Blog Expat - La blogosphère des expatriés

Blog Expat - La blogosphère des expatriés

Parce que si vous êtes expatrié, en séjour à l'étranger, au pair... ou tout simplement là où bon vous semble, vous souhaitez peut être partager avec d'autres votre expérience, souligner les différence culturelles entre pays, vos idées et critiques citoyennes, ... etc. En plus un blog vous permettra de facilement monter des albums photos, des podcasts et de présenter vos activités.

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Dernières nouveautés du site Blog Expat - La blogosphère des expatriés :

• Thinking of doing an MBA?
  Choosing an MBA program is always a tough decision. Here are some things to bear in mind and choices to make before opting for your MBA. 1 year versus 2 years? In recent times, many well recognized European Management Schools have introduced one year programs which have offered MBA students an alternative to the two year full time courses offered by the American universities. Here are a couple of factors that can help you make your decision on which program to go for. One year programs offer the obvious cost and time savings by cramming a more intensive curriculum into the schedule. While this is a massive advantage for time pressed and cash strapped students, there a few downsides to it. Firstly, you might miss out on the time to absorb and learn from classmates outside the classroom as the pressure to meet deadlines will be much more intense. Another key point to factor in is for students considering a career transition. For those planning on changing industries and /or moving to a completely different role, a two year program will offer more opportunity to test the water in the new field through more internship opportunities. Lastly, a frequent complaint from students of the one year program is that there is just too much pressure and too little time to really absorb and internalize some of the lessons. To recap, if you’re looking to transition into a new line and need a bit more time to understand internalize management and build your network, the two year program might be a better option for you. Full time versus part time? Not sure whether to take the leap and opt for a full time MBA or combine work and study and choose a part time program? Here are some points to consider that will help you make the choice. The biggest advantage of the part time MBA is that you can stay at work and hence continue to earn an income. That said, a part time MBA is not for the faint hearted. You’ll need to be focused and determined and have the support of both, your family and colleagues. Never underestimate the toll the part time program will take on your personal and professional life. Weekends will need to be dedicated to study and homework and many people find it a struggle to balance work, study and family. Also, part time courses will tend to drag on for a longer time. Lastly, if you’re enrolling in a part time course, make sure you opt for a recognized and reputed institution. After long years of toil, you don’t want your degree to be undervalued simply because it was completed on a part time basis. On the other hand, the biggest advantage of the full time MBA is that you can offer your study your full focus and concentration. The biggest disadvantage however is that it requires nerves of steel to give up a good job and take the plunge. One option to ease yourself into this decision is to get your employer involved. Some students are sponsored by their company which gives them the security of an income plus the time to focus on their MBA. At the end of the day, if you can afford to take a break from work for a year or two, the full time is definitely a better option. GMAT versus GRE Most business schools use GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) scores as one of the tools to access eligibility for admission. In recent times, GRE (Graduate Record Exam) is also accepted by some schools. In general, GMAT is seen as the harder test to crack but if the school you intend to apply to accepts GRE scores, good GRE grades can make you look better than other students on paper. Pursuing an MBA can be a challenging affair but well worth it if you do it well and at a recognized institution. Good luck with your MBA.   Sidd Lobo Freelance writer based out of Munich How to arrange your studies abroad? You will find the answer in our series of 5 articles: Decide Where to Go Determine When to Go Language Problems and Programs How to Pay for It Practical Matters    
• Easy Expat in Russian / EasyExpat на русском языке
  We have achieved the implementation of a new language on EasyExpat. We are now pleased to announce that all our articles and sections are available in Russian, beside the existing English, German, French, Italian and Spanish languages. All sections including classifieds, jobs and tools are also available in Russian (with the exception of the forums, still in the 5 different languages which are available for posting). Russian language is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia/Slavic languages spoken by about 278 million people (a primary language for about 164 million and a secondary language for 114 million). The Russian language is primarily spoken in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus, and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics of the USSR. In Latvia, more than one-third of the population is Russian-speaking (see Russians in Latvia). Similarly, in Estonia, 68% of the population can speak Russian. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Russian remains a co-official language with Kazakh and Kyrgyz respectively. In Lithuania, 60% of the population speak Russian as a mother or secondary language. Also, more than half of the population of the Baltic states speak Russian. A number of Russian speakers have remained in Finland, there are 33,400 Russian speakers, amounting to 0.6% of the population (the Grand Duchy of Finland was part of the Russian Empire from 1809 to 1918 ). Russian is also spoken in Israel by at least 750,000 ethnic Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union (1999 census). Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language
• Top Summer Festivals this August
  It’s summer, it’s sizzling and it’s time to party. What better way than with some of the hippest, funkiest and unique festivals from all over the world this August. San Jose Jazz Fest, USA 7th- 9th August One of the finest music festivals in the U. S, this festival attracts over 1000 artists and 100,000 jazz lovers from around the world. Jazz, blues, salsa, Latin, R&B, electronica and many other forms of contemporary music are the order of the day. If that sounds like music to your ears, the place to head for is San Jose. Edinburgh International Festival, Scotland 14th August – 6th September Concerts, opera, theatre, ballet, dance, orchestra – the world-renown Edinburgh Festival has it all. Performances take place in six major concert halls and theatres and a number of smaller venues as well. The best occasion to savour the classics. Audi- Hamilton Island Race Week, Queensland 22nd – 29th August This is one for the regatta enthusiasts. Thousands of sailors, their families, and friends make the annual pilgrimage to the Australian tropics to enjoy some of the most competitive and enjoyable racing to be had at any regatta in the world. 2008 boasted of a record fleet of 225 yachts. Assa Abloy Henley-on-Todd Regatta, Alice Springs Australia 22nd August Now here’s a weird one… this is a regatta with a difference. Unlike other regattas, the Assa Abbloy Henley-on-Todd Regatta takes place on the dry beds of River Todd. Teams and individuals race ‘boats’ which take on strange forms like 'bath tubs', 'yachts' and 'oxford tubs' on the dry river beds in outback Alice Springs. A hilarious and insane experience and one that’s for a good cause. Proceeds are donated to charity. Ganesh Chaturthi, India 23rd August This is the birthday of the famous Elephant God in Hinduism. Ganesh Chaturthi is one of India’s biggest festivals and is celebrated with gusto across the country. Clay idols of the Elephant God varying from one inch to 25 feet are decorated and worshipped. On the eleventh day, the idol is taken through the streets in a procession before being immersed in a river or the sea.  La Tomatina, Bunol, Spain 27th August Now this is fun. This August, head to the world’s largest tomato fight. The action happens in Bunol, a little town in Spain about 30 miles from the Mediterranean. On the last Wednesday of August, the locals explode into a tomato flinging frenzy. For a full week leading to the epic ‘batalla’, the town is filled with parades, fireworks, food and street parties. Join in the battle frenzy. Puck Fair, Killorglin, Ireland 10th – 12th August This is Ireland’s most unusual street festivals. From horse fairs to puppet shows, circus routines to parades, you’ll find it all crammed in three days of non-stop, free family entertainment. A great option for those looking for wholesome, family fun. Wine Festival, Baja California, Mexico 7th – 23rd August As the name suggests, this festival is for the wine lovers. Every summer, the wineries of Baja California, Mexico host an amazing series of wine, food, music and cultural events throughout the region. Join in and discover new favourites this month. Please note that there may be changes to the dates, events and line-ups at the festivals. For detailed information, check the official websites.   Sidd Lobo Freelance writer based out of Munich
• Languages of the world
  Back in March, we were talking about the most spoken languages in the world followed by an article on the endangered languages. Mandarin (with the 1.2 billion of Chinese), English and Spanish are of course topping the list of the most populars. The language website bab.la has created a world map that shows some of the many languages of the world, where they are spoken and how many people speak them. This language map means you can now see the most spoken language on each continent! [click on the image to see it bigger] You can order your own bigger copy of the bab.la world map HERE.  Bab.la offers translations in many different languages, ranging from colloquial and regional expressions to more technical or field-specific vocabulary. They also feature language quizzes for you entertainement.
• INTERVIEW: Balthazar Tax Advisers, Amsterdam
  Balthazar Tax Advisers is a Dutch and international tax consulting firm specialised in advising expats in the Netherlands. Company - City - Country : Balthazar Tax Advisers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Can you talk about your project? On our website http://www.netherlandstax.com we have provided a lot of detailed information on tax in the Netherlands. The aim of our website is to help expats in the Netherlands know more about the Netherlands tax system and how they can benefit from it. What is the status of your project? As tax laws are changing continuously, our website has to be updated continuously. We also try to add new articles and topics as often as we can. What is the most interesting Dutch tax rule expats should know about? That definitely is the 30% rule. On the basis of the 30% rule expats are eligible to a 30% tax discount. What do expats not like about tax in the Netherlands? That probably is the high tax rate of 52% for the income you earn in the Netherlands in excess of EUR 55,000 (for 2009). Why can it be helpful for expats to have a tax adviser assist them? Having a tax adviser assist you in the Netherlands is in most cases a sensible thing to do. A Dutch tax adviser can reduce your tax payable. He knows which deductions and credits are available for you. He can assist you with your tax return and create the optimal tax position. What is your activity on the Internet? On our website http://www.netherlandstax.com you will find a lot of information on Dutch tax. It can serve as your tax guide in the Netherlands. We also write articles and communicate on blogs to share our knowledge on tax in the Netherlands to everybody that is interested. What advantages/discounts could you offer to our readers? We can assist expats in the Netherlands with their tax matters. Obtaining the 30% ruling for expats and filing their tax return such that their tax position is optimal, that is our expertise. Contact (Email/Tel/website) : Balthazar Tax Advisers http://www.netherlandstax.com/ Telephone: +31 10 737 0424  
• Top MBA programs in Europe
  In recent years, there has been an explosion of European MBA programs. And with it, comes an inevitable explosion of MBA rankings as well. While different rankings rate schools on different criteria, here are some of the consistent top performers on most European MBA rankings. London Business School, UK A consistent top performer, LBS offers a 15-21 month MBA course at its campus in the heart of London. It boasts of students from 120 countries, networking opportunities with over 28,000 alumni from across the globe and 34 International Exchange schools that you can partner with during your study here. The next program starts in August 2009 and the course fee is £45,500. Find more information about expat life in London on Easy Expat. Insead, France Another top pick amongst business schools, Insead boasts of two fully-integrated campuses in France and Singapore and students from over 70 different nationalities. Time pressed students will be happy to know that the MBA course is completed in a compact 10 months. It’s probably too late to apply for the next program that begins in September 2009 but there’s another one that starts in January 2010. Tuition fees are €51,000.  HEC Paris, France HEC Paris currently tops the FT list of European Business Schools. It offers a highly valued 16 months MBA program that is structured around two, eight month periods. It also offers many intensive, optional language courses throughout the program. Tuition fees are €42,000 and as with most other reputed MBA programs, they also offer scholarships and loans. Find more information about expat life in Paris on Easy Expat. IMD, Switzerland Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, IMD’s ‘Real world. Real learning’ approach has made it a hit amongst European business schools. The school boasts of an international alumni consisting of over 98 nationalities and a diverse faculty as well comprising of professors form over 19 countries. It has been ranked as the number 1 program by Forbes, FT and the Economist and is definitely one of the more prestigious programs across the continent. The MBA course is fitted into a 11 months curriculum and costs CHF 58,000 for tuition fees. The five application deadlines for the program are February 1, April 1, June 1, August 1 and September 1. Find more information about expat life in Switzerland on Easy Expat. IESE Business School, Spain The IESE Business School is also a topper on many business school rankings. It was ranked number 2 in the world and number 2 in Europe by Economist in 2008 and FT ranked it number 2 in Europe and number 5 in the world for 2008. It boats of a multicultural faculty and student profile. The IESE MBA is a two year program that’s conducted in its campus in Barcelona and costs approximately €68,000. Find more information about expat life in Spain on Easy Expat. Rotterdam School of Management, Netherlands RSM offers a 12 month, full time international MBA program that’s ranked among Europe’s top MBA programs. It boasts of a multicultural environment with students from over 80 countries. Tuition fees costs €36,000 and the application deadline for the next program is October 5th, 2009. Esade Business School The Esade Business School offers a flexible MBA program that allows you to customize your MBA experience. While all candidates start at the same time, you can choose to complete the program in 12, 15 or 18 months according to your personal situation and preference. The program has been consistently ranked within the top 10 MBA programs form across Europe by a number of polls. The full time MBA costs €52,000 and application deadlines occur throughout the year. Find more information about expat life in Netherlands on Easy Expat. ESCP Europe This highly ranked school offers a truly European experience with campuses spread across Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid and Turin. Candidates are offered the opportunity to rotate amongst these campuses. The MBA is an 18 month full time program and applications are accepted from February to December. The next program starts in January 2010. Tuition fees for the 18 month program are €42,000. Find more information about expat life in Madrid or London or Paris on Easy Expat. For links to recognized European MBA ranking, please click here. http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/european-business-school-rankings http://www.accessmba.com/mba-orientation/mba-ranking/eiu-european-mba-ranking-top-40/index.html http://www.exec-ed.info/journal/2007/8/21/forbes-best-mbas.html Please note that the costs mentioned above are for tuition fees only. Depending on the duration of your course and your lifestyle, you’ll have to also factor in living expenses, cost of books etc. Also bear in mind that most of the descriptions above are for full time MBA programs, but most if not all of the universities also offer part time programs. Good luck with your MBA.   Sidd Lobo Freelance writer based out of Munich How to arrange your studies abroad? You will find the answer in our series of 5 articles: Decide Where to Go Determine When to Go Language Problems and Programs How to Pay for It Practical Matters  
• Easy Expat in Dutch / EasyExpat in het Nederlands
  After Russian last month, we are proud to announce a new language on EasyExpat. All our articles and sections are available in Dutch, beside the existing English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Dutch languages. All sections including classifieds, jobs and tools are also available in Dutch (with the exception of the forums, still in the 5 different languages which are available for posting). Dutch is a West Germanic language spoken by over 22 million people as a native language, and over 5 million people as a second language. Most native speakers live in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, with smaller groups of speakers in parts of France, Germany and several former Dutch colonies. It is also the parent language of several creole languages as well as of Afrikaans, one of the official languages of South Africa and the most widely understood in Namibia. Source: Wikipedia
• La main dans le pot de confiture
  Bon, je suppose que vous êtes tous brifés sur le scandale des notes de frais des parlementaires britanniques. Ce feuilleton a succès à fait les choux gras de la presse outre Manche (et ailleurs), et surtout du Daily Telegraph qui a révélé l'affaire. A l'époque (c'est à dire il y a deux mois) je ne voulais pas trop en parler (mais je l'avais tout de même évoqué plus explicitement via une vidéo ici). En fait (je vais peut être passer pour naïf, complaisant voir hypocrite) mais je suis loin de m'insurger. Oui en effet l'un des députés a récuré les douves de son château avec l'argent de nos impôts. Oui un autre a fait passer les notes de taxis utilisés par sa femme pour faire du shopping en note de frais, ou tel autre a utilisé les miles de ses voyages officiels pour partir en vacances. Et alors, aurais-je tendance à dire...? Moi aussi je plaide coupable. Moi aussi j'ai utilisé les miles de voyages boulot pour partir en vacances. J'ai fait passer des notes de restos entre copains en business lunch. J'ai déduis de mes impôts des billets de trains de déplacements pas forcement si professionnels que ça. Et je n'ai pas (encore) de château... A la rigueur, je blâme plus celui qui s'est fait rembourser des kitkats ou des rouleaux de PQ (si si y'en a au moins un). Parce que là c'est vraiment de la connerie, et ça mérite sanction ! Si on peut être con comme ça, on perd tout légitimité dans l'établissement des règles applicables au pays... c'est même dangereux. Non, pour moi le véritable scandale, c'est maintenant. Lorsque le nouveau Speaker de la Chambre (l'équivalent du Président de l'Assemblée), élu suite à la démission du précédent emporté par le scandale des notes de frais, et qui promet de laver plus blanc, de moraliser tout ça et blablabla, dépense £20,000 en quelques semaines pour refaire son logement de fonction, pour l'adapter à sa famille de 3 enfants selon lui, et notamment en achetant un canapé à £8000 ! De qui se moque-t'il ? Avec 3 enfant (et peut être un chat, un chien et un canari ?), j'aurais plutôt pensé qu'il valait mieux acheter souvent des canapés Ikea à £500 plutôt qu'un truc brodé d'or (à ce prix là sûrement) dont le prix équivaut à 1/3 du salaire annuel du citoyen moyen ? Soit il est très con, soit c'est un escroc (probablement les deux car il faut être bien stupide pour penser que personne ne le saura, surtout après les récentes affaires). Dans tous les cas il n'a aucune légitimité à représenter ses concitoyens (si ce n'est peut être ceux qui achètent des canapés à £8000, mais je n'ai pas le plaisir de les connaître) et devrait dégager vite fait, chanceux qu'il est d'échapper au goudron et aux plumes.
• Vive la France
  Le FSA (Financial Services Authority - sorte de gendarme de la bourse britannique) a publié de nouvelles règles concernant le versement de bonus par les banques. Alors que les prises de risques sont vues comme un des facteurs aggravant de la crise financière qui a frappé le monde, le FSA souhaite que les bonus des banquiers soient liés aux performances à moyen terme des organismes financiers. Un code de bonnes pratiques a donc été publié, avec deux grands principes: Tout d'abord, veiller à ce que les conseils d'administrations se concentrent davantage sur le fait que "le montant total [de rémunération et de bonus] distribués par une entreprise est compatible avec une bonne gestion des risques et de durabilité". Et, deuxièmement, de veiller à ce que l'ensemble des rémunérations, y compris les primes/bonus", prévoit les mesures d'incitation adéquates". En d'autre termes, les bonus pourraient uniquement être garantis sur 12 mois, et pour les mieux payés, 2/3 des primes devront être réparties sur les 3 années qui suivent. Et attention ça ne rigole pas: le FSA veut ces mesures en place pour janvier prochain (donc pour les prochains bonus), à défaut il y aura des sanctions ! Déjà que le gouvernement a placé des hommes a lui au sein des directions des banques qu'il a renfloué afin de surveiller et d'avoir un mot à dire.... la City est sous surveillance. Du coup on a un peu peur, dans les milieux des salles de marchés londoniennes, que les traders partent travailler dans d'autres pays... par exemple en France où le gouvernement a filé 10 milliards à la SocGen et à la BNP contre des actions sans droit de regard aucun, et se contente de dire "ouh, c'est vilain" lorsque la BNP prévoit de distribuer 1 milliard en bonus cette année.
• Le nombre de clandestins à Calais a triplé en 5 ans
  Bon pour faire simple je vais me citer moi même pour introduire le thème de la semaine: Dans un article précédent, j'écrivais : "Je parlais il y a 2 ans des conséquences de la politique de Nicolas Sarkozy, alors ministre de l'intérieur, qui fit fermer le centre de réfugiés de Sangatte dans le Pas de Calais le 5 novembre 2002 (faisant ainsi plaisir au gouvernement de Tony Blair et aux tabloids anglais, et s'offrant du même coup une très bonne couverture médiatique) sans aucun suivi. La méthode Sarko : on cherche à changer l'image projetée sans comprendre les sources du malaise et remédier aux causes". En application direct de ce preambule, je vous convie à la lecture du Daily Mail qui écrivait fin juin:  Migrant stowaways at Calais triple in five years Le nombre de migrants tentant de se faufiler en Grande-Bretagne via Calais a presque triplé en seulement cinq ans.[...] En 2004, après la fermeture du camp de Sangatte, des agents des services frontaliers avaient recensé 7 540 clandestins. L'an dernier, leur nombre était de 19 399. En prenant en compte les contrôles à Coquelles, Dunkerque, Paris et en Belgique, le nombre de migrants en situation irrégulière pris en train de tenter de passer en Grande-Bretagne a été de 28 007. Mais les critiques soulignent que ces chiffres reflètent les immigrants illégaux qui sont pris, et donc que cela de prend pas en compte ceux qui se sont soustraits aux contrôles.[...] Les politiciens français ont accusé la Grande-Bretagne d'être responsable du retour des camps de migrants à Calais. Le maire de Calais a déclaré que la politique du gouvernement du Royaume-Uni était la cause directe des milliers de migrants sur la commune, coûtant des millions d'euros à l'economie locale. Natacha Bouchart a accusé le Royaume-Uni de distribuer d'"énormes" allocations à distribuer aux demandeurs d'asile. Mme Bouchart ajoute que l'attrait de ces paiements a été la raison pour laquelle des milliers d'étrangers utilisent le port français comme un point dedépart pour tenter de traverser la Manche. Et bien voilà donc ce que je ne cesse de répéter. Fermer un centre d'accueil en bougeant les bras devant les télé, faire le 20h à coup de mesures polémiques, ça fait des images... pour cela apparement les français ont choisit un spécialiste. Par contre pour régler les difficultés sur le long terme, mettre en avant l'Europe pour trouver une solution à un problème qui ne peut être réglé qu'ensemble (et qui perdurera tant que le Roayume Uni n'armonisera pas sa politiqe avec le reste des pays europeens), là il va falloir chercher ailleurs...
• Easy Expat in Polish / EasyExpat w języku polskim
  After Russian and Dutch last month, we have achieved yet the implementation of a new language on EasyExpat. We are pleased to announce that all our articles and sections are available in Polish, beside the existing English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Dutch languages. All sections including classifieds, jobs and tools are also available in Polish (with the exception of the forums, still in the 5 different languages which are available for posting). Polish is a West Slavic language and the official language of Poland. Its written standard is the Polish alphabet which corresponds basically to the Latin alphabet with a few additions. The language is spoken by about 56 millions people. Ethnic Poles constitute significant minorities in Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine.  
• Endettement
  Avec le parti conservateur régulier archi-favori pour gagner les prochaines élections generales au Roayume Uni (au plus tard en mai), les lendemains nous sont déjà annoncé difficile (c'est un euphemisme). La dette d'Albion serait passé de 44% du PIB à 100% (5,4% de déficit cette année). Autant dire que la droite, déjà connue pour peu encleinte à la dépense publique (autre euphemisme, décidemment), déroule ici une autoroute pour expliquer qu'il va falloir faire de nombreux sacrifices. Ailleurs on semble pourtant moins catastrophé: La dette de l'Etat français serait environ de 73% de son PIB aujourd'hui (et 95% en 2014) contre 64% avant la crise. L'Italie a un taux d'endettement de 132% contre 103% en 2007. Les Etats Unis seront à 112% du PIB en 2014 contre 63% en 2007. La dette japonaise devrait atteindre 239% contre 188% en 2007. Même l'Allemagne ne devrait pas échapper à cette tendance avec 91% en 2014 contre 67% en 2007. Dans ces conditions la situation du Canada est particulièrement à saluer eavec un taux stable à 65% de dette. (source: Le Monde)  Rappelons aussi que le pacte de stabilité institué par le traité de Maastricht pour les pays membres de l'Union Européenne fixe cette limite à 60% du PIB - et 3% de déficit par an. Ce dont on parle moins, mais à mon sens plus inquiétant (si si je vous avais dit ça en 2006 si vous suivez), est le niveau de dette personelle. Celle ci a maintenant dépassé le niveau du PIB au Royaume Uni. Le cap a été franchit en 2006 et se situe actuellement aux alentours de 102-104%. Loins du ratio français de 45%... (source).    
• please don't close my blog
  Thanks ! Maybe  someome  needs  these  links  in  my  blog !
• Perchè revolution09
    Ho scelto questo nome per il mio blog, perchè è la parola che meglio rappresenta il periodo di vita che stò attraversando, una rivoluzione appunto.... Ad un certo punto stanco della mia  vita, ho deciso di dare una svolta e cambiare tutto radicalmente...rivoluzionandomi completamente..........  In questo blog vorrei trasmettere a tutte le persone che lo leggono, le emozioni vissute in questi mesi, e magari diventare l'artefice del vostro cambiamento.....perchè se si vuol cambiare vita è semplicissimo...basta volerlo...poi tutto il resto viene da solo....  Buona fortuna a tutti....naturalmente aspetto vostri commenti....  

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