Banking on the Internet

If you are planning on living abroad, you need to think seriously about how you are planning on dealing with banking matters. One bank that a number of expatriates have chosen is NetBank. The ease of use and the good interest rates (because they are not supporting large buildings and large staffs) have made them quite desireable. And, yes, deposits are FDIC insured up to $100,000 just like other U.S.-based accounts. Even better, they even try to show you the location of ATMs that don’t charge fees.

VisaJourney.com

If you are looking for information and a supportive community concerning visa applications for family members and potential family members, you would do well to take a look at VisaJourney.com. It offers forums (where helpful members will answer your questions) as well as an FAQ and informative articles.

 

Take a look.

The famous Alacazar Show in Pattaya Beach, Thailand

Many parts of Asia have a long history of men performing as women. All of the performers in this show are men.

Long distance can be cheap!

Long distance can be cheap. No, not the usual through-the-phone-company service. Long distance can be as close as your Internet connection.

VOIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocal, technology is such that the calls are quite good and quite cheap. One company, Vonage, charges about $25 a month for unlimited calls. The nice thing about it is that you can be assigned a phone number in any U.S. area code you like.

So, if you are planning on having your own company while working abroad, business folks won't even need to know that you are not in the U.S. They dial a number for Fresno, California, and it gets them you in your overseas abode. How cool is that?

OneBag.com teaches you how to pack

If you are like us, you end up taking to much stuff with you when you travel. Can you imagine how much junk you would end up with if you decided to make the expat move? Way too much.

While you would certainly need more for a longer journey than for a short trip, packing well can greatly reduce the number of suitcases required. OneBag.com gives very detailed information on how to pack a suitcase for maximum effectiveness. It is worth reading the entire website. Yes, being an expatriate is certainly different than being a short-time visitor, but fewer things to carry is always a good thing.

Thailand temples - Ayuthaya

Going to Thailand and not visiting the temples is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower.

Thinking about doing business in Thailand?

If you are thinking that you might want to do business in Thailand, you would do well to read Risky Business over at EscapeArtist.com. It is the story of Saul, an American businessman that had no business doing business in Thailand.

Why, you might ask? Because he was not willing to attempt to understand the Thai mindset, the Thai culture, and the Thai business environment.

You can read Steve Rosse's article by clicking here.