Travelers' Aid: Becoming an Expatriate

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We've been talking today about expatriates. If you're interested in becoming one yourself, there are no forms to fill out on this end - it's not an official government designation or status. Depending on the country or countries you plan to live in, getting visas may get complicated, but in most folks simple tourist documents suffice.

Often, the hardest thing is just adjusting to the day to day differences of life on the ground. Culture shock is real - and cumulative - and it usually kicks in after six months away from home. Are some strategies for adjusting better than others? I spoke with our own resident travel expert, Rudy Maxa, this week. He told me I'd do better to flip the question around.