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Retirement and Expats

Thu, 2006-06-15 07:32

Hi:

Further to this thread of the last few days, the most exciting aspect of an expat life is, in my opinion, the social interaction.

When you become an expat, you move into a new community. This will be the new country you live in. The experiences of meeting new people in that community, doing business with them, being exposed to a culture different than your own can be very enriching. You observe the universal similarities and the tiny quirks that make a people and culture unique.

In the larger expat community you also start to observe cultural differences. This is not with the people from your host country, however, but with the folks who are also expats. To use the slang, you see how the Brits, the Aussies, the Yanks, and the Canucks act under the same circumstances.

Besides learning about the place you are in, you learn about the places your new friends are from. You start to compare all sorts of things. Every topic is interesting, from the government policies, the education system, the social system.

The natural extension of this is a broadening of perspective and a greater tolerance. It is not a paucity, but an enrichment of interaction, stimulating discussion and learning.

More tomorrow.

M.

retirement and expatriates

Yet more Information on ESL

Thu, 2006-06-15 07:28

Hi:

Another point regarding ESL is that the ideal posting is one in a country where there is a low cost of living and where you get paid in higher currency dollars.

To do this you need to be looking at private schools, colleges, or other institutions where there are many international students, or where the institution is run by an organization outside of that country.

Some Canadian colleges are organizing and running programs in China. They are paying the going rate for Canadian instructors. If the cost of living is low, Canadians can get ahead. If it's the other-way-round, be careful.

For example, I knew some instructors who were teaching in South America a few years ago. The Canadian dollar at that time was very low and all their costs in Chile were in U.S. dollars. Although a wonderful experience, it was not financially advantageous for them to work there.

Another example is the United Arab Emerates. The college paid around $60k tax-free, provided a free apartment and $10k worth of furnishings and paid free return air to the home country once a year. Instructors there basically only had to pay for their food and miscellaneous expenses. It was also quite feasible to explore the surrounding areas. There is more to this because of Canadian income tax regulations, but I think you get the idea. Something to think about.

M.

Controlling Spending

Thu, 2006-06-15 07:23

Hi:

One way to control spending is to double the price of things in your head.

Think about it. If you are in a high tax bracket, what earnings are needed, before taxes, to buy that item you desire? Many of us are in a 40% tax bracket. Add that and the 14% GST and PST to determine its true worth.

That $20.00 impulse buy becomes $40.00. Is it worth it? Wait a day and see if you still desire it. Don't go shopping as much. Shopping is not a recreational sport.

If the goal is to retire and do meaningful things, don't fall prey to buying things that don't have a part of reaching that goal. How much stuff do we need?

Have a little voice that whispers in your ear "garage sale material, garage sale material". That's where many things end up five years later.

Focus means cutting out extraneous stuff to get to your goal. Possessions are a huge part of North American society. However, we are not our stuff.

M.

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retirement and money

Retired and Single, but not by choice

Thu, 2006-06-15 07:21

Many of us will be single as we age.

There are lots of reasons. Demographics show that it is primarily women who are reaching their late 80’s and 90’s. Another point is that life expectancy is somewhat greater for women than men to start with. If women marry men who are older, as is fairly common, and these men die at a fairly average age, women are left alone for a great number of years after their death.

So being single and retired is not a rare occurrence, but in fact quite common. This is in direct contrast to the advertising of mature lifestyles, which is predominantly focused on couples.

It can be challenging when couples have planned their retirement together and then one partner becomes sick and dies. To follow their old plan may seem hollow and meaningless for the person, as all the anticipated joy cannot be shared. Loss takes a period of adjustment and reevaluation. The remaining partner needs to rekindle their old interests, or develop new ones.

Negative emotions such as anger may also be present, as the remaining spouse feels gypped out of the great plans they may have had. Doing them alone may be an option, and some may do so, while others want to find something completely different.

If this is your situation, be kind to yourself. Recognize that it might take a radical action for you to move on and figure out what you want to do.

M.

Other Links for Retirement Activities

Thu, 2006-06-15 07:10

EDUCATORS’ RETIREMENT AND OTHER WEBSITES
March 6, 2006
Mahara Sinclaire

FIRST LINKS TO WEBSITES. As promised, here are a few links to websites on a variety of topics. It took a bit longer than expected to come up to speed with the technology.

What I’ll do is include a few links now to get the ball rolling. More will follow.

I’m hoping that you will also provide links to interesting sites. You can just respond to this email and they will be sent to everyone.

You can also forward this email to as many people as you wish. They will need to enter their email address to get on this newsletter.

****************************************************************

One I mentioned is Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) http://www.ceso-saco.com

In operation since 1967, they have 3,000 volunteers. They work primarily in America, Africa and Eastern Europe – formerly Soviet Bloc countries. The focus of their work is with peoples of developing nations. They also work with First Nations groups.



Another group is Actions Without Borders http://www.idealist.org. They boast links to 22,000 non-profit and community organizations. I checked out their International Fellowships – looked pretty interesting.


One site for teaching esl is http://www.eslteachers.ca. I haven’t used it, of course, but it is Canadian and has jobs in Asia, Turkey and Russia. There is more to be checked out here as far as reasonable working conditions, salaries, etc.

That’s all for now. Happy exploring.


If you wish to view this online, click here. http://www.yournextgreatadventure.com/blogs



retirement links

Personality and Retiring

Thu, 2006-06-15 06:47

Hi:

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator reveals several personality factors. Two that I consider important in retirement are the Introverting/Extraverting and the Judging/Perceiving factors.

The first one - introversion and extraversion are extermely important.

If you gather your energy from others and need to focus your energy outward, you are considered an extravert.

If you prefer time alone and gather energy from reflection and time alone, you are probably an introvert. Of course, we all express qualities from both sides of the spectrum, but the tendency will still be with one way or the other.

Extraverts cut loose from their jobs with no opportunity to interact and express themselves in meaningful ways may find retirement very lonely. Their needs must be met by establishing opportunities to interact on a regular basis, in ways that are important to them.

Introverts enjoy more solitary time and may be thrilled to be able to spend days persuing their interests. However, no person is an island, and introverts may find they become too isolated and narrow in their focus.

Something to think about.

M.

retirement and personality

Go Go’s

Thu, 2006-06-15 06:36

Hi:

More regarding yesterday’s post regarding Go Go’s.

These are folks just retiring, not old, in fact feeling very young. The present 55 is the new 40. They are healthy, progressive, and ready to rock-and-roll, as it were. And they know how to do it – yes they do!

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