Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
a first expat experience.
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2. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
a first expat experience.
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3. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Washington DC and it is around 24 hours of flying time.
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4. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Washington DC and it is around 24 hours of flying time.
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5. How long have you lived here?
2 months.
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6. How long have you lived here?
2 months.
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7. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
The contributor is with the U.S. Embassy.
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8. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
The contributor is with the U.S. Embassy.
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Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
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2. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
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3. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
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4. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
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5. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
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6. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
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7. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
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8. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
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9. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
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10. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
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Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
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2. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
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3. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
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4. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
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5. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
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6. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
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7. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
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8. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
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9. What English-language religious services are available locally?
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10. What English-language religious services are available locally?
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11. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?
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12. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?
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13. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
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14. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
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15. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
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16. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
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Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
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2. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
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3. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
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4. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
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Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
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2. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
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3. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
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4. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
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Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
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2. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
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3. Quality pet care available (vets & kennels)?
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4. Quality pet care available (vets & kennels)?
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Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
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2. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
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3. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
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4. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
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Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
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2. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
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3. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
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4. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
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5. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
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6. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
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7. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
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8. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
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Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
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2. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
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3. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
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4. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
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5. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
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6. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
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7. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
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8. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
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Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
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2. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
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3. Morale among expats:
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4. Morale among expats:
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5. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
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6. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
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7. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
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8. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
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9. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
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10. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
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11. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
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12. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
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13. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
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14. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
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15. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
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16. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
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17. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
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18. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
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19. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
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20. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
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21. Can you save money?
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22. Can you save money?
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Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
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2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
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3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
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4. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
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5. But don't forget your:
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6. But don't forget your:
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7. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
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8. Recommended movies/DVDs related to this city:
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9. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
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10. Recommended movies/DVDs related to this city:
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11. Do you have any other comments?
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12. Do you have any other comments?
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