Research your relocation: what resources help make the most successful move?

The siren song of expatriate life summons hundreds of thousands abroad every year. Many move to pursue a life of luxury not possible in their homeland, others in the spirit of unattainable and undying adventure, some simply are forced to follow their loved ones abroad, and there are those just outright escaping the evil clutches of their exes.

Whatever the reason and no matter the destination, relocation should be handled with care – both before you bubble wrap your boxes and even well after the dust has settled on the runway.

Research is paramount to preparing for the move beforehand and tantamount to easing adjustment after arrival, and knowing what resources are right for each phase of relocation is key.

Seaside Burps

“Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside!” goes the familiar music hall song and maybe most of us agree with the sentiment. It is also a pretty safe bet that if you are reading this ‘Twitter’ you are either living by the sea or thinking about doing it!

We Brits love our traditional seaside holiday resorts. Strolling along the promenade wearing a thick pullover, gloves and scarf on a cold, wet day, breathing in the fresh sea air just makes us feel so glad to be alive, doesn't it? Alright, we also look forward to going back home to a cosy fire and a hot cup of coffee to thaw out. We Brits are mostly a hardy lot and somehow, at the time, the cold and damp didn’t seem to matter too much because we were breathing in all that fresh ozone. It is just so good for us, or is it?

Expat children born abroad find themselves without citizenship

An increasing number of expats working in countries other than their own are finding difficulty getting citizenship for their children born abroad.

Expat parents are discovering that you can’t automatically pass on your citizenship to children born in another country.

Neither will foreign countries automatically give citizenship to children born on their soil.

In the case of couple Maria Jose Poblete, husband Christopher Ferreira and baby son Mateo who are based in Paris. The mother, Poblete was born in Canada and raised in Chile. Her husband, Ferreira was born in France. Their son was also born in France this year.

Mateo’s parents had to get his citizenship from Chile from his Chilean grandparents because his mother, Poblete could not pass on her Canadian citizenship to Mateo.

International Organization for Migration (IOM) citizenship laws are not tailor-made for families who pursue careers in countries other than their own. This problem of children born without legal citizenship leave many parents stuck in foreign countries because their babies cannot get passports without citizenship.

In another case, Patrick Chandler and wife Fiona Zou had a daughter in Beijing. Their daughter Rachel born in China, was stateless for over a year until their parents were able to get Irish citizenship for her.

The father, Chandler was born in Libya to Canadian parents. Chandler was raised in Canada. Zou, the mother is Chinese but was unmarried to Rachel’s father, Chandler, at the time of Rachel’s birth.

Due to the unmarried status, Zou was unable to pass on her Chinese citizenship to her daughter, despite the fact that she and her daughter were born in China. Zou was able to get Irish citizenship for her daughter through her paternal grandfather who was born in Ireland and migrated to Canada 4 decades ago.

The 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness states that when a child is ineligible for citizenship at birth, the country where he or she was born must grant them citizenship. The process can be difficult and parents often need legal help to get citizenship for their children born abroad.

source:http://www.seek4media.com/

Own a Unique part of Argentine History in the City of Buenos Aires

British property developer, Alain Levenfiche, AKA the LUXURY LORD, has created the sassiest apartment in Buenos Aires and probably Argentina in one of Argentina’s best-known National Monuments.

Mainline Security Ltd is proud to offer for sale the entire 14th floor of the iconic Kavanagh building (Edificio Kavanagh), famed for many years as the tallest building in South America and now recognized as an emblematic masterpiece of nineteen thirties rationalism.

This is an amazing opportunity to own a piece of Argentine history right on Plaza San Martin, Buenos Aires city’s most prestigious city centre neighborhood, just minutes from Puerto Madero and Recoleta.

Corina Kavanagh built the Kavanagh building (Edificio Kavanagh) between 1934 and 1936 and the 14^th floor was her own private apartment, the flagship of this landmark development and a haven for dignitaries, politicians and royalty.

Even today, no apartment in Buenos Aires can match Corina’s design, the immensity of her old apartment, it’s wonderful layout and not least, 3 terraces with 360⁰ skyline views of Buenos Aires City, the Rio del la Plata and Colonia, Uruguay.

The 14^th floor comprises of with 604 square meters (6500 square feet) and 251 square meters (2702 square feet of terraces and roof gardens.

With five bedrooms, two masters with rooftop terraces, all with luxury en-suite bathrooms; a terrace with a treble size living room with bar and Luxury Lord trademark discotheque; a dining room and luxury American style kitchen; there is an additional guest bathroom, a storage/utility room and service quarters for one staff member with a private bathroom.

This apartment would make a fantastic and unique home or a great investment for those looking for a piece of history in the amazing city Buenos Aires.

Mainline Security Ltd is the exclusive agent and invites real estate partners from around the globe to collaborate to offer this exciting opportunity to their clients.

Take a Tour of Buenos Aires’ most talked about apartment…

Contact:

Andrew Rae McCance

Mainline Security Ltd

help@sos-prop.com

SKYPE: andrew.rae.mccance

BA Tel: (005411) 4807 9046

UK Tel: (0044) 2081333931

US Tel: (001) 646 808 0244

For more articles, information and resources about Living In Argentina visit our dedicated pages on EscapeArtist.com

Size Does Matter

It is rare to see Americans visiting these islands nowadays, which is probably due to the long flight and some similarity to the Caribbean Islands.

However, until the horrors of September 11, many tourists from the USA visited the Canary Islands regularly. Concerns about long air flights and security meant that flights from the USA were more or less halted and, until recently, these islands have seen a much-reduced number of visitors from the other side of the Atlantic.

This state of affairs is about to change once again with recent meetings between the President of the Canary Islands and the American Government with a view to extending and developing business links to these islands. After all, the Canary Islands are situated in an ideal strategic position for easy access to all parts of the European Community, as well as Africa and Asia and recent improvements to telecommunications have opened up considerable trading and business opportunities.

Trade and business links aside, these islands mean a great deal to many American citizens, many of whom have ancestry firmly based in the Canary Islands.

This fascinating story begins in 1778 in Louisiana, then a Spanish colony, when 700 men were recruited to increase the size of the Louisiana Regiment. The Spanish Crown had held Louisiana since 1762, and the possibility of an invasion by Great Britain was becoming a worrying threat.

Spain looked to the Canary Islands for recruits to increase the size of the army in Louisiana. Despite initial attempts to recruit single men, there were insufficient volunteers. Finally, the Spanish Government had to settle for married recruits with the dual role of defending the territory, as well as populating it. After all, as history tells us, there is more than one way to win a war and colonise a territory than using guns alone.

The new recruits from the Canary Islands had to be aged between “17 to 36 years old, healthy, without vices, and more than five feet tall”. Recruiters were paid extra for every half-inch that each recruit stood in height above the minimum of five feet specified, so size was an important factor in their selection. These men were recruited on the understanding that they would be staying in Louisiana permanently, although there was no written agreement.

By the summer of 1779, 352 families and 100 single men had arrived in Louisiana, where the Governor, Bernardo de Galvez, settled them in four areas that he considered to be major invasion routes planned by the enemy.

The men were formed into militia units led by Galvez in his conquest and occupation of British territory on the lower Mississippi River. In those days Britain was Spain’s mortal and historical enemy, and by doing this Spain supported the Americans in their revolution against Britain.

A total of 2,363 men, women, and children from the Canary Islands had been sent to colonise Louisiana by the end of 1783. Living conditions were difficult in a flat, wet, undeveloped land and vastly different from their volcanic island homeland in the sun.

It is easy to understand the fascination of many Americans with these small volcanic islands just off the coast of Africa. More than two hundred years have passed since the arrival of the Canary Islanders in Louisiana. However, Spanish surnames are plentiful in Louisiana as well as in other states, and their descendants still treasure the unique heritage of their brave ancestors from the Canary Islands.

About the author: He is still enjoying life in the sun as a writer and author.Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander.com or read his latest novel, ‘Journeys and Jigsaws’ (ISBN: 9781843865384).

© Barrie Mahoney

Survey of Expats Reveals Key Concerns of Life Abroad

Culture shock and forming social connections are the main concerns of expats moving abroad, according to a survey of expats in 22 countries conducted by www.ExpatArrivals.com . But a significantly increased quality of life, better sex and more leisure time make the move well worth it.

Expat life has many payoffs, although increased salary is not among them. Only 21% reported that their salary was significantly better, with 22% reporting their salary as much lower. However, the amount of free time improved for 61%, while social connections (41%) and love lives (47%) took distinctly upward trends while abroad. Stress levels improved for 53%, combined with improvements in overall physical health for 46%. Together these factors contribute to an overall quality of life that 65% of respondents rated better when working and living abroad.

There are challenges though: culture shock was rated by 41% as a significant difficulty to cope with on arrival, and 46% regarded it as the one factor they wished they had known more about before moving. Significantly, only 30% of respondents expected culture shock to be a problem – hence many where caught unawares.

Another main challenge was making friends and social connections. While 45% expected this to be difficult before moving, 52% found connecting socially to be difficult long after the move was made. By contrast, other major expat life issues did not trouble recent expats to any significant degree: healthcare, accommodation, visas and cost of living all failed to feature as concerns.

In planning their move abroad, most respondents found books (58%) and exploratory visits (63%) most useful, with social media sites Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn rated as useful by only 17%. Specific expat information sites however were rated as useful by 45% of participants. Very few people used relocation experts (10%) or expatriate coaches (2%) when executing their move abroad with 71% reporting that nobody assisted them. After arrival, the key resources to facilitate adaptation and overcome culture shock were personal contacts in the expat community (74%) and connections with local people (73%).

About

ExpatArrivals.com publishes over 100 online destination guides to help global expats plan their move abroad and optimize their lives on arrival. City-based experts works with the editorial team to produce constantly updated information covering 15 main content areas of significance to expats, inter alia, Accommodation, Money & Banking, Culture Shock, Healthcare, Education, Lifestyle, and Visas.

Can You Afford to Retire to Panama in 2011?

By Rhiannon Davies

Panama has long held a reputation with North Americans as being one of the most attractive places to retire to in the world. It has been billed as a particularly favourable destination for those seeking a more affordable cost of living, a healthier climate, an environment where Big Brother is less intrusive, and where the quality of life available is excellent.

However, the fact that Panama’s reputation has been so great for so long has inevitably meant that it is now less affordable, because its popularity has pushed prices up.

But does this mean that Panama is now less desirable?

If you’re looking for somewhere to hang your hat in retirement in 2011, could Panama still be the right choice for you?

Basing an assessment of the nation on a purely cost foundation, it’s clear that Panama is still affordable – although it is no longer the cheapest place to live abroad. If you just want cheap, go to Ecuador – but if you want an excellent blend of sophistication and relative affordability, Panama is certainly still worth your close inspection.

A latest assessment of costs and prices for everything from utility bills to day-to-day groceries etc., sees Panama competing very well against North American, British and Western European prices. This means that your pension income could take you further in Panama…

An average electricity bill per month (not including air conditioning) will be about $75.00, with water costing just $10 a month.

To stay connected to friends and family back home you can either go to an internet café and pay between 0.50 cents and a dollar an hour for full access, or you can get your own home connection which costs about $45 a month.

If you want to stay in touch with your favourite TV shows then cable TV costs upwards of $60 a month, which doesn’t necessarily sound like much for such a luxury – until you compare it to healthcare costs in Panama! A retired couple can get health insurance for just $70 a month on a joint policy in Panama – a lot less than you will be paying in America in retirement!

Such a policy pays a part of all medical bills – and the good news is that healthcare standards in Panama are generally excellent.

For a breakdown of average grocery costs, here’s a weekly basket of basic items to give you a general feel for how much you will need to spend to live and eat well in Panama: -

Whole-wheat bread $1.68
2 litres of milk $2.24
Chicken breast $1.32/lb
A whole chicken $1.25/lb
Hamburger meat $1.98/lb
4 large sausages $2.58
Tomatoes $1.59/lb
Lettuce $1.09/lb
Onions 0.99 cents/lb
Potatoes 0.49 cents/lb
Carrots 0.95 cents/lb
Bananas 0.07 cents each
Limes 0.15 cents each
Wine a 1 litre box $2
Beer 24 bottles $8.25

Therefore in conclusion, despite the fact that Panama has become exceptionally popular as a place to retire, it still remains accessible in terms of affordability for even those on a modest pension income.

About the author: Rhiannon Davies is the editor of www.ShelterOffshore.com - the website for people seeking a lower taxed life.

If you are interested in Living and Investing in Panama you will find a wealth of information and resources on the Escape Artist pages dedication to this nation.

7 Things you should know BEFORE traveling South America

 

By Brendan van Son

1. Mexican food is from Mexico
It amazes me every single time someone makes the comment “How come I can’t get proper Mexican food here in Peru (…or Ecuador, or whatever)?” This is basically the equivalent of someone wondering why they can’t get good Thai food in China. Only the difference between Bangkok and Beijing is shorter than Santiago and Guadalajara. The

truth is that South American food isn’t anything like Mexican. You are much more likely to find a steak or a pizza than a taco. And for spicy food in general should probably look elsewhere, maybe Thailand. Other than the occasional chili or rocoto, the food in South America is generally tame.

2. Not everyone speaks English
I know many travelers start their journeys in places that nearly everyone speaks at least a little bit of English. But South America, with the exception of the Guyanas in the North, were not colonized by the French, Dutch or England, and thus, had no reason to adopt it as a second language, very few people speak English. People in South America speak Spanish, Portuguese, and in some cases pre-European languages like Quechua. We in the travel world seem to have a little bit of an Anglo-centric view about how the world works, but the truth is that if you travel here it is in your best interest to pick up a little bit of Spanish and/or Portuguese before traveling; not only to make your life easier, but also as a means of respect towards the local culture. Most cities offer night classes for Spanish, and some also offer quick “Spanish for Travelers” courses which are great. Another good idea is to spend a week in a Spanish course in your city of embankment; Quito, Ecuador provides lots of great courses for good value.

3. The Inca Trail doesn’t only go from Cusco to Machu Picchu
Many travelers seem to be under the illusion that the Inca trail runs solely between the Inca capital of Cusco and Machu Picchu. The reality is that this is merely a small section of a greater spider web of trails that covers basically all of South America from as far north as Colombia to as far south as northern Chile and Argentina. In fact, the link between Cusco and the lost city of Machu Picchu was probably not even a part of the main Inca Royal Highway. And as one local guide once told me, “there are thousands of Machu Picchu’s scattered around the Andes of South America, it’s up to you to discover them.” The Inca trail networks off to many of these impressive sites including Choquequirao.

4. Carnival is not a Rio thing
Maybe drawn to the allure of the white beaches and skimpy bikinis, or the wild parties, people from all over the world flock to Rio de Janeiro for Carnival. What they often come to find is that Carnival in Rio is far from authentic, and instead is filled with drunken tourists confused by the amount of drunken tourists in Rio, and they watch the colorful parades from between six and sixty rows deep. Although this may be what some people are looking for, if you are really looking a more personal and engaged experience you can head to one of many different places. In fact, Rio probably isn’t even the best place to do Carnival in Brazil. Salvador de Recife in the north of the country provides all the partying and dancing you can ask for with a little more natural character and charm. The Caribbean Island nation of Trinidad and Tobago might provide the most colorful and authentic carnival experience anywhere. In fact, you don’t even need to be in Caribbean to enjoy Carnival. Both La Paz, Bolivia and Tena, Ecuador have unexpectedly interesting Carnival processions.

5. Montezuma WILL get his revenge
This next piece of advice boils down to mental preparation more than anything. When the Spanish conquistadors defeated the Aztec people in the Central Mexican valley, it is said that the Mexican leader, Montezuma, may have mistaken Hernan Cortes to be the mythical Aztec God Quetzalcoatl. The Spanish used this mistake against the Aztec to gain trust, and in turn break it. The story now goes that Montezuma has been getting his revenge on foreign intruders in Latin America ever since through the form of violent diarrhea. The truth is, for the most part, this one is unavoidable. It is just a matter of your body not being used to the bacteria in the foods in South America. Basically, your body has not yet built the anti-bodies to defend from them. Exacerbated by the fact that toilet paper cannot be flushed in Latin America, there can be some less than faltering nights spent in and around the bathroom. And nearly everyone who has traveled Latin America has a very good “poop” story.

6. Colombia does not have to be avoided
Of all the countries in South America, it is Colombia that may have the biggest tourism potential. Although it lacks a “wonder of the world” quality piece of architecture or nature, it provides all the beauty and adventure necessary to appeal to tourists. Colombia’s Caribbean coastline may be one of the most visually stunning places in all of South America, and small white sand beach islands of San Andres and Providencia are as good as any Caribbean Island destination. The city of Cartagena has perhaps the most appealing colonial district in the hemisphere as well. The rural highlands of the country too will leave visitors in awe. Although it is true that there is still a contingency of insurgencies and counter-insurgencies throughout the country, the majority of them are concentrated in very rural areas that you, as a tourist, are unlikely to visit anyways. Unlike Pablo Escobar’s Extraditables who made political statements by kidnappings in the early 1990s, the current insurgents are more interested in gaining legitimacy than kidnapping for political purpose. In general, travel in Colombia is actually much more safe than in places like Brazil where robberies of tourist buses are somewhat common.

7. The Pantanal and not the Amazon is the best spot for wildlife viewing
The mystique of the Amazon draws thousands of travelers each year. Its basin is enormous and draws water from six countries. But the truth is that the jungle is too thick and too vast to make this a wildlife sighting area. Moreover, most of the Amazon’s animals are nocturnal. So unless you spend time visiting an animal sanctuary you are unlikely to spot too much of interest. Also, the Amazon River itself is so wide that a boat cruise from Manaus to Belem will do little to allow you to spot river side wildlife. As you cruise down the Amazon you may feel more like you are in the middle of a large lake or sea than a river. On the other hand, the Panatanal which stretches itself across Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, is the most bio-diverse place on earth. And on top of it all, it is much less dense than the Amazon, which makes access to animal spotting much easier, not to mention more productive.
Brendan van Son is a world traveler that originated in Alberta, Canada and is currently traveling in Chile and documenting his adventures, tips and helpful information discovered while there.
Please read his other work on his website http://www.brendansadventures.com/, and if you Twitter, follow him: @brendanvanson

A special thanks to Diana, for letting me reprint this from her gorgeous travel website http://www.dianaellefson.com/.

Skiing or Boarding Chile's Active Volcanoes

by: Libia Flamini and Rodolfo Rosato

Sometimes we think that ourselves are as big as nature, but only when we surrender to it we realize how small we are.

On the top of an active volcano, able to explode at any time, you see the mountain at your feet and sense the grandeur of the untouched nature and realize the human frailty.

Still, you swallow your fears and drop to the craziest drop of your life, in powdery, virgin snow. You do not see anyone ahead. Just you, the mountains, the icy wind in your face and the sound of your board cutting the snow.

In central Chile, you can rent a car and visit 3 of the most active volcanoes in the world in a trip of only 400 km.

Our journey begins in Pucón, a small tourist village squeezed between the lake and Villarrica volcano, also known as Rucapillán, which means “House of the Spirit”. The volcano of 2,847 meters high is one of the most active of the world and the only one where you can climb to the top and see the lava flowing into the crater (hire an expert guide, please). When you arrive there, you are blessed with the feeling is of being literally in the clouds.

After you enjoy the view for a moment and recover your breath, you can descend into a powder just perfect for snowboarding. The volcano has huge “cornizas”( natural half pipes formed by earlier lava flows) in addition to several bowls, cliffs and awesome drops. At the end, you enter a state of mind close to nirvana. Look behind and see the volcano, impressive and blessed.

Pucón has a vast and incredible off-piste area, and the mountain has many paths through virgin forest, to know the best peaks and hidden secrets, the trick is to attend the city's pubs and become a friend of the local Raiders.

At night, relieve the pains in the body by energizing the soul in one of the several hot volcano water spa centers. Relax in the volcanic waters and see the top of Villarica volcano glowing red against the sky. Pucón is called by many as " snowboarding heaven "

From Pucón, you travel 200 km and reach one of the most active and impressive volcanoes in the world, the “Llaima”, which in 2008/2009 had several violent eruptions. At the foot of Llaima, there is a small ski center called “Las Araucárias”, unique place unknown to the general public.

Arriving there by a dirt road, seeing the Llaima grow on the horizon, you notice that while Chile has one of the most experienced volcanologist teams of the world, if the volcano were to explode, you just have time to pray that the lava goes to the other way or wait for certain death.

The Llaima attracts you by its grandeur. The perfect powder and the giant corniza invites you, his size intimidates. The top always fuming reminds us all of the ephemerally of time.

Imagine a mountain only yours. On Llaima, this is real, as during week days it is common to be literally alone in the mountain.
The accommodations of the nearby town are basic, no 5 star hotels or busy pubs here. The only restaurant serves a typical Chilean food such as “homemade seafood soup of never before seen sea life”. At night the only activity is to play ping-pong and drink good Chilean beer with the few staff members of the mountain. Be prepared, because these guys have nothing else to do and they are almost professionals.

Leaving Las Araucárias and traveling 130 kilometers, you reach another volcano, the Lonquimay. There you find the “Corralco ski center” with a unique and exclusive hotel with just 10 rooms. If you want peace and at the same time, adrenaline, this is your place. Away from big cities, Lonquimay also is an active volcano.

From the top lift and just a few steps, you walk into a huge off-piste area and into a giant corniza. You descend through virgin powder snow and blue skies with the mountain just for you. The snow of Corralco is from another world. The constant winds always bring an extra layer of dry and light snow, making it one of the best powder snows in South America. The feeling is like surfing in the clouds.
Corralco also offers perfect conditions to practice snow kiting. The winds take the kites high in the sky with great speed.

After a long day and with the soul washed, Corralco offers a restaurant that has some of the best food in Chile. We can only sit in a comfortable chair in front of the fireplace and relax, waiting to see what the next day reserves.

Surfing in the clouds, drops in active volcanoes and descending through giant cornizas with untouched powder and virgin forests… When do we board ?

Rodolfo lives in Brazil and made a DVD about all of the top ski resorts in South America.  If you are thinking of skiing or snowboarding anywhere in South America, you should do your homework and watch his DVD first.  It gives you firsthand accounts of lodging, restaurant, runs...everything!  Go to his website at www.snowguide.tv.

A Pet Lover in Exile

If you are a pet lover, you can only imagine the heartbreak of having to move halfway across the world...and having to leave all pets behind.

The one thing that has get gets more and more difficult about living abroad is not being able to have pets.  And though many foreigners in Egypt have dogs or cats, I consider myself a true pet lover so I refuse to subject a poor little puppy or kitty to an apartment with very little access to any kind of green space.  These smaller spaces that we have grown accustomed to in Cairo are just not enough to keep pets healthy and happy in.

So this means that when I come home to visit family, I am also coming to visit the dogs as well.

I think for most of us who had dogs and cats as pets when we were little, it can be difficult to adjust to not having the little buggers around when you move away.  I mean, where else can you get that kind of undying, devoted love?  I grew up always having pets around and somehow life seemed a little less bright when they weren't around.  I could sit for long hours reading with one hand on the book and the other hand stroking the head of one or two dogs (their heads always managed to be in just the perfect position under my hand at just the right time).  You never felt lonely with those eyes and that soft head always nearby.

And there's always that feeling when you come home to visit and the dogs remember you.  I remember back in college we had an old dog who was blind and deaf, but somehow she managed to recognize me apparently from my scent.  And in my family this was something sacred because the animals really are part of the family.
Unfortunately time passes and they do pass with time.  My family has lost several beloved pets over the past year and it is sad to come home and not find them there to greet me.

My son has apparently inherited this love of animals.  I have been amazed to see that he is completely unafraid of the dogs and other animals he has been in contact with.  In Egypt so many people are downright afraid of dogs (in particular) so I was concerned that he might have picked up this fear of dogs.  But no worries, he is just as much of a dog lover as his mother is!

I'm still trying to figure out if we can ever get a dog or cat in Egypt.  But unfortunately apartment living isn't very conducive to keeping pets happy.

So we will have to continue to keep coming to visit family as much as we can so that we can visit the dogs as well...

Or we can come visit the dogs so that we can visit the family as well...

You choose.

By Erin Owen: 

Erin writes for and maintains Egypt Ramblings – a blog about expat life in Egypt where she lives with her husband and son.

Tips on How to Avoid Real Estate Scams In Costa Rica

Cody L Gear and Associates knows you work hard for your money. That is why we want to provide you with some tips that may help you avoid being scammed in Costa Rica or at home.

It has come to our attention that various Internet solicitations have appeared with increased frequency on such posting boards as Craigslist and other social networking sites encouraging consumers to deposit escrow funds to secure an interest in property located in Costa Rica via payment through Western Union payable to what appears to be a legitimate, reputable real estate company with name recognition. (Such as Remax, Century21, etc…)

We have contacted the real estate companies and none of them are in any way associated with this type of solicitation. In fact we have learned that this is another scam being perpetrated on unwary consumers and is currently being investigated by law enforcement.
Additionally, we have been made aware of an Advance Fee Scam involving the unauthorized use of a brand name such as the ones mentioned above, using a website and email address utilizing the name of the nationally known real estate company.

The Advanced Fee Scam goes something like this; the scammer lures the victim (e.g., a prospective buyer) by posting an offer of a high-standard piece of property for low cost, even showing pictures of the property. The scammer uses online classified ad services such as craigslist to post such offers. The victim is told that the seller is "travelling," "vacationing abroad" or "relocating." The victim is required to pay a deposit via Western Union in exchange for the "deposit" to the hold the property. In an effort to instill confidence in this transaction, the scammer fraudulently claims to have listed the property with the multi listing service using a local Real Estate office in Costa Rica and arranges for a fraudulent email notification posing as a real estate agent in Costa Rica (and uses the real estate company’s logos) to be sent to the victim. The scammer disappears once the deposit is received, leaving the prospective buyer defrauded.

Here are some tips to help you avoid such scams:

• KNOW THE PERSON YOU ARE SENDING MONEY TO – if you receive an email from a real estate agent with payment instructions, call the requesting office using the phone number located on the solicitation. Then call us  (321-218-9209 or visit http://www.codylgearandassociates.com ) to verify if this is a legitimate real estate company operating here in Costa Rica
• CRAIGSLIST IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions or provide escrow services.
• USE CAUTION WHEN GIVING OUT FINANCIAL AND OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION VIA EMAIL (bank account number, credit card number, social security number, etc.)
• AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.
• These types of scams often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before withdrawing your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE.
• PROPERTY LISTING MAY BE LOCAL, but landlord/owner is "travelling" or "relocating" and needs you to wire money to them abroad.

Most scams involve one or more of the following:
   Inquiry from someone far away, often in another country;
   Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow   service, or a "guarantee."
   Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consummating transaction.

Who should you notify about fraud or scam attempts?
Cody L Gear and Associates (321-218-9209 or http://www.codylgearandassociates.com )
•   FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
•   FTC online complaint form (http://www.ftc.gov)
•   Canadian Phone Busters hotline: 888-495-8501
•   Internet Fraud Complaint Center (http://www.ic3.gov)
•   Non-emergency number for your local police department.
•   The government agency in your country responsible for dealing with fraud.

Cody L Gear and Associates is a charter member of CID and have been providing investigative services in Costa Rica and South America since 1997. We have the experience and education to deliver verifiable, quality information to our clients.

Interested in Living in Costa Rica?  Check out the resource and article pages on EscapeArtist

Kitchen Remodeling in Mexico? Be Careful!

Many people dream of going down to Mexico and purchasing a home that allows for all the beauty the country has to offer. Picture wide doorways, beautiful stone floors, flowers bursting from every corner of the yard, and siestas in the warm breezes, and you've got the picture-perfect vision of a dream home in Mexico.

But let's say your dream home has that one little problem. Most people find the most individual space they have is in their kitchen, where they can be most comfortable and project a reflection of themselves to all who visit. For that reason, a kitchen remodel is often the first thing on the "to do" list for a new home, no matter the location.

Tips for Kitchen Remodeling in Mexico

Kitchen remodels should be the same no matter where you go, right? Not so. Besides the obvious language and cultural barriers (both of which can be overcome with time and effort), you are dealing with a culture that is very different from what you might be used to.

For instance, it is important to work the network of contacts in your area to find the most trustworthy candidates for the job. Contractors in Mexico put a great deal of stock in word-of-mouth, and the best way to find a good one is to pay attention to whose name comes up the most. The word confianza means "trustworthy" and you should listen for it very closely in your conversations about contractors.

Remember that any remodel or construction work in Mexico can fall victim to red tape and bureaucracy. Everything is somewhat regulated, and you might have to jump through hoops to get some work done. Plan for that by being patient, expecting the project to take longer than you anticipated, and padding your budget before you begin the work.

Finally, look out for the "Si" syndrome. Many workers in Mexico aim to please and do a fine job of it. However, they might aim to please a little too much, and that means they might say "yes" to everything you say. Avoid this by paying close attention to what they are actually doing, and don't ask for anything that deviates from your original plan unless you know for certain it can be done with little hassle

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Photo courtesy of HomeOwnerNet.com

Shannon Dauphin is a journalist with almost twenty years of experience behind her pen. An avid researcher and occasional novelist, she works and plays on the Georgia coast.

Interested in Living in Mexico?  Check out lots more articles and resources on EscapeArtist

Living the Dream in the Canary Islands

‘Twitters from the Atlantic’ - by Barrie Mahoney

When I moved to the Costa Blanca, I recall being told by one consular official that, “The Brits come here to die”. I quickly discovered that nothing could be further from the truth. In my newly appointed role as a newspaper reporter, I quickly realised that far from going to the Costa Blanca to die, the Brits and other expats had moved to the Costa Blanca to live - and a very good job they were making of it too!

Many people that I met had finally been released from the crippling pain of arthritis and other conditions linked to cold, damp Northern European climates and had quickly realised that a whole new world of mobility was waiting for them. Others had realised their dream of a home in the sun, inspired by the many “You can do it too” TV programmes, earlier in life - thanks to rising house prices and the newly found equity that they had discovered in their homes. All had one thing in common, fulfilling the dream of a new life and adventure in the sun.

I quickly discovered tap dancing groups, where it was not unusual to discover ninety-year-olds treading the boards, orchestral groups and brass bands, salsa classes, walking groups and drama groups. The area was buzzing with activity and it always amazed and delighted me to see so many British, Scandinavian, German, Irish and Spanish, as well as many other nationalities, enjoying being together. One thing that united many expats was the desire to see a rapid improvement in animal welfare, and I am convinced that the present level of animal welfare in the Costas, although still not ideal, is due to the efforts of the many expat groups, working alongside their Spanish counterparts.

Now that I am living in the Canary Islands there is, of course, a much smaller expat community. The climate is such that much of the expat social life revolves around the bar culture. There are few activities that expats are involved in, although there are plenty of Canarian music, drama and cultural groups to be found, but the enthusiasm for joining these is less obvious than in the Costas. There is also a much younger expat population living on the islands, whose main focus is earning a living and paying the rent or the mortgage. This does not leave a great deal of time for other activities in an area where wages are low and unemployment is high.

Sadly, some expats do not succeed in their attempts to create a new life in the sun. For many, ‘living the dream’ becomes ‘living the nightmare’. Illness, breakdown of relationships, bereavement or unemployment drives many to return ‘home’ disillusioned, but wiser. In time, I hope that these would-be expats realise that no experience in life is ever wasted, and that the broader experiences that they will have gained, will stand them in good stead for the future, whatever they choose to do.

Some time ago, I met someone who was well versed in spiritual matters, and commented that ancient ley lines intersect these islands. As a result, these islands would draw in a certain kind of person and let go of those it does not want. I remember him commenting that the islands have a force that cannot be avoided. I was sceptical at first, but I have noticed over the years that I have lived here, that of the many would-be expats who have arrived and returned disillusioned, a significant number of these have returned to the islands again a few years later and settled successfully. Many will say that this is due to a positive change in personal circumstances, and a desire to seek the sun and warmth once again. However, maybe, just maybe, the islands have drawn them back again?

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander.com or read his latest novel, ‘Journeys and Jigsaws’ (ISBN: 9781843865384).

© Barrie Mahoney

New Way for Expats to Stay Connected

A NEW internet tool has been created to keep expats I touch with family and friends in the UK.

AnchorFree Inc., creator of Expat Shield and Hotspot Shield, the world's most popular free privacy tools, has launched a new version of Expat Shield that will allow UK expats and students living abroad to access the British Web from anywhere in the world.

Users who download Expat Shield can stay connected to friends and family with private, secure and full access to all the Internet sites that they would be able to visit at home.

Expat Shield is the sister site of Hotspot Shield, which gives more than 8.5 million monthly users universal access to US web content and secures the entire browsing session for users online.

With Expat Shield, UK residents abroad will now have a way to remain private online while staying connected to the sites they love, including:

Popular news and information sources, like Google, The Financial Times, CNN and the BBC; social networking sites like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and MySpace; VOIP services like Skype, which are often blocked in foreign regions; BBC iPlayer and other sites that are unavailable from certain countries or outside of the UK.
In addition to keeping users secure, anonymous and free of privacy concerns online, Expat Shield also offers a unique service that gives anyone the ability to shop on popular U.S. e-commerce sites as if they were in the country, giving people the ability to shop at eBay or Zappos and receive direct shipments to anywhere worldwide.

"The world is more connected than ever before and people everywhere are finding ways to stay in touch with friends and family online through Hotspot Shield.

“We noticed that many of our most passionate users were actually UK residents, but that they did not have any tools that catered specifically to the Web content they find in Britain," said David Gorodyansky, founder and CEO, AnchorFree.

Both Hotspot Shield and Expat Shield work by establishing a secure tunnel between a user's computer and Internet connection, encrypting entire Web sessions to keep the users protected.
When users connect to Expat Shield, it assigns them a UK IP address. As a result, all Web sessions take place as they would in the UK.

To download Expat Shield, visit: http://expatshield.com. The program is free and will install automatically. Expat Shield currently runs on Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7. Hotspot Shield is available on all Windows operating systems, as well as Mac OS X (10.6 Snow Leopard), Mac OS X (10.5 Leopard) and Mac OS X (10.4 Tiger).

Massive Party to Celebrate Sustainablity (How Can you Go Possibly Go Wrong Here?

3rd Annual Earthship Pitaya Festival
"El Carizal", San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
February 18-19, 2011

When Matty Powell, with wife and two toddlers along for the ride, drove his Vanagon down to Nicaragua from Saskatoon in 2008 his goal was to consider a new and "more sustainable" life for his family. He never dreamed of settling in San Juan del Sur (SJdS), and couldn't have imagined being the impetus of a 2000+ person festival in the middle of nowhere.

The idea started when off-grid developer Tim Kelly (originally from Santa Barbara, CA) and green real estate agent Brooke Rundle (originally from Westlake, CA) had the idea with Matty of having a "big bonfire" at their Earthship with some guitars and 20 local expat friends from SJdS to celebrate the completion of the off grid structure back in January '09.

The Earthship, "Casa Llanta" (tire house), is a home built using tires, cans, and bottles that catches its own water (2 x 10,000 gallon cisterns), uses gray water systems to reuse the water, has thick walls for passive cooling, and is powered by solar panels (and a solar hot water heater). Casa Llanta is the first Earthship completed in Nicaragua: http://www.casallanta.com/

That first year's festival was set on a full moon for everyone to enjoy the pitaya flowers that only bloom on a full moon. The irony of a "mis-timed" festival (pitayas don't bloom until May) didn't seem to both anyone as 1500+ partygoers showed up to celebrate sustainability and community late into the night. The 2009 show had some bigger bands in attendance and drew over 2000 fans over the course of the full day festival.

All proceeds from the festival go to support community development and activities in the village of "El Carizal", 6.6km south of SJdS. The Casa Llanta Fund helped fund and build a preschool in '07, and is currently funding after school classes for the 50 or so kids in the village. The 2011 event will help continue to fund and expand these classes, as well as help fund and build a small medical clinic in the village, for which the government has already promised to send a doctor at least twice a week.

The 2010 Earthship Pitaya Festival proves to take things to a new level as we're adding a Surf Contest, Paddle Stampede (think SUP Race with kayaks and all flotilla welcomed), and a Run/Swim/Run to entice visitors from northern Costa Rica and other areas of Nicaragua that we haven't seen in past years.

Interested local bands (especially from northern Costa Rica), volunteers, or any interested donors, sponsors, or participants should contact Tim Kelly at: bringitusa@aol.com

Festival Site: http://carizal.com/pitaya.html
2011 Promo Video: http://vimeo.com/14765119

Thank God For Honduras!

In 1536 when exploring the mountainous central Honduras looking for an area to establish a city, Captain Juan de Chavez finally found a flat enough area he proclaimed,

"Gracias a Dios que hemos hallado tierra llana" (thank God that we have finally found flat land). Well the name “Gracias a Dios” stuck to become the name of the city, although it is referred to simply as ‘Gracias’.

When I first traveled here in January of 2010 I thought to myself, ‘thank God there are still places like this!’

Totally unspoiled and much like a century ago, Gracias is a true hidden jewel. On a small hill next to the town the Spanish established a fort, still almost perfectly intact. 15 minutes away there is a pleasant hot spring day resort. Most people do not think of anywhere but the island of Rotan when considering Honduras for a place to live. Not all of us can afford this pricey island complete with all the hustlers that inhabit it now. Not all of us want that kind of ambiance anyway, thank god…