Expat Rebel: Discover Your Path to Retirement in a Foreign Country

4 ways to enjoy the holidays as an American expat?

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Transcript

Tips on how to handle the holidays and missing traditions from your home country while living abroad?

Today is my first day back in the office. While I was on vacation I asked some fellow expats how they handle the holiday away from their home country.

I’m currently in Playa del Carmen Mexico just south of Cancun and I hiked all over 8 Mayan ruins and then and went to Minnesota to visit family in the ice and snow. Since they won’t come down to where the weather is just so perfect we have to travel to them.

So we get in the holiday traditions, hang out with family and our kids. Get to experience cold freezing weather. I grew up in Alaska so cold weather with snow makes it really feel like the holidays.

And many expats do the same thing. They go back and visit family during the holidays.

But, of course not everyone does that. And I know I won’t be going to Minnesota every holiday.

So what do other do?

Here are the 5 ways to handle the holidays as an expat:

Fly Home for the Holidays

Like me many fly home for the holidays.

Another expat said “A couple things -Although we don't have much stuff, we keep some American holiday decorations, probably something we wouldn't do in the States. -Prioritize saving money for either flying family to us, or figuring out how to fly to the family. -Use it as an excuse to make new friends and show a "typical American holiday"

Meetup with other Fellow Expats

Throw a holiday party

Jeffry says “Attend Christmas parties with friends, go to Christmas shows at the local theater houses, go to church, etc.”

Make your favorite holiday foods and invite people over

Another expat said “For me, bringing non perishable cooking supplies helps a ton to get through holidays away from home. Specifically, I keep missing thanksgiving, but earlier in the year during a visit to the US, I had the presence of mind to pack a can of pumpkin purée in my checked bag. Got the joy of making a pumpkin pie in Russia on thanksgiving and sharing it with folks who had never had one before. (Russians, Georgians, and Chinese) and what’s more, it tasted right, it didn’t taste like it was made with alternative ingredients!

My food fix was covered with the added bonus of sharing.”

Alec said “My wife and I are American and both former chefs. The Thanksgiving dinner we prepare for our friends has become a pretty big deal over the years.”

Watch your favorite holiday movies and even invite people over

Create a part of your home with your traditional look.

With Netflix & Apple Movies you can easily watch a movie and watch with your immediate family and or other local and expat friends. Tell stories of your favorite holiday stories.

Goto an Expat bar or restaurant

Davis told me that he finds a local expat bar or restaurant and goes there to hang out. They may even play your home country TV stattions and have decorations up.

Embrace The Local Culture

Thomas says “Embrace the local traditions, there are many”.

Robert says “Go to the beach, look out at the ocean, and imagine Santa surfing!”

Ellen says “We had Thanksgiving dinner and invited our friends and neighbors. They had never had a turkey cooked the way we cooked it or stuffing like we made and They were afraid to try our pie de calabaza but they loved it and I have been asked to bring some of my homemade rolls to Christmas dinner. So keep some of what you had, add some new and share what you have with your new friends.”

Monika says “Mix and match...little bit of this, little bit of that. Go with the new, hang with the old. It is entirely up to you.“

Susan says “Invite some friends for a nice dinner on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, the 26th. I used to give a New Year's Day Open House every year when I lived in Mexico. I found someone to cater a nice meal, asked folks to bring dessert...

In this episode of Expat Rebel, the host discusses their personal experience living as an expat in Mexico and shares updates about their lifestyle. They provide details of a recent windstorm and their hobbies such as writing and converting old slides into JPEGs. The host also discusses the results of a survey for the top expat locations, revealing Mexico, Spain, and Panama as the top three. Furthermore, they share the issue of spam calls and texts in Mexico, suggesting for expats to register their numbers on a 'do not call' list managed by the Mexican Government.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back
00:12 Expat Rebel: The Purpose and Mission
00:53 Expat Life in Mexico: A Personal Experience
02:23 The Joys of Living as an Expat
04:28 Expat News: Top Expat Locations
08:44 Dealing with Spam Calls in Mexico
09:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

More show notes with links at: https://expatrebel.com/savoring-the-blissful-expat-life-in-mexico-a-day-of-sun-sea-love-poems-expat-news/

In this episode of Expat Rebel, the host shares money-saving travel tips, news about shorter US passport processing times and discusses Travel and Leisure's destination of the year. Moreover, the experience of living as an expat in Mexico, the caution required when investing in foreign lands, the growing acceptance of same-sex couples in Mexico and traditions being modified by foreigners are covered. The host also encourages listeners to prepare their passports way before needed, remain aware of their surroundings when using Airbnb, and to engage in traditional ceremonies performed by natives for an enriching experience.

00:00 Introduction to Expat Rebel
00:18 Becoming an Expat: Realistic Advice and Motivation
00:59 Expat Living: Avoiding Enclaves and Embracing Local Culture
01:53 Travel News: US Passport Processing Times and Money-Saving Tips
02:32 Air Travel Etiquette and Issues
03:40 Destination of the Year: Costa Rica
04:26 US Travel Advisory System: Is it Reliable?
05:02 Thanksgiving in Mexico and Airbnb Risks
05:43 Expat Mexico News: Investment Scams and Social Issues
07:06 Gentrification of Traditions and Native Ceremonies
07:53 Conclusion and Invitation to Join Expat Rebel Community

Links mentioned are at https://expatrebel.com/2023-11-11

• (00:00) - 2023-11-11
• (00:00) - Introduction and Welcome
• (00:18) - Expat Rebel's Mission and Offerings
• (00:59) - Expat Living and Cultural Adaptation
• (01:53) - Travel News and Tips
• (03:40) - Destination of the Year: Costa Rica
• (04:59) - Thanksgiving Travel to Mexico
• (05:43) - Expat News in Mexico
• (06:42) - Diversity and Gentrification in Mexico
• (07:53) - Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of the podcast Expat Rebel, the host discusses various subjects about being an expat. Topics covered include the secrets of Mexican shopping malls, advice on tipping while on a cruise, the aftermath of a natural disaster in Acapulco, and more. The host discusses the realities of life as an expat, such as the unpredictability of weather and the cost of living. Also discussed are recent news relevant to expats, including Southwest airlines' new baggage tracking ability, news from Airbnb, and changes in Delta's Skymiles program. The episode ends with specific news related to expats in Mexico, including a viral TikTok about Mexican malls and rising inflation in Merida.

00:00 Introduction to the Expat Rebel Podcast
00:20 Becoming an Expat: Tips and Advice
00:59 Experiencing Local Traditions in Mexico
02:00 Expat Misconceptions and Questions
03:18 Weather and Living Conditions in Mexico
05:06 Expat Life: Local Cuisine and Lifestyle
06:32 Expat Challenges and Solutions
07:02 Travel News: Airlines and Cruise Ships
07:39 Experiencing Natural Disasters as an Expat
08:22 Navigating Rental Issues with Airbnb
10:03 Expat Shopping Experience in Mexico
10:53 Financial Matters for Expats in Mexico
10:58 Expat Stories: Moving from Indiana to Mexico
11:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links mentioned are at https://expatrebel.com/2023-11-04

Five (and more) countries are requiring health insurance to cover visitors just in case they get COVID-19. Many can't cover the expense and want to make sure that you can.

Like, subscribe at https://youtube.com/ExpatRebel) and click on notifications to get notifications of all our videos.

Watch the video version at https://youtu.be/KtA5jXBlvjo

“The reason for requiring healthcare coverage is to prevent local healthcare providers and governments from having to foot the bill for uninsured tourists,” the Allianz spokesperson said. “The coverage also does protect travelers from potentially catastrophic medical bills or emergency medical transportation costs.” https://www.cntraveler.com/story/these-countries-now-require-international-health-insurance-for-entry

While many nations are requiring a negative COVID-19 test for entry, an insurance policy that would cover potential medical costs during the trip is a separate requirement. The cost of the initial COVID-19 test required for entry is typically separate from the local health insurance coverage, which typically begins the moment you touch down for the trip.

The countries that require proof of international health care coverage are, of course, going to change over time.

The current list as of this recording are:
- Aruba
- Costa Rica
- St. Maarten
- Tahiti
- Turks and Caicos
- United Arab Emirates

Also, check out my other video on researching travel restrictions at https://youtu.be/r25xWeo8lB4

Got a questions then leave a comment and I’ll answer in a video. Are you wanting to become an Expat soon then go grab my Expat Rebel Guide to becoming an Expat in 30 days. Need some help becoming an expat fast then contact us at https://ExpatRebel.com

Also, check out our How To Become An Expat In About 30 Days over at https://ExpatRebel.com

It shares how I went from idea to moving to Mexico in about 30 days and also share how you can save about $3000 on mistakes that I made within the first month. You can get it at https://ExpatRebel.com