Expat Interviews - The Inside Story

I am always interested in finding new resources to recommend to my expat clients. I recently came across this fantastic site which shares the stories of those successfully living abroad.

Lizza Capucion, the co-owner, could not have done a better job of describing what Expat Interviews is all about, so I am sharing her own words here:

"Expat Interviews was launched in June 2006, a collaboration between two friends and business partners: Victor Volder in the Netherlands and Lizza Capucion in the Phillipines. We think the idea of travel is exciting, and the idea of uprooting one's self to live in a foreign land even more so. We find the interviews we receive to be not only interesting to read, but very informative as well. The handful of interviews that we started with during the first few weeks has grown to number in the hundreds by January 2007. And that growth shows no sign of stopping.

There are several interpretations of the word "expatriate", but for the site's purposes, it simply means a person who has left the land of his or her birth to live in another country. However, several types of expats are featured on Expat Interviews: the so-called transient expats, or those who are living in another country for only a determined amount of time because of work or studies or other reasons. These people are also known as immigrants or adoptive citizens.

The interviews are given by people from all walks of life: students, entrepreneurs, executives, employees, stay-at-home parents and retirees. Some of them are straight-to-the-point, some of them are hilarious, some are very sweet love stories. Keep in mind, though, that points of view about expat life in a certain land may differ. After all, what one person finds good about a certain country another person might loathe.

One thing is certain: there is almost always something new that readers can pick up from each interview because of each individual's unique perspective on what it's like to be an expat in a certain place. The information and tips provided by real-life expats is certainly helpful; interviewees have told us that they wish such a site had existed when they were still planning their move or when they were still in the early stages of their expat lives.  They appreciate not only the first-hand information interviewees provide, but also the "personal touch" that the interviews bring.

The interviews are left pretty much in the state they are recieved, with only minor modifications for editorial purposes. The interviews you read there retain the expat's voice and personality, and all of the information and tips that each has been gracious enough to share are each interviewee's own.We hope that our site acts as a bridge between the expat and the expat-wannabe - and to provide useful reading material as well."

Want to read my views on living and working in Italy?   Go here to read my interview.

Your Expat Success Tip: Are you an aspiring expat not sure of which country to make your next home? Are you living abroad and want to learn how other expats are experiencing your country? Visit Expat Interviews to learn how others who are out there living their dream of life in their country of choice - or share your own story.