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Working Abroad, Pt 1: Three Ways To Do It

© Huw Francis

Deciding to move abroad to work may seem like an easy decision. Do you want to live on a Caribbean beach, in the Alps or somewhere equally exotic? Unfortunately, expatriate living is not the holiday everyone who still lives at home often thinks; you usually still have to work for a living and live off a limited income.

If you are single and have only yourself to consider, the decision of where, when and how to live abroad is certainly simpler than if you are a family. But no matter your circumstances there are still many aspects of an international move you are better off considering before you go.

Part 1 of Deciding to Move Abroad will look at the How? of living abroad.

How Do You Want to Live? There are three broad classes of international living, and the difference in living standard between them can be dramatic: 1. Volunteer worker (Peace Corp, VSO, etc.) 2. Local terms employment, 3. Expatriate terms employment.

Volunteer Worker Life as an international volunteer can be an isolated and lonely existence as you may be one of only a few foreigners living in a remote city, town or village (my wife was once one of four foreigners in a town of over a million people). Volunteer workers can often receive only basic remuneration; consisting of local standard housing, meals and pocket money. It is very rare that volunteer agencies will accept families with children, because schooling can be a major problem. On the other hand if you want to live with a foreign community to learn their language and culture (and are willing for your children to attend a local school) then this can be a great way to do be invlolved in a foreign culture, in a constructive manner.

Local Terms Employee As a foreigner employed on local terms you will be employed much as you would be in your home country (you will be paid a salary and may be have health insurance), which may not seem to be a problem. But in cities such as Tokyo or Hong Kong, listed as the first and third most expensive countries in the world in 1998 (Economist Intelligence Unit, http://www.eiu.com), living on a local salary can be a difficult proposition, especially if you have a family to support.

Housing will be one of the major expenses. Good schooling for your children can be expensive ($10,000 to $15,000 per child at an International School). Local cuisine can be great on a holiday, but not many foreigners can live permanently on Indian or Thai food. Local bureaucratic fees can also eat into your salary (residence permits, work visas and taxes). Knowledge of local living costs is thus essential before you decide to accept a job and move abroad on local terms.

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