2. SURVEY
TAKEN IN
MAY 2012
64 ANONYMOUS EXPAT
RESPONDANTS
ALL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS
PRESENTATION
NORMAN VISS
AND
LINDSAY MCMAHON
3. How long have you been an expat?
31.3 28.1
< 2 years
3-5 years
5-10 years
20.3
20.3 >10 years
4. How much of a risk-taker are you?
1.6
14.1 I hate to take risks and
will avoid them at all
37.5 cost
I will take moderate
risk if outcome is fairly
predictable
46.9
I can take a high level
of risk if I have done all
possible research
I will take significant
risk whether
researched or not
5. How risky is expat life compared to non-expat
life, in your opinion?
26.6
More risky
Less risky
3.1 The same
70.3
6. Three most common risks expats face
50
45.3
45
40
35 32.8 32.8
30 28.1
25
25 21.9
20.3
18.8
20
15.6
14.1
15 10.9 10.9
12.5
9.4
10 7.8 7.8
4.7 4.7
5 3.1
1.6
0
T…
7. Other expat risks mentioned
Exchange
rate risk
Going No job for
native spouse
Pain of
Spouse
continual
depression
goodbyes
Specialist
medical
care
8. How aware were you of risks you might be
taking?
0
14.1
26.6 Complete naivete
10.9
Didn't want to think
about risk
Somewhat
48.4
Very much
Obsessively (0%)
9. How has actual risk matched expectation of
risk?
7.8
14.1
14.1
Much less
Much more
Just as expected
Don't know
31.3
Impossible to say
32.8
10. How has your willingness to take risk changed
since you became an expat?
4.7
Not at all
32.8
I now want to take
less risk
43.8
I now am able to
take more risk
18.8 What is risk?
11. Moved to three Not having a better Not following through Moving without fully Getting serious
different countries in grasp of the language on professional understanding living medical care in rural
last 10 year opportunity - giving up costs Asia
as it seemed easier to
not pursue. In
retrospect I should
have taken the risk.
Professional Subjecting my kids to Not being able to be Starting a business If you go for drinks be
advancement extreme stress there when family moderate and always
members are sick/ have a backup plan
dying for a taxi or
transportation
Not being aware of Giving up my former Waded into local Giving up my career Leaving friends and
social rules network (working as a community despite to support my ex- family behind and
freelancer) language/cultural husband's career. starting fresh
differences
Job insecurity when The cost of life (vs. High change in Moving to a country Give up my job, and
returning home after a income) weren't clear cultural environment where I knew no one thus important
2 year assigment in to us before we pension benefits
our company's head relocated
quarter
Buying a house Missing income I moved to a country More international Gave up my own job
opportunities / not with...no job security travel to trail after spouse
able to work because and high
of visa unemployment
RISKS EXPATS TAKE – IN THEIR OWN WORDS
12. More expressive with Trusting local Buying local property I've started my own Not me personally, but
family and partner completely while others business in the middle saw expats married
say not to do that. of the current men engaged in
'recession' extramarital
affairs/prostitutes
because it was so easy
to do, no fear of
consequences
Leaving a familiar place Riding in cars without Buy à house without Crossing third-world Insisting on my own
to go to a complete seatbelts in countries résidentiel visa borders cultural norms
unfamiliar and different with high accident rates
place
Leaving a secure job Not wearing helmets Started a new business Not factoring in private Relying on my partners
and a social networking health care expat career to provide
community the income - never
intended but just
happened and now the
risk is he loses it and I
don't have the prof
caacity to even half
waymatch his earnings.
Risk of depression from Eating questionably Savings Not creating deep Career reorientation
estrangement from sanitary food regularly friendships as I thought
family or familiar routine I will probably move on
but now I might not so
have to start forming
friendships.
Moving expenses are Praising your home Reduce my (physical) Changed careers Leaving my family on
always unpredictable. country to be a better social network the other side of the
Not knowing with place ocean.
certainty what
RISKS EXPATS TAKE – IN THEIR OWN WORDS
state/country I'm going
13. RISKS EXPATS TAKE – IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Getting out of the Different cost of living Pregnant and give Difficult return to the Moving to a country
system of my country in the 2 countries birth in country that country where I didn't know
of origin use much less the language
medical intervantion
than the country i
come from
Not to be around when Moving abroad without Kids have to keep ...where I'm not a native Drop in income/
my parents age and get already having a job adapting to new speaker of either of the retirement savings
sick environment languages they speak
here
Bought a house in a More open to mental Leaving everything Return to home country I bought a property
foreign country health issues and behind and start a which I am struggling to
isolation complete new life. sell and now cannot
rent for an amount that
will cover my mortgage
because of the points
system
Leave a secured job at Creating a life far from Living in an old soviet Change compagnies Eating foods without
home to go abroad on a the usual apartment building (risk knowing their
promise of enhanced of gas explosion, source/safety
professional electrical fire)
development which
turned out to be true
Trying anything and Travelling alone in Engaging in Got married! Expecting family to fit in
everything on the menu unfamiliar areas with no antigovernment with plans
local language skill platforms
14. RISKS EXPATS TAKE – IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Stress of day to day Crossing the street.... Travel Established friendship Discussing political
things in another seriously strains with distance and religious issues
language and romantic ventures
are interrupted.
Established entirely Risk my children losing Not having any job Lack of insurance Register my son to
new social structure of their American identity. insurance coverage daycare onlt after
friends and activities arriving altough i was
told the demand is
very high for not many
places
Isolation Choosing to live in Have nothing to fall You lower your ...and have no support
local environment back on if my marriage expectation so much network like family
rather than an expat would fail so it lower your
onclave standard
Lots of job changes Adapting another Pension Transfer to a new Having children
culture, not sticking to country with no abroad (in not-
your comfort zone and professional, financial Everwestern country)
other ex-pats and moral support but
managed and thrived
anyhow
Eating local food Begin my own Venturing into regions Hiring help from my Taking 9 yr old son
where hygiene was company without notifying others own country away from all familiarty
questionable of whereabouts - he now has reactive
attachment disorder
15. Decision to move Challenge the host Learning the public Risky modes of travel Employer strategy
without knowing the culture transportation system changed leaving the
city instead of driving job less than expected
Excessive drinking Being open to Not knowing the Going unmarried Traveled to political
strangers (in a new language hotspots
place one can try to be
more open in light of
not having the
established network)
FIGHTing for my Investment Starting a new Getting pregnant and Financial
children's rights are business having a baby
patients (ADHD & overseas
Autism)
Making new friends Risky investments Being subjected to Walking streets alone Thinking skillset and
and exposing myself landlord whims at night high work ethics will
vouch for further work
in cultures which are
completely "who you
know biased"
Moving to a foreign Going without a work Walked the streets of Joining a work force Buying property and
country by myself as a visa huge cities in China by when my language renting it out
woman myself was not perfect
RISKS EXPATS TAKE – IN THEIR OWN WORDS
16. RISKS EXPATS TAKE – IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Not really Driving illegally Trying to meet people Going without Riding in a car with
understanding and fit in considering cultural my children without
whether package is differences seatbelts - no choice
good in context of but did it often
local terms and
conditions
Totally involved in a Trusted other expat Moving to an area Income Leaving well paid long
culture I never thought businesses without we'd done no term jobs back in
I would understand taking references research on and only London
visited once
Stability Started a new Leaving my career Eating in risky
business and a social plans behind restaurants
networking community
17. How have you experienced that other cultures look at risk
differently than you or your home culture does?
No I haven't. People have always emigrated I think since the infrastructure where I live is not
to search for what they view as a better life, so developed, a lot of the things we see as
prepared or not. dangerous. We get spoiled in the West.
My home culture is living day by day. my It is my impression that in The Netherlands
current country is plan at least 1 year ahead people are willing to take more risks than in my
for all eventualities. home country. The degree of trust in government
policies, organizational rules and the easy access
to information make actions appear not so risky.
Portugal - people prefer not to take risks - this
is an extremely risk adverse culture.
Everything is conducted within the context of Yes. not so much the country I live in at the
what and who people know. In my home moment, but especially in less developed
culture the UK - generally people are more countries that I traveled/worked in, people didn't
risk tolerant - however, when I go home I really understand how one could quit a good job
realise how risk adverse many people are, and just go abroad without the security of having
settling with mediocre jobs and incomes and an income. (which is logical, given their
not daring to risk their average status co - circumstances)
even though if they would say they were not
particularly happy. Interestingly a family
member asked me whether we were realising I think in my country (Israel) we take much more
how lucky we were - the other day when I was risks compare to other cultures and we used to
back visiting. This was such a strange leave in unsafe environment. i think other
comment to me as I don't see it as luck, I see cultures see us as flexible and not put too much
our lives as a result of decisions, choices deep thought into things.
taken all with associating risks - ones which
they would never entertain.
18. How have you experienced that other cultures look at risk
differently than you or your home culture does?
(This is a response from one person…..) Yes. not so much the country I live in at the moment,
but especially in less developed countries that I
traveled/worked in, people didn't really understand
1. I guess it's a fact that mostly people who are willing to how one could quit a good job and just go abroad
take a minimum risk will go abroad as an expat. without the security of having an income. (which is
logical, given their circumstances)
2. Risk may be a monetary issue. It absolutely depends
on the country and its system you are from. e.g. The US encourages risk-taking and holds up
If you are used to European full social services entrepreneurs, visionaries and risk-takers as role
and good infrastructure (free education, models (e.g., 'pulling ourselves up by our
healthcare system, public transportation etc.) you bootstraps', hard work + education = success). The
may have the feeling of taking more risk. If you Dutch believe strongly in no one person sticking out
are e.g. American and move to EU you will be more than the group (they are big on saying 'the
more than happy. blade of grass that sticks his head out will be cut
off'). Too much success is perceived as arrogance
3. Last but not least there is the risk of the cultural gap and self-centeredness.
which seems to me being the biggest "risk". Even
"Western" countries differ. Lots of expats are not Well, interestingly enough, most of the Germans I
sensitive and try to solve problems as they are met would not be willing to move to another country
used to in their home country. But this won't in pursuit of adventure. They are generally quite
work. Most people are afraid of changes and comfortable here in their protective bubble. I wonder
adapting. Actually, if they can't find a new how much of that has to do with the fact that they
balance they'll end up isolated, desperate and have six weeks of vacation to travel so they feel like
unhappy soon. I am convinced that getting in they've seen the world. The quality of life is pretty
contact with locals is the key to settle-in and good here in Munich, so I can see why they have a
feeling home. I experienced that the more open hard time leaving. Though I think it is sad, because it
minded people are and the less they compare limits their understanding of the world at large.
things the better they like their new home.
19. How have you experienced that other cultures look at risk
differently than you or your home culture does?
(this is a response from one person……)
I think it's evolving in my expat country. I'm a 20-something person living in Spain, and the
unemployment rate is ridiculously high for this demographic here.
So a lot of Spanish 20-somethings are thinking about moving abroad to find work, but they have
traditionally minimized risk by living at home with their parents until they get married.
Looking at it in terms of being an expat, I'd say this is a similar outlook to the view of risk in my
home country (I'm British and grew up in the U.S.) In the U.S., people my age are also
looking further away from home and risking more in order to find paid work (though
moving countries is not as common or easy as it is within the E.U.).Well, interestingly
enough, most of the Germans I met would not be willing to move to another country in
pursuit of adventure.
They are generally quite comfortable here in their protective bubble. I wonder how much of that
has to do with the fact that they have six weeks of vacation to travel so they feel like
they've seen the world. The quality of life is pretty good here in Munich, so I can see why
they have a hard time leaving. Though I think it is sad, because it limits their
understanding of the world at large.
20. How have you experienced that other cultures look at risk
differently than you or your home culture does?
Much in the same way. every culture sees different things as risky; Western
people like to avoid health, financial and educational
risks I think. Asian people like to avoid being casted
Most cultures, including my own, are more risk away by the group, financial security is important to them
averse than I am. I guess that is why I am a as well I think. Life/health is less important to them I
loner term expat. Always looking for the think. Arab people avoid loss of face, loss of power, loss
adventure. of image. Latinos like to avoid loss of face, loss of
financial security, loss of image... For Africans loss of
Germans (where I was born and raised) seem financial security is also risky... Life/health is a bitt less
to be much more concerned about taking risks important as for westeners Just my opinion.
than the people that I met when living in
California for 2 years. Having helped people tweet themselves out of danger
during the Arab Spring uprisings from my expat office in
Change is seen with various points of vies in Holland, I am more accutely aware at how others will risk
various cultures. somewhere it is positive, their lives for political freedom from oppression. I also
somewhere very risky and negative. Ex-pats, on now see how brave the migrant workers fom Mexico
the whole feel like they have made big changes were to traverse living in my incredibly bigoted home
and so try to minimise internal changes that town of Wenatchee in Washington state (USA)...I will
could be positive. many prefer living in denial. never look at them with hard eyes again and I will never
judge someone for not learning a foreign-to-them
language "fast enough"!!
People live their life more day by day and seem
much happier and less worried.
Yes, Africans sometimes take the risk of accepting
employment without healthcare benefits for their families,
Certainly western societies are more risk not realizing that this can bankrupt them in the USA
adverse. Often too afraid to step outside own
comfortzone
21. How have you experienced that other cultures look at risk
differently than you or your home culture does?
Western teaching is about developing the Different cultures deal with risk very differently. I
individual, the eastern approach is focussed on am a recruiter and I speak to different
the good of the group. In the west we value nationalities. Southern European cultures are
courage and taking risks sometimes only using more likely to move here without knowing
the heart. In the east it's about taking a more anyone and with nowhere to live without really
conservative and measured approach and looking into it
taking time to weigh up the options before
taking a risk, focussing more on the head as
opposed to the heart when making a decision Culture may influence risk-taking behavior, but
relating to risk. so does individual personality. Some people are
less daunted or simply don't think ahead when
striking out in the world.
Cultures maybe but mostly individuals. In my
experience, it's not so much about the country
than it is about the background (i.e. city people Leaving home, being mobile is a risk to lifestyle
vs. country people) that is often resisted.
Germans (where I was born and raised) seem I find the Dutch don't take risks - they claim they
to be much more concerned about taking risks are in a recession and refusing to spend when
than the people that I met when living in other countries are suffering more
California for 2 years.
In part of the Islamic world, I've heard people
I think in my country (Israel) we take much more say that trying to avoid risk is defying the will of
risks compare to other cultures and we used to Allah.
leave in unsafe environment. i think other
cultures see us as flexible and not put too much Question not clear
deep thought into things.
22. How have you experienced that other cultures look at risk
differently than you or your home culture does?
I think my culture is more risk taking and people Riding bicycles in China with the family with helmets for
have been through a lot. My host cultures are safety. Helmets and seatbelts are not part of the typical
more capitalist (hence uncertain) societies Chinese culture.
hence perhaps they like stability and wouldn't
dare to challenges bosses etc.
Moving to another area of the country is rarely done here.
While the Dutch are great travelers, the number of people
The American culture is not quick to take risks, willing to relocate due to a job or adventure seems to be
and are very comfortable living quiet lives. New much fewer than in the States. They just aren't willing to
Zealanders are likely to take many more risks. take that risk.
Absolutely. For example my view of personal Insurance company and bank refused to pay out after my
safety is very different to most ex-pats in Hong purse was stolen from my car whilst I sat in it as I "wasn-t
Kong (I am South African). hurt in the theft". (scam in local supermarket carpark) I
believe in the UK that I would still have been covered for
theft by deception but apparantly not in Spain. Perhaps it is
Challenging question. Across the board of too rife!?
different cultures, the common denominator
noticed is that many will not move alone, or look
for security in own cultured networks as the risk I think the British are very cautious.....everyone back home
is with the unknown thus subsequently possibly says they could never do what we've done to leave
narrowing the expat experience. everything behind. Life in London was very secure...but
impossible to raise a family on 1 and a bit salary. But real
risks are what other cultures do in desperation for a better
US is more open to risk compared to Germany life. Travelling illegally through Mexican borders or on a
as failure mainly means opportunity to learn - eg boat to become an immigrant. Risking your life....not just
in entrepreneurship. your pension!
