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Istanbul, Bucharest, Warsaw...three cities in five days - by Elizabeth Bonner, "Last month, you heard about our travails and travaux as we repaired, restored and renovated the Chateau d’Ouzilly, our place in France. But life is not all work and no play, and so last summer, my husband invited me to accompany him on a flying tour of three Eastern European cities, Istanbul (in its European guise), Bucharest, and Warsaw. While my husband worked, I gave myself up to the pleasures of tourism." Living Life in a Turkish Tourist Town - Living Life in a Turkish Tourist Town - I wake up every day knowing that I live in one of the most lovely places in the world. That, in spite of the invasion of thousands of people who have arrived these past few years to buy into our quality of life. Fortunately, I arrived in Bodrum, Turkey in the late eighties. Little did I realize then that I would still be here 20 years later. I am not the first foreigner to have been lulled into the Lotus Eating syndrome in Bodrum, Turkey. Hundreds of foreigners arrived before I. By Priscilla Windsor Brown Mar/06 My Secrets to a Lifetime of Making Money in Overseas Real Estate - Overseas Real Estate - by Gary Scott - If we can now buy a ranch in Argentina (or Uruguay, or New Zealand, or name your spot,) for ten cents on the dollar of what a similar property inside the United States would cost us, and if we can carry on commerce from anywhere we are, how long do you imagine it's going to take your neighbor to realize the very same thing? As one writer put it, "those folks who buy that ranch in Argentina today are going to have grandchildren who will think they were a genius." Gary Scott tells us more, in an article from the best of International Living. On the Road: From Turkey to Bulgaria ~Dark Passage - Jay Winfrey lives and works in North Carolina. He has an unnatural addiction to other cultures and people. Sometimes it puts him in grave danger. He continues to try and escape the country; via cargo ship, hitchhiking or any other semi-viable method of relocation. Recently, Jay made the east-to-west trek to Bulgaria. He encountered a dark passage filled with scotch, timeless border crossings, prostitutes, remnants of communism, and Sofia's Salvation. Jay writes, " I became intimately familiar with the Bulgarian way of life: the dirt on the ground and the unattainable hope of Mt. Vitosha towering above, a focal point that nobody seemed to look to anymore. Old habits are like favorite clothes, and communism sinks its teeth in far too deep." .
Putting Wheels on You Dream Wagon-No Fear - Just Do It - Roger Van Parys with wife Carol left the USA for a job assignment in Turkey to oversee a $50 million construction project. They were in for a surprise. In this article, Van Parys tells escapeartists what they learned. Now, years later, Roger is currently serving as a program/country manager for a major international engineering and construction firm. In 38 years of marriage, the couple has managed to spend 10 years overseas. Current plans call for at least another ten years of globe trotting before settling down. Real Estate in Altinkum - Turkey - Real Estate in Altinkum - Turkey ~ Altinkum translates as golden sand and is a holiday resort on the south west coast of Turkey attached to the town of Didim in the county of Aydin. Due to the influx of British people purchasing property over the past three years there has been an explosion of building in the resort and surrounding areas ranging from 1 bedroom apartments to multi bedroom detached villas and the prices range from £20 000 pounds sterling to upwards of £100 000 pounds sterling. By Haldun Ergun Sept./05 .
 Teaching
English In Turkey - Falling
In Love With Turkey ~ by Dawnelle Salant - Most people don't think
about teaching English overseas in Turkey, but from what the above article
describes, it looks like it might be just the right place to start your
teaching adventure. When teaching overseas it's always important to find
out what you can do when not teaching: does the country allow you to move
around at will, or are you constrained in where you can go and what you
can see. Turkey seems like a country where you could have fun inside and
outside the classroom. Oct./03
The Global Nomad Experience: Living in Liminality - The Global Nomad Experience: Living in Liminality - Global nomads are persons of any age or nationality who have lived a significant part of their developmental years in one or more countries outside their passport country because of a parent's occupation. Children raised as global nomads can be the offspring of diplomatic, international business, government agency, international agency, missionary, or military personnel, or indeed of people living internationally mobile lives for any professional reason. Typically, global nomads share a unique cultural heritage. Oct./06
Traveling To Constantinople ~ A Greek Tourist’s Impressions Visiting Istanbul ~ by Marialena Lioulia - t was Wednesday December the 15th, 2004, when my friend Yiota called me up in the office. “What are you doing for New Year’s Eve?” she asked, me and my mind just thought about another social engagement for the Season. “Nothing much” I replied, since my boyfriend had just left to spend the Holidays with his family in the States, I was telling myself that no matter what, I would go with the flow and confront the usual Holiday blues with a sense of positivism… “Well, how about us going to Constantinople”, Yiota said, with hesitation coloring her voice. “Constantinople ??? When are we going, dear?”, I said, with a sense of excitement in my voice now. “Well, from December the 28th till January the 2nd…” “OK, let’s do it! I have a Holiday leave during those exact same days, so it’s a deal!!!” Feb./05 Travels In Turkey - A Visual Feast ~ I always find it interesting how people form opinions on matters they have no experience with. Having traveled to some of the more off-beat places in the world (Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Saudi Arabia, etc.), I’m constantly subjected to ‘expert’ analysis from the world’s most opinionated armchair travelers. Conventional wisdom on Turkey, it seemed, was no different. I was on a mission for my company: to seek sound, safe international investment opportunities in an overlooked country. Mar/05 Turkey ~ The Day of the Attacks-Good Sign for the Future - Leanne Currie-McGhee was in Turkey with her husband the day of the terrorist attacks on the WTC and Washington. She writes, "I learned the true meaning of 'Turkish hospitality' during the aftermath of the tragic terrorist attack on the United States. My husband Keith and I discovered how kind and compassionate the Turkish people are when we visited the city of Konya, located in the central Anatolia region. Konya is a devoutly Muslim city." Over the past year, Leanne and her husband have been traveling the not so beaten paths of South Asia, Africa, Australia, and SW Asia. Their travels have shown them a compassionate world exists where people of all beliefs choose the path of peace. Turkish Time ~ A Tale From Turkey ~ by Simon And Kate - Beckoning mysteriously, almost mystically, neighboring Turkey remained an enigma to us. We had been in all countries bordering Bulgaria - that’s where we live, but Turkey? Not! You see, it is big, unknown, the language is difficult and after all it is Asia and all the ideas associated with this. Conclusion: we just had to go there! Jul/05 Writers Workshop In Turkey - With Robin Sparks - 3-10 June 2006 - Learn to Write "The Personal Travel Story" - Join Escape Artist Travel Magazine Editor Robin Sparks and Travelers' Tales Executive Editor Larry Habegger aboad a classic Turkish Gulet along the Ancient Shores of Turkey. June 3 - 10 - 2006 - There are places for only 8 participants and they will fill up fast. Click here [pdf] to reserve your spot - April/06
Why buy real estate in the Turks and Caicos Islands? - Why buy real estate in the Turks and Caicos Islands? - The Turks & Caicos is a tiny British Dependent Territory at the southern end of the Bahamas chain of islands, relatively unknown until recent years. With a selection of luxury beachfront resorts, great beaches and amenities the Turks and Caicos is attracting all sorts of well-known people (Bruce Willis; Donna Karan; Keith Richards; Cindy Crawford; and a host of others have visited or bought second homes in the islands). If you haven't heard of it yet keep your eyes and ears open. By Bernadette Hunt May/06
Tarhankut:
The Anomaly Of Crimea - The
Unknown Jewel Of The Crimea ~ by Jason Jones - The Crimea has always
been famous as a tourist destination: Russians have been traveling to the
Crimea for their summer vacations for years. If you want to visit the Crimea,
but don't want to be trampled on by the summer tourists, then you should
read the above article to find out where the unknown parts of the Crimea
can be found. Oct./03
The Good, the Bad and The Ugly of living in Ukraine - The Good, the Bad and The Ugly of living in Ukraine - Ukraine has far more than its share of beautiful women! If you’re lucky enough to marry one with a heart of gold (such as my wife) and not a gold-digger, it will make your living in Ukraine considerably easier, but it’s not entirely necessary. If you are willing to purchase a home here it will be relatively easy to live here without many difficulties. I know a Canadian fellow who is not married and is living here quite satisfactorily with even less Russian language ability than my own. May/07 The Other Place ~ Un-touristy Ukraine - Like the Wild Wild West - Jeremy Cornam has just returned from his fourth visit to Western Ukraine, what he would describe as the 'forgotten heart of Europe'. One of the attractions of Ukraine for him, at least the region he visits, is the almost complete absence of tourists. "It's all strangely liberating. Maybe that's what the Wild West was like," says Jeremy, "Like finding a restaurant bill ten times less than expected. Doubtless, after a number of ebb and flows, the tide of rising Western standards of living will cross Poland to reach Ukraine." He's written another article titled 'Land of Giant Empty Houses', which appears in the latest edition of the EscapeArtist.Com Offshore Real Estate Quarterly. Jeremy Cornam says it's the best real estate bargain going in this yet undiscovered corner of the world, one steeped in culture at the farthest end of Eastern Europe. Thoughts
On Investing In The Ukraine ~Isolating
The Variables ~ By Jason Jones - Very good article on the investment
climate in the Ukraine. The article looks at how the Ukraine has done over
the past few years in its attempts to attract international capital. Historically,
there has always been a strong connection between Poland and the Ukraine
and in the above article Poland is used as one of the guideposts to determine
whether or not the Ukraine is headed in the right direction. The article
also looks at politics and its role on how the Ukraine will fair in the
short-term. Aug/03
Ukraine In Brief ~ A Ground Floor Investment ~ Walking around Kiev, you have to keep reminding yourself - 20 years ago this place was home to hordes of Communist masses training to take the Fulda Gap and standing in breadlines yearning to breathe free. While echoes of the past are plainly obvious in some areas of town, these days, the city appears almost gushingly cosmopolitan in many neighborhoods. The distinction can be remarkable. Last year Ukraine was thrust into the international spotlight during the Orange Revolution of presidential opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko. Dec./05
Living and Working Abroad - Living and Working Abroad - The decision to become an expatriate, to pack your bags and leave your home country is an enormous and very far reaching one...but a recent BBC report revealed just how popular a decision living and working abroad has become, particularly for UK residents. April/06 Short Term Work Resources ~ Resources for Locating Jobs Abroad - Summer Jobs & Short Term Employment Abroad - Transitions Abroad has collaborated with Escape from America Magazine to bring escape artists a broad and exhaustive compilation of job opportunities in over 30 countries all over the world, including a regional guide to the Mediterranean, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In addition to that treasure, this page and the next offer sound leads to serving in a voluntary capacity, as well as teaching overseas at some of the world's most prestigious schools. In following issues of Escape from America Magazine, we will be adding to this valuable resource on a regular basis. We know how important our Jobs Overseas section of your magazine is, and we're doing something about it. Check it out. The Telecommunications Revolution - Global Telecommunications Technology - Perhaps there is no easier or better way to make money from anywhere we choose to live than to take advantage of the advances in global communications. In any event each of us can certainly save money by taking advantage of the advances even if we only choose to use the new technology to call home.
Dubai: Make The Most Of Your Money In The City Of Gold ~ Zero Taxes, Zero Restrictions, and Busybody Bureaucrats Be Damned ~ by W. William Woods - When you think of the Middle East, the first words that come to your mind might not be “business friendly” or “moderate” or “peaceful.” But all those words describe Dubai. Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates, a political union that was formed in 1971 when Abu Zaby, Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy (Dubai), and Umm al Qaywayn merged. They were joined a year later by Ra’s al Khaymah. The UAE is a small nation nestled between Saudi Arabia and Oman, but oil wealth helped put its per capita GDP on par with Western Europe. Jan/06 DUBAI: You Never Imagined A City Like This ~ Having Fun In Dubai ~ By Scott Sutton - A lot of people think that living in the Middle East means having to live in great austerity, but this is not true in the city of Dubai. The nightlife, the desert and the international outlook of the people make it an attractive place to spend time in. And the architecture looks interesting as well. June/03 Escape To The Other Side Of The Atlantic ~ France, Spain And Dubai ~ by Rosemary Jaworsky - After my last article for Escape From America Magazine, LIVING in GASCONY, (May 2005), I was inundated with requests for information on residency, home buying, working and healthcare, etc. I tried to answer every email to the best of my knowledge and from some borrowed knowledge, too. Some of my writers, who were keen to learn more of the area and were interested in buying, actually paid me a visit. I still have about 6 more scheduled visits for September and October and two confirmed visits for April and May next year. Since then, I have continued to receive requests on secondary home ownership with a view to later retirement. Oct./05 Life In Abu Dhabi ~ In The UAE ~ by Bonnie Burns - It didn’t take long to figure out why expatriates don’t want to leave. Who would have imagined life could be so interesting in the exotic city of Abu Dhabi, located in the United Arab Emirates, known as the UAE. When the idea of living in the Middle East presented itself, my first thought was it was far too dangerous a place for an American woman. April/05 Living Abroad with Children: It’s Easier Than You Think - Maura Madigan, her husband, and their two-year-old daughter are currently living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Maura writes that friends and relatives think it's outrageous to move and travel abroad with children. Their friends keep urging them to settle in the US. Maura's article focuses on the benefits for children living an international life, such as increased cultural awareness and tolerance of differences. The article helps to dispel some of the misconceptions and fears surrounding life outside the USA. At the end of the article is a link to Directmoving.com®, a new resource to call upon when people are faced with moving their children abroad. Moving
Back ~ Moving
Back To The United States From Dubai ~ By Maura Madigan - Do I stay
or do I go - the Clash, right - it's a question you are always asking
yourself if you live overseas. What will it be like if and when I return.
Will I crack or will it all be for the best. At what point will the things
I missed about home turn-around and send me back out on an adventure. The
stress of it is not that bad and you can always leave, go, stay or just
travel. It's for sure that you're the same wherever you go, but are you
happy? Nov./03
Real Estate In Dubai - New Law Grants Foreign Buyers Greater Ownership Rights - Real Estate In Dubai - New Law Grants Foreign Buyers Greater Ownership Rights - The new Dubai Property Law will mean that for the first time foreigners will be allowed to register properties under own names in the Dubai Land Department. And if the latter conjures up images of Dickensian title deeds think again, this department offers the very latest in electronic land and property title registration. By Laura McMahon Mar/06 .
Sex
In The City - Dubai
Style ~ by Scott Sutton - Dubai remains a bastion of ‘liberalism’ here
in the Middle East; the place is hated by ultra conservatives (of which
there are but a few) but flocked to by increasing numbers of foreigners—including
Americans. Perhaps what happened on New Years Eve is one of the reasons.
May/04
The Transformation Of The UAE ~ What’s A Poor Camel To Do? ~ by Bonnie Burns - Part of the charm of living in old world Arabia is the hours spent haggling in the crooked, narrow alleys of the old souks where you’ll be offered a stout Turkish coffee and interesting conversation that leaves both people smiling. Then off you go to the fish market, where the Gulf shrimp are so fresh and delicious, you’ll kiss your fingertips. Next stop is the fruit and veg souks where produce is squeezed then bagged at a mere fraction of grocery store prices. But the recent announcement of the demolition of Abu Dhabi’s souks is bringing this way of life to an abrupt end. Jul/05 Why is real estate such a popular investment in Dubai? - Why is real estate such a popular investment in Dubai? - Globally more people have made more money out of property than any other asset class. Even big investors also have to live somewhere. But there are reasons behind these reasons that make property so desirable to investors both in Dubai and elsewhere. Sept./06
Living In Uruguay ~ A Little About Life In Uruguay ~ by Peer Voss - What is it like to live in Uruguay? I would say, it’s a mix of Barcelona and North Carolina. Okay, it could be a bit difficult to imagine what such a mix could be like. But if you have an idea of what Argentina is like, then you have a near picture of Uruguay. People and culture are European Mediterranean, with a little dash of Gaucho in the countryside. Spanish is the official language. The living standard is similiar to Mexico, however, wealth is more evenly distributed amongst the population in Uruguay. Nov./04 Punta del Este—why this is one of South America’s fastest-moving property markets - Punta del Este—why this is one of South America’s fastest-moving property markets - Punta del Este is one of South America’s premier seaside resorts, and its beautiful beaches, dazzling casinos, world-class restaurants, and upscale shops have lured tourists for almost a century. And, perhaps best of all, it’s located in Uruguay, one of Latin America’s First World countries; a country with one of the continent’s highest standards of living, lowest levels of corruption, and best infrastructures. Sept./06 Uruguay: Diary of an Ex-pat - Uruguay: Diary of an Ex-pat - After living in the West Indies, former Yugoslavia and Costa Rica, Uruguay seems normal. Montevideo is a city of about 1.5 million people. It is a combination of old and new, rather like Florida's St. Augustine. It is at the same relative latitude as the North Carolina Capes - the climate is perfect for me. On average it goes below freezing about 2.5 days/year and above 90F/32C only 6 days per year. As we all know, the Good Lord did not intend fat men in wheelchairs to live where it is hot! Aug./06 Uruguay: Ex-Pat Diary Part 2 - Uruguay: Ex-Pat Diary Part 2 - Uruguay: A Southron in the Deep, Deep South Part 2 of a three part series on Uruguay - Yesterday, one of my readers asked a particularly sanguine question: "If Uruguay is so nice, why aren't more Expats living there?" I was tempted to retort that the lack of too many Expats might be at least one reason for Uruguay's "niceness", but I refrain--though, like another ill-starred president, "I sinned in my heart". Oct./06
A Beginner’s Guide To The “Multi-Currency Sandwich” ~ Investing In Currencies ~ by Gary Scott - There’s a powerful investment strategy I call the “multi-currency sandwich” that not only dramatically increases profit potential but can also add safety to your portfolio. This tactic is almost unknown in the United States, but is time tested and very popular in other countries. I first learned and cashed in on this strategy in the early 1980s when the United States was being ravaged by inflation. The U.S. dollar had dropped strongly versus the Swiss franc. It was possible to earn 18% on U.S. dollar CDs. When my Swiss banker told me that I could use U.S. dollar CDs as collateral to borrow Swiss francs at 3% and reinvest at 18%, I was hooked! Dec./04 A Bullish Mirage - The Widely Heralded Sharp Upturn In Business Fixed Investment ~ By Kurt Richebächer - Odd news about the U.S. economy is proliferating. The international media is littered with articles stating that the U.S. economy is forging ahead with rapidly rising profits. Yet neither the stock markets nor the currency market have taken any notice. Asking traders, nobody could offer a plausible reason. Yet there are two very simple tentative explanations: first, the economic news is good, but not good enough to meet the high-riding expectations; and second, the bulls are fully invested, and short- covering by the bears is finished. Jan/04 A
Life With A View... ~ Returning
To The USA ~ By Jesse Pennington - For children that grew up overseas
in the U.S. Military or on Missionary Work the cultural traditions that
many people take for granted in the U.S. childhood - baseball, football,
T.V. programs - are foreign. I've met many missionary kids that know nothing
of the T.V. programs, The Brady Bunch, The Munsters and Happy Days; and
when you realize they know nothing about these American pop culture icons,
you scratch your head and say nothing, knowing that explaining such a thing
in such a small amount of time would be truly hopeless and stupid. Often
when you do try to explain, you yourself realize the stupidity of a T.V.
program or T.V. character. Nov./03
A Painful Visit - A Painful Visit - This article chronicles an emigrant's experiences at a medical clinic and questions the high price of medical care in the US, compared with his home country of Poland. "As an old Polish saying goes," writes Ryszard Krasowski, "The further in, the deeper. I had sunk so deep I felt I'd been swallowed up by a sea of questions. I'd had complete confidence in the clinic, so when the doctor proposed surgery, my only concern was where I would find the money to pay for it. Why did he tell me I had to have surgery if I didn't need it? Why did I have to pay more for the first visit if I wasn't sure if I would have to come back for a second visit? Maybe I'd choose to go to a different doctor. When I was going to pay a doctor a visit in Poland, I wasn't afraid of it. Here, in America, I am scared to death. I am scared to death, not because I have a health problem to solve, but because the visit makes me sick even more." All oil paintings are by the author. A World of Sin and Sorrow - A World of Sin and Sorrow - It will be a sad day for many people when the bubble pops. But it may be a happy day for those people holding gold. Where might the price go? Doug Casey offered some guesses in his recent issue. Dividing the U.S. gold supply by the money supply -- M1 -- he figured the price of gold should be $4,214 an ounce. Dividing the accumulated U.S. foreign trade deficit by U.S. gold holdings produces a similar number...about $4,000 per ounce. Act Now To Avoid The Visa Trap ~ What You Need To Know When Planning To Visit The U.S.~ by Lisa Beam - From 26 October 2004, thousands of people, including children, will need a visa to visit the USA, even for the shortest trip. Visa specialist, Lisa Beam of Bristol based solicitors, Gregg Latchams Quinn, is advising travellers to allow plenty of time to ensure their paper work is in order to avoid frustration and disappointment. Feb/04 Advice
And Conviction For The New Year - NEW
YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS, Part I ~ By Bill Bonner - "My Administration is
making America safer, more prosperous, and better. We are meeting the challenges
of our time," says George W. Bush in his end-of-the-year message. "Our
armed forces, joined by our allies, are on the offensive against terrorist
enemies around the world. Saddam Hussein is no longer in power and we are
hunting down al Qaeda leaders and al Qaeda terrorist cells and bringing
them to justice. Fifty million people in Afghanistan and Iraq have been
liberated from tyranny and our homeland has been made more secure. Jan/04
Advice For New Real Estate Investors - Advice For New Real Estate Investors ~ Steven Cook is an author and active investor in Baltimore, MD. He has bought and sold over 150 properties in the last two and a half years, including 27 in the first two months of 2001 alone. Steve pursues many avenues of investing and specializes in the wholesaling and rehabbing of properties for profit. Read his advice on how to get started and become a successful real estate investor... Dec./05 Alaska: Chasing A Lucrative Rainbow - Alaska: Chasing A Lucrative Rainbow - For over a century, the ability to get a deckhand job aboard an Alaska fishing boat has always been equal parts determination, self-confidence, persistence and luck. Every year a large percentage of novice crewmen step aboard an Alaska fishing boat for the first time. Most novices have never been aboard a boat of any kind in their lives. Jan/07 American Escapee Uses Computer To Make A Living In Paradise ~ Living In Costa Rica ~ by Rex Freeman - left the USA probably for many of the same reasons most do; the erosion of rights, the lawlessness of the courts, the intrusions of privacy, the omnipresence of big brother and the general mental decay of society. What once made America great, is now gone, or at best is quickly disappearing and I’d had enough. It was time to go. Feb./05 American In Greece ~ Working In Greece ~ by Niki McElroy - As an American, can I live and work in Greece? Well, in brief yes if you are of Greek descent, and yes to the first and no to the second if you are not. This little treatise is not directed at those who have Greek heritage but rather those wishing to live in Greece (specifically Crete) without having to work here. Because America is outside the European Union, Americans can not freely take up a job here. Nov./05 An
American In Vietnam ~ US$1
equals 16,170.0 Vietnamese dong ~ by Peter Kauffner - In Vietnam, an
entire family can ride on a motorcycle at the same time, daddy driving
with mommy sitting behind him carrying junior, who is somehow able to sleep
soundly despite the roar and honking of rush-hour traffic. No one wears
a helmet, and few are without the scars of accidents. Feb/04
Another Reason to Leave -The United States is headed for takeover - At some point, you have to make practical decisions in your life. Perhaps some wish to be martyrs. This may be a noble choice, but being dead does not help the situation. The better choice is to leave and let the situation burn itself out. By leaving the United States now, you can protect yourself, your family, and your property; then if the tide turns, and people awake from their complacency and apathy, you can come back. .
Ball of confusion - Ball of confusion - There have been few times in any of our lives when the global economy was on such a knife edge; teetering on the brink of either a soft landing followed by a rebound into growth or a slide into a period of tougher times. Analysts are split almost evenly on the most likely scenario but they are unanimous on the catalyst for change and all eyes are focussed intently and directly on the US economy. Sept./06 .
Brazil for US Baby Boomers - Brazil for US Baby Boomers - It is no secret to anyone that the largest segment of The United States population is about to, trying to, considering, or thinking about their retirements. It is also widely known and published in numerous articles that this group is concerned about their prospects - their choices are dwindling and their hopes and dreams going up in smoke right before their eyes due to things such as safety, health, finances, cost of living , hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, healthcare and yes, added to the list in the past few years, terrorism. May/07 Buy a Rolls Royce for the price of a Chevy - and other ways to profit from an international lifestyle - Profit from an international lifestyle - Often a crashing currency also comes attached with an economic crisis. This creates an even better opportunity. In the case of my Rolls, I took advantage of an English economic crunch (which drove the price of luxury cars down and forced many diehard owners to sell), a weak pound, and a U.S. customs loophole. Three distortion opportunities like this are the best.So talk to a tax attorney experienced in international structures, keep and eye on currency fluctuations (right now the Euro is still relatively weak, although it has moved up in recent weeks, which helps create European bargains), and look for distortions relating to fun things you want to be involved in. Buying Real Estate In Another Country: The Last Great Non-Reportable Investment Idea? By John Schroder - Buying Real Estate In Another Country: The Last Great Non-Reportable Investment Idea? - Owning real estate overseas protects intelligent people from the growing abuse of a government gone mad - If your government is a rogue nation that is currently confiscating property it is time for you to consider overseas real estate as a means of protecting your assets, your family and your life. Throughout America, police are now seizing cars, houses and bank accounts — without trial . . . and killing innocent Americans. Many Americans don't want to believe that such events are becoming commonplace. Those with their heads buried in the sand are having to bury them deeper to block out the obvious - - Those who are cognizant of the facts are seeking to protect their families and themselves by buying real estate in a foreign safe-haven Jul/05 Chapter 9 ~ Getting Ready For The Big Move ~ by Rick Adams - For those Americans, particularly those Americans living in the “blue” states that realize that there is life beyond the city limits of your town and in fact outside of the United States, you may be considering your options. Could life be better elsewhere? Is it possible to work and live in another country? Are there actually other countries that don’t think Americans are a few bricks shy of a load…rowing with one oar…or that their elevator doesn’t go to the top floor? Is it possible to leave your native country and still be happy, nay, even happier? We say “yes!” (We also rarely say “nay”.) We’d like to suggest considering New Zealand as your new home. My wife and I left the comfort of our big American home, our big American jobs and our big American cars for a new life and we think you can probably do it too. April/05 Convergence
Under The Bed Spread ~ Exploring
The Possibility Of A Falling Credit Rating For US Government Debt Banana
Republic Style! ~ by Dan Denning - Political Economy - the interaction
of states and markets - was originally seen as a Marxist concept and later
as a Leninist way of looking at the world trading and financial norms.
Political economy and particularly International Political Economy were
not part of American Academia; it was Europe and later the Developing World
that kept it alive - England in the former and Tanzania and India in the
latter. Debt creation or government spending - depending on how you see
it - was seen by political economists as a way for states to stimulate
their economies when the market was depressed. The idea was never to spend
so far beyond one's resources that only pure faith could keep things going.
Nov./03
Corrupted
Thinking In A Money Culture ~ U.S.
Credit Machine ~ By Kurt Richebächer - It is the general view
that the U.S. economy has outperformed the rest of the world in the past
several years. Judging by real GDP growth rates, this is true. Yet the
reason why is obvious, easily explained, and disastrous in its consequences:
the U.S. credit machine has no parallel in the world. It is geared to accommodate
absolutely unlimited credit for two purposes - consumption and financial
speculation. Feb/04
Cross-Cultural Savvy: Don't Go Abroad Without It - Gary Wederspahn is a leading intercultural business trainer, consultant, speaker, and writer of an acclaimed book on cultural awareness for US travelers. What we have adopted from our culture can often work against us abroad. Wederspahn writes, "In addition to their household items and personal belongings, US expatriates also take with them invisible cultural baggage composed of values, beliefs, attitudes, assumptions and expectations. How people in their host countries perceive them and respond to them depends largely on the contents of this intangible luggage. The advice inscribed on the ancient temple of Apollo at Delphi to “Know thyself” is as valid in today’s era of globalization as it was when Socrates first quoted it over thousand years ago. You can’t avoid taking your US cultural baggage abroad with you. But at least you can be aware of it and be careful to not unconsciously impose it on others." Currency Exchange and Money Transfers - More Currency Less Worry - Currency Exchange and Money Transfers - More Currency Less Worry. The exchange rate is possibly the least understood aspect of travelling abroad. Travel agents and bureaux de change display a cluster of numbers on their LED panels but the gap between the rate at which they buy and the exchange rate at which they sell looks for all the world like a black hole and then to add insult to unintelligibility, they charge a commission fee on top. Why are the rates up and down each day and why are they where they are at all? Jul/05 Danger Abroad - Danger Abroad - Our Concerns Are Often Another Display of Our Xenophobia. As Mike Reddin tells us in this essay, it is unreasonable to assume that it’s more dangerous “over there” than it is “here” (wherever your here is). From the Mar/Apr 96 issue of Transitions Abroad - Defensive Investing with Global Titans - Defensive Investing with Global Titans - Big might seem boring to most investors. But, increasingly, large-capitalization stocks are looking mighty attractive in the rough market environment we’ve been enduring since May. In fact, for U.S. dollar-based investors and euro investors alike, this is the best time since 1973 to buy global multinationals on the cheap. Sept./06 Escape to Cape Cod - Escape to Cape Cod - Did you ever daydream about leaving it all behind and taking off for the Canadian wilderness or the tropical South Pacific? Maybe living on a houseboat on the Seine (that’s in Paris!), or setting up residence in a castle in Scotland. We all dream from time to time of simplifying our lives and doing more of what we actually like to do. Did you know that most people work hard all year long just to reap the rewards of 2-3 weeks (if they are lucky!) in an idyllic location? Jun/06 Escape to Hawaii - Escape to Hawaii - Yes, Hawaii! not exactly ex-pat, since technically these islands are American - but we found that our new home offers a unique blend of an exotic, multi-cultural lifestyle that still retains the ease and familiarity of American real estate practices, banking, licensing and laws. And in spite of misconceptions, there are still areas here which are affordable, especially in comparison to the west coast of the USA. Aug./06 EU Tax Collectors May Demand 10 Years Of Account Records ~ Taxes In Europe ~ by Mark Nestmann - Beginning July 1, 2005, the “European Savings Tax Directive” will come into effect. It calls for EU member states to pass details of interest payments to EU nationals to their respective tax authorities. In order to preserve their bank secrecy rules, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg “opted out” of the information exchange, and will instead impose a withholding tax on interest payments to EU nationals. In addition, the 10 newest EU members—Cyprus, Malta, Poland, etc.—will not be subject to these requirements until 2007. Jun/05 Even The Rats Have Left - Even The Rats Have Left - Bill Bonner [From The Daily Reckoning] - "In many of America's East Coast cities real estate prices peaked out, in real terms, early in the 20th century. Since then, almost every investment -- even at very low prices -- has been a losing one. Whichever direction you look, right or left, it is the wrong side of the track. Mattresses lying on the ground in backyards, rusted out cars and factories, boarded up or broken out window -- garbage everywhere...in piles, in ditches, even in the trees. The scenes are hard to reconcile with the vision of a New Era -- and everyone getting rich. These people certainly are not rich. They are not even poor. They would have to work for years and save their money to reach poverty." Expat Exclusion Eliminated ~ Expats Must Pay U.S. And Foreign Taxes ~ By Steven Y.C. Kang - The exclusion rule may be over for all expats with U.S. citizenship. If you are an expat you may end up paying not only local taxes in the country you reside in, but you might also have to pay Uncle Sam something. That could mean two-thirds of your income will go to taxes. And where does all that tax money go. May/03 Expat Tax - U.S. Taxation of American's Living Abroad - Expat Tax - U.S. Taxation of American's Living Abroad - If you live abroad for a full calendar year, or live there for 330 days out of any consecutive 12 month period, you can exclude up to $74,000 of earned income from U.S. Income Taxation for 1999. If you are married, and both of you earn income and reside outside of the USA, you can also exclude up to another $74,000 of your spouses income from taxation. ..
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion - Foreign Earned Income Exclusion - The goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive checklist of information for the US person to consider prior to accepting an assignment outside the US. This article is not intended to teach you the technical competence required to perform self compliance, however it will certainly arm you with the knowledge to determine if your US tax preparer knows all that they should know to provide you with technically competent professional services. Apr./07 Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for American Taxpayers -Section 911 of the Internal Revenue Code - Thomas Azzara writes, "Under US tax law (i.e., Section 911 of the Internal Revenue Code) , an American taxpayer and his wife can exclude up to $76,000 each from their salary ($152,000 = total), provided they live offshore at least 330 days of every year. This is called the "Foreign Earned Income Exclusion", and is part of the Statutory Internal Revenue Code. This exclusion is an annual tax allowance under US tax law, but you have to live outside the US at least 330 days to qualify for it. The amount one can exclude increases to $80,000 for fiscal year 2,002. for 2001 the amount excludable is $78,000." Links to the online IRS Publication 54 on foreign earned income exclusions are provided. Gold & Silver - Your Protection Against A Falling Dollar ~ by Michael Checkan - The dollar is falling! The dollar is falling! This is not breaking news. But what are you doing about it? Most Americans are doing nothing. Historically, one of the best ways investors have protected themselves against a faltering currency is to purchase gold and silver. In this article, I’ll show you why that’s still a good strategy, and the best ways of doing so, based on my nearly 40 years of experience in the precious metals market. But first, let me show you the true consequences of the falling dollar. They’re much larger than you might think. Mar/05 Good Morning, This Is Your Wake-Up Call -Immigration & Citizenship Strategies For A Post September 11 World - This trend, which has been underway for the past few years thanks to increased co-operation between governments and initiatives of international organizations, has increased its momentum and justification after September 11th. The implementation of the Qualified Intermediary regime in 2000, the passing of the USA Patriot Act in late 2001, and the recent offshore credit card record requests by the IRS, mean the US is aggressively leading the way in scrutinizing all domestic and international financial trans-actions of its taxpayers. ~ David Lesperance. Sept/02. Great Income Stream with IBC - Great Income Stream with IBC - Ken Barker is an international merger and acquisition specialist. Formally a vice-president at one of the United States' “front line” brokerage firms. Mr. Barker presently focuses on the development, investment in, starting of international venturelimited partnership funds. Mr. Barker has initiated and completed transactions totaling over a billion dollars, globally. Mr. Barker writes, "This article is about a sheltered income stream, coupled with an IBC. An International Business Corporation buys tax mortgages. The IBC that owns the note is free to conduct any other form of business that is so desired. There are no restrictions on moving the funds. .
Guess What? You May Be A Member Of The American Family ~ ...And Your Long Lost Uncle Sam Wants You --- And Your Taxes! ~ By David S. Lesperance - If you are a US Citizen living outside the US then the US government is looking for you and your tax-dollars. The US government has become more aggressive in finding US citizens who have moved offshore to escape high taxes. This aggressive policy towards tax collection is part of Washington's new war on terrorism which is demanding great government resources. Your dollars will go to pay for homeland security and more police who will be pursuing a policy of eroding individual rights and liberities. Look out! Dec./02 How to Legally Protect Your Assets - The Ultimate Asset Protection and Tax Saving Plan - David Tanzer is a lawyer in Vail, Colorado, limiting his practice to asset protection planning. He is also the author of a new book and video package entitled, How to Legally Protect Your Assets. David writes, "Once you have removed yourself from the tax and privacy concerns you have, you can in many jurisdictions around the world live tax free, in relative privacy without onerous reporting burdens or concerns of litigants trying to remove your money from you. Expatriation can offer you the best of all worlds and an exotic lifestyle. Your Choice of Paradise For some individuals, and maybe you are one of them, picking up and leaving the US, whether as a US citizen living abroad earning tax free income from a foreign source, or going the final distance as an expatriate, can offer an exciting challenge to your life." HR 3886 is Killed - HR 3886 is Killed - September 18, 2000 WASHINGTON, DC. Dealing a death blow to HR 3886, legislation which would give the US Treasury power to cut off offshore banks and nations, the US House Majority Leader opposes "financial protectionism" aimed at low tax regimes. Rep. DICK ARMEY says the bill is "against our national interests and would endanger the economies of other nations." - It comes as a surprise to EscapeArtist that HR 3886 has been stopped. If a bill were a weapon, HR 3886 would be a neutron bomb capable of destroying life without harming the real estate. I am an American, can I live and work in Greece? - I am an American, can I live and work in Greece? ~ The procedure for getting employment in Greece is complex. But for those wishing to retire in Greece or simply enjoy what we believe to be a highly desirable lifestyle, there is indeed a fully legal way for an American to live permanently in Greece. And of course if you have an Internet-based business, you could still operate that from here! Oct./05 Images of Sorrow ~ The World Weeps ~ Photos from Around the Globe- Photo Essay - The images included in this photo essay were gathered from the magazine's subscribers all over the world and from Internet resources. They depict with understated clarity the sorrow felt the world over in the week following the terrorist attack on US citizens and citizens from over 80 other countries who were in New York and Washington D.C. on the morning of September 11, 2001. The photographs also demonstrate the ability of a world of people to stand together united in concern for the welfare of others. Let peace throughout the world finally reign. We invite all readers to contribute to the contents of these pages by sending their photos as JPEG attachments to the Editor of Escape from America Magazine so they can be shared with others. Imagination Takes Flight - Imagination Takes Flight - An article in "Forbes" this week shows how hard it is to make money betting on new technologies. First, it is almost impossible to know if the technology will actually work. Second, even if it does work, it may never find a successful commercial application. And even if it overcomes that problem, the company you buy may turn out to be a loser for other reasons. International Variable Life Policy - International Variable Life Policy - Trevor Reynolds of Banner Overseas Financial services writes, "The ILVP has been specifically designed as a ModifiedEndowment Contract. An MEC that satisfies the requirements of Section 7702 and Section 817(h) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code 1986 allows the policy holder to obtain significant tax savings on investment growth over a regular investment or brokerage account. Providing certain regulatory requirements are met, investment assets within the Policy will accrue completely free of income and capital gains taxes." Invest Offshore Without Leaving Home ~ The Overlooked Advantages Of American Depository Receipts ~ by Eric Roseman - Some of the best investments for the remainder of this decade lie overseas. Marked by faster-growing economies, stronger currencies, superior earnings and generally more fiscal conservatism, foreign markets have outpaced Wall Street since 2000. In the 1990s, the S&P 500 Index averaged a 15.6% annualized return. That was better than any other ten-year period for U.S. common stocks since the high-flying 1920s. But so far in the 2000s, the S&P 500 Index has lost a cumulative 7% as the technology bubble came to a crashing end in 2000 while the broader market imploded, particularly in 2002. April/05 Invisible
Investments ~ Five
Offshore Investments You Can Legally Keep Secret ~ By Mark Nestmann
- You have a moral right to invest your wealth beyond the reach of any
government. Sadly, that right is in direct conflict with the philosophy
of “big government” that your wealth is not yours to keep and to grow,
but only temporarily borrowed from the State. Aug/04
Is It Time To Get Out Of Dodge City? - Immigration and citizenship strategies for Americans - in a post-September 11th world - Current U.S. government policy states that an individual who is becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen is not required to renounce their existing citizenship. Furthermore, an American citizen who is becoming naturalized in a foreign state does not automatically lose their U.S. citizenship. You can use the foreign naturalization as a method of relinquishing U.S. citizenship (as part of a tax expatriation plan), but this must be done very carefully and with an overwhelming demonstration of the intent to lose American citizenship. This has not always been the American government's position, so prior presumed or proven loss of foreign or U.S. citizenship must be re-examined in light of this current policy. It Takes a Village Idiot - It Takes a Village Idiot - All of the countries that comprised the former Soviet Union called themselves democracies. They were not pure democracies, of course. Citizens could vote...but only for one candidate, usually someone no one really wanted. In America, by contrast, there are usually two candidates -- neither of whom anyone really wants. Twice as much of nothing. I Want You To Be Free - Harry Browne for President - The majority of expats we know prefer "none of the above" to voting for an tyrant like Bush or and idiot like Gore. However, if you're determined to vote and you believe that it makes a difference, we'd like to make a recommendation. - "George W. Bush, Al Gore, Pat Buchanan, and Ralph Nader are arguing over one basic issue: which one is best qualified to run your life? Which one knows best what kind of school your child should attend? Which one knows how your health - insurance company should treat you? Which one knows best how to organize the economy, determine how much of your own money you should be allowed to keep, and decide what is a proper way for you to live? I am running because I don't believe they are capable of running your life. I don't believe I am capable of running your life. I believe only you know best how to run your life." - Harry Browne - [Presidential candidate] Just how much could GW Bush alter your migration plans? - Just how much could GW Bush alter your migration plans? - As if moving to another country, changing your life and starting aging wasn’t a momentous enough event, it is amazing how the words of a politician, central banker or military leader can alter your financial situation during this confusing process. Oct./06 Letters From The Blue Water The Log Of The Yacht Barraveigh - Letters From The Blue Water The Log Of The Yacht Barraveigh - In April in a special Escape From America issue, we introduced you to Colin, Bob, and Ryan - three Americans who dropped everything to sail halfway around the world. In case you missed that issue, we introduce them to you once again, and then move on in order to catch up to the boat. This will be just about as live as you can get thanks to Colin who brought his laptop along. Every few days or so, Colin wades ashore, laptop held high above his head. From the nearest internet cafe he sends us his most recent dispatches from the blue waters. Jun/06 Letters From The Blue Water ~ Three guys, a 41-foot sailboat, - Letters From The Blue Water ~ Three guys, a 41-foot sailboat, and enough gear and equipment to wrap half way around the world...which is exactly what we hope to do. Sailing south from California...along Central America to Costa Rica ...then west across the South Pacific...Australia...Asia...India. Why? To learn and experience the world first hand, and challenge ourselves against the vast unkown. To escape the daily routines that blur one week into the next. To shirk steady secure careers now, in favor of amazing memories that last forever. - By Colin Reedy - With an introduction by Roger Gallo Mar/06 Life on the Run: Part One - Becoming a fugitive - Becoming a fugitive is a romantic concept that is at once full of terror, excitement and opportunity. There are many reasons people become fugitives. Some involve criminal matters, some involve personal or civil matters, but in either case, stuff one no longer wishes to deal with. Sometimes it involves liberty and sometimes it involves convenience. Sometimes the people are inherently bad people and sometimes they are good people who have either screwed up and wish to start over or innocent people who are tired being persecuted and wish to be left alone. By AJC delle Marche. .
Living Abroad On Bush Dollars ~ Sinking Dollar ~ By Bonnie Burns - Unprecedented numbers of Americans are contemplating moving abroad since the November 2004 Presidential election. People whose ancestors risked everything to migrate to America a couple generations ago are seriously considering abandoning US soil. Reverse migration by those considered fortunate to live in ‘the land of the free’ is almost inconceivable. Yet, inquiries from the USA to foreign residency websites and the very website you are now reading have increased substantially. Sadly, the bleak reality many Americans who are thinking of leaving will face is they lack the freedom to choose where to live their lives. The reason is the Bush dollar. Feb/05 Long Way From Florida ~ The Isle Of Skye, Scotland ~ by Rita Shannon Koeser - “For nobody born in any other parts of the world will choose this country for their residence...” said Dr. Samuel Johnson about the Isle of Skye in his book, “A Journey To The Western Islands of Scotland” published in 1775 after his famous trip there with his biographer, James Boswell. I often thought of this after I moved to the Isle of Skye from Florida. Yes, I was born in another part of the world, quite a different part of the world. But with all due respect to Dr. Johnson, I did choose the Isle of Skye for my residence and never regretted it. Aug/04 Lost
In Space ~ A
Voyage To The Moon...Literally... ~ By Bill Bonner - A remarkable combination
of self-delusion and self-satisfaction seems to be driving Americans to
self-destruction. Limited government...balanced budget...fewer regulations
- Republican principles from the Eisenhower era might have protected them.
Too bad Republicans no longer believe in them. Feb/04
Moving
Back ~ Moving
Back To The United States From Dubai ~ By Maura Madigan - Do I stay
or do I go - the Clash, right - it's a question you are always asking
yourself if you live overseas. What will it be like if and when I return.
Will I crack or will it all be for the best. At what point will the things
I missed about home turn-around and send me back out on an adventure. The
stress of it is not that bad and you can always leave, go, stay or just
travel. It's for sure that you're the same wherever you go, but are you
happy? Nov./03
Moving Your Business Offshore - Offshore/Onshore Reports - No. 1 Alpha-Pharma plc - In an ongoing effort to provide a cross-section of the best offshore information on the internet, EscapeArtist seeks out the best online resources. We are really excited about a new website and news letter called, Low Tax Online NewsWire - If you want to know about investing offshore we recommend that you subscribe to the NewsWire. It's written by professionals and provides up to date information that is accurate. By subscribing to the "LowtaxOnline NewsWire" you will be able to receive all important international tax and offshore stories in one compact e-mail, conveniently sent at midnight GMT every Thursday so as to be available around the world before the end of the working week. This LowtaxOnline TaxWire on Moving Your Business Offshore was a Special Feature for Friday 5th January 2001 It was compiled by Tax-news.com editorial staff in London and New York Robert Lee and Mike Godfrey. Never
Pay U.S. Taxes Again ~ Legally
~ by Robert E. Bauman - In sum, it requires professional consultations,
careful planning, movement of assets offshore and acquisition of a second
nationality. When all that’s done (and done exactly right), you must leave
behind your home country and become a “tax exile” with an established domicile
in a low or no-tax jurisdiction. And, for U.S. citizens, this unusual plan
requires, as a final step toward tax freedom, the formal relinquishment
of citizenship. June/04
Offshore Investing - Surfing Financial Cycles And Trends To Success - Offshore Investing - Surfing Financial Cycles And Trends To Success - This article is the third in a series aimed at providing thoughtful perspectives on protecting one’s self when it comes to investing and retiring either at home or abroad. The information is not designed to advocate investment strategies but provide educational information designed to assist readers in better understanding the financial world and making good decisions. The following discussion will explore two important aspects of investing and long-term financial success. May/07 Operation: Dollar Storm - Banking - Just six weeks ago, the price of gold reversed its steady decline of the past several years. The European Central Bank (ECB), as well as the central banks of 14 other European countries, announced a moratorium on more gold sales and loans for the next five years. ...this was just the first shot in war that will force new highs in the dollar price of gold, and make fundamental changes in the balance of economic power between Europe and the US. ~ Hard metal advocate Willy Smith lives in Costa Rica with his wife and three daughters. In this article he talks to us about our monetary future. Overseas Judicial Information by Subject - Find out what your rights are as an American Abroad - (Can the country you go to extradite you back to the country you left?) Child Support Enforcement Abroad - Marriage Abroad - Divorce Overseas - Extradition treaties - Overseas Judicial Information by Country - Information by Country - Find out what your rights are as an American Abroad - What kind of assistance can you get? Not just what can they do to you, but also what can they do to protect you? (Can the country you go to protect you from the country you've left? Other complicated issues ~ [Information on these two sections is derived from the U.S. Department of State] Packing for Camp America - (The Patriots Act) - David Tanzer Talks About Loss Of Freedom In America - Just this past weekend when I walked through yet another airport security checkpoint and politely questioned an inspector's handling of my personal healthcare items in an unhealthy manner, she was quick to summon the police standing guard who threatened me with a delay that would cause me to miss my flight if I wasn't more cooperative. I'd had enough. Only after I patiently pointed out that I was a retired litigation lawyer and previously sat on the bench as a judge, and that the officer's actions were an abuse of process which could result in a civil suit against him, did he back down from his heavy handed threats and became suddenly apologetic. Nov./02 Possible Increased US Effort to Track Offshore Assets as a Result of Terrorism - Don't Tread on Me - This commentary, submitted anonymously as a Letter the the Editor of Escape from America Magazine, reflects a growing concern among American citizens that their right to invest abroad and take advantage of lower taxes in foreign markets may soon be compromised under the ruse of international terrorism. Earlier this year, the US Government approached several tax haven nations in its effort to crack down on citizens rights to invest overseas. Rumor has it that the US Government even threatened to freeze US assets of foreign banks if those banks continued to withhold investment information concerning US citizens in those countries. Some believe the US government will begin using the ruse of terrorism in increasing their efforts. Escape from America Magazine invites readers to send comments to the Editor and voice their opinions on this volatile issue. Pray
For Dawn ~ America
v. France ~ By Bill Bonner - Bill Bonner talks about what is going
on inside the U.S. and how the changes we are seeing in U.S. policy could
have us praying for a new day. His reflections on the role of the neo-cons
in formulating U.S. policy is sagacious and his thoughts are clear about
what is going wrong inside the U.S. since the country began to look more
unsure of itself and its policies. What will the future look like for America?
July/03
Predictions for 2000 and beyond - Predictions for 2000 and beyond - Voters have already lost interest in the next presidential election -- and it is still 10 months away. They are bored with the candidates and tired of the whole numbskull process of electing them. Protect your Wealth - Protect your Wealth - Q: “How can I avoid paying U.S. income taxes?” A: You can’t, as long as you are a U.S. person. In my travels, I often get this question from folks the U.S. Internal Revenue Service calls “U.S. persons.” That’s IRS shorthand for those multi-millions (citizens and resident aliens) that must pay American income taxes. Robert E. Bauman, JD May/06 .
Right to Surrender U.S. Citizenship - Right to Surrender U.S. Citizenship - As a national political issue, expatriation is hardly new. In the Foreign Investors Tax Act of 1966, Congress decided to make an issue of expatriation. In that Act, lawmakers tried to impose onerous taxes on exiting wealthy Americans who relinquished their U.S. citizenship "with the principal purpose of avoiding" U.S. taxes, a highly subjective intention that was virtually impossible to prove. The IRS couldn't prove such "intent" and very rarely even tried. Apr./07 Sometimes
You Have To Leave The US To Find A Decent Job ~ Off
To Russia ~ by Jon D. Ayres - At the first of the year 2003, I was
an unemployed college graduate. In my home state of Georgia, unemployment
was high. So I started looking on the Internet to see if I could
find a job. One thing I noticed on the Internet during my exploration
was an ad that said, “Train to become an Teacher of English as a Foreign
Language and see the world for free,” so I took a look to see just what
this ad was about. I thought it was just some rip off ad, send some
joker your money and maybe get a little pamphlet worth nothing. Aug/04
Stupid
American? - Final
Thoughts From A Two Month Trip Around Europe ~ by Shaun Granato - This
phrase was uttered not by the local peoples of the countries that we visited,
but by the stupid American tourists that were there, blurting out in some
strange comical defense mechanism when put in a situation in which they
didn't like. Throughout this two-month trip I tried to understand why many
Americans that travel abroad think this way. Jan/04
Tax Time with an Overseas B&B - Tax Time with an Overseas B&B - Ron Winkles and his wife run a Bed and Breakfast establishment in the Czech Republic. They spend about six months of each year in the US and six months in the Czech Republic. Ron writes, "Our return on investment has run about 5 to 8 percent annually, and we have had a great time making a little more than stateside CD rates while earning a nice tax write off. I was audited once by the IRS, the agent was curious and could not believe a retired couple earning $55,000 a year could afford to live in America and own a villa in Europe. Jokingly, I told him we saved money by not shopping in Wal-Mart." The Best Investment for the Next 10 Years - Trends go further than you expect...and last longer - This psychological turnaround will have its objective correlatives...its "reasons" that investors can point to in order to rationalize their unwillingness to buy stocks at $3 that they couldn't wait to buy at $30 a few months before. It will have its "bad news" -- the same sort of news that might have been reported as "good" news when the public mood was different. And it will have its boosters and pitchmen. People who today claim that it is irresponsible not to be in stocks will urge you to put your money into CDs, or bonds or real estate...or maybe collectible computers. It will be another new era... The Card - The Card - This story by Ryszard Krasowski is a personal and illuminating commentary on the bureaucracy faced by one immigrant entering the United States, seeking residency, seeking the right to work for one's living, and seeking the better life portrayed so well in the American Dream. Ryszard spent no less 15 years in his battle to acheive all of the above. Today, Ryszard lives on Long Island with his wife. He writes in his spare time and enjoys his passion for drawing and painting. Six of his works are included in his story. The Century of a Woman - The Century of a Woman - The concept of harassment will be expanded too. Women find men lovable, at some level. But what woman doesn't also find them a pain in the neck? The idea of harassment is infinitely elastic -- and will be stretched in order to condemn any kind of behavior which goes against the feminizing motif. The Conciousness of an American Expatriate - The Conciousness of an American Expatriate ~ Over the years, many people have asked me: Why did you expatriate? What were your own reasons? Critics of course will sarcastically ask - Were you a failure in your previous country, and that is why you left? Or, similarly, critics may pass the comment that an expatriate is some sort of malcontent or a selfish tax-dodger. Regardless if you are intrigued or just a bit curious as to why someone may elect to relocate to another country, there are some commonalities among most people that do decide to leave and expatriate. By John Schroder Oct./05 The Dollar Does The Samba - The Brazilian Real And U.S. Dollar ~ by Richard Abel - The commercial rate for the dollar vs. the Brazilian Real just hit the lowest level in almost 3 years. In other words, the Real has been steadily appreciating and the Dollar has been falling. What does this mean? To understand this question, we have to look back at history. The first time I traveled to Brazil in 1998, I found the country to be more expensive than I had expected. The exchange rate then was about R$1.20 for every dollar. The following year, there was a devaluation after the presidential election, and the Real quickly fell to 2.00 to the dollar and kept on falling. In 2002, there was another presidential election and it fell to 4.00 to the dollar. Mar/05 The Earth Still Turns - By Bill Bonner from the Daily Reckoning - Stock Market - by Bill Bonner - Occasionally I am moved by the hopeless, forlorn desire to explain everything. Why is the Dow going down while the Nasdaq rises? Why do New York law firms put modern art on their walls when they can afford good paintings? Why do adults wear shorts in public? The Estate Retirement Plan - The Estate Retirement Plan - Stretch IRAs have been all over the news lately from USA Today to MSN Money. And with all this nice publicity, it might seem like some brilliant financial planner invented a brand new kind of retirement plan. But actually, there is no such thing as a “stretch IRA.” But there is a way to make your IRA last for generations and grow tax deferred for many, many years. Sept./06 The facts Of tax - US expatriate taxation - The morass of US expatriate taxation is one thing in common to all Americans living abroad. Its main egalitarian attribute may not be the many special rules that apply, so much as that all those rules make it one of the least understood facets of living abroad. The Fugitive : An American's ongoing quest for Italian citizenship - This article appeared in the first issue of Escape From America Magazine - It was dubbed as "An American's incredibly funny ongoing quest for Italian citizenship. A very informative and very humorous account of one man's heroic crusade for Italian Citizenship." Michael Brouse writes from Rome, where he now lives as an Italian citizen. ~ Dec./02 The Global Nomad Experience: Living in Liminality - The Global Nomad Experience: Living in Liminality - Global nomads are persons of any age or nationality who have lived a significant part of their developmental years in one or more countries outside their passport country because of a parent's occupation. Children raised as global nomads can be the offspring of diplomatic, international business, government agency, international agency, missionary, or military personnel, or indeed of people living internationally mobile lives for any professional reason. Typically, global nomads share a unique cultural heritage. Oct./06 The
Incredible And Curious Story Of How To Obtain A U.S. Visa ~ Just
How Bad Is It ~ by Leah George Sanchez - Most Americans have no idea
what it means to go to the U.S. Embassy: think of doom. They always say
if you get into trouble overseas and you're an American, then you better
run quickly to the Canadian Embassy. When I say that to U.S. Embassy personnel
they always shake their head in agreement. An embassy functions according
to what its mission is in a particular country, but helping Americans overseas
is always a secondary concern. Anyway, the above article gives you a very
good idea of what it feels like to go through the process of getting your
spouse a U.S. immigrant visa. Lots of emotion and pain. Sept./03
The Kinder and Gentler IRS - Want to pay your taxes? - If you, like many Americans fled abroad to a foreign country to escape to greener pastures and then inadvertently blundered back into the USA guilty of not paying your U.S. taxes while you were away, then potential amnesty or forgiveness may now be at hand. Yes, you may be able to return to the U.S. without the pressure and burden of looking over your shoulder waiting for the IRS to show up and grab everything you own. The Looting Of America - How over 200 Civil Asset Forfeiture laws enable police to confiscate your home, bank accounts & business without trial. - Police stopped 49-year-old Ethel Hylton at Houston’s Hobby Airport and told her she was under arrest because a drug dog had scratched at her luggage. Agents searched her bags and strip-searched her, but they found no drugs. They did find $39,110 in cash, money she had received from an insurance settlement and her life savings; accumulated through over 20 years of work as a hotel housekeeper and hospital janitor. Ethel Hylton completely document-ed where she got the money and was never charged with a crime. But the police kept her money anyway. Nearly four years later, she is still trying to get her money back. The
Mystery Of Wyndclyffe - What
Became Of “The Missing Lessons Of U.S. History”? ~ by Addison Wiggin
- If you are wondering about the state of the economy and want to know
what the credit boom of the last few years has meant to the economy of
the U.S., then the above article can help answer some of your questions.
The creation of credit is basically the same thing as the central bank
printing money, and with credit expansion comes an explosion in the money
supply and why has that not led to inflation? Oct./03
The Offshore Life Of A Sovereign Individual ~ Thoughts On George Spelvin ~ by Mark Nestmann - n our May 2004 issue, Bob Bauman described a typical domestic U.S. sovereign individual, the mythical “George Spelvin.” George had figured out how to live the “good life” in the U.S.A. (as much as the law now allows), with his own unusual versions of ironclad asset protection and personal and financial privacy. Nov./04 The Science of Telephoning - From Anywhere to Everywhere - Looking At Expatriate Telephone Science - Having Your Own USA Telephone Number That Reaches You Anywhere In The World For Pennies - You also get Call Waiting, Caller ID, Voice Mail, 3-Way Calling, & Call Forwarding. These perks allow a wide ranges of options that may not be readily apparent. If you want a toll free USA number worldwide (800, 888, 877 and the newly issued 866 prefix,) then what you do is get a toll free number that defaults, (call forwards) into your Vonage telephone line. What you've created is a USA toll free number for clients and friends that reaches you worldwide. Which is to say that you can run a business from Bangkok with a toll free number inside the USA that transfers your clients calls overseas at no cost to them and a cost to you of only $40 a month. Talk about being wired. Nov./02 The Sexier Side of Annuities - The Sexier Side of Annuities - Annuities are turning some heads this decade. Annuities, particularly fixed annuities, were once viewed as staid, safe investments for long-term tax planners. Or, in other words: the boring but safe investments. Well now with global interest rates still trading at historically low levels and offering negative returns, the focus this decade has shifted to offshore variable annuities. Or, in other words: the sexier investment-seeking annuity. Sept./06 The Telecommunications Revolution - Global Telecommunications Technology - Perhaps there is no easier or better way to make money from anywhere we choose to live than to take advantage of the advances in global communications. In any event each of us can certainly save money by taking advantage of the advances even if we only choose to use the new technology to call home. The Ugly American ~ American Apathy ~ by Peter O’Dowd - American apathy for foreign culture began six hundred years ago when the first “Americans” infiltrated tribes of indigenous people in New England. I can almost hear the voices of those pioneering pilgrims lamenting the inefficiency of the bow and arrow while slaughtering helpless natives with high-powered musketry. These sad stereotypes are proof enough for me that Americans have been cultural imperialists since the moment they laid claim to the New World. Though the newest trend of national snobbery is ultimately less violent, it’s certainly not more acceptable. In a recent effort to remain hip and bi-continental, thousands of juniors in college will play hooky from their home campuses to traipse across Europe, photograph the Great Wall of China, or toss boomerangs Down Under. Feb./05 .
The Wireless Advantage and Offshore Investments - The Wireless Advantage and Offshore Investments - Best selling writer Edmund J. Pankau is putting together a new book on offshore investing - The author of "Hide Your Assets and Disappear: A Step-by-Step Guide to Vanishing Without a Trace," Ed has provided us with an article relating to his work in progress. Thoughts on the War ~ U.S. Leadership Falters With War On Terrorism ~ By R. M. Koster - R.M Koster's writing explores the ideas behind what motivates people. And sometimes the motivation you find behind people as well as the policies that emanate from them are not as serious as they should be. This is what seems to be appearing on the horizon for the U.S. If you are going to throw around an idea like war as if it was a penny headed for the gutter, then you just might lose. But the U.S. has always found a way around that with good leadership and very competent people. The US needs to find its way back to the moral principles that made it decent. And really no one knows this better than Koster. Rarely have I met someone whose conversation is never misplaced or dull. Dec./02 Tick - Tick - Tick The Economy Bomb - Why the wealthy are leaving the United States - This article comes to Escape From America Magazine via John Gaver, Editor and Publisher of Action America. John writes about how and why the wealthy are leaving the United States in record numbers. He asks if it is any wonder that, according to records of citizenship and permanent residency applications at many foreign consulates, the wealthiest Americans are leaving the USA at the highest rate ever for more wealth friendly climates? Torn Between Two Lovers - Thoughts On San Francisco And Bali ~ By Robin Sparks - Robin Sparks writes about some of her experiences in Bali and what it felt like to return to the US after the bombings in Indonesia. She talks about some of the changes that have taken place in the U.S. since she left and what life might be like in Bali and San Francisco. She talks with some expats about what someone should expect when they relocate overseas: how will the conflicting demands of wanting things from home cross with the new enviroment of living overseas. Feb./03 University of Northern Iowa ~ Office of Overseas Placement Service-Teachers on the Go - The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is pleased to announce the 26th annual UNI Overseas Recruiting Fair. The next Fair will be held March 1-3, 2002 in Waterloo, Iowa. More than 100 American international schools from around the globe attend the UNI Fair, the oldest event of its kind in the world. All registrants must be certified elementary or secondary educators, (or will secure certification prior to Fall 2002). Candidates average 6 interviews each during the event. Teachers in all disciplines are needed. US Immigration after September 11, 2001 ~ A Special Report from VisaPro for Those Who Want to Move to the USA – US Immigration - Escape from America Magazine brings this articles to its readers as a public service announcement. The events of September 11th, tragic in themselves, have also left a tragic aftermath. With international borders dissolving in the wake of supranational organizations, such as the EU, NAFTA, MERCOSUR, the emerging FTAA, and many others, terrorist activity has restricted the movement of free persons, worldwide, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. This article will be of interest to those who wish to emigrate to the United States, as well as to others interested in the freedom of people to move across borders in an ever globalizing world now restricted by terrorism. VisaPro offers free immigration information and online visa processing service for prospective US immigrants. US Servas Inc. ~ Enabling people of varying cultures and outlooks to get to know and understand one another-Homestays - US Servas is a worldwide cooperative cultural exchange network established in 1948 and composed of member hosts and travelers working together to foster peace, goodwill and mutual respect. The US Servas mission includes providing approved US and international travelers with opportunities to be guests of Servas member hosts around the world. Hospitality and cultural education are our weapons against the spread of misconceptions which can lead to mistrust, antagonism, and war. Dick George recounts several of his always pleasurable travel experiences with US Servas nation members, and tells how to becomes a member, yourself. US Tax Information Exchange Agreement with Antigua and Barbuda ~ Another Tax Haven Falls and the Poverty Gap Widens - Monroe What? - On December 6, 2001, the governments of the United States and Antigua and Barbuda signed an agreement for the exchange of information with respect to taxes. In effect, the Antigua and Barbuda government will now serve as an enforcement arm of the US Internal Revenue Service, applying US tax law to US citizens with business there. The agreement will also restrict the economic growth of that tiny island nation. Is it a blueprint for the future of tax havens and some developing countries? VANCOUVER ISLAND - BRITISH COLUMBIA - CANADA ---an offshore island paradise within sight of the US border - Real Estate & Life On Vancouver Island - You will not be culturally deprived anywhere in the Island as you are in easy reach of three world class cities, each with a superb symphony orchestra that has hosted the likes of Luciano Pavarotti. Live theater abounds and some of the worlds most celebrated restaurants call the Island home. Who has not heard of the sumptuous high teas at the Empress Hotel or of the magnificence of the renowned Butchart Gardens? April/03 Vindication For The Fed? - Sir Alan Applauds Himself For His Success In Preventing All But "An Exceptionally Mild Recession." But What Exactly Was "Exceptionally Mild" About The Recession - And Is It A Good Thing? The Good Doctor Has His Doubts ~ by Kurt Richebächer - Manifestly, there is general overwhelming optimism about the U.S. economy. Positive arguments abound: Thirteen rate cuts and the lowest interest rates in decades; runaway money and credit creation; rampant fiscal stimulus; the long and strong rally in the stock market; persistent, massive wealth creation through rising house and stock prices; an impending, powerful boost to output from a widespread need to replenish run-down inventories; reported strong profit gains promising an additional strong boost to business investment, returning job growth; surging commodity prices; and the strong stimulus to exports from the slide in the dollar. March/04 Wall Street and Main Street Come Together - Wall Street and Main Street Come Together - I noticed, for example, in a popular internet message that is making the rounds, that there appear to be far more crooks, spouse abusers, deadbeats and bankrupts in Congress than random chance would permit. The bounders are drawn to Washington just as Willie Sutton was drawn to banks. And it wouldn't take a soothsayer to predict what kind of mischief they would get into there. The crooks will rob us. The deadbeats will cheat us. And the abusers will batter us. The others will just bore us to death. What do your money, central banks and terrorist acts have in common? - What do your money, central banks and terrorist acts have in common? - What is a guy to do? Planning a move between countries is convoluted enough without further complications but it seems the central bankers and terrorists have plans to make your life as nervous as possible. However you can thwart them. Sept./06 .
Who's Keeping Oil Down? - Who's Keeping Oil Down? - Oil had energy investors reaching for the Tums the last few weeks. So, what happened? Mainstream financial media blamed crude’s tumble on everything from Iran playing nice with the U.S. to a so far hurricane-less hurricane season in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. But any intelligent observer can see that the fall was too hard and too sudden to be caused by these factors alone. Sept./06 Worse than Worthless:3 Asset Protection Scams Exposed - Worse than Worthless:3 Asset Protection Scams Exposed - In 20 years of studying asset protection methods, I have never found one of these schemes effective. Indeed, the vast majority of these “plans” are worse than worthless. In fact, some of these “asset protection plans” not only help you lose your “protected” assets, but can also land you in prison. Or help the IRS, rather than your creditors, seize your assets. Aug./06
Plantations In The South Pacific - Vanish To Vanuatu - Investing in Vanuatu - There are perhaps three ways to look at property: As a productive asset, as a speculative holding, or as a lifestyle proposition. I've spent a fair amount of time and money flying around Vanuatu to get a grip on property, and I think it's worth considering, possibly on all three bases.Vanuatu is certainly one of the world’s more beautiful locations. James Michener used it as the model for Bali Hai when he wrote Tales of the South Pacific while he was stationed here during WW II. The French developed numerous copra plantations on the islands over the 100 years up to independence in 1980, and they're still the dominant factor in today's economy. Vanuatu ~ Island Living In The South Pacific ~ by James - Vanuatu is a series of Islands situated between Australia and Fiji. Flying time from New Zealand and Australia is less than 3 hours on a late model Boeing 737’s flown and maintained by expats. Flying time to Fiji or New Caledonia is about 1 hour. We have standard digital phone and mobile phone service and the internet service extends to broadband. Your GSM mobile phone should “roam” here. Aug./05 Who Is Harold Stephens? - Who Is Harold Stephens? - Harold Stephens has lived a life that rivals Hemingway's. He has been a stand-in for Marlon Brando in Mutiny on the Bounty He did meet Ernest Hemingway. He's climbed the Matterhorn, as well most of the major peaks in North America and he even briefly joined forces with one of Sir Edmund Hillary's climbing teams. He was imprisoned by the Chinese Communists and escaped by swimming to a passing junk. He's driven a motorcycle across Australia, a jeep across Russia and hitchhiked and then driven a land cruiser around the world. He's sailed the major seas of the world. It is easy to state that Harold Stephens is an expats expat, an adventurer as well as a prolific writer. He's written over ten books and thousands of articles. He lives in Bangkok and writes for the Bangkok Post.
An Escape Artist finds True Escape on Isla Margarita - Escape On Isla Margarita - Terry Bannon found true escape on the Isle of Margarita off the Venezuelan Coast where he could have been satisfied just sipping coconut milk under a swaying palm sitting on the cool swept sands of this Caribbean island. Instead, he and his escape artist friends decided to have a little fun. The Mosquito Coast Bar and Grill is a laid back place enjoyed by locals, tourists, and yachties, worldwide; it's mentioned in several guidebooks to the Caribbean, and it was named the region's best disco by Rum and Reggae. The good life comes to escape artists who act now. Beaches Of Margarita Island - Venezulean Beauty ~ by Scott Boswell - The huge birdcage at the entrance - 8 feet high and large enough to hold about six standing people and looks like a medieval torture chamber. One sassy parrot greets visitors in several languages, his less gregarious cage-mates just do the parrot thing. That’s the first thing you notice at Jak’s, a rustic restaurant down by the marina at Playa Concorde. It’s in an adobe colored building just at the water’s edge, about 20’x35’ with a shed-type patio alongside, 100 yards from the marina and near the dinghy dock the cruisers use to get to and from their boats anchored out in the bay. May/05 Christmas & New Year On Margarita Island ~ Tropical Holiday ~ by Scott Boswell - Just as in most of the rest of the world, the colored lights are strung along the the major roadways, houses are decorated, and stores are abundantly stocked in anticipation of the shopping frenzy. Homes are repaired, painted, and ‘spruced up’ to be ready for all the visiting friends and relatives, and parties are everywhere! In my neighborhood alone one house had 24 cars parked around it! Jan./06 Isla Margarita Revisited ~ Travels In The Caribbean ~ by Karl Ike - After my article that was published in Escape Artist, I got a landslide by faithful readers EA who inquired as to what I had found on this beautiful Caribbean island south of Caracas. As a result, I had a 10 day reunion with a handful of inquiring minds that couldn’t wait to discover Margarita Island Venezuela. If you don’t want beautiful beaches, affordable living, wonderful weather, this place is not for you. Aug./05 Is The Grass Greener? - Is The Grass Greener? - The focal point of downtown Grenada is of course the plaza or the Parque Colon. It is the pride of the city and very clean. There are kiosks scattered around the plaza selling soft drinks and all manner of tourist items. Everyone we encountered was very pleasant and not “pushy”. You can rent a horse-drawn carriage here that will take you on a tour of the city. A variety of hotels and restaurants line the square. We found these to be adequate for a tourist city, and several were very good. Most seem to be run or owned by expats from all over the world. May/07 Live On Margarita Island On $800 A Month? - Answers To Questions ~ by Scott Boswell - Retire to the Caribbean on $800 a Month? ...is this a true story or fiction? There have been several articles published about Margarita Island, Venezuela in the last few months. (Margarita Island is located in the Southern Caribbean, just off the northern coast of Venezuela - it is the State of Nueva Esparta, Venezuela). One such article suggested that you could retire to this island on $800 a month. Mar/05 Living In Venezuela ~ Merida And Margarita Island ~ by Christopher Hyland - For those who are recently off the boat, so to speak, the best place to start in Venezuela is Merida. Merida is a small city, relatively safe and has a lot for the newcomer to see and do. It is also one of the least-expensive parts of Venezuela. Merida has a lot of inexpensive posadas to pass the night and healthy but inexpensive restaurants. If you go to Merida, expect some great service. A few months ago while visiting Merida, I went to the Whiskeria Bar on Urdaneta Avenue. Dec./04 Living
on Isla Margarita, Venezuela ~The
Essentials ~ By Daniel O'Brien - This article is very informative because
it gives you the kinds of hard details that you need to know before moving
to a country. And in the case of Venezuela right now that is important.
Daniel O'Brien moved with his wife from Canada to Isla Margarita in the
1980s, so he knows what it takes to set up shop on the island. The island
is connected to Venezuela, but experiences little of the political problems
that face the mainland. People from Colombia and Panama tell me that Isla
Margarita is one of their favorite beach resorts and looking at the pictures
I can see why. June/03
Margarita: Mr Butcher - Margarita: Mr Butcher - Here’s the thing that makes this story worth telling. How many times have we run into a Spanish speaker in America who was struggling to convey a message and we simply got frustrated and thought to ourselves…if they are going to be in America they should learn to speak the language! Jul/06 Margarita: The Cook's Tale - Margarita: The Cook's Tale - Needless to say I was floored by the quality of this food and the prices. I really hadn’t noticed until now. I had always done my guestimates of prices, which gets me pretty close, but until you get the old calculator down and really crunch the numbers it just doesn’t hit home. Jun/06 Margarita Island ~ Cheapest Vacation Spot In The Caribbean ~ by Scott Boswell - There are actually three islands - Margarita, Coche, and Cubagua, with Margarita being the largest and most populous of the three. Isla Coche is sparsely populated and very popular with sun worshippers because of it’s beaches and beautiful water. There are a few hotels, B&B’s, and restaurants. Cubagua is almost totally uninhabited and is perfect for exploring, snorkeling and diving. Jun/05 Margarita Island: A Woman’s Point of View - Margarita Island: A Woman’s Point of View - This island is beautiful-warm and inviting like the people. The Margaritans genuinely care about our perception of their island and are wonderfully welcoming and hospitable. We have been looked after by both natives and fellow adventurers and whilst this place isn’t for everyone, everyone is welcome. By Cindie Baxter May/06 Margarita Island Free Medical Care ~More From Margarita Island, Venezuela ~ by Scott Boswell - We’re both fortunately pretty healthy, but a few months back we were roaming around the island playing ‘tourist’ and KC, my significant other, stepped wrong and hurt her foot. I took her to a hospital that was close by. It was clean, efficient and a very nice doctor saw her immediately, examined her foot, ordered two x-rays and diagnosed a sprain. He also wrote a prescription for arch supports to help give her more stability in future and told us where to order them. Oct./05 Merida,
Venezuela - In
The Venezuelan Andes ~ By Christopher Hyland - Nestled in a valley
in the Andean range of Venezuela lies a medium-sized city named Merida,
with slightly over a half million inhabitants. Known as the city
of gentlemen, the city boasts many attractions and is the second largest
tourist destination in Venezuela, after Margarita Island. July/04
Orinoco River ~ In The South Of Venezuela ~ by John Spampinato - It’s sarcastically referred to as a ‘milk run’, a throwback to the days when dairy products were delivered door to door, requiring the milkman to make uncountable stops. Only in our case it was on a somewhat grander scale, starting in LA with stopovers in Mexico - where the plane got a flat tire; Guatemala - where our first landing attempt was aborted a disconcerting fifty feet shy of touching down, and on to Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia and at long last, Venezuela, by which time we had pretty much joined the ranks of the living dead and had probably logged more take offs and landings than the Blue Angels. Feb./05 Paradise For Pennies ~ Vacation To Isla Margarita ~ by Jean E. Middleswarth - It’s all true! Those folks who’ve found their mecca on Isla Margarita, and have shared their thoughts with you, tell it like it is! Gentle tropical breezes, the azure blue Caribbean, exquisite views, fun of all types, friendly and welcoming people. And, with the current exchange rate, all for pennies a day! After a most memorable vacation, this is definitely my Paradise for vacations to come! I figured it out. My week in Isla Margarita cost me less than a week at Myrtle Beach, SC! How did I do it? Oct./05 Prices On Margarita Island ~ The Most Inexpensive Spot In The Caribbean ~ by Scott Boswell - In recent articles for Escape From America I’ve been telling people that Margarita Island is probably the cheapest place to vacation or live in all of the Caribbean. The one possible exception I thought might be the Dominican Republic. I just received an e-mail from a couple who want to come see Margarita Island and who are currently living in the D.R. I asked them why they were thinking of moving, and to my surprise their reply was - Nov./05 Retire In The Caribbean On $800 A Month? ~ Isla Margarita ~ by Karl Ike - Do you know the average life span in the United States is 76.9 years? That’s 28,068 days and I have already lived 21,900 of them, which means that I have only 6168 days left and I really want to make the most of them. That is unless I get T-boned at an intersection going to a job that I don’t like and get to work with a bunch of people that I do not socialize with away from work, but I get to do the same thing every weekend except for two weeks a year on my paid vacation. Then I get to clean out the garage and sleep late. I really don’t think I will ever see 76.9 cause if I don’t get T-boned going to work, a cancer will probably rot a part of my body away. Jan/05 Retiring to Paradise ~More On Margarita Island ~ by Mike Inglis - After spending 7 days on Margarita Island, Venezuela, I can say, this is where I will semi-retire, sooner rather than later. I enjoyed virtually everything about this delightful island some call the Pearl of the Caribbean. It is famous for oysters, seafood, and fresh fish, etc., etc. Venezuela has allowed this island to be 100% duty free. On a fixed income(social security for example) anyone can afford to live here. And when I say live, I mean live and enjoy life and not just squeak by as many of us will have to do once we retire. You only need to have an income of $1200 to actually be considered for residency. April/05 Three Christmases On A Caribbean Island ~ Many Changes ~ by Scott Boswell - Approaching my third Christmas season on Isla Margarita, I find I’ve seen and done a lot. There have been many changes on the island since I first arrived here. Then, Venezuela was in a state of political turmoil. Prices were down and many wealthy locals were leaving the country. They were afraid of what might happen, but no one I talked could tell me exactly what that might be. Just that they didn’t like the political situation. Since I hated current administration in the U.S.A. and after looking over the possibilities here, I decided it was a good time to buy. Dec./05 Venezuela: Hato Nuevo - Venezuela: Hato Nuevo - Hato Huevo is a nearby oasis for the weary cruiser who must hide from the ‘tormentas’ for the whole summer and with all the work, doesn’t have a lot of time or simply needs a breathing spell. Here is a place to find a tranquil getaway and a place to retouch nature, llanos style. If you go on any weekday, you may be the only visitor, as I was - the weekends are very busy with the local Venezuelans enjoying this special place. Aug./06 What Don’t We Have On Margarita Island? ~ More On Living In The Caribbean ~ by Scott Boswell - “We got sunlight on the sand, we got moonlight on the sea, we got mangoes and bananas you can pick right off the tree” and we got dames...everywhere you look there are beautiful women! (to mangle a phrase from the musical “South Pacific”) We also have some of the finest shopping in the Caribbean. The largest mall in Latin America and ultra-modern supermarkets. Jul/05 Working In Paradise ~ Hot Dogs To Charter Boats ~ by Scott Boswell - Since I’ve been writing for Escape From America I’ve gotten lots of e-mails from people wanting to “get out of Dodge”...i.e., leave the United States. Many of them haven’t reached retirement age and have asked if they can get work here on Margarita Island - often they don’t include any information about their skills, present employment, trade, no other information, just “can I get a job there?” Naturally, I couldn’t answer their questions. Aug./05
An
American In Vietnam ~ US$1
equals 16,170.0 Vietnamese dong ~ by Peter Kauffner - In Vietnam, an
entire family can ride on a motorcycle at the same time, daddy driving
with mommy sitting behind him carrying junior, who is somehow able to sleep
soundly despite the roar and honking of rush-hour traffic. No one wears
a helmet, and few are without the scars of accidents. Feb/04
An
Introduction To Living in Hanoi ~ It
Has Never Been So Easy! ~ by Joel Barnard - When most people, well
westerners at least, hear the word Vietnam what goes through their head
is, I think, thoughts of, of course a war, maybe a few movies about a war,
news clips….about a war and a time back then when things really spun out
of control; all to the backing of a Jimi Hendrix track. Feb/04
East Meets West ~ In Thailand With Vietnam Vets ~ By Robin Sparks - Robin Sparks continues her odyssey in Asia. She is back in Thailand talking with some Americans that have decided to settle down and make a life for themselves in the Thai Kingdom. Robin takes us inside the marriage of a retired American soldier to his Thai wife. Also learn about some of the volunteer work that some of the ex-soldiers are involved in in Thailand. If you are sick of the tensions that most people are feeling right now in the U.S., then a life overseas in Asia might be the answer for you. April/03 Leaping into Sai Gon ~ Stepping Behind a New Lens ~ One Year of Opening Senses to an Array of New Stimuli - Southeast Asia - At the age of 23, Emma Trenorden applied for a year-long assignment in Vietnam as part of the Australian government’s overseas aid program. Emma says,"Living in a new place is like stepping behind a new lens. This new lens opens your eyes to the colors and shapes of a new place. You never know just what that unknown will hold for you, but at least you can be sure that it will present doors to new discoveries for you." Shopping in the Mountains of Vietnam ~ Not Your Average Shopping Tour- Vietnam- Alexis Silver details a trekking route in the mountains of Vietnam where local villagers sell their traditional crafts. It offers savvy advice on how to bargain with respect and humor and describes the vibrant children that travelers to the area will encounter. Alexis writes, "Never before had I haggled with such tenacity, negotiated such tough terms and been simultaneously charmed, manipulated and endeared by a business opponent, and it was all with a 10 year old Vietnamese girl." August/02. Running Through Battlefields ~ On Being The Son Of A Vet In Vietnam ~ by Peter O'Dowd - On the outdoor veranda of our hotel, a 9 year-old Vietnamese girl wanted desperately to unload her supply of Tiger Balm into our hands. She was playful and cute, calling us diarrhea and then laughing girlishly into her balled up fists. The slang she had picked up on the balconies of these hotels added flare to her sales routine, but in the last week we had seen a hundred other charming children trying to pawn their commodities. On this hot summer evening near the Gulf of Tonkin, our beers provided all the entertainment we needed. Feb./05 Travel To Vietnam ~Looking Out For SARS ~ by Sheila D'Souza - It’s 9AM, and we have just left Nha Trang after stopping at every bus stop/tourist cafe that exists in town. In between stops, we have also re-fuelled, broken down and crossed a bridge that was still under construction. After over an hour of circling and zigzagging, I had became fearful that I would never reach Saigon by 7PM. But fortunately, it seems that we are now well under way. My attention is currently focused on the fact that the bus driver is seated across from me; he started taking the air-conditioning unit apart while we were re-fuelling, and another man nonchalantly replaced him. Sept./04 Travel
Through Vietnam - A
Return Trip To Vietnam ~ by Doug Rice - Doug first traveled to Vietnam
as a U.S. soldier, he has returned as a traveller. He tells us about the
country and what a traveller should look out for if he is wanting to spend
some time in a country with a hard past. Oct./03
Making Choices - Trying to Pick a New Country to Live In - Moving Overseas - There are opportunities everywhere. I’ve heard from reliable sources that no one, I repeat, no one is supplying fresh produce or vegetables on any of the American Virgin Islands. Produce has to shipped into the Virgins from afar at great shipping cost. (causing the available produce in V.I. markets to be high in price and dated in flavor.) The reason for the lack of locally grown produce, or so we’ve been told, is a scarcity of water. There are several ways to grow fresh vegetables hydroponically that utilize low water-consumption methods. As a matter of fact, upon hearing about that lack of fresh produce in the Virgins I spent several days reading about hydroponic methods and thinking about what it would take to set up such a venture. It was a rather intriguing few days. It would be lots of hard work, but in our opinion it would be fun, in addition to it’s having the potential of being extremely lucrative. There are numerous nearby islands that would also be interested in purchasing fresh produce. The venture would take some serious research. Hydroponics is a science; but it isn’t rocket science and we believe that anyone with a brain could learn what is required to be successful. Mustique: The Caribbean's Best Kept Secret - A Private Hideaway In The Caribbean ~ By Heather Prince - The island of Mustique in the British Virgin Islands is known as one of the most exclusive hideaways in the Caribbean. This is the place where Mick Jagger and people with that kind of money come to get away from it all. The island was home to the Caribe and Arawak Indians and then in the early 18th century became a cotton colony. The cotton dried up and the island was more or less abandoned until the 20th century. Funny how Caribbean history can unfold. Feb./03 The Island Of Tortola ~ Art As A Way Of Life ~ by Claudia Belleau - There are several ways to arrive in Tortola, B.V.I., and any way you choose allows you to breathe the fragrant frangipani blossoms, to uncoil the muscle of your mind in the tropical breeze. You might take a ferry chugging into Road Harbor from another island, her somber striped stack and loud blasts vying for attention with the aqua-shuttered flamingo pink houses and red tin roofs beckoning from Road Town. You might be arriving on your own vessel, or one chartered from one of the many Caribbean companies found here. Dec./05
Travel
To Zambia ~ In
The African Bush ~ by Dhara Baiden - There are some experiences in
life that you cradle in a special place in your heart. Not for risk
of forgetting them, but quite the opposite, in wanting new perspectives
to be carried within you with hopes of always appreciating what you have
done and seen. Aug/04
Memories
Of Africa ~ Namibia,
Botswana and Zimbabwe ~ by Jurgen Klemann - Always wanted to wander
in Africa with its wide open spaces and wildlife; the above article gives
you an idea of what it's like to travel through Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The people and the beauty of the land is what you feel after reading Jurgen's
memories of Africa. Nov./03
The Bus To Bulawayo - In Zimbabwe ~ by Bethany Morrison - I dream of a journey; some days I dream of nothing else. I travel with a small bag and the clothes on my back. I leave my Irish home and walk to the bus stop at the end of my lane. I wait there for a bus. A Bulawayo bound bus, with ‘Zupco’ written on its cream exterior, the rust-eroded exhaust pipe billowing black smoke as it approaches. I see it coming towards me, a large tin contraption likely to fall apart with the slightest discrepancy in the flattened tarmac. March/04
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