest of the world.

At the same time as it has modernized, Spain has been able to keep its history intact. There are several words for "old-fashioned" here, and some of them are compliments. In addition to a love of history, there's also a love of art. Tourism is a big business here, and foreign tourists are genuinely welcomed because they help pay for the historic sites and fun activities that Spaniards themselves enjoy. in fact, Spaniards are their own best tourists.

Families are close and important, and young people here seem less conflicted than US teens. Even here in Madrid, many people return for vacations to the small towns where their grandparents came from so that the whole extended family can spend time together, and they consider that little town their real home town.

Oh, and yes, that was my cart.

[arhyalon.livejournal.com]

How Lovely. Spain is one of the few European countries I have never had the pleasure of visiting. I wonder if I will ever get to see it.