About Those Plans to Become an Expatriate... (reposted from original location)

article from January 2, 2014
By Jamie Douglas

As we enter another new year, many people in the Northern Hemisphere are taking stock of their lives, looking to better their situation and location, and in the deep freeze of winter they are dreaming of the easy life on a tropical beach with coconuts, pineapples and bananas.

But wait – there is much more to that equation. All of us who have successfully migrated out of our nest-countries have had to make sacrifices we did not plan on. Some of those are what are referred to as “comfort items,” like foods. You will not be able to find a Waffle House or bagel shops, and there is probably no Marmite, fish ‘n’ chips or instant gravy mixes in any flavor you like.

When you first start your inquiries at consulates about residency, you will be overwhelmed at the amount of hurdles you have to clear in order to get that cherished residency in Parador. And when you finally do and arrive in your dream destination, which you have hopefully spent some months getting to know, you might not be too charmed by all the bureaucracy and graft to outright corruption and extortion you might encounter, depending on where you go.

Of course, if you chose a country like Uruguay, the process is, as Mark Mercer at Uruguay Expat Life puts it, a comprehensible, fair, attainable process (they have more great articles about Uruguay residency and other such technicalities, too).

There are some things you must however be prepared to leave behind: first and foremost are your friends and relatives. The further away you are, the more difficult it will be, and making friends in a new place is not easy. You will always be looked upon as the strangers, even long after you live in a place.

Getting a job is not always easy, even if you have great IT skills, as the locals have acquired them as well, and they are doing the work at a fraction of the cost and are, of course, perfectly fluent in their native tongue as well as the computer languages required to write code.

If your wealth allows you to maintain a standard of living such as what you had back home, you will be the envy of your neighbors, so make sure you live in a neighborhood that you blend into to reduce your chances of being victims of crimes. The best deterrent is to try to be modest in your display of wealth.

If you have kids going to school, they will make friends quickly and get acclimatized to the culture faster than the adults do. And it is normal to see expats dragging their kids along to translate for them.

Primarily, you should keep in mind that you left your familiar surroundings to be exposed to a new and adventurous life.

I have been an expat on and off for over 50 years, changing countries and continents frequently, never getting bogged down by property ownership. Having spent years in adventurous nations where property ownership may change from revolution to revolution, I have never had to abandon it all because of civil unrest or a coup d’état.

I have had to rush out of a few locales with one or two suitcases, leaving behind my appliances and a few personal items. (How I remember those adventures in Fiji, New Caledonia, Bolivia, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, South Africa etc...) I never had to go back and fight military juntas to get my property back; but I got some great stories, from climbing off the back of a truck into an idling Braniff DC-8 on the takeoff runway in La Paz, Bolivia, to rafting from the Isle of Pines to New Caledonia on the South Equatorial Current (watch for these to come!).

It has certainly been an exciting ride, which was made all the easier by my lack of attachments to just about anything with the exception of exposed film. I actually do not recommend some of my wild times to most people; but in these unsettled times, we never know what tomorrow’s headlines bring: Todos yanquis fuera de Parador!

Jamie Douglas
La Paloma, Uruguay

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

2011 Immigration Requirements for Argentina

article from June 27, 2011

By Jamie Douglas

For many citizens coming from the US and Canada, as well as Europeans, Australians and Chinese, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of indigents from neighboring countries, Argentina has become a magic destination, where people seek to find peace or better incomes, opportunities for their children, perhaps a more mellow existence and for some, a Utopia or Shangri La of sorts.

In this article, I will concentrate on the first four groups of potential immigrants, the ones most likely to be my readers. First off, I will give you the figures for what it will cost you to arrive in the country. When arriving on international flights at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, US citizens are charged a reciprocity fee of US$134, while Canadians pay about $71 and Australians about $102. These amounts may fluctuate slightly with the currency exchanges. Citizens from the European Union as well as our Kiwi friends are exempt from those fees. Your entry entitles you to an automatic stay of 90 days in the country, which you may extend at any immigration office in the country for another 90 days for 300 pesos, or about US$75. After a one-time extension, you must leave the country, which, depending on where you are, may be simple or it may be expensive. If you are in the greater Buenos Aires area, a quick daytrip on the Buquebus, the ferry across the Río de la Plata, will give you a 90-day entry into Uruguay for free, but you may return the same day.

I personally recommend taking the ferry to Colonia del Sacramento, and make it a multi-day excursion, as this is one of the historical cradles of Uruguay. Large portions of the old town are beautifully restored to its ancient glory. Montevideo is a secondary destination if you look for variety on multiple visa-renewing trips, offering a large selection of cultural events, great restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Of course, a constant back and forth will eventually come to the attention of sharp eyed immigration officials who may advise you that you will not be allowed back in, as has happened to an acquaintance. Therefore, there is option B: Not leaving the country until you have to, and then paying a 300-peso exit fee, which is the same amount as extending your visa.

If you find yourself having settled close to the Andes in Mendoza or Patagonia, your choice may be to go to Chile, where you again have to pay that reciprocity fee for getting the permission to enter their country, but the stamp you get is valid for the life of the passport.

As far as actually settling as a rentista, or retiree, the income requirements went up from about US$500 to $2,000 per person per month, funds that must be banked in “trustworthy” financial institutions in Argentina, the same institutions that the average Argentinean avoids like a pestilence. When they are not on strike, they are out of cash.

The cost of living in the large cities can be compared to pretty much the rest of the world, with energy costs leading the way and some consumables being a little less expensive. But medical care generally is much more affordable and very good. If you know what drugs you require, simply go to a pharmacy with box in hand, and you will get what you need, except for narcotics. Diabetic care, blood pressure medication, and general maintenance medicines are freely available from a friendly pharmacist near you. Be sure to ask for generic medicines, as they are much more affordable.

As always, I urge potential pilgrims to come down and spend a few weeks or months here before taking the plunge, as I have seen too many dreams shattered for good people who were seeking out an alternative lifestyle, only to discover after a few months or a couple of years that this was not the beautiful life they had hoped for.

If, on the other hand, you have sufficient funds to come in as an investor, a mere 1.5 million Argentine pesos, or about US$368,000, and a working business plan plus approval from the appropriate ministry will get you residency, no problem. (If you have that kind of money, please consider making a donation to this writer and his wife and various dogs.)

The last option is a student visa, which requires you to have been accepted by an accredited school prior to getting your residency.

Argentina is the eight-largest nation in the world and has something to offer to almost everyone, so give it a whirl. You just might fall in love with the country and its friendly people.

Note that the rules and regulations are constantly changing, so be sure to contact an Argentinean Embassy or Consulate and do your due diligence. You can start with our Useful Expat Resources page.

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

Photo by Jamie Douglas

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Living in The Cayman Islands

article from May 31, 2011

By Jamie Douglas

The Caymans have acquired a well-deserved reputation for being a tax heaven for both individuals and corporations, and this UK overseas territory currently is home to no fewer than 93,000 corporations, with 10,000 mutual funds, 800 insurance companies and 300 banks. This small group of islands is home to no more than 52,000 inhabitants, a whopping 20% of which are expatriates.

Of all the registered businesses in the Caymans, most have no physical presence on the islands themselves, but live out of post boxes and barristers’ offices.



Gaining a work permit for the Cayman Islands

If you are interested in joining the other 10,000 expats from all over the world who live more physical lives there, the process can be easy if you are in a profession that is wanted by a Caymanian enterprise. First, they have to file your application for a work permit, during which time you are not permitted to be in the islands. The process is relatively straightforward, with one major catch, the so-called “rollover” that applies to expats living there under work permits. Your maximum stay is limited to seven years, unless you are what is known as a “key employee.” In the rollover situation, expats are rotated out of the country for one year, after which time they may return to live and work there for another seven years.

Several of the companies that are the most affected by this policy, such as law firms, dive shops and real estate agents, have been the most vociferous against this policy; but as the Immigration Law of 2003 was written, not even government bureaucrats are exempt from it. It is a measure that was adopted to protect the Caymanian identity (whatever that is) from the encroachment of foreigners. In my personal opinion, that is a bit hypocritical in view of the fact that they live tax free off the proceeds of all the offshore companies.

Cayman Islands geography

The islands themselves bask in the warm Caribbean sun 400 miles south of Miami, 180 miles south of Cuba and 195 miles northwest of Jamaica. The territory consists of three main islands. Grand Cayman, with an area of 76 square miles, is three times the size of the other two combined. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are located some 80 miles to the east of Grand Cayman. Cayman Brac features the highest mountain on the islands, The Bluff, which soars to a nose bleeding height of 1,680 inches, or 42,600 millimeters, above the Caribbean Sea.

Cayman Islands attractions

Beyond hiding your assets, the Cayman Islands are world renowned for the scuba diving in its pristine, crystal-clear waters, as well as for sailing and all the water sports that you’d expect to encounter on Caribbean islands.

After a busy day at sea, or a not-so-busy day on the beach, you might enjoy the world-class shopping before heading out to one of the numerous fine dining establishments that offer their daily fresh catch, as well as all the vegetables and meats that are flown in fresh every day from the US mainland. You will be sure to rest well at night with the balmy breezes that Caribbean is so famous for.

Enjoy Life and be Happy, and while you are at it, please be nice to all around you. Adopt a stray dog, and call your parents every once in a while to let them know how wonderful the life they gave you is!

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

[Image: Georgetown, Grand Cayman waterfront, via Wikipedia]

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

The Future Expat’s Dilemma

article from February 22, 2011

By Jamie Douglas

We receive inquiries on a regular basis from our readers that would make a list for solving a crime:

Where? When? How? Who? What?

Many of you have an idea of where you might want to end up, what country or what region. What you may not yet know about are very important issues such as the type of government, financial situations, taxes, immigration requirements, retirement income, cost of living and medical care availability and costs.

As I wrote in an earlier article dealing with renting vs. buying, renting is a good idea to start with. In other words, try it on first. For more information and advice that will help you to learn what you need to know, see the list of helpful resources at the Expat News and Info Helpful Expat Resources Page (updated January 2014) as well as the Expat Advice label listing for this blog.

Those of you who are young and adventurous will set out with different goals and ideas in mind. Some are seekers of the unknown with plans to eventually get back to your home countries and families, while others are looking for a place to spend the rest of your days on a little farm or ranch, maybe having family come visit once or twice a year or visiting them occasionally.

If you are wanting to leave your anglophile country because the government sucks, I can assure you that most governments suck. For the moment, Uruguay is exempt from that statement.

If you don’t speak the language and are looking for places where there are a lot of other anglophiles, think twice about leaving your country, because hanging out with the same small group of malcontents who are constantly bitching about where they came from does get old fast, and it is these same people who will soon crawl back to their nesting grounds, eating crow.

Then there is the concentration on “cheap.” There are really no cheap places anymore. Globalization is a fact. In some countries, you will pay as much – or more – for many things as you did at home. There are no megastores competing. Price-fixing is prevalent abroad. Energy costs are ridiculously high. In some countries, stores routinely run out of stuff.

And if you think that when you go to the local colorful market and buy produce from the “Indians,” it is healthier, think again. Many use mass quantities of pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers, as well as genetically modified seeds from the likes of Monsanto. Virtually no one from a government health agency ever visits farms or abattoirs to check on hygiene or the amount of chemicals used on their crops, or sanitary practices used to render their produce. Again, there are exemptions such as Uruguay, as well as a good part of Argentina and Chile. But do you want to live so far away from your grandchildren, to where you have to spend thousands of US dollars to go visit them? Will you miss your friends that you have spent 40 or more years cultivating? Are you ready to immerse yourself in a completely new culture, learn a new language while you are in the boomer age group and face the often quite daunting task of purchasing property in a foreign nation? ...at overinflated prices of course. There is no cheap land to be had anywhere in Latin America, unless it is really out of the way, like the Chaco in northern Argentina.

Added to the cost is political and social instability that can be in the form of crime, drug war violence, debilitating strikes, political corruption and incompetence, and long-simmering anger over social inequities that are beginning to come to a full boil as food and energy prices continue to soar.

So that brings us to the Future Expat’s Dilemma:

What to do, what to do?

Florida is very attractive at the moment, what with the complete implosion of real estate prices, and it’s cheap. There are Wal-Marts and Targets and Home Depots, 7-11s and corporate food joints on every corner. And bulk land is available sometimes at very good prices. Look for the “For Sale by Owner” signs. Many of them are trying to beat foreclosure and you might get a great deal. Then there is Las Vegas, with the total collapse of the housing market, as well as some regions in south Texas, Arizona, and California. All these offer you the conveniences of home, and you will still have plenty of opportunities to learn Spanish with your new neighbors. And nothing is stopping you from ignoring the government, like you would have to do as an expat anywhere in the world, anyway, as it is a bad practice to get involved in your host countries internal politics (Ask Che Guevara). Your friends and family are just a phone call away, and you can drive up to visit them for special occasions.

No worries about political instabilities because, despite the atmosphere, the USA is really nowhere near as explosive as are countries where real oppression and long-institutionalized poverty exist. Plus, all the countries south of the border are much more socialistically inclined than the USA will ever be (i.e. affordable health care), and forget about your cherished right to own assault weapons. In virtually every country, a foreigner caught with a firearm will spend a considerable amount of years in prison.

So, consider the options I mentioned above. They are real. If, however, you are truly looking for new horizons and challenges, there is a whole new world to be discovered south of the US border. There, you will find many fine people, incredible food, amazing culture, and adventures galore. So, as they used to say in the old National Airline commercials, “Fly me, I’m Gladys!” Oh, sorry no, that’s the wrong National Airlines slogan, it should be: “Come on down!”

Jamie Douglas

Patagonia

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure

The Moving Experience – Stuff 101

article from January 26, 2011 (all links current as of December 2013)

by Julie R Butler

It’s easy for us. We nomads never do acquire a lot of stuff. It has been during those times when we rented a house for a couple of years when we found out first-hand that the fish-bowel theory really is a thing. The fish will grow in proportion to the size of its container. And when it comes to stuff, it seems to have the capacity to fill a space to the maximum, all of its own accord. Even those of us who are not habitual packrats will keep stuff that we think we need, and the more space we have available, the more we collect.

From family heirlooms, gifts from loved ones, works of art, music collections, mementos, and photos, to books and magazines, to gadgets that we could not imagine surviving without, the things that we own after we have removed the clutter of things that we have held on to for lack of getting rid of them, or with intentions of revitalizing them, or for the possibility that one day we will need them, all seem relevant and important.

Expatriating means that there will be some major soul searching over what we value most in our lives. And if you are one of those people who find packing for vacations difficult, then you are going to want to take some serious time working these things out.

Susanna Perkins, Future Expat Extraordinaire, writes about this in terms of becoming “untethered,” and she offers some excellent advice about how to begin going about dealing with your stuff in this post titled, To Untether, First Take Inventory. In this article, she focuses on her beloved book collection. Books are indeed one of the hardest things to contemplate living without. Yet she seems to have found a way to come to terms with the need to part with them by systematically categorizing them into those to be passed along to her kids, those to be stored, and those to be sold or given away.

She also looked into the possibility of using a Kindle e-reader, and happily, discovered that the reading experience was fine. E-readers have been selling well for good reason, as they are not as repugnant as so many book lovers imagine and they are an amazing way to store literature and subscribe to magazines and news. E-books tend to be priced more economically than printed books, and they are “greener,” too. If the price tags of the e-readers are a deterrent, don’t despair – both Apple and Amazon have versions of their e-readers available for downloading to your computer FOR FREE. I have both on my laptop, and I am quite impressed with the quality.

Music is another issue. If you have a large collection of vinyl, then you are most likely the type of person who would go to all the trouble to pack everything you own up ever-so carefully and have it all shipped to your new location so that you can continue to live your life surrounded by eclectic things of the past that give you great comfort, even though they can be a big pain in the back side. There is little help for you. As for CDs, what we did was copy our entire collection onto a second hard-drive, then sold all the CDs. (Ah, the beauty of the “flea market economy.”) There are all kinds of music download options available online these days, which is also a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, services like Pandora don’t broadcast out of the United States. After having spent all that time setting up my ideal radio stations, I was sorely disappointed to find this out.

This is a start. Stay tuned for more advice on how to deal with your stuff to come.

[Photo by Jamie Douglas]

Julie R Butler is a writer, journalist, editor, and author of several books, including Nine Months in Uruguay and No Stranger To Strange Lands (click here for more info). She is a contributor to Speakout at Truthout.org, and her current blog is Connectively Speaking.

email: julierbutler [at] yahoo [dot] com, Twitter: @JulieRButler

Moving Abroad to Medellín: An Expat Interview

article from January 24, 2011

by Julie R Butler

Looking for some insight into moving to Latin America? I have been asking experienced expats if they could share some of their experiences and I found the responses of this gentleman to be particularly insightful, especially this bit of wisdom that most will agree sums up the Latin American character:

“I learned that no matter what, the family was the most important aspect of each of their lives.”

The location is Medellín. Despite the fearful reputation this city gained during the 80s and the 90s, there is much more to this second-largest city in Colombia that cocaine-cowboy violence. After the demise of Pablo Escobar in the mid-1990s, a renaissance has brought this important historical, cultural, and intellectual center back with a vengeance (so to speak).

Q: How much did you know about Medellín before you moved there?

A: I had traveled to Medellín about 8-10 times over a three-year period of time. I met many local citizens and became friends with a select few. Drivers, of course, who had their own cars, were a big plus so that taking a taxi was only used occasionally or for short trips around town. And the couple of drivers who I felt that I could trust were almost always available. Their English was much better than my español, thank God. Their knowledge of the intricacies of the culture and sharing that knowledge with me –"what to do and what not to do" – was invaluable.

Fortunately, my work in the USA allowed me to travel as often as I wanted. I would spend 3-5-7 days or so on each visit. And each time that I returned to the USA, as I landed in Miami, I immediately began thinking about when I would schedule my next trip. The tourist promo that the Colombia government uses, "the only danger is not wanting to leave" certainly applied to me.

Q: What was the hardest aspect of adjustment for you?

A: After the initial excitement had worn off, I think the hardest part for me was trying to stay mentally busy. I have often said that visiting Medellín as opposed to living there is like a kid visiting a candy store every now and then, and then when you live there, you are in the store every day, and the thrill is not the same.

[One of the hardest aspects of adjustment was] to understand that people living in a country such as Colombia think that all gringos are "rich" no matter what your economic status in the USA might be. For the most part, even if they had no money, they somehow seemed to be happy.

There were times when I was told that it was unsafe for me to travel to a certain part of town, or drive out into the countryside. That feeling bothered me for a while, but I soon learned that my friends were just looking out for me.

Q: What would you say is the most important thing that you wish you had
known or understood before moving?

A: That no matter how you try to blend into the culture, and no matter if you are accepted, you are always considered a gringo/visitor/foreigner. And that is OK, for the most part. I had to learn that I could not impose my cultural norms on the people who I came in contact with, and frankly should not even try to do so. If they wanted to do or behave the way they did, it was not my place to try to correct them or whatever.

I never felt in "danger" at any point in time during my visits, or for the time I lived there (2005-2008). I did have to learn to control my urge to make (loud) verbal comments to drivers on the street. And that jumping in line ahead of someone in the supermarket is a common occurrence that I had to learn to not become irritated over. My friends just told me it was not worth it, as you never know who that person might be.

On the other end of the spectrum, I was once in line at the concession stand at the movies, and had dropped some pesos on the floor. The person in line behind me made a special attempt to get my attention as I was leaving and returned the money to me.

The most important thing I wish I had learned is to be more patient with "when and if " things got done or not; being told one thing and it turns out to be not true or is incorrect; that lending money to a "friend" in dire need (or so they said) was never intended to be repaid even though they said it would be.

Q: What sources of info/advice have you found helpful (Internet, books,
neighbors, lawyers, bar tenders...)?

I tend to absorb info/advice from observing, and listening more than talking. I felt that if I could learn from anyone who I came in contact with, just one little thing about their culture, way of life, or how to do and not do things, in their culture, was a learning experience for me.

Q: Any tips on learning Spanish?

A: I picked up a little Spanish during my visits, but after I moved to Medellín, I enrolled in a Spanish class at a local university. But most importantly, becoming immersed in the culture , and listening. As many people in the culture were in the process of learning or improving their English, they often wanted to speak to me in English and for me to speak to them in English, as well. Many good learning tools , such as "Spanish for Gringos," CDs, and watching TV shows were also a big help. Making sure that I read the local newspaper on a daily basis was also good for me.

Many thanks to this thoughtful reader for sharing. If you are an expat who would like to contribute your thoughts, insights, experiences, please contact me at the email listed below.

[Image of Medellín via Wikipedia]

Julie R Butler is a writer, journalist, editor, and author of several books, including Nine Months in Uruguay and No Stranger To Strange Lands (click here for more info). She is a contributor to Speakout at Truthout.org, and her current blog is Connectively Speaking

email: julierbutler [at] yahoo [dot] com, Twitter: @JulieRButler

Expatriating, The Nomadic Way

article from December 15, 2010
By Jamie Douglas

My wife and I, being the nomads that we are, had spent a lot of time in Pátzcuaro, in the State of Michoacán, in Central-Western Mexico. It is a very artistic town, with many writers, sculptors and painters, and the whole region’s economy is based on the various indigenous artisans who produce some of the finest handcrafts I have ever encountered in my travels over this planet. Since the early 1970s, I have made many friends and felt very much at home there, being surrounded by so much creativity. Through the years, we have spent many a late night carrying on highly intellectual discourses with friends, fueled by a little tequila, or pulque, or agavero, sitting by fireplaces, discussing art and poetry, and solving all the world’s problems.

So when George W. Bush was to be sworn in for his second term, we felt we could no longer live in the USA, and one year later, we moved to Pátzcuaro, lock, stock and barrel, with our two dogs and our minivan loaded to the hilt with everything we owned. Of course, having lived in a motor home for many years made this much less complicated than moving out of a house.

Unfortunately, during our two-year absence, much had changed. More and more gringos had discovered out private paradise, and all sorts of scammers had moved in. And then there were the drug dealers. The now-infamous Zetas were kidnapping people out of restaurants in broad daylight, and horrific crimes were being committed in Michoacán. During one particular weekend, 17 people were murdered in another town in the state, and the following Monday, we headed back to the USA, where crime was a little less unnerving.

The next few years were brutal for us. It was like living on an economic sine wave, where the ups kept being less up, the lows became lower than one could have imagined, and when the collapse of the housing bubble finally came, we again plotted to do the only thing that I could think of: Get the Hell out!

Weeks of research led us to this time select either Uruguay or Argentina as our destination, and with more research and the help of Expedia.com, I was able to secure two roundtrip tickets from Miami to Buenos Aires for under $1,000 – for both of us! I hit the “buy” button immediately, and the date was set: April 20, 2009.

Once again, we gathered together all of our belongings, taking stock of the assets in our jewelry business, and we launched our fire sale. Our plan worked perfectly. During weekly trips to the local flea market, we liquidated virtually everything we owned, saving the necessities for last, giving some of our best treasures to good friends, and whatever was left on the final day went to Mexican migrant workers. The most difficult task was to find a good home for our one remaining dog. Selling our car came last, and then we rode the train to Miami and flew on Aerolineas Argentinas off into darkening skies.

As luck would have it, one of my dearest friends in Miami was connected with this airline, and in spite of having probably the cheapest tickets on that plane, we ended up getting upgraded to Condor Class, where we were introduced to the hospitality of Argentina with some of the country´s rich Malbec wine, the vineyards of which thrive along the sunny Andean precordillera of Mendoza Province. We enjoyed a great meal, and after the second glass of Malbec, Julie slept through the rest of our pass over Cuba, and the storm-avoiding tour over Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina, but woke up in time to see our early morning approach into Buenos Aires. It is from the air, in darkness, when you can really grasp the immense size of greater Buenos Aires, one of the largest urban areas in the known universe.

One flawless landing later, we whisked through customs and immigration, then went directly to the nearest café, where we learned that croissants were called media lunas, or half moons, and we were able to enjoy the first of many a great cup of coffee, which are traditionally served with little pastries and a small glass of bubbly mineral water. As coffee addicts, we had indeed ascended.

By the time we had finished our first Argentine breakfast, and we had sent emails and Facebook messages to our friends and family that we had indeed arrived safely, the tourist information businesses opened up, and we soon found ourselves in an old hotel near the city center, with 20-foot-high ceilings and a caged elevator that required two trips to lift us and our luggage upstairs. We were right on one of the main arteries bisecting downtown Buenos Aires, where the added commotion of the Federal Police Headquarters across the street assured that we quickly got used to big-city noise.

We had arrived, and our big adventure had just begun. I will elaborate more on how we spent the next few weeks and then ended up in a quaint little abandoned beach town, La Paloma, in eastern Uruguay, close to the Brazilian border, where we could buy our beloved coffee by the kilo very economically.

Live your dreams!

Jamie Douglas

Photos by Jamie Douglas

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

...And Finally, the Big Move Abroad

article from December 8, 2010
By Jamie Douglas

When the decision has been made that you will be transferring to that tropical paradise, which you have done all your research on and, with any kind of luck or foresight, you have visited before the Big Move, there are, as in all things in life, several scenarios:

The Corporate Move

The first is the simplest. Your transnational corporate subsidiary tells you to report for work at their national headquarters in Parador by January 15. You probably knew this was coming, so with the help of the human resources department, housing, schools and transportation will all have been arranged, and all that is left to you is to get what you really can’t live without into a few suitcases and wait for the movers to come and pack everything up nicely, protecting your valuables by wrapping them in several layers and putting them in oversized boxes (They get paid by cubic foot, or cubic meter, so the more the merrier).

As simple as that all sounds, and it is, in your soon-to-be vacated part of the world, be prepared for a different story at your destination. For some reason, things never work out as you imagine they will. To start things out, that lovely moving van that came to your house only went as far as the warehouse, where all your goods are put into a “van pack” (their fancy name for a big wooden box), or, if you are lucky and you or your company sprung for the extra few grand, you will have a sealed, locked, bonded container all to yourself.

Now, after a suitable interval of time has elapsed and your container has sat at the port of departure out under the sun and the elements for months, they finally find the cheapest intermodal freight company to deliver your goods to Parador, where you have been living with your family for these same months, being promised that your shipment will arrive “any day now.” No big deal, as your transnational corporation is used to that and, in all likelihood, will have put you and your family up in a hotel or apartment.

The Self-Made Move

If you are making the Big Move on your own, the beginning scenario is very similar, except that you will probably have gotten rid of many things that you won’t necessarily need at the other end (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), because: a.) You are the one paying for it, and b.) they have everything you will need in your future home country. There may be a smaller selection, and the couches will not be so overstuffed. If you are smart, you will leave the family heirlooms with the family – you know, in corner hutch, all the original glass that your great-great-great-great-grandmother brought with her to the New World in the 17th century.

You, too, will wait and wait, until that steamer finally comes up the river to the banana plantation dock in Parador, where they promptly drop it from 5 feet above the bed of the truck, and then, with the load unsecured, race to customs, where they unload it then take great delight in playing with your daughter’s Barbie collection and your son’s radio remote dune buggies.

When they finally tire of that, or a load with more interesting stuff comes in, they call you in, give you the bill, which you have to pay on the spot, and the shipment is released right when one of those torrential tropical rainstorms has moved in. It is dropped onto another flatbed truck and dumped at your doorstep (that is, again, if you are lucky).

In either case, avoid shipping electronics and things that rust easily. Electronics, TVs, nice stereos, etc. are generally subject to very high import duties, and then there is the problem of the broadcast standards. Will your new home have NTSC or Pal? They are highly incompatible. You’d do best to sell your stuff at home and get new or used equipment where you end up. It may cost a little more but will save you problems in the end.

Now, despite the descriptions above, there are actually moves that do go by the book. If you are a diplomat, for example, or it’s just your lucky day, by golly, three weeks to the day, all your treasures are delivered to your door, intact and with courtesy, by good people who will help you carry that heavy piece of furniture up that spiral staircase to your study. This is something to celebrate!

In the end, after you are all settled in, meet your new neighbors, make new friends, and your kids are learning this new language at an amazing pace and you realize that you can’t go shopping without them, I can sort of assure you (if your are at all poly-culturally inclined), that it will all have been worth it.

Oh yes – and then there is the third scenario: The Nomad! That was our move. But you will have to wait until the next installment for the true adventure of our dramatic escape.

Until then,

Jamie Douglas

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

More Financial Advice for Expats and Potential Expats

article from November 28, 2010

By Jamie Douglas

Some you may have read the original piece I wrote on Nov 22, dealing with renting vs. buying when relocating to a Latin American country. Well, it started a lively discussion between those who sell real estate in various parts of Latin America and others who are considering making the leap to foreign shores. I did mention that in spite of the United States printing money day and night, it was still safer to hold on to the US$ than pretty much anything else. The reason is because everything in this global economy is interconnected, and if the US$ finally tanks, so will all other currencies.

The only safe heaven will be in “useful” commodities, of which silver seems to be way ahead of the curve. I researched one of the world’s largest currency traders, XE.com and spent hours recovering data, using the arbitrary date of February 4, 2008, when things were still smoking hot, as a baseline. I then compared this to the data from Friday, November 26, 2010.

The countries are listed alphabetically, and the three most important commodities follow at the bottom. I also included a few European currencies such as Iceland to show what lies in store for those who still believe that Milton Friedman was a genius. The influence of the Chicago School of Economics has been devastating on the world’s economies, and it was their alumni who destroyed Iceland’s economy with greed and capitalism without a conscience, as preached by Ayn Rand and her fanatical followers.

Country                US$ Loss or Gain against local currency

Argentina              + 24.74%

Bolivia                   - 8.83%

Brazil                     - 1.20%

Chile                     + 3.70%

Colombia               - 2.50%

Costa Rica             + 1.19%

El Salvador            Fixed at 8.75

Euro                      + 11.2%

Guatemala             + 3.63%

Honduras               - 1.9%

Iceland                   + 78.74%

Jamaica                  + 18.57%

Mexico                    + 15.47%

Nicaragua               + 13.9%

Norway*                 + 13.1%

Paraguay                - .698%

Peru                       - 4.9%

Switzerland*           - 8.07%

Uruguay                 - 6.12%

Platinum                + 6.983%

Gold                      +50.62%

Silver                     +58.64%

*I Included Switzerland and Norway because I received an irate letter from a reader suggesting that the only two currencies worth holding are the Swiss Franc (Yes) and the Norwegian Kroner (No). Norway’s oil boom is about coming to an end, and social spending there is bankrupting the country.

Panama and Ecuador use the US$, and Venezuela is in such disorder that I am not going to get into it.

So you see, the US$ is holding its own, with small fluctuations, against most Latin American currencies. The gain against the Argentine peso is mostly due to inflation in that country.

Now a small piece of advice for those of you who own your own home or property in the US and Canada that is way under water, to where you will never recover your investment, and every payment you make is money that could be used on your potential move south. Consider that when you move away from the United States, your credit worthiness is meaningless. These are cash societies that function very well without 30-year mortgages and eight-year car loans for a Hummer. Hold a fire sale, sell everything you own, head to the destination of your choice, and start life anew. There are good schools in most countries, ATMs are spreading, high-speed Internet access is everywhere (You should see where I am writing this from!), and if you do your legwork, you can find excellent medical care that is affordable, even without insurance. Remember, you only live once, so stop suffering and start living your life.

Looking for further advice? Contact me. Been there, done that – all over the world.

Jamie Douglas

At large in South America

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Basic Financial Advice for New Expats

article from November 22, 2010
By Jamie Douglas

In my travels and communications with folks who are thinking of relocating outside of their country, I have found that there are many sources of advice as well as many opportunities to get taken to the cleaners by unscrupulous operators.

In a previous article, I offered the choices of renting vs. buying in a foreign land. I can assure you that when you get to your destination and go to the places where expats meet for coffee and croissants on a weekly basis, there will always be people there who are looking to make a buck off you. Everyone has a deal, from that condo near the beach, to those high-yield, short-term investments, and of course there's that coffee plantation that will pay for itself in 3 years. (Why are they selling the golden cow?) You will also find many other new arrivals who have been there for a few months and may know a little more than you.

As for your cash on hand, always carry what you think you will spend along with a debit card from your bank. There are ATMs wherever there is a bank where you can extract needed funds.

There is absolutely no need to transfer your money into the country you are in just because they are offering better interest rates on US dollars. When all is said and done, you will have exposed your funds to much greater risk for very little gain. In many instances, the capital gains taxes on interest are very high, and in some instances, the banks simply don’t have the money to give to you when you want to make that withdrawal to buy a car or a house: Come back tomorrow, or the next day.

Then there is the constant uncertainty of devaluation. (Not that the US$ has done so great lately.) And who would have thought that the euro, the currency  that the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffet – you know, the one who said that derivatives were toxic and then lost billions on them – and George Soros, as well as Sandy Weil’s Citigroup and many others said was the safe-haven for the wealthy, would suddenly be on the verge of extinction?

But not to worry. As long as the US cotton farmers produce that special cotton that is made into that special denim, which is made into paper to make US banknotes, and the treasury does not run out of ink, there will be fresh crisp new dollar bills injected into the economy, and with few exceptions, the US dollar has been relatively stable in Latin America since the last Mexican and Argentinean meltdowns.

Hold on to your money, in US dollars or Swiss francs (CHF), and be frugal, because with the current economic situation and all the false hope being spread by the bankers and governments worldwide, we don’t really know what will happen. If anything, silver has outperformed just about every other commodity. But then again, when things go south, it’s unlikely that your local grocer will sell you meat for silver – or gold, for that matter.

So, when you go to your Wednesday morning coffee klatch with your fellow expats, just let them know your Social Security is barely covering your living expenses, and you will soon find the true friends that we all need – and you will still have your money at the end of the month.

Jamie Douglas
At large in South America

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

New Expat Housing: Rent or Buy?

article from November 18, 2010
By Jamie Douglas

So you want to become an expat! No matter the reason or where you come from, the most important thing is housing. So what are you to do when you are finally ready to make the big leap into the great unknown? Should you contact real estate agents at your chosen destination?  Look at online classifieds in publications?  Rent or buy?

Here are some of my experiences over that last 40 years. I have lived in countless countries and always rented. I had mostly great experiences and a couple that were only good. The worst were in the USA, where apparently landlords believe that that the security deposit is theirs to keep, no matter what, when they know you are leaving the country.

On the other hand, when the washer or water heater check out, I call the landlord, and generally speaking, things get fixed quickly. And that is just one advantage. The other is mobility. If the location does not live up to your expectations, you are much more free to move on.

So you go to – let’s say – Parador, where there is a large expat community, and everything is hunky-dory, until the Army decides to suspend the constitution and declares martial law. Chances are, of course, the CIA and United Fruit or some mining company had something to do with that, and Yanquis and Gringos are not very popular at the moment. Now you are confronted with two choices: Stay and risk everything, including your life, or bail out on the last flight leaving Parador, which is already overbooked with the former corrupt  government officials trying to flee the country along with your fellow expats.  I speak from experience here, and not just once!

If you rented, you sacrifice your household goods and walk away – with a minimum loss.

If you bought land or a house, you are now completely on your own, and selling your dream-become-nightmare will not be so easy because the other 7,000 expats are trying to sell as well, and some are willing to take centavos on the dollar just to get out, thereby  depressing the market tremendously – that is, assuming that the new Maximum Leader has not decided to nationalize your lovely coffee plantation and adjoining vineyard, which you put so much time and dedication and all of your and your investors’ money into.

And if you bought into a gated community, don’t forget that the friendly man in the pseudo-police uniform never really could stand all the rich foreigners and locals who lived behind their walled compounds, and he won’t be there to keep looters and kidnappers out.

The army and police will be either decimated or busy establishing themselves in positions of importance. Everywhere you look, the graffiti on wall says “GRINGOS FUERA DE SAN VINCENTE!” And of course, there will be the usual chorus of peasants: "Parador’s lands are for Paradoreños!" 

So now what do you do? Stay and fight like in the Wild West Movies – bad, bad idea – or get packing – great idea, as you can always come back later when things calm down? And don’t worry about your caretakers. They will squat on the land and then claim it as their own.

So, my suggestion is to RENT until you get to know the place pretty well, make local friends, blend in, and don’t flash your wealth.  If, after a year or two, you feel comfortable, and you have that absolute need to want to fix your own appliances, roof and anything else that will definitely go wrong, you now have a great circle of local acquaintances who will know who wants to sell what, you can hire a local attorney of repute (again your local friends will gladly help you) and you can save yourself a bundle of money, all the while making new friends and actually getting to know your neighbors.

Jamie Douglas
At large in South America

I encourage you to write me at cruzansailor [at] gmail [dot] com with any questions or suggestions you may have. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel-related business. My advice is based on my own experiences and is free of charge (Donations welcome). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.