Tips – The Prepared Expat

Orbiting Home: Surviving Expat Life with Astronaut Wisdom

An artistic rendering of the International Space Station orbiting the earth.

Astronaut Scott Kelly’s year in space offers profound lessons for expats. From embracing longing to appreciating what’s missed to strengthening connections, learn how these insights help expats thrive in the challenges of life abroad.

No Context, No Clue: Why Expats Miss the Point (and What to Do About It)

A person tries to assemble a globe made out of puzzle pieces, symbolizing the need to piece together how things fit together in a new culture.

Ever feel like everyone’s in on a joke you don’t get? As an expat, missing cultural context is like hearing people talk about a movie you’ve never seen. This article uncovers why symbols, references, and shorthand matter—and how cracking the code of cultural fluency can turn confusion into connection.

Phonetic Finesse: The Art of Being Understood

An abstract close-up of a human mouth pronouncing different phonemes, with colorful sound waves or light trails emanating from it. Highlight tongue placement subtly with a translucent overlay. Minimalistic background with a focus on clarity, using colors like blue, green, or orange to symbolize precision in language.

Close enough is often not good enough. Learn why phoneme differences and hearing challenges produce obstacles in communication and, more importantly, how you can overcome those challenges so that you are understandable and comprehensible to locals.

Between Two Worlds: Surviving as an Expat When Countries Clash

A world map on a pane of glass, shattered into many pieces by impact hits

When countries clash, the stakes are higher for expats. Explore practical strategies for navigating the tense reality of living between two worlds. Don’t wait—get informed, stay safe, and thrive abroad.

Merry Christmas!

I wish you a most wonderfully Merry Christmas this year!

Forget This! Outsmart Your Brain with the Power of Lists

A vibrant artistic depiction of a brain whose neural connections turn into a checklist

Struggling to keep track of life’s endless details abroad? Discover how simple lists can be your secret weapon for navigating expat challenges. Unglamorous checklists can transform chaos into order and help you thrive, not just survive, abroad.

Lessons Learned: David & Goliath, and Escaping Relative Deprivation

A set of scales in the foreground hold two cars, a luxury car and a broken down car, and yet the scales are perfectly balanced, symbolizing contentment despite the situation one is in.

Comparisons steal joy, but you don’t have to stay trapped. Learn how expats can escape the grip of relative deprivation and grow in contentment wherever you are in the world.

Learn Smart, not Hard: A ZPD Reality Check

Anetwork of flowing lines that gradually transform into a person, representing the interconnectedness of knowledge.

Unlock the secrets of effective learning with the ZPD. Discover how to harness this powerful psychological framework to accelerate your skills, improve performance, and maximize your learning. Learn smart, not hard!

Expat Thanksgivings: Thriving Abroad, One Blessing at a Time

A diverse group of expats enjoy a thankful meal together in a warm atmosphere.

Gratitude isn’t just a virtue, it’s essential for your expat life. If you want joy, peace, patience, or love, learn to intentionally cultivate gratitude. Learn how to recognize your blessings and create a life worth celebrating, one moment at a time.

Death by Assumption: The Expat’s Hospital Survival Guide

A hospital in the middle of a complex maze, symbolizing the difficulty expats can have obtaining proper medical care

Think you know how hospitals work? Think again. One expat’s life-or-death story reveals how dangerous assumptions about foreign healthcare systems can be. Learn how to navigate medical emergencies abroad before it’s too late—because preparation could mean the difference between life and death.