ExPatFacts: Iraq Archives

Know More: About ExPatFacts, Author My name is Matt Ellsworth.  I’m an American.  And I have been an expat (short for expatriate from the Latin ex patria, meaning “out of the fatherland”) for more than 8 years.  [Sounds like a confession in a 12-step program, no?] I first left the U.S. in 1975, spending two…

Here at Ex Pat Facts, we will discuss all kinds of professional services available to expatriates (those who are living outside of their home country).  We invite you to share your expatriate experiences, good and bad, with us as we all develop a fantastic Web resource for those who are now (or are planning to…

Know More: Cultural Issues, Embassies and Consulates, Governments & Laws Visas are permissions granted to enter a country.  They are normally stamped or glued into your passport by a consul, vice consul, or consular agent in the embassy or consulate of the issuing country.  They usually tell how long they are valid for, how many…

or, Finding a Church Overseas If you’re a church-going practitioner of religion, you’ll want to locate a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, center, or whatever, at your new home overseas.  Most metropolitan areas abroad have English-language religious services.  You can contact other expats before you go, to see if they can offer information.  Some churches, like…

Matt Ellsworth December 20, 2005 Sometimes monumental things happen back home while we are away.  In other words, life goes on without us.  This is especially hard for funerals and family reunions, but we also miss birthdays, weddings, and other major events.  Sometimes, like with the death of a mother, we are pulled back home. …

The Associated Press reported on December 14 that Wal-Mart has bought 140 stores in Brazil from a Portuguese conglomerate, adding to stores it owns in Argentina, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.  They also own a 33 percent share of a Costa Rica-based chain with stores in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.  My question…