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+--- Thread: What is Good Advice for Future Expats? (/Thread-What-is-Good-Advice-for-Future-Expats)
What is Good Advice for Future Expats? - Kal Di - 03-13-2022
What is good advice for future expats? As an expat, I commented on some advice from an American expat couple living in Ecuador.
RE: What is Good Advice for Future Expats? - vetvso - 03-13-2022
I learned the local language and tested out of the language, and now have the certificates that show my studies with private tutors, and the local University paid off.
RE: What is Good Advice for Future Expats? - rachel83az - 03-13-2022
If you don't have a Bachelor's degree, get one. If your degree is from a school with "College" in the name or is an NA degree, get an RA degree from a university. Now get an RA Master's degree. Persons with degrees are favored over persons without. Some countries may not care about NA vs. RA, but others do. If you want the freedom to go elsewhere later (because of better job opportunities or you can't stay in your chosen country because of bureaucratic reasons), having an RA Master's degree will give you more freedom than having no degree or even just a Bachelor's degree.
RE: What is Good Advice for Future Expats? - Messdiener - 03-13-2022
Learning the local language to a decent degree (if not near-native fluency) is definitely a requirement for long-term residency. If you're going to live somewhere for any extended period of time, having the local language under your belt will both make your life easier but will also show respect to the local people. Heck, it might even open some doors to you in education and employment.
As an example, an Aussie mate went to Thailand and studied Thai for a year or two. Thereafter, he went to university (with locals) to complete an undergraduate program in Buddhist Studies, all in Thai! Through the program and simply being known for having fluent Thai, he made all sorts of connections in the country.