Tag

Latin America

Jennifer getting her yoga on

Let’s start with the basics: Where are you from and where are you now living?

I am from Gainesville, Georgia, a small town an hour north of Atlanta. Now I live in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, a tourist town in Patagonia.

What did you do back in the US?

After finishing my Master’s degree in Hydrology and Water Resources at the University of Arizona, I worked at Glacier Bay National Park as a Fisheries Biotechnician, travelled in France and Spain, managed an organic farm in northern California, and since 2005 have worked seasonally for a nonprofit called Lifeschool GoAdventure, taking teens into the wilderness.

What prompted you to move abroad?

Genetically programmed to love travel, with three uncles and a grandfather who were or are pilots, I have always sought adventure and loved to discover new places. I was drawn particularly to Bolivia after finishing grad school, as Bolivia is the only majority indigenous country left in South America, is very poor with millions of people still without access to clean drinking water, and is home of some of the most beautiful mountains in the world: the Andes. Thus in 2006 I made my first trip, alone, to Bolivia.

Did you speak Spanish before you moved? How did you learn?

I started studying Spanish a little on my own before my trip in 2006. However, as people who live in the Altiplano near La Paz speak Aymara as their first language and Spanish as their second, I quickly learned that while improving my Spanish was important, I also would need to learn how to understand this mix of languages. I took two months of Spanish classes in Sucre, Bolivia in 2006, and then was awarded a Rotary Foundation scholarship to study Spanish for six months in Lima, Peru, in 2008.

Tell us a little about your work in Bolivia…

Working with the solar ovens in rural Bolivia

Before arriving to La Paz, Bolivia, in 2006, I contacted dozens of nonprofit organizations to see if I could volunteer in projects involving drinking water and related issues. One person answered me, Max Borella, who is one of the founders of TERRA Resource Development, Inc. Max was kind enough to pick me up at the airport early one morning, buy me my first coca tea (a great help for those suffering from altitude sickness, fatigue, and digestive issues), give me a tour of the craziness that is La Paz, and take me along as he went to meet communities that were asking for his help in obtaining drinking water. I saw where he and a local engineer were drilling a new well for one community and I met another community who all came together to express their desire to do whatever it took to have hand pump wells installed near their homes. Max and I journeyed a few hours south to another city on the Altiplano, Oruro, where Max had lived while serving in the Peace Corps a few years earlier. The plan was to install dry latrines (ecological toilets that do not use water) in a community of 40 people just outside the city. However, a violent conflict had just arisen between the local miners’ cooperative and the federal mining organization, and 16 people from the village we were going to work in were missing. Thus, our work was obviously postponed. This ended my first work in Bolivia with water and sanitation.

Five months later I was back on my own and talking to some new communities, and meeting other nonprofits, like Quaker Bolivia, who connected me with local activist Maria Guarachi Sirpa. This proved to be one of the most important meetings of my life, as Maria inspired me to go beyond what I thought was possible and start raising funds through family, friends, and contacts to support projects with her. We focused mainly on solar oven projects, as the solar ovens give families the ability to purify water and cook food in a healthy way. Maria is from a very poor, isolated and thus forgotten, part of the Altiplano, Pacajes. It is a place so high and arid that there is not sufficient wood for cooking fires. Animal dung is the common way people make their fires. We focused our work in Pacajes, helping a few communities of 40 to 50 families build solar ovens for each family and for the school/community center. When I remember the gratitude and tears that flowed from each person’s face, I always am reminded of how powerful and important these projects are for changing lives. Ovens cost roughly $120 each, and they truly save lives, as well as give people a fighting chance to stay in their communities and not have to go beg or work like slaves in the streets of big cities like La Paz.

Tiahuanacu Well Drilling Project

In 2008, I helped find funding for a new water well for the town of Tiahuanaco. This was a very different project, as this town is relatively well-off in comparison to the small villages in Pacajes. However, it was because of their relative fame, for being the home of famous pre-Incan ruins, that no aid organizations wanted to help this community fund a new well. Unfortunately even in communities with a little more economic wealth, there is not the infrastructure, or motivated elected officials, to make needed projects happen. Thus the local La Paz Miraflores Rotary Club and myself decided to find Rotary Clubs in the US to sponsor this project. We succeeded, with clubs in San Diego and Denver giving support to the project.

Why work with water, as opposed to focusing on food, medicine, education, etc?

I think that each person is drawn to work in a certain area. Since I was a teenager, I discovered my love for water and for protecting water resources. This love soon grew to include helping people live sustainably in their environments, whether it be cities or pristine mountains. In places where basic needs are not met, I felt drawn to help these communities have a fighting chance, by helping them have clean drinking water, and thus proper sanitation facilities to protect their drinking water in the future.

Was it easy to connect with projects or communities in Bolivia?

Thanks to Max, it was easy. Then, I met Robert Vincent from Quaker Bolivia, Freddy Mercado from Rotary in La Paz, and Maria Guarachi Sirpa from Pacajes. Thus, I have the contacts needed to complete projects for small communities. The biggest challenge is from where, or how, to raise the money needed.

I know many people who want to travel and also give back to the communities that they visit, but they do not know where to start. Do you have any advice for them?

There are many ways you can help. You can bring a bag of school supplies, stickers, toys like soccer balls and then contact a local school to see if they would like to receive the donations, and if possible, if you can meet some of the kids. If so, it will be a cherished memory not only for you, but also for the kids from the school you visited. Also, there are many organizations that exist that can help you plan how to volunteer during your vacation. This option is more and more popular each year. Before committing, I suggest you do your research and look for reviews by former volunteers to assure that you, and the people you are volunteering with, have a good experience.

Are you able to continue your non-profit work in Bolivia now that you are in Argentina? Is there a way that readers can help support the Bolivia project or other water-based projects that you recommend?

I have taken a break from the projects in Bolivia for two years now in order to create a little more stability in my own life. However, I am missing the projects and Bolivia terribly and will be planning some projects for 2014. Also, I am applying to take a course in Madrid that would give me more practical knowledge about how to provide drinking water for communities, taught by leaders in this field from nonprofits like Action Against Hunger. This course is the link I need to help me provide communities with water as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. The best way to stay in touch with my projects is to contact me directly so that I can send via email news of when new projects are starting and info about how you can help.

Name some things that you cherish about your life now that probably never would have happened had you stayed in the US.

If I had stayed in the US, I wouldn’t have had these experiences in Bolivia, Peru, etc. that have had a huge impact in shaping who I am today. Also, I would not value the little things so much if I had never come and lived in these small communities. For example, death is still common among children in the Altiplano. In the US, we know it’s possible that a child could die, but we rarely have to live through the experience. The people of the Altiplano, especially the women, are so strong, mentally and physically—they live with the reality of watching their children die, or children in their extended families. And so often when with friends, these women are smiling and laughing, despite all their hardships. They have taught me that despite the fact that there is so much suffering in the world, each one of us has the choice to decide how to respond…how to feel and act as a result of that suffering. These women of course suffer greatly, but then they get back up and continue to live their lives, provide for their families, and to support each other through their laughter and good-natured jokes. They are in many ways my heroes. I cherish these women and look up to them for these amazing qualities that they possess.

I know you have traveled to some amazing places. What is your favorite travel memory /experience to date?

That is really tough to say, of course. One of my most cherished memories is visiting a community in Pacajes in August 2010, with another yoga teacher who helped enormously in raising the needed funds for the project, Elizabeth Brown. We met each person in the community, and so many were in tears they were so grateful that we had been able to raise the needed money for their solar ovens, and they were so happy to meet us and be able to thank us. Each family had also raised a portion of the money and were present to build the ovens together with us and trained technicians. We lived and worked together for a few days. Watching them leave with the ovens tied on their backs was so rewarding, so beautiful. Almost three years later, we hear that the ovens are working well. I hope to visit and see for myself someday.

Name 10 things still on your bucket list.

I’m not sure this is a traditional bucket list, but these are some of my priorities, in no particular order, as they are all important to me:

Keep studying and practicing yoga and meditation as it helps bring me inner peace and gives me strength;
Raise funds for new projects in Bolivia, Peru, or wherever I see I can help;
Develop a yoga studio in a community where this is lacking;
Make a long voyage to Asia, where I have not been yet. Nepal, Tibet, and India are priorities;
Start making more long-term goals for my life as well as for future projects (5, 10 and 20 year plans);
Be there for my friends and family when they need me, even when I am across the globe, being sure to be reachable, accessible, and available;
Live by love more each day, even when it hurts to be open to what life wants me to be, do, learn;
Develop the ability to be content with a simple life, without the urge to travel just because staying in one place is tough for me;
Study more with my favorite teachers;
Find quiet time to recharge my own batteries on a regular basis.

How can people connect with you?

I always love to hear from people looking for ways to help in Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, etc! You can find me via www.yogabariloche.com, jenn@yogabariloche.com, and in Facebook under Jennifer Hamblen, https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.hamblen.98. Photos taken by Elizabeth Brown and Jennifer Hamblen

August 30, 2013

Asset Protection

Which Country is the Right Fit for Your Second Passport or Citizenship?

written by Escape From America

Get a Second Passport

In May of 2013, EFAM published a popular article on getting a second citizenship, http://www.escapefromamerica.com/2013/05/why-would-an-american-even-consider-a-second-citizenship/. We received much interest from our readers for more info on second passports, so this month we decided to offer more detailed resources on how to obtain one, and some specific requirements of some of the easiest countries to work with on this process. Each jurisdiction has different costs, requirements, and timeframes, and these could change at any time. Do your due diligence, get the correct info, and make sure to work with a trusted agency or lawyer skilled in second citizenships.

Paraguay

Paraguay offers foreigners the opportunity of Permanent Citizenship through a 4 year process, and Visa-Free travel to Over 110 Countries. There is an Expedited Citizenship program available.

Cambodia

Cambodia offers incredible opportunities for those looking to obtain a second passport. There is a 6 week (yes, week!) citizenship process, permanent citizenship is available, and once you have a passport, you get Visa-free travel to over 50 countries. The country also offers great investment benefits to those citizens looking to invest in the country.

Dominica

Once you go through a 3 month citizenship process, you get to travel Visa-free to over 60 countries in the world. There is a family citizenship program available, streamlining the process if you have family. You can also receive citizenship by investing in the country.

St. Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts and Nevis also offer permanent citizenship, with family programs available. There is also a Real Estate Citizenship investment program, a 4 month citizenship process, and once you get a passport, you get Visa-free travel to over 120 countries.

Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic has an 18 month expedited citizenship process in addition to an 8 year citizenship process. Citizens receive the benefit of Visa-free travel to over 40 countries.

So you know that you are interested in obtaining a second citizenship, but where do you start? It’s a big deal – it’s not exactly the kind of service that you should be buying off of Craigslist or Ebay…

EFAM has experience with TDV Passports, a Nevis-based company which offers expat and internationalization information, analysis and services to clients worldwide. Check out their website here. http://tdvpassports.com/TDV99G4K6JS/

They do second passports day in and day out, and have for years. They have an experienced staff of experts who can help you determine which country is the best fit for you and your family.

TDV Passports handles virtually all aspects of the citizenship process, including complete processing of authentications, apostilles and legalizations, itinerary assistance, in-depth insight into investment and business opportunities, real estate purchase guidance, complete concierge, including transportation to and from the airport, your hotel and all necessary appointments with the proper immigration and government departments and direct hands-on assistance with every step of the process until you receive your citizenship documentation and passport.

TDV Passports staff spends months vetting agents, agencies, attorneys and firms to insure that all TDV Passports clients’ citizenship processing is carried out in the most efficient and forthright manner.

For more info, contact TDV Passports directly here. http://tdvpassports.com/TDV99G4K6JS/. You can consult one-on-one with an expatriation expert for free, to see if a second passport from one of the above countries is right for you.

August 30, 2013

Asset Protection

Forming an Incorporated Business in Chile in One Day Over the Internet

written by Escape From America

The launch of tuempresaenundia.com

The Chilean government already has numerous grants and programs available for new businesses, making it a great place for start-ups and expat entrepreneurs. But a few months back, Chile’s pro-business government decided that they just could do more for local and foreign entrepreneurs, so they voted to improve and streamline the way the incorporation process works in the country, making it quite possibly easier to start a business in Chile than in just about any other country in the world. One only needs to look at what happened to Hong Kong and Singapore when they made similar changes to their governments to know that big strides in business are sure to be underway soon with Chile.

When Chile’s government formed this plan, it was estimated that it would require a few months to get everything formalized, and they’ve been able to get things done on schedule.

Recently, the much anticipated program, Tu Empresa En Un Dia.cl (Your Company in One Day), www.tuempresaenundia.cl was launched.

To start a business in Chile before this new legislation was passed required drafting documents with a lawyer, going to government and notary offices numerous times, a few weeks of waiting, over $1,000 USD in expenses, etc.

Now, to obtain a LLC (in Chile, called a Sociedad de Responsibilidad Limitada), you’ll just need to go through the website. It will help greatly to be a fluent Spanish speaker to navigate the process (although the icons on their homepage make the initial “where to click” pretty self-explanatory). While for now the Sociedad de Responsibilidad Limitada is the only structure offered, more entities will be available through the webpage soon.

Chile has just made it incredibly simple for entrepreneurs to get incorporated.

This really is a great example of the enthusiasm that Chileans have for bringing new business to the country. Sure, the country is still quite bureaucratic in some ways and certain systems are antiquated, but more and more, Chile is trying to be at the cutting edge in today’s world when it comes to economics and business.

August 30, 2013

Living Overseas

Expat Interview with Online Marketer and Travel Addict Nandrin Louis

written by Escape From America

Goreme, Turkey

Please describe yourself and your current situation

I’m 30 years old, from Seattle, and have been living in Buenos Aires since December 2010. I left the states in October 2010 with the goal to travel the world (indefinitely) and work online. I’ve been fortunate to travel to numerous parts of Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile, but have always called Buenos Aires home during my time in South America. I just want to see what I can at my own pace, and enjoy it as much as I an. I currently work for an online finance community, and am moving to Europe this September.

What was your first experience living abroad, and what inspired the move?

I lived in Suzhou, China (1 hour from Shanghai) in 2005-06 for 8 months. I taught English to adults for a school and then moved into private teaching. I was inspired to move there from a after a visit in early 2005 to see my cousin who had been there for a year teaching English. I fell in love with not only the place, but also the idea of living abroad and how exciting it could be. Different culture, food, sites, smells, people – EVERYTHING. China was the complete opposite of everything I was used to – I was sold on the idea. Additionally, I was shocked at how easy it actually could be to make the move, find a job, and stay there as long as I wanted. After that three week trip, I had to return to the states to tie up loose ends, but then returned September of 2005. Beyond the idea of living in a new place, was also the idea of forgoing the “path” that my fellow college graduates were on. Between graduation and moving, I worked at a full-time internship in an office and absolutely hated the idea of working in an office every day, 8-5. “People really do this every day?!” I asked myself. I was in disbelief. “There must be something better out there” I thought. And there was. These thoughts would also inspire me to start my own business after returning from China in 2006.

What parts of teaching English abroad did you like, and what made you quit?

It was a great way to meet locals and learn about the local culture. We had so many conversations that carried on after class (in both English and Chinese – great practice for both of us) where we’d head to their favorite restaurant, bar, spa, movie theater, whatever. My first job was teaching in the afternoon/evening to working professionals. From a government official (with lots of connections – a very interesting person to hang out with) to a heart surgeon who had just pulled an all-nighter to businessmen who had to learn English for their job (and more motivation to learn than anyone I’ve ever seen as their pay/raises would be very tied to how well they spoke English), lawyers, etc.
I had a trip planned to Europe in mid-2006 and I had to make a decision: go home and work a job to save money for the trip, or continue teaching in China and save money. Easy decision. I quit teaching at that school after my three month contract was up because private teaching paid more ($19/hr vs $12/hr) and allowed me to set my own schedule/teaching agenda. I taught Korean children in their homes after school. I also taught English at a university for a couple months.

Did you feel culture shock upon your first return to the US? In what ways could you recognize that your move abroad changed you?

Definite culture shock; I saw everything differently. Every day I dreamt of the next time I could live abroad again. I missed the fun, the experience, the wonderment, the idea that on any given day anything could happen. On the bright side I saw the US differently, and there certainly are some things I appreciated more. Clean air and water, organization, shorter lines, less traffic (as unbelievable as it sounds), being able to understand people, being able to read signs on buildings, not having to struggle for even the smallest thing. I know it’s a cliché, but living abroad completely changed how I would see the world forever. It’s hard to describe exactly what this feeling is, but I think it involves more appreciating the little things, understanding that world is a huge but mostly welcoming place, that a lot of people suffer through a lot harder things than I can ever imagine and can find happiness. What else… in the US it’s so easy to not look outside the borders and to focus only within. Even NYC seemed to feel so far away and different from my life, now it feels like home in a way. I would recommend long-term (3-month minimum) traveling to anyone.

Can you give a quick timeline of what you did between living in China and what you’re doing now?

2006 Spring – Traveled 6 weeks in Italy, France, Spain. Returned back to Seattle. Started ecommerce consulting for small businesses.

2007 – Almost moved to Spain with a remote job in hand, but plans fell through.

2008 – Travel to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, continuing ecommerce work for small businesses, planning future travel.

2009 – 2 Weeks in Buenos Aires, 3 weeks in Turkey and Egypt, road trip across the US, officially decided on plan to leave in 2010 for Buenos Aires ASAP

2010 – Donated kidney to Uncle, travel plans pushed back six months, but all was worth it. Left for South America October 2010.

Are there any books or websites that inspired your desired lifestyle?

4-hour Work Week, when I read it in 2007, I said “holy sh*t this is like the blueprint for exactly what I’ve been thinking about”.

After I decided for sure I wanted to live abroad again I decided I didn’t want to rely on teaching English again, mainly because it wasn’t connected to my career aspirations and I knew I could work online and continue building my career experience.. I just had to figure out exactly what it was that I would do and how I would do it. I studied marketing in college, was currently doing freelance ecommerce marketing, and the basics come pretty natural to me, so I decided to study up as much as I could on internet marketing – something that could definitely be done remotely. Here’s some of what I studied:

Internet marketing

Internet Business Mastery podcast and website
Tropical MBA Blog and Podcast
10 golden rules internet marketing podcast
Art of Nonconformity website and book
Masters Certificate courses in Internet Marketing at the University of San Francisco

Travel/Lifestyle

Indie Travel Podcast
Rick Steves podcast
Vagabonding by Rolf Potts
The Alchemist
Various Lonely Planets and other travel books to wet my appetite and keep me motivated. I remember just sitting in that section at the bookstore for hours browsing through different ones and getting ideas, whether it was India, Cuba, Argentina, Turkey, etc.

How did you convince your first client to allow you to work for them remotely? What resistance, if any, did you have to overcome?

I had two clients at the time that I started making travel plans, and in the end one decided to keep me. There was some resistance at first, and definitely some questions, “wow how did you come up with this idea?! That’s pretty amazing…” The client (small online store) kept me because:
- We started in small steps, with me working part time from home first and then gradually adding in more steps over a ~3-month period
- I took a pay cut for the first year and then after proving myself we agreed for it to go back up
- I designed the whole system and showed them how it could actually be better for them – which it has been
- I worked my ass off in the transition period to show that I could do an even better job while working remote because of the motivation to keep it going
The position with the other client just ended naturally, not because I was leaving.

What do you do now to support yourself abroad? What is a typical workday like?

I still have that original client, but now my main client is wallstreetoasis.com, the largest online community for young finance professionals and students. My official title is “COO” which basically means I have a wide variety of tasks. Main tasks are managing our content, managing our interns (20+), managing our campus reps, general day-to-day operations, partnerships with universities, and community management. Have several other clients (such as an Indie film producer/director) that I do marketing projects for from time to time.
Typical workday… maybe ⅔ of time I set aside for work is billable hours working for a client, the rest of the time involves one of the following: drumming up future business, talking / meeting with mentors and people in my network, reading books / blogs (currently reading The Lean Startup), and working on projects for friends/family (building a website for my mom).

Tango in Buenos Aires

What allure does South America hold for you?

As a traveler it has everything you could ever want: beaches, mountains, jungle, culture, music, amazing food, spectacular weather (here in Buenos Aires, at least), friendly people.. I could go on – never a dull day. I’ve lived in Argentina 2.5 years and traveled for 4 months of it, but have so much more to see. You hear stories from friends and fellow travelers.. Bolvia and its uniqueness, Cuzco, Peru and its charm and natural wonders, Perito Moreno Glacier, the list goes on. Then there’s Brazil, its own world in itself – would take me a year just to see everything I want to see there. Then there’s Colombia: salsa/beaches/extreme friendliness/an undiscovered feel/Medellin/etc. I will miss South America so much when I leave, it truly feels like home. The day I leave (~Aug 20th) I will always be wondering when that date will be that I will be coming back.

Why settle in Buenos Aires?

I originally wanted to live in Barcelona, but after a visit here in 2009 (inspired by the many books/podcasts I had read)I promised myself I would come back to live. The things that grabbed me then still grab me now: great weather / wine / steak / the European feel (even more so if you’re not from there nor used to it), the ease for me to stay here (one can overstay his/her visa for a 300 peso fine, within limits). What else.. my neighborhood is extremely relaxed, it’s easy to get work done, there’s a great community of expats here, there’s just enough of a slice of home in my area to keep me from being homesick, I could go on..
I stayed longer than I originally planned, mainly because I love my apartment, (has an amazing patio and a pizza oven!) , found a great group of friends, found a baseball team to play on (the Shankees!), it’s a great hub from which to travel to other places (Brazil, Uruguay among others) and I felt my time wasn’t done here as there is so so much to see here.

In what ways do you feel like you fit into the culture of BA, and in what ways do you still feel very much like a foreigner?

How I fit in:

I was thinking about this question tonight. I met an Argentine friend for dinner at a neighborhood steakhouse who I hadn’t seen for almost a year and we interacted with each other like Argentines. Kiss on the cheek greeting, “che this” and “che that”, all in flowing Spanish. I’ve known him for two years now and it’s funny to think back when I first met him and couldn’t understand a word he was saying because of the pace and accent of which he speaks.

Nandrin has made friends by joining the local baseball team (full of expats, aptly named the ‘Shankees’ - how Argentines pronounce Yankee)

Some other ways I connect with the culture – Sports: I’ve been lucky enough to play goalie in several leagues here and that has brought me closer to a lot of locals. Having a girlfriend here has given me more insider perspective into the country and its customs than I could ever imagine. I can have a conversation with anyone from any part of South America and ask questions about their country, food I’ve tried, places I want to visit, things going on in their country (if I’ve been following the news). Additionally I’ve fit in well with the nightlife, the laid back cafe culture.

How I still am an outsider:

No matter how hard I try to hide it I’m still a “yanqui” (Yankee) or “extranjero” (foreigner). No sense in trying to hide it; three words from my mouth and they know I’m not a local. They may not know where from, but there starts the guessing game of where I’m from. Here are some specifics of things I was unable to experience like a local, whether by choice or not:

Problems with the economy in Argentina don’t affect me. Rather the harder it is for locals to get dollars, the higher the demand, the higher the black market rate, and the higher conversion I get when changing USD to Pesos through Xoom.
The language barrier still exists with more in-depth conversations, particularly when with a group of Argentines, and between the mix of slang, speed, and my lack vocabulary in certain areas I’m left completely lost at times. Though I imagine this to be even harder after I move away from a Spanish speaking country – things will be very difficult at times, but I guess us travelers always figure a way to communicate somehow :)
I don’t feel what life is like for a local (both good and bad), ie commuting, earning pesos, corruption and bad decisions with the government, I have the freedom to leave at any time, while others here can only dream to someday visit other places, especially the way that the government has blocked their access to dollars and their ease in accessing cash overseas.

Do you think that you will stay in BA, or do you have plans to move on?

I am leaving for sure to meet my mom in Paris in September, and then I plan to stay in Europe for as long as I can hold off the temptation to head to SE Asia. Likely 1-2 years, though I said 6mo’s – 1 year in Argentina and it’s been 2.5 so far.

What are some moments during your time living abroad that really stick in your mind?

On my return to China, during the middle of the flight I awoke from a nap and said to myself “wow I have no idea what I’m getting into!” – as I had no hostel booked for the night, barely spoke the language, and didn’t know at all what I was doing once I picked up my bags. I had a rough plan that I would meet my cousin and eventually find a job teaching English, but didn’t really think about the minor details… getting that all figured out was some of the most fun / trying times of my life.
During one my first nights on my own in China I got completely lost while biking home from work. I was in the middle of these ancient tiny streets in one of the oldest parts of my city. It was the first time I’d felt truly lost since I could remember. I knew I was safe, but getting lost (actually lost) and the fun communicating with people to try and find home was truly an amazing feeling.
Toughest time: living in a hostel for a month in a half in China
Scariest: walking within feet of a crocodile (without knowing until after) on a beach in Colombia
Almost getting hit by a car in Cairo, Egypt. Number one killer of Americans abroad is related to traffic accidents, be careful!
The moment in Buenos Aires I realized that my dream had come true – pretty surreal feeling
This has taken some time, but the realization of how permanent this is – I’m in this for the long haul

10 things still on your bucket list:

See all that the world that has to offer. To help push me along I made a few quantitative goals:
- “Travel” for at least 10 years (the official start date of this trip was October 21, 2010)
- Live in 10 countries (at least 6 months or more in each)
- Travel to 100 countries
- Visit 500 cities
Live in a mountain ski resort in Europe this coming winter (Bansko, Bulgaria perhaps)
Live on a yacht (with wifi?) in the Mediterranean for several months
Travel all through Asia, including SE Asia, China, Nepal, Tibet, India..
Live in Medellin, Colombia for a year
Take the Trans-Siberian Railway all across Russia
Learn how to scuba dive, surf, become a respectable goalie, and learn to cook well a dish or two from each country I live in
Grow my own business and web presence, and figure out exactly what it is I want to specialize in. I love giving advice to other people about how to live abroad and travel while working online so I’m definitely considering starting some type of consulting in this area
Travel from Ushuaia, Argentina to Mexico by land
Visit every continent (Australia and Antarctica still remain)

A clay pizza oven on the patio is something Nandrin has gotten quite used to having around.

How can people contact you? (social media, website, etc)

email is fine, NandrinLouis@gmail.com, feel free and ask questions / give feedback

August 30, 2013

Asset Protection

Why a Dominican Passport?

written by Escape From America

A second passport is becoming a more and more important form of peace of mind for many citizens around the world.

Our clients have a variety of reasons why they choose a Dominican citizenship to acquire their second passport. However, the major three reasons most often mentioned are safety, cost and quick turnaround.

Safety – Dominican Republic passport holder are relatively safe worldwide. These passport holders can travel on any continent without the fear of being kidnapped or worse. That’s not the case for US or European passport holders.

Cost – The procurement cost of the Dominican Republic passport can be as low as $19,900. This compares favorably with Dominica at $150,000 or St. Kitts at $395,000.

Wait time – A second passport from the Dominican Republic can be acquired in as little as 6 – 8 months.

Other reasons sited for acquiring a Dominican Republic – Buy and rent out property wherever you choose without punitive taxation; Avoid electronic logging of your existing passport; Take greater advantage of offshore business opportunities; Obtain employment worldwide and invest in offshore mutual funds and other vehicles closed to US passport holders.

The very fact that a second passport opens up the additional options already mentioned is actually reason enough to obtain one, but in case you need a little more convincing … Your passport is in fact the property of your government – and for US citizens, government which claims, and increasingly exercises, the right to confiscate it at any time. Even if you have sensibly removed the bulk of your assets to an offshore haven, they are no good to you here if you are trapped in your home country because your passport is no longer valid or has been confiscated. Most countries have laws which allow them to restrict not only entry but also exit from the territory. Exchange controls can be imposed overnight and the necessary legislation is already in place in the US.

U.S. citizens are subject to tax wherever they work and live in the world. But a Dominican Republic passport can open opportunities for sheltering income and protecting assets. If your citizenship demands fulfillment of military service contrary to your beliefs, it would pay you to a Dominican Republic passport that does not. If your passport allows your government to supervise your movements, monitor or control your travel in any way, or restricts your liberty to invest, borrow, or participate in any currency transactions, you are at a disadvantage.

If you wish to keep a low profile, for reasons of nationality, religion, race etc., a second passport can give you the necessary mobility you require. It could even save your life. As an insurance policy against future economic stability, political strife or war, you should think about a second passport. When catastrophe is imminent you’ve left it too late. A second passport in these circumstances would be worth its weight in diamonds.

True case histories of people who would have benefited from possessing a Dominican Republic Passport:

– The happily married couple (or so they thought) whose spouse after fifteen years of marriage is now attempting to take him/her to the cleaners, and grab ninety per cent of their joint assets.

– The American mistakenly accused of being an alimony and tax dodger who has had his passport confiscated, so he cannot leave the country even though he has ample assets stashed away in an offshore nest egg.

– The law abiding Scandinavian who has been told he risks having his application for a new passport refused for alleged tax offences – even though he has paid more than fifty per cent of his income over to the state over the past five years.

– An Israeli woman still haunted by memories of the time when she genuinely feared she was facing summary execution during the hijacking of a plane. (This could also happen to US or UK citizens).

– A Dutch citizen who took a routine business trip to a fundamentalist Islamic Republic that turned into a nightmare when his passport was confiscated until his company agreed to outrageous economic and other demands.

– A French investor who established a factory providing employment in an African country, only for corrupt politicians and officials to force him to sell; the company he had worked years to establish, and at a giveaway price. He was illegally stripped of his passport until he agreed to sign the sales contract, virtually giving away a life’s work.

Anyone who reads much about international tax law knows that the USA is the only country on earth that taxes its citizens on their worldwide income, even if they choose not to live there. This situation, though the US government doesn’t want to admit it, has led to long waiting lines at US consulates abroad as America’s brightest and most productive citizens queue up to renounce their citizenship.

British citizens still have the freedom to leave the UK, and as long as they don’t have any UK income they don’t even have to file British tax returns any more, never mind pay taxes.

This, however, may be changing soon. France may not be a country we normally expect to follow the US example, but French politicians are increasingly stating: “We’re going to apply what the Americans apply… a tax based on citizenship.”

French politicians wants to tax “tax exiles” but not French expat workers. Good luck drafting laws that make that distinction work! We somehow doubt this proposition will come to fruition too quickly.

What advantages really are there to having French citizenship, if one does not live in France?

Granted, it’s a pretty good passport to travel on. And if you get into a spot of bother in Colombia or Afghanistan they might send some commandos from Paris to help you out. But is that worth paying more than half your income for?

France was also in the news recently due to a lone Al Qaeda gunman who went on the rampage in Toulouse, killing seven people including two children. A very, very sad case, but it shows again the probability that terrorists will single out French citizens just as they will single out American (or British) citizens.

You probably don’t need the implications of this news spelt out. Other countries have crazy politicians too. Will the UK, Australia, or Canada be the next country to propose worldwide taxation for its citizens? Or will it be Brazil or Russia or China? We don’t know, but it is highly on the cards that this will happen.

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT A SECOND PASSPORT?

That is a question we are frequently asked. Our standard response is: “You either get it or you don’t.” Unless you are a US citizen about to renounce, the numbers might not stack up. You might not find more profits on your balance sheet the year you acquire a second passport.

“But,” said a US lawyer friend during a conversation this week, “everyone I know who got a second passport is REALLY glad they got it.”

WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO GET A SECOND PASSPORT

Why should you get a second passport now? Simply, because if you don’t get the process started now, it may be too late. The trend is undoubtedly that things will become more difficult and more expensive.

We would say there is at least a 50% chance that some European nations, Canada or Australia will move to worldwide taxation of citizens in the next five years. Some might argue the chance is much higher.

One significant reason this might happen is simply that it is getting more possible to track international assets. Before there was not much point in worldwide taxation because it was unenforceable from a practical point of view. With information exchange on assets and bank accounts becoming the norm rather than the exception, this has changed. The US is blazing the trail with FATCA and will likely share the FATCA information with other friendly governments, who will thus have even more incentive to introduce worldwide taxation for their citizens.

We are not here to preach doom and gloom. We hope we’re wrong and that taxation of worldwide income for expats does not become the norm. But having a second passport up your sleeve would definitely seem like a smart strategy.

How to get one? We procure passports from the Dominican Republic. Please call our office at (809) 712-4412 or email BankerTrust@gmail.com. One of our qualified professionals will contact you within 24 hours.

May 28, 2013

Living Overseas

Uruguay Becomes Second Latin American Country to Legalize Gay Marriage

written by Escape From America

Uruguay, ever attractive to many expats for its relaxed and predominantly liberal ways, has become the second Latin American country to legalize gay marriage. Argentina also supports gay marriage, and Mexico City, the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, and the Brazilian state of Alagoas also allow gay marriage.

Civil unions have been allowed since 2008, but the recent bill goes so far as to state that “civil marriage is the permanent union, pursuant of the law, of two people of different or the same sex”. 71 out of 92 members of parliament voted in favor of the bill. Uruguay’s Roman Catholic Church asked lawmakers to vote their conscience and challenged the label of “marriage equality” as a false pretext, saying it’s “not justice but an inconsistent assimilation that will only further weaken marriage.”

“We will have a fairer, more equal society with more rights for all,” said SebastiánSabini, deputy of la coaliciónoficialistaFrenteAmplio (FA).

“I have all the rights and obligations of everyone else. I pay my taxes and fulfil my responsibilities, why would I be discriminated against?” said Roberto Acosta, a 62-year-old retired gay man.

“We are living a historic moment,” said Federico Grana, a leader of the Black Sheep Collective, a gay rights group that drafted the proposal. “I agree that family is the basis of society but I also believe that love is the basis of family. And love is neither homosexual nor heterosexual,” said opposition lawmaker Fernando Amado of the center-right Colorado Party.”In terms of the steps needed, we calculate that the first gay couples should be getting married 90 days after the promulgation of the law, or in the middle of July 2013.”

Gay and lesbian foreigners will now be allowed to come to Uruguay to marry, just as straight couples can.

While some countries have carved out new territory for gay and lesbian couples without affecting heterosexual married couples, Uruguay is creating a single set of rules for all people, whether they are gay or straight. Instead of the words “husband and wife” in marriage contracts, it refers to the gender-neutral “contracting parties”.All couples will get to decide which parent’s surname comes first when they have children. Any couple can adopt or undergo in-vitro fertilization procedures.

The legislation also updated divorce laws in Uruguay, which in 1912 gave women only the right to unilaterally renounce their wedding vows as a sort of equalizer to male power. Now either partner will be able to unilaterally request a divorce and get one approved. The law also raises the age when people can legally marry. While it used to be 12 years old for girls and 14 for boys, it is now 16 for both genders.

President Mujicahas recently been pushing for a series of liberal laws. Congress agreed to decriminalize abortion, butMujica suspended his efforts to put the government in charge of the marijuana business, saying that society should reach a consensus on that idea first.

In all, 12 nations around the world now have taken this step.Same-sex marriage is currently legal in much of Europe including Spain, Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium.

Does a country’s stance on gay marriage or equal rights help determine if you would move there?Leave a comment and tell us your thoughts! How are gays treated where you live?

May 2, 2013

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