The Most Violent Cities in Europe by Country

Some surprising conclusions about the most dangerous city in each European country.

When people ask why I left Brazil, a warm country full of natural wonders, and moved to a cold place somewhere between central and eastern Europe, there is only one answer that raises no doubts:

To escape the violence.

I say that at the very beginning of this article to answer a possible criticism: none of these cities are really that violent when you compare them to the average city in South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, or Brazil (even relatively safe cities in Mexico, like Guadalajara, are more dangerous than the cities on this list).

Even with the drastic reduction of crime in Rio during the last decades, or with the quickly decreasing homicide rates in Sao Paulo, both cities are still more dangerous than almost all places on this list. Buenos Aires, in Argentina? Same story.

TL;DR: The European cities with the highest crime rates are often safer than the safest cities in places like Latin America or Africa, as you will see below.

I hope no resident of Bradford, Craiova, or any other municipality gets offended, especially considering the fact that I tried to make this as objective as possible, by using real criteria, like:

The registered homicide rate
The crime rate (and the violent crime rate).
Property crimes, like robberies and burglaries.
The Crime Index Score, an index developed by Numbeo using data from cities all over the world and their local inhabitants to determine the severity of perceived crime and safety levels.

The ranking below has the most dangerous place in each European country, but if we also wrote about the 10 most dangerous cities in Europe.

With no further ado, let’s start our list of the most dangerous places in Europe.

Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity Cover — Book recommended: Moving Out, Working Abroad, and Keeping Your Sanity

The Most Dangerous City in the UK

When we talk about the United Kingdom, we are not talking about a country alone, but about four (or five, depending on the definition) under the same crown.

I tell you that because the most violent city in the UK is not in England, but Scotland. Therefore, our conclusion here also answers another question:

What is the most dangerous city in Scotland?

And it is Glasgow.

Worst indicator of the city: Crime rate, where Glasgow had 1600 crimes per 100 thousand residents, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace.

Why Is Glasgow So Violent?

Glasgow is a city of extremes, from its architecture to its people. The city’s history is one of poverty, deprivation, and depression. In the 19th century, Glasgow was the center of the world’s cotton industry and was nicknamed “the Second City of the British Empire”.

However, by the start of World War I, it had become an industrial backwater compared with other industrial cities such as Manchester and Liverpool. The decline continued throughout the 20th century until it became known as “Glasgow’s darkest hour” in the 1990s when it suffered a financial crisis that saw more than 20% unemployment among young people and many large businesses going bust or relocating overseas.

Poverty and inequality are two key factors driving violence in Glasgow. The city has some of the worst health statistics in the UK; life expectancy is lower than the national average and rates of heart disease, diabetes and stroke are higher than elsewhere.

Glasgow also has one of the highest levels of child poverty in the UK — 32% compared to 20% of Edingburgh, the other large Scottish city.

The Most Dangerous City in England

If we consider only England, the most violent city is Bradford, in West Yorkshire.

Not only Bradford is the city where residents feel the most unsafe, but it is also in the center of one of the most violent regions in England.

Worst indicator of the city: Sexual offenses (22,870 cases in a single year). West Yorkshire also performs remarkably badly in the violent crime rate, with 111.6 violent crimes per 100 thousand residents.

Why Is Bradford So Bad?

The first reason why Bradford is so violent is that it has a high population density, meaning that many people are living in close quarters with each other. This makes it easier for criminals to escape detection, as well as makes it harder for police to patrol the streets.

The city also has a large number of gangs who fight over territory and control their respective areas by any means necessary. Many members of these gangs are former drug dealers or addicts themselves, who have turned to crime out of desperation or boredom after being expelled from school or work.

The city has also been hit by race riots and sexual crimes are tremendously high.

Bradford is one of the Unsafest Cities in Europe for Woman

The main causes of crime in Bradford are drugs, prostitution, and violent crimes. Bradford’s downtown is the most unsafe area, but Girlington, Clayton, Little Horton, and Manningham are also dangerous.

The city was notorious for rapes and sexual assaults for a while, especially in Keighley, a Bradford neighborhood that also harbored one of the many child grooming gangs that were active in the UK not long ago.

Bradford, one of the European cities with the highest crime rates — Bradford, in England, is one of the European cities with the highest crime rates. Photo by Jon Farman, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Most Violent Place in Austria

To talk about the most violent place in Austria is complicated because there is not really any violent place in Austria.

Even the Austrian capital (and largest city), Vienna, is among the safest in Europe. When Viennese people tell you that a place is “unsafe,” they mean “at risk of seeing drunk people somewhere.”

There is, however, one of its districts that has a higher number of property crimes.

It is called Favoriten.

Worst indicator of the place: Burglaries. A few years ago, Favoriten had over 4 thousand occurrences of this crime in a single year.

The Most Dangerous City in Belgium

No surprise here. Brussels is the most dangerous city in Belgium.

Brussels is also one of the few cities on this list that has levels of violence comparable to some large cities in Latin America or Africa.

Crime rate in Brussels: 8.45 homicides per 100 thousand residents per year. This is comparable to São Paulo in Brazil.

The Most Violent Areas in Brussels

1) Molenbeek

Molenbeek is a commune in the city of Brussels. It is known for being a predominantly Muslim area, with many residents of North African descent. The area was originally a small village outside of Brussels that was eventually incorporated into the city. Molenbeek has become a hotbed for Islamic terrorism and radicalization in recent years.

2) Anderlecht

Anderlecht is known for its high crime rate and poverty. The neighborhood is mostly inhabited by foreign nationals from Africa and Asia, which makes it difficult for police to make arrests because many of those involved in criminal activity are undocumented immigrants.

In recent years, Belgian authorities have tried to improve conditions in Anderlecht by building new housing units and increasing police presence in the area. However, these efforts have yet to see significant results as many residents still feel unsafe living there.

3) Schaerbeek

Schaerbeek is a district in Brussels with a population of 100,000 people. It has been called “the jihadi capital of Europe” and “Europe’s most dangerous place.” It has been associated with numerous terrorist plots, including the deadly attacks on Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station in March 2016.

The Most Violent City in Finland

Finland is another remarkably safe whose most violent city could figure among the safest cities in the US.

The most violent city in Finland when we consider the homicide rate is Lahti, the capital of a region known as Päijänne Tavastia, a bit more than 100 kilometers distant from Helsinki.

Why it is considered the most dangerous city in Finland? Because Lahti had 80 homicides…

…in the last 20 years.

Marseille: The First Among the Most Dangerous Cities in France

The city’s high crime rate is due to several factors: an estimated 20 percent unemployment rate; a large immigrant population; and its proximity to North Africa, where drug trafficking routes originate.

Marseille’s proximity to North Africa makes it an attractive location for drug traffickers from Algeria and Morocco who smuggle narcotics into Europe through the port. The city also has a high number of young men between the ages of 15 and 24 who are unemployed or underemployed. This demographic is known for violent crime in many cities throughout Europe.

Worst indicator of the city: the Crime Index Score, with a score of 61.65.

Frankfurt: The 1st Among the Most Dangerous Cities in Germany

Just like Finland, the most dangerous city in Germany would figure among the safest in many countries outside Europe.

Still, Frankfurt, the German financial capital, is relatively dangerous when compared to other cities in Germany.

Worst indicator of the city: General crime. Frankfurt registered 16,378 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2006, making it Germany’s most dangerous city

Why Is Frankfurt Dangerous? (At Least Relatively)

The first thing about Frankfurt that makes it dangerous is its location. It is located near three countries: France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This makes it easy for international criminals to cross over from these countries into Germany and commit crimes there.

Second, there are many impoverished immigrants in Frankfurt. Many of them believed in welfare promises or fake international job agencies offering highly-paid jobs. Some of them, after facing the reality, resort to committing crimes.

Third, there are also many young people who live in Frankfurt who have no job or are sub-employed. Since the city has a high cost of living, they resort to crime to pay for their necessities.

The Most Dangerous City in Greece

Again, no surprise: the most dangerous city in Greece is Athens.

Personal anecdote: I spent 3 days in Athens with my parents. In this short period, thieves stole both me and my father (on different days). Here you can read more about my experience of (un)safety in Athens.

Worst indicator of the city: Property Crimes.

Areas to Avoid in Athens

There are many areas to avoid in Athens, Greece. Here are three of them.

Omonia — Omonia is a busy area and there’s always something going on. This is also the place where my car door was broken by thieves and they stole everything inside.

Many homeless people in this area may not be able to tell you where they are from or speak English well. They may ask you for money or food so be careful when interacting with them as they may try to rob you or hurt you if they feel threatened by you in any way.

Monastiraki Square — Located just outside of Plaka, an old town near Syntagma Square which is where parliament meets. This area contains many hotels, restaurants, shops, and other businesses but it can also be quite crowded with tourists and locals alike so it can be easy for someone to steal from you without being noticed by anyone else nearby due to all of the noise coming from different directions at once. This is exactly how my father had his cellphone pickpocketed.

Gazi — Gazi is an industrial area of Athens that has grown into a popular residential neighborhood over time. It’s known for its nightlife scene but also has some problems with crime including theft, drugs, and prostitution.

The Unknown Champion Among the Most Dangerous Cities in Ireland

Many people believe that the most dangerous city in Ireland is Dublin. But the Irish capital has a close 2nd place, losing to Waterford, the country’s oldest city.

Worst indicator of the city: Assaults and weapon crimes.

What Is the Most Dangerous City in Italy?

Catania.

It is a close dispute between Naples and Catania about which one is the most dangerous city in Italy, with the Sicilian city having a slightly higher perceived crime than Napoli. There are also complex issues with organized crime (also known as mafia) that, for decades, haunted the region.

Worst indicator of the city: Crime Index Score (60.36).

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Among the Most Dangerous City in the Netherlands, The Capital

One of the most visited capitals in Europe, Amsterdam is also the most dangerous city in the Netherlands, just above Eindhoven and Rotterdam.

Worst indicator of the city: Robberies, with 226 in a single year.

What should I avoid in Amsterdam?

Red Light District

The red light district is home to many prostitutes and drug dealers. It is also one of the most popular tourist areas in Amsterdam. However, it is not safe to wander around alone at night or during the early hours of the morning. Many tourists have been robbed there.

Sint Annekerkplein

This square is located behind Central Station (Centraal Station) and is a popular hangout spot for drug addicts and homeless people. Crime rates are high here so you should avoid this area at all costs unless you are going there with a group of people or if you want to take pictures of the famous Amsterdam windmills nearby.

Jordaan area

This neighborhood is known for its narrow streets and canal houses but it has become rather unsafe over the years due to drug trafficking and prostitution activities taking place there. There have been several reports of violent crimes being committed in this neighborhood so it would be wise to keep your distance from it if possible

Siemianowice Śląskie: The Most Dangerous City in Poland

If there is one city on this list that you never heard about (or can even pronounce its name), I bet it is this one.

This industrial city is part of the metropolitan area of Katowice, the largest conurbation in the Silesian region. Silesia was once prosperous due to mining activities, but due to pressure from the European Union, multiple mine-related industries closed and the municipality faced considerable social issues.

Worst indicator of the city: Violent Crimes, with 36 per 1000 residents.

Albufeira: The Least Safe Town in Portugal

Here is another example of a very safe country where the most violent town is really not that unsafe.

Portugal is such a peaceful country that its capital, Lisbon, is among the safest in Europe.

Albufeira is a Portuguese city in the Faro District, a district and sub-region of the Algarve, with a population of roughly 40,000 people. It is the capital of a municipality with a total area of 140.66 km2 and a population of 40,828 people.

Worst indicator of the city: Crime Rate, with 8.35 cases per 1000 residents per year.

Romanians Put Craiova in the Top of the Most Dangerous Cities in Romania

Craiova is a city in the middle of Romania. It has a population of almost 300,000 people and it is the capital of Dolj County. Some parts of the city are beautiful and have many attractions for tourists. But Craiova also has a dark side.

The city is known as one of the most dangerous cities in Romania, if not the most dangerous (competing with the capital, Bucharest). The crime rate is way above the national average.

The reasons why Craiova is dangerous are:

-The high unemployment rate means that many people don’t have money to spend on things like food and clothes, so they turn to crime;

-The high poverty rate means that some people have no choice but to steal or beg on the street to survive;

-Ethnic tensions.

-There are gangs in Craiova who control parts of the city where they sell drugs or rob houses (these gangs often recruit new members from schools).

Worst indicator of the city: Crime Index Score (56.2).

The 2 Most Dangerous Cities in Spain

Here, exceptionally, instead of one city we list two since they are basically merged into a single metropolis. The most dangerous cities in Spain are El Prat de Llobregat and Barcelona (the capital, Madrid, despite its 3 million inhabitants, is safer than these two cities).

(If you ever took a flight to Barcelona’s main airport, one of the most affordable to land in Europe, you actually landed in the city of El Prat).

To walk in the touristy core of Barcelona while not paying attention to your surroundings is among the most stupid things you can do in Europe.

Worst indicator of the cities: Crime Rate, with 86 (El Prat de Llobregat) and 71 (Barcelona) cases per 1000 residents per year.

Grenades and Gangs in Malmo: The Most Dangerous City in Sweden

Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest city, has become one of Europe’s most dangerous cities in the last years and has been compared to Chicago in the issue of street violence.

Malmo had 65 shootings in a single year. Now, considering that Malmo only has close to 345 thousand people, you can see how harsh this Swedish city has become.

Worst indicator of the city: Crime Index Score (56.75)

Image of Malmo, Sweden, a city that frequently figures among the most dangerous in Europe — Malmo, Sweden, frequently figures among the most dangerous cities in Europe

Most Violent Cities in Europe by Country: Conclusion

Country	Most Dangerous Place	Worst-performing violence indicator
Austria	Favoriten	Burglaries
Belgium	Brussels	Murder rate
UK	Glasgow	Crime Rate
England	Bradford	Violent Crime Rate
Finland	Lahti	Homicides
France	Marseille	Crime Index Score
Germany	Frankfurt	Crime Rate
Greece	Athens	Property Crimes
Ireland	Waterford	Assaults and weapon crimes
Italy	Naples	Crime Index Score
Netherlands	Amsterdam	Robberies
Poland	Siemianowice Śląskie	Violent Crimes
Portugal	Albufeira	Crime Rate
Romania	Craiova	Crime Index Score
Spain	El Prat de Llobregat	Violent Crimes
Sweden	Malmo	Crime Index Score

Table with the most violent cities in Europe by country.

If you enjoyed this article about the most violent cities in Europe by country, check also:

Argentina — Once a Paradise for War Criminals, Now a Great Place to Retire

The Best Cities to Retire in Europe

Best Place to Visit in Europe on Each Month of the Year

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Levi Borba is the founder of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel The Expat, and best-selling author.

Cultural Shock

Visiting Qatar as a Woman for the 2022 World…

Dress code in Qatar and everything else you need to know for the 2022 World Cup.

It may appear strange that a man is writing an article about visiting Qatar as a woman. However, I lived in Qatar for many years, and during that time, my wife, as well as other female family members and friends, visited me numerous times. This article is based on their observations.

The goal is to dispel some of the misconceptions that foreigners (particularly Westerners) have about tourism in this Middle Eastern country, particularly in relation to the 2022 World Cup hosted in Qatar.

Some of what I’m about to tell you may seem shocking at first, but for anyone who has lived there, they are as normal as it gets.

Dress code in Qatar

Qatar is an Islamic country, and the Qataris dress in a highly traditional manner.

For foreigners, although there is no formal dress code, it is advised to dress modestly and conservatively. This means no shorts for males and no miniskirts or tank tops for ladies.

Normal swimmers, including bikinis, are fine on the beach or by the pool (until some years ago, bikinis were allowed only on Public beaches and still they may draw attention). It is prohibited for women to sunbathe topless.

When visiting public locations like as parks, malls, or souq areas, especially those frequented by people of various nationalities, it is essential to be especially mindful of dress code.

Qatari ladies often cover their hair with a black headdress called shayla and their body with a black garment called abaya. Some women also cover their faces by using a niqab.

Do I have to wear an abaya in Qatar?

No, tourists are not required to dress in the way of the Qataris.

Shorts, skirts above the knee and sleeveless/short sleeves are not permitted when visiting mosques or government facilities. When visiting mosques, you will also need to cover your hair. In any public place, women should avoid wearing spaghetti-strap or see-through shirts and short skirts.

Regarding the temperature, spectators of the 2022 Fifa World Cup need not fear since the weather and temperatures are mild in November and December, owing to the cool desert air.

Typical daytime temperatures are approximately 24 degrees Celsius, while nighttime temperatures are around 18 degrees Celsius. It’s wise to bring light coats and cardigans, and it won’t hurt to keep a hat and pair of gloves on hand when you’re out and about in Qatar during these times.

There are lots of shopping malls in Qatar where you may buy just about whatever you need, especially clothes to wear for the duration of your visit.

Can you hold hands in Qatar?

Male and female holding hands is tolerated. Lots of couples hold hands everywhere. Banks, hospitals, restaurants, malls, and other public places. Most of them are married couples, but nobody really checks that.

It is also common to see men holding hands in Qatar, especially Indian immigrants, but that does not have any sexual connotation.

So, bottom line: a couple can hold hands in Doha.

Can women drive in Qatar?

Yes. People used to ask this question due to confusion with neighboring Saudi Arabia, where until recently, women were not allowed to drive.

Can you drink alcohol in Qatar?

True, but not everywhere and not for everyone. Alcohol is mostly available in bars, hotels, and restaurants. It is not available in regular supermarkets or grocery stores. Furthermore, not everyone is permitted to consume alcohol (although tourists probably will have no issues). I detailed this matter in this article about the booze question during the 2022 World Cup.

Is Doha similar to Dubai?

From the outside, Doha may appear to be a smaller, less boisterous, and less tourist-centered version of Dubai. Here I listed some nice things to do in Qatar.

However, from the perspective of an insider or a resident, as I was, they are considerably different. Dubai is less restrictive in many ways and offers more entertainment options. In fact, it was common for western foreigners living in Doha to visit Dubai for additional entertainment options.

Is Doha safe for females? Conclusion.

Yes, Doha is safe for female tourists.

Women visiting Qatar should have no problem during the 2022 World Cup if they follow the same guidelines that common sense dictates everywhere else in the world, plus some extra consideration for the local culture, such as not getting drunk in the middle of a public park or beach, or not wearing transparent tops.

While I was living there, my wife came to see me several times, and the only thing that ever happened was that when we went to a museum, at the entrance they offered her an extra blanket to cover her shoulders.

During other months (eg: Ramadan), the rules in Qatar are much stricter. You cannot eat or drink water in public during the day, for example. Once I forgot that already was Ramadan and I got warned about drinking water outside. The dress code is also much more rigid.

But the World Cup will not happen during Ramadan, therefore, tourists can expect a certain level of tolerance from the local authorities.

Have a good travel, and enjoy the Fifa World Cup 🙂

Ps: In this article, I only wrote about the rules. It does not mean that I agree or disagree with any of them.

If you enjoyed reading about visiting Qatar as a woman, check also:

The Top 5 Countries for Coffee Lovers

4 Ways to Save Money on International Flights

4 More Insider Tips for Finding Incredibly Low-Cost Flights

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Second, if you liked this article, please consider supporting me and other writers by becoming a Medium member. By using this link, you will directly support me with a piece of your fee; there will be no additional cost to you. Thank you a million times if you do!

Levi Borba is the founder of the Expatriate Consultancy, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks and the channel The Expat, and best-selling author.

Cultural Shock

Moving Away from Home

The Best Lessons I Learned about Moving Away from Home (After Doing It 14 Times).

Moving away from home is not an unknown subject to us. My generation moved from one place to another more than any other in history.

While our parents and grandparents (the Baby Boomers and Generation Xers) stayed in the same area for an average of 4 to 6 years, Millenials move every two years.

For many of us, moving away from home is an exciting time in our lives.

It gives you the chance to start over. However, it can also be one of the most stressful times in your life depending on where you are moving to, who you are moving with and why you are moving in the first place.

I compiled this article with some of the best tips and insights I learned after fifteen years away from my hometown and 14 moves across three continents. Things like:

Why is moving away from home so hard?
Pros and cons of moving out of your parents’ house
Can I afford to move out of my parents’ house?
How to handle the anxiety about moving away from home?
How to cope with moving away from family and friends?
Other recommended reading for anyone planning to move far away and start a new life.
The steps I will recommend, from the decision until the ride to the airport.

As with everything in life, context is important, and that is where we begin.

I want to move out of my parents’ house!

Many of us will say this phrase at some point between our adolescence and our early thirties. Some people carefully plan this moment, while others do it on the spur of the moment when an opportunity appears on the horizon.

But when we take the time to breathe and analyze carefully whether it makes sense, there are a lot of things at stake.

We frequently overlook or ignore factors that are extremely important later in life.

In this article, I will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of moving out of your parents’ home. This is a decision I made when I was 18 years old, and I have seen many friends and relatives do the same since then.

Many were satisfied with the results, but some had regrets.

Why is moving away from home so hard?

First off, you should feel proud of yourself for even considering this challenge.

Not many people dare to step out of their comfort zone and test themselves in new situations. It’s normal to have these thoughts — don’t worry!

One of the main drawbacks is that you will miss your family, friends, and loved ones. You will miss family gatherings and having dinner with your parents. Maybe you are too young and you don’t want to be far away from them or maybe they simply don’t want to let you go.

Another drawback is that you may not know how to take care of yourself in some aspects and it may be difficult for you at first. For example, if your family has always cooked for you and has helped you with everything in the house, it may be difficult for you to prepare something other than fried eggs.

Also, many times living on your own can be more expensive than living with your parents because you have to pay rent, food, bills…

If all of these reasons are making you think twice about moving out, I have a word for you:

You are right.

Think twice. Even thrice. But don’t let the difficulties stop you. Use them as a guide to self-improvement and getting completely ready to move out, not as an excuse to cancel your plans. I will help you in the next paragraphs and with many useful links.

Remember that moving away can be very rewarding.

You will develop skills that no one taught you before and become more independent and autonomous. You will make new friends and open doors for massive opportunities.

All that starts with a plan, and like in every plan, we need to assess the pros and cons.

Pros and cons of moving out of your parents’ house

Benefits of moving away from home:

You get to learn how to fend for yourself and manage your money (both income and expenses).
You will learn (or should learn unless you want to live in a squat) how to cook, clean, and take care of your living space. Maybe you will learn how to fix a leaking sink — it’s not that difficult.
There will be silence and privacy (maybe not if you are a student sharing a dormitory).
You will have space for yourself and friends to hang out.
You’ll be able to set your own schedule, so you won’t have to compete with your brother over who gets to use the shower first.

Cons of moving away from home:

You have to pay for everything, including rent, food, utilities, insurance, and so on. Your paycheck may not be as large as you think it is once you look at all the bills that need to be paid. According to Forbes, in 2021 the cost of moving out increased 15%.
You must deal with any repairs that may emerge. If something breaks, such as the stove or washing machine, you must pay for its repair or replacement unless it is covered by insurance or a warranty agreement.
If you are moving to a distant place, you will miss your old town, your friends and your family. A lot.
If you are going to live in an unfamiliar place, there will be a learning curve until you adapt to the local way of life. You will eat at bad restaurants, take the wrong buses, and so on during this time. It is an inconvenient period, may cost you extra money, and can take weeks or even months.
You will need to adjust to a new climate, and I mean literally new climatic conditions. For example, olive-skinned Latin Americans like myself may require special supplements during the winter in Europe. Here I explain how Vitamin D helped me to survive the European winter.

Can I afford to move out of my parents’ house?

Even if you’re not sure where you’ll be living, estimating the basic costs of living on your own will help you determine if you can afford it or not. The main expenses you should evaluate are rent, food, utilities, transportation, and furniture.

Rent cost

This is your biggest monthly expense, and it depends on where you live and how much space you need. A small studio apartment in the city is more expensive than a large two-bedroom house in the countryside. However, you must ensure that wherever you live, the rent is within your means. Move into an apartment with a roommate or two if possible to reduce your monthly expenses.

Food expenses

Food is probably the second-largest expense after rent, so consider your budget carefully — especially if you’ve been living at home and eating most of your meals there. Americans spend an average of $550 each month on food, according to the most recent data. Eating out frequently can add up quickly, so plan accordingly.

Utility bills

You need utilities like electricity, water, heating, and internet to live comfortably, and there’s no getting around paying for these items every month. In some cases, they are included in your rent payment; if that’s not the case, ask if there are any utilities that are included (such as water). This will help reduce your monthly spending.

Depending on where you move, prices may require a habit change. For example, a shower will cost in Poland 6 times more than in Brazil.

Transportation costs

Transport costs can add up quickly — especially in big cities like London where the Tube or buses can be costly. While it’s not necessary to have a car in every city it’s often essential in smaller places. Here I wrote about the considerations to have in mind before buying a car.

Furniture and other expenses.

When you live at home, your parents are responsible for furnishing the place and purchasing new appliances when necessary. When you move out, those costs come out of your pocket — and they can be significant if you don’t shop around for the best deals.

In another article, I compared the cost of living for a single person in 6 different European capitals. The results are surprising.

Anxiety about moving away from home

Anxiety about moving away from home is normal. Whether you’re moving to a new city, state, or country — or just to a new apartment across town — it’s completely natural to feel nervous and excited at the same time.

Here are some ways to ease your transition:

Connect with others.

If you move in with a roommate or group of roommates, try to strike up friendships with them. If you’re living by yourself, seek out social groups in your area that interest you, such as meetups for your favorite hobby or book club gatherings.

Establish a routine

Maintain structure and routine. Have a regular schedule for sleep, meals, and study. This can help to mitigate feelings of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.

Talk to the grocery store cashier.

Take some time to explore your new city and make a point of trying something new each week — a new restaurant or coffee shop, for example — but don’t be afraid to set boundaries that make you comfortable. Asking about the new place to the grocery store cashier or other people you meet at random can speed up your adaptation.

Try to understand the cultural differences of your new place.

I am a big fan of the 6-dimension model created by Dr. Geert Hofstede breaking down the cultural differences into 6 major areas. His team analyzed multiple countries in the world to better understand cultural differences. So far, their conclusions match almost perfectly my own experience living in Asia, Latin America, and Europe.

Don’t be afraid to get embarrassed.

The joy of embracing (and occasionally failing) a new idiom and discovering a new place in the world is priceless. When I first moved to Poland, I faced three comical situations that taught me that being embarrassed isn’t all that bad.

How to cope with moving away from family and friends

In order to cope with leaving your family and friends, you must remember that you are doing this for a reason. It may be for your education or your career, but you must have a goal and stick to it. Keep that in mind when you are dealing with loneliness or homesickness abroad.

Why are you moving away?

There are different types of expatriates, something that is also valid for anyone that is moving out within a country. Understanding which type you are will help you to understand what you need and what you should avoid.

How to Prepare for a Mov Ahead of Time

You can start preparing yourself for moving away well before the day arrives. For example, staying in close contact with your loved ones through social media or by visiting before moving may make it easier for you to adjust once you have left. Start planning visits to see your family and friends as soon as possible so that you know you will be able to see them again later on.

Keep In Touch

Regular communication with loved ones is one of the best ways to cope with separation. If possible, try talking to your family and friends in person at least once each month by scheduling a visit or inviting them over for a weekend stay.

This will also avoid you to feel guilty later if the worse happens. This is a lesson I learned the hard way.

Take advantage of technology — but don’t get enslaved or restricted by it.

You might not be able to see your family and friends as often as you’d like, but there are many ways to stay in touch using modern communication devices such as smartphones and computers. Video chat applications such as Skype, FaceTime, or Google Hangouts are great for keeping in touch visually and can make you feel like you’re together even when you’re far apart.

Whenever possible, use apps that allow you to communicate visually or audibly, as written messages lack depth and dimension. Besides, excessive text messaging is making us dumber.

Moving away from home — Additional reading

I made a lot of mistakes when I left my country nine years ago to become an expatriate. Errors that could have been avoided if I had only known a few things.

Instead of giving up, I learned by experience during my relocations to the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, which forged a better version of myself.

This guide’s tips and methods assisted me in getting promoted, increasing my earnings, finding my wife, and starting my own business.

These rules are universal; they worked for me in South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, and they will work for you as well.

I wrote a guide with the best countries to start a new life abroad with no money. There you will discover what you need to begin a new life in places like Chile, Qatar, or Poland (I lived in all of them), among many others.
Here is a list of 9 books to read before moving abroad, with useful tips and ideas to improve your daily life far from home.
Sometimes it takes time for someone to find work in a new city, therefore in this article, I give you an idea about how to make money after moving out to a new place.
Here is what you should do if you moved out and war erupted somewhere nearby.

Conclusion: How to Move Away from Home

I moved away from my parents’ home when I was 19. Since then, I moved another 14 times — meaning, almost one time per year. Sometimes, it was because I wanted, others, because I needed due to do my career and later my businesses.

10 Steps to move out

Decide where you want to live
Contact locals via social media or other means to learn about prices, lifestyle, and potential issues.
Save enough money to pay your bills for the first month (at least).
Get a job (or a paid internship if you are a student and have time for it). Every time I moved, I used Linkedin to find a new job.
Know how much you can afford to spend
Prepare a backup plan in case things don’t go as planned (Eg: expenses X percent higher than what you expect). Here I explained how to make a plan B when moving out.
Plan your move and hire a moving company if necessary. Prepare your documents and sign the rental contract early.
Use the signed rental contract to set up internet, water, and other utilities.
Schedule a medical checkup, and a blood exam. In your new place, doctors may not have access to your medical history. This is one of the untold but crucial life-saving tips for moving out.
Pack your belongings.

First, subscribe (for free) to receive my articles directly in your inbox and receive as a special gift the digital book 20 Essential Hacks for Saving Money While Travelling.

Levi Borba is the founder of the Expatriate Consultancy, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, and best-selling author.

Cultural Shock

Two Fine Benefits of Living Abroad (Hint: They Will…

Discover how to start a life abroad while buying tomatoes.

I don’t like to waste the time of my readers, therefore here are two of the finest benefits of living abroad, things that I learned during almost a decade as an expat:

Two untold but splendid perks of expatriate life are:

1 — To meet friendly grocery shop cashiers or old ladies in the doctor’s waiting room.

2 — To harness the incredible power of getting embarrassed.

Now that you know the short answer, you can either go back to your episode of The Voice, or understand how it works in the next paragraphs (and thank me later).

How to start a life abroad while buying grocery

Picture your first week in a new country.

You’re still not in your permanent house, but in accommodation, until you determine which part of town is best for you.

So you set up a meeting with a local realtor to examine what reasonable and comfy options are available.

On your way to the meeting, you buy a sandwich and a coffee to go. With a hesitant grin, the young cashier urges you to be patient while she learns her new profession.

You enter the metro and seat beside an empathetic 60-year-old lady. She asks the time. You respond to her and grab your phone to see whether someone from the foreigners’ group on Facebook replied to your inquiry about where a young man like you should reside.

When you get to your final stop, you notice the old lady has left.

You walk a couple more miles and arrive at the realtor’s office fifteen minutes early. You sit at the reception on the left of a man with his child. You smile and pick your phone to finish reading the responses to your question in the Facebook group.

When it is time for the meeting, the real estate agent brings you into his office to show you all the “incredible” possibilities you must see.

That’s when you understand it’s an expat scam. There are a lot of them. There’s nothing better than an immigrant desperate to find a home, a car, or insurance. For a skilled salesman, it’s easy money, so he’s more likely to show you deals that pay the highest commission for him.

Sadly, the worst solutions often pay the highest commissions. The cheerful and educated salesman has an added incentive to sell whatever crap he has to some naïve foreigner.

Not all professions with titles like advisor, agent, consultant, expert, etc. are swindlers, but there is a good chance.

So who should you trust if not them?

Some might seek answers about their new country in their company’s human resources department or university student section. Someone will occasionally aid, but they will often be too busy with their own chores to assist you. To help you is not their primary role.

Some will seek assistance from other foreigners, which can be problematic because many of them are still recent in their new country and may not know all issues.

So who’s left? Who else should you hear?

The answer belongs to our unsung heroes: the common folk!

The shy young clerk at the grocery shop. The old lady who sought to chat with you about the weather. The father whose child wanted to play with you in the waiting room.

What were you doing when those possibilities to discover more about your new home arose? You took out your phone to seek advice from strangers who may know less than you!

In every big city, you may ask questions to anybody you meet. Be it at the checkout or a non-touristy metro station. Take risks. Worry not about the language. You will have some excellent stories to tell.

It’s only through talking to locals that you learn about genuine problems and how to deal with them.

You will learn to adapt to the environment, avoid common pitfalls, and master the necessary street savvy. If you pay attention, you may even pick up on the emotional subtleties forming your new home’s culture.

Pay attention to your surroundings instead of your phone’s dark screen, even if you are reading this article on it. Screen time is hurting our social abilities. Don’t miss an opportunity to chat. Rather than relying on Facebook updates, go on an adventure.

You may get invited to parties or discover a new gastronomic treat. Kimchee became one of my favorite meals after a chance encounter.

Just ask the metro woman if it will rain today (and ask which transport is quicker if a storm happens). Ask the parent with the child about upcoming sports events. Ask the grocery shop girl about her new neighborhood and leave a coin in her tip bucket.

What are you waiting for?

Yes, sometimes you may get embarrassed. Some people may think that you are flirting with them. But here lies the second finest among the benefits of living abroad. The most difficult to explain (but I will try).

Check also: 5 Tips for Moving to Europe

The most indescribable among the benefits of living abroad

I started studying Polish a year before I arrived in Poland, intending to run a backpacker hotel.

After a year of adjusting to life as a foreigner in Poland, I could have a rudimentary conversation on my own.

I learned Polish conversationally using the approach described in this article. Buying a cereal bar in a convenience store was difficult at first.

And that was great. It is a chance for personal growth — and laughs. Here are 4 situations that I used to make my point.

Check also: How to Successfully Move Abroad: solve your doubts here and reduce the anxiety about leaving home

That day I was a Golden Retriever.

I was returning home after an afternoon in Lodz, Poland’s third-largest city.

There was a gas station nearby with a well-stocked convenience shop where I could get some food after a long day of volunteer work.

As a poor college student, my grocery basket had only sausages and juice, but I craved a cereal bar.

I discovered it in a blue, little rectangular container with a wheat image. It looked like a cereal bar, so I grabbed it and put it in my basket with the rest.

The cashier’s queue was short. When Smartphones were not in every pocket, I opted to read the cereal bar’s ingredients. While bringing it closer to my eyes to view the little characters, I noticed a strange fragrance.

The cashier was young, and young Poles can speak English — Poland has one of Europe’s best educational systems. So I asked him what flavor it was.

He didn’t know, since it was dog food.

I had time to return it to the shelf, even though I was so hungry I could eat the whole snack without a bark.

The day I accidentally informed three girls that I was mentally challenged

Warsaw has a street called Ulica Nowy Swiat, which means New World Street. Like other European cities, it has well-preserved, historical sections with fancy boutiques and ice-cream stands.

A strip club is in one of the street alleyways. Since most pedestrians avoid busy areas of the street, the club sends a few girls to approach single males and invites them out for a drink with pretty ladies.

On a chilly winter afternoon, I rushed through this area, late for an appointment. Suddenly, a brunette asked if I wanted to go to the adjacent pub (which is, in reality, the strip club). They usually have an umbrella. This looks like a call sign.

Since I was already late and had no time to invent other justifications to not visit the bar, I just wanted to say that I was already late.

My idea was to say Sorry (Przepraszam), but (ale) I am (jestem) late (opóźniony).

What I truly said?

Sorry, but I’m mentally impaired. All because of a typo (late is actually “spóniony”).

The girl laughed and let me go. A few months later, I used the identical term (opózniony) wrongly. When my wife corrected me, I remembered the umbrella-girl’s laughter.

The good part? Umbrella-girls are persistent in bringing customers to the “bar”, however, once I mistakenly announced my condition, she didn’t try again.

The day I just wanted to ask a father about his son’s age.

Here, every adult who comes to a hotel check-in with a child must be a parent or have written consent from the child’s guardians. Years ago, I was working at the reception when a father and his son arrived. I’d say he was 15 or 16, but he could be older.

I wanted to ask if his son was a minor (in Polish, niepelnoletni). So I questioned the father whether his son was “niepelnosprawni”.

Suddenly, the man’s face went sour. Something was wrong. It seemed like those seconds that are amplified by a factor of ten.

Lucky for me, the man recognized my foreignness and inquired, “Do you mean niepelnoletni?”

I responded sure and apologized for any errors, while the father checked his son’s age and IDs.

Later, I checked my words. The word I wrongly used (niepelnosprawni) meant disabled.

The doctor and my little leg

Food is one the best ways to learn body parts in a foreign language (this is not valid, however, if you are a vegetarian).

That’s how I learnt Polish terms for breast/chest, knees, and neck (by learning how to cook pork knee and neck). By asking for chicken thighs, or “udko kurczaka in Poland, I learned how to speak thigh (udko).

So, I woke once to go to the bathroom, but I felt a terrible pain in my left thigh and almost fell on the floor. My wife advised me to go back to sleep. The p ain persisted even after hours of sleep, so I visited an orthopedist.

He inquired what was wrong.

“Boli moje udko”, I said, meaning “m y thigh hurts”.

“Udo?”, said the doctor.

I thought I misheard something. Maybe he simply said udko softly. So I repeated yes, “udko”.

The orthopedist was puzzled. I couldn’t understand it. This is a simple sentence and I thought I said it correctly.

I was really not.

I later learned that udko is the diminutive for Udo. In another word, udko means “tiny leg”.

It’s hardly surprising that a 97 kg, 1.83 m tall former high school handball fullback says his small little leg hurts.

But you know what?

One thing I realized: being embarrassed while attempting to learn Polish in public let me forget my fear of trying new things, of being exposed to the unknown, to ridicule, to be deemed odd.

The benefits of living abroad, the joy of adopting (and occasionally failing) a new idiom, and discovering a new place in the actual world are priceless.

Get out there, since a universe awaits.

And I’m sure you’ll have some hilarious, amazing moments.

If you enjoyed this piece about the benefits of living abroad, here are some other articles for you:

8 Great Cities for Content Creators Where You Can Save Money and Enjoy Life

If You Are Single, This Is the Cost to Live In These 6 European Capitals

The European Capital Where You Can Live With Less than $400 Monthly

Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity: 11 secrets to make your expat & digital nomad life better than you imagine

If you wish to become a Medium member and have access to articles like this, check this link. It is only $5 per month.

Levi Borba is the CEO of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, and best-selling author. Subscribe to my articles (for free) and receive (also for free) the ebook “The Blueprint for First-Time Business Owners”.

Cultural Shock

What You Can Learn With the 8 Most Stressful…

Most Stressful Cities in The World

Listen to “The 8 Most Stressful Cities in The World – What They Can Teach Us” on Spreaker.

2011. I am a trainee at a global energy trader leaving the office at 18:30. Just an ordinary day in ordinary life in one of the most stressful cities in the world. At least that is what I thought.

I walk to the parking lot, where my Chevrolet Corsa waits for me. The air is damp, and a water droplet touches my nose. Another hits my eyebrow, and a third one lands just above my lip.

It is raining. A refreshing, mild drizzle in a subtropical city, cleaning the air, washing the streets. The smell of wet grass excites my nose. What an enjoyable feeling.

But I remember that this is São Paulo. Almost 22 million people live here, cramped in less than 8000 square km. It is almost the entire population of Australia, in an area smaller than Puerto Rico.

In São Paulo, these delicate, soothing droplets are a prelude to chaos.

The Metropolitan problem

São Paulo is no different from hundreds of other mega-cities. They are stressful, densely populated, polluted, and often violent. A small disturbance like rainfall can unleash havoc and make you waste hours in traffic.

Why people are still attracted to them? The usual answer is better salaries. But even the clearest benefit has a dark face: the higher salaries also result in higher living costs, forcing common people to live in cubicles if they want to build their savings and escape from the Metropolis.

Days ago, I found a surprising ranking about urban stress. São Paulo and other cities I lived in (Doha, Warsaw, Santiago) were all similar in terms of how stressful they are. And none of them are among the most or the least stressful cities in the world, but somewhere in the middle.

This made me curious to understand more about the most stressful cities in the world, and in this article, I will present to you what I found. But first, the ranking method.

The VAAY Ranking to Define the Most Stressful Cities in The World

To build the ranking, VAAY used a method considering indicators as:

Governance — Safety, Security, Stability, etc.
Demographic and Geographic factors — People/km2, Traffic, Weather, Air/Noise/Light Pollution.
Finance — Unemployment Rate, Living costs vs Wages, Social Security, etc.
Public Health Services.

VAAY calculated it by scoring and averaging each indicator in the following way, as explained by them:

z-Score = x — mean(X)Standard deviation(X)in short x — μσ

[…] Where present for a factor, scores are normalised such that 1 equals the lowest value in the final dataset and 100 the highest value in the final dataset. The equation for normalization is as follows: score = (100–1) *x — min(X)max(X) — min(X)+1

The final score was determined by calculating the sum of the weighted average score of all the indicators.

From my experience of visiting some of these cities, I could only agree with the results.

Check also the video: The 8 Most Stressful Cities in The World – What They Can Teach Us

8th Most Stressful City in the World: Karachi, Pakistan

Karachi had decent results in things like traffic, weather, or financial stress. The city also has a relatively low cost of living even considering the local income.

But dreadful scores in noise pollution — It is curious how it has a low traffic index but high noise pollution at the same time. Maybe the few drivers are using their honks too frequently — health services and political stability put the largest city of Pakistan among the 8 most stressful cities in the world.

Karachi’s total score (from 0 to 100): 36.6

7th Most Stressful City in the World: Moscow, Russia

Among the 8 most stressful cities in the world, Moscow is the only one in a country with a high human development index (HDI > 0.800). It is also the only city not in Asia or Africa.

To make the Russian capital presence in this list even more peculiar, it scored excellent results in factors like air pollution — the city has plenty of green areas and industrial parks are far from residential zones.

The average salary in Moscow is also far higher than any other among the 8 most stressful cities in the world: at 1600 USD per month, it is over 300% of the average wage in Karachi, for example. Unemployment is only 3.6% — Lagos, in Nigeria, has it 10 times worse.

So how Moscow came to be one of the 8 most stressful large cities in the world? The explanation is in 3 indicators where the Russian capital had terrible results:

1st — Moscow had the worst result of all the cities surveyed in vehicle traffic. The score varies between 1 and 100, and the Russian metropolis scored 1. According to The Moscow Times, the city has the worst traffic jams on the planet.

2nd — Financial Stress. Moscow has an average salary far higher than the rest of Russia. But the living costs skyrocketed, and land prices became prohibitive in many areas. In some streets, there is no real estate available for less than 22 million dollars.

3rd — Weather. The indicator considers the optimal conditions for human life. We are talking about a city with short but scorching summers and freezing and dark winters. Further explanations are unnecessary.

Moscow’s total score (from 0 to 100): 36.1

6th Most Stressful City in the World: Kabul, Afghanistan

Afghanistan is in the middle of a civil war, and the current government and Taliban dispute its capital. This is enough to understand why Kabul had the lowest results possible (1 on a scale between 1 and 100) in Safety & Security and Social & Political Stability. It also had the minimum score in healthcare access. Kabul is not in an even worse position thanks to the mild climate and the low living costs.

Kabul’s total score (from 0 to 100): 34.3

5th Most Stressful City in the World: Baghdad, Iraq

While Baghdad is not as dangerous as Kabul, it is still in an unstable region marked by conflict. Put in the equation the dry weather and the scarce natural resources to comprehend why the Iraq capital is among the 5 most stressful cities in the world.

Surprisingly, however, Baghdad has better healthcare services than most of the cities on this list.

Baghdad’s total score (from 0 to 100): 31.7

4th Most Stressful City in the World: New Delhi, India

Videos and photos of reddened, dusty skies over Indian megacities are often a topic of discussion about how progress can burden the environment. New Delhi had the worst possible scores in air pollution and social security, and one of the worst results in car traffic.

New Delhi’s total score (from 0 to 100): 31.5

3rd Most Stressful City in the World: Manila, Philippines

On the positive side, Manila had the best score on this list — and one of the best overall — in mental health. Years ago, while in Qatar, I worked with many Filipinos. They have an optimistic approach, even when facing natural disasters or economic difficulties.

I would bet that this approach contributes to their good score in mental health.

But Manila got the 3rd place among the most stressful cities in the world because of a terrible result in traffic (3.3 on a scale from 1 to 100), plus negative results in safety, pollution, and weather — to be in the center of a typhoon zone does not help.

It is also the most densely populated city on this list — over 20 thousand people per sq/km.

Manila’s total score (from 0 to 100): 29.4

2nd Most Stressful City in the World: Lagos, Nigeria

Lagos had the worst possible result in noise pollution, plus a single-digit score (on a scale that goes to 100) in healthcare access. It likewise performed poorly in safety, social & political stability, and unemployment. 37% of the population does not have a job.

Lagos’ total score (from 0 to 100): 19.9

The Worst among the Most Stressful Cities in the World: Mumbai, India

Mumbai is the 7th largest city in the world. It is also one of the most polluted; it has some of the worst traffic jams, has skies covered in pollution, is subject to floods, and has high living costs compared to the national income levels.

If all that is not enough, it had the minimal score in social security.

Mumbai total score (from 0 to 100): 1

If, instead of a stressful life, you are looking for challenges and countries with business opportunities and fast-growing economies. The articles below will help you with that:

The Best Countries to Start a New Life Abroad with No Money

10 Business-Friendly Countries with Low Taxes and Little Bureaucracy

Living in a Stressful City? Consider the 8 Least Stressful Places in The World

The best city for Digital Nomads and (some) expats!

Levi Borba is CEO of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, and best-selling author. You can check his books here, his other articles here, or his Linkedin here.

Business in Europe

Why a Small Business Fail? The Major Reasons in…

An alert from the UK’s Federation of Small Business is a true eye-opener about why a small business fail.

In numerous countries, 2021 will be a year of exceptional economic growth. Not a surprise — it partially offsets the tragic numbers of 2020. Some nations, like Sweden or the United Kingdom, returned to the Pre-Covid levels already in the first semester. Below I list 3 major reasons why a small business fail in the post-Covid era.

(Remember however that also large businesses may fail terribly. One example is Nokia’s failure.)

The recovery creates unusual situations. Places like the US state of Minnesota are experiencing a labor shortage that led authorities and employers to declare they are in dire need of workers.

What explains, partially, the absence of people willing to apply to new jobs is the entrepreneurial boom. A considerable share of unemployed started their own business, or are planning to.

As reported by Experian and the U.S. Census, during the last year business starts soared 27 percent to 4.4 million in the US alone.

How many of these new firms will survive to their second year? How many will still be open in 2025?

During ordinary, non-pandemic times, these are the small business survival rates(data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics):

21.6% of small businesses collapse within the first year
31% of small businesses collapse within 2 years
49.3% of small businesses collapse within 5 years.
66.3% of small businesses collapse within 10 years.

The Federation of Small Businesses from the United Kingdom estimates that a quarter of a million small businesses could disappear in 2021 in the UK alone. The same alert is valid for any economy that was hit by the Covid crisis in 2021 — meaning nearly the entire world.

If you are thinking about taking the entrepreneurial road, you have my admiration— and, as Nassim Nicholas Taleb once wrote, fallen entrepreneurs deserve almost as much respect as fallen soldiers. Most of the jobs are created by small businesses, and entrepreneurs are the risk-takers that catalyze the economy.

The business traps listed below are more active than ever in 2021. If you are an entrepreneur or are planning to start a firm this year, pay close attention to them. I would like to see your firm alive and well in 2025.

Over-Optimism Leading to Poor Credit Arrangements

This is the first item on the list of why small business fail because it is also the first I made as an entrepreneur.

Years ago, I took a loan to expand my business. It had an interest rate of 6%, which I considered ok since my business plan forecasted an ROI (Return of Investment) of 8% per year.

The problem is that the sector of my first company (hospitality) has an average ROI of 4%. I expected to double the industry return. All that as a beginner. That was a very optimistic expectation.

To make things worse, the COVID crisis came. The 6% interest rate that I considered adequate became higher than our ROI. The loan turned to be a poor credit arrangement.

With the 2021 economic recovery, other entrepreneurs may risk the same path. Here is my alert: do not take credit considering your best-case scenario. Instead, consider the worst-case, and if your ROI is still larger than the interest rate, then, and only then, you take the loan.

As an alternative to bank loans, consider capitalization rounds. I made one 3 years ago — also thanks to the Talebian concept of Antifragility — and it reduced my risks compared to a loan. You will need to give periodic explanations to your partners about the business situation but this is little effort for the benefit of not paying dividends if you don’t profit — while banks will demand loan payment no matter your situation.

Another alternative I used to raise capital was crowdfunding, which is a good choice during uncertain times.

Book suggestion: All the Hows of a First-Time Business Owner: There is a thin line between bankruptcy and the freedom to be an entrepreneur

It is worse in the events, concert, and tourism industry

Banks work to maximize their return while reducing their risks — that is how every business should act.

To reduce risks, they tightened the credit criteria to the most affected sectors. This led to absurd requirements, like financial institutions demanding hotels to sell assets if they want to get credit.

Let’s think about this for a moment: a hotel chain is taking credit to survive but is forced to sell assets that, in an event of recovery, will make the income to pay the credit. That increases the risk that they will not make enough to pay their obligations.

It is the closest to financial suicide that someone can get.

Over-Optimism Leading to Over Hiring or Over Investment

When you have a once-in-a-century pandemic, planning gets hard. For years I worked at airline headquarters with demand forecasting. There, we worked with a concept called SE (Special Events) adjustments.

To put it straight, it means that disruptive events, like the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, make your local forecasts useless or even harmful. The 2020 Pandemic was the mother of all special events. Instead of local, it made global forecasts useless.

Without forecasting, planning is complicated. Jason Lee, owner of Healthy Framework, in an interview for Entrepreneur.com, stated

COVID is making forward planning near impossible. Without knowing how long it’s going to be here and to what degree, it’s nearly impossible to plan out marketing efforts, gauge staffing needs, or just know what our customers and clients need.

Planning mistakes can affect multiple areas. But none of them have the side-effects of staffing mistakes. When a firm over-hire, either they need to bear higher costs for undetermined periods, or they need to let people go. The first damages the bottom line, the second, the team morale.

When hiring, do not hire optimistically, but realistically. More employees than necessary result in idle talents, a slower work environment, and a lack of challenges and motivation. Failures that answer the question of why small businesses fail.

To help you, we wrote an article with strategic questions to ask candidates during job interviews for your business.

Growing Too Fast While Ignoring Marginal Costs

There is an episode of the comedy The Office where Michael Scott, the main character and paper company manager, decides to open his own firm and compete with his former employer.

At first, the Michael Scott Paper Company is an apparent success. Sales are growing so fast that he needs to make his team work extra hours — poor Ryan and Pam. But what Michael had as a sales genius, he lacked in finance. Days later, they discovered they had funds enough to survive only a week more.

They were selling at a loss. With the sales expansion, their marginal costs skyrocketed, unnoticed.

This is the mystery of unhealthy growth that answers why small business fail.

Often founders and managers confuse success with rapid expansion. Nobody wants to limit growth, but everyone wants — or at least should — to limit cost increase. If your sales increased to the point that to deliver it, you need to pay extra hours or hire pricey services, it is time to go to the old, boring excel and do the numbers.

Do you have cash flow enough to make these investments? Is the price of your product enough to cover it at a profit?

An alternative is to leverage price instead of production. Instead of selling more at the same price, sell the same at a higher price. This is one of the tools I learned working at the Revenue Management departments in global airlines. Airlines cannot easily create more seats in their planes — it would be too expensive or unpractical. So they leverage their prices.

Entrepreneurs often win the race against the competition by going slow and steady. The increase in marginal costs is one of the alarming signs that you are growing too quickly. Others are staff burnout, quality decline, delivery delays, etc.

Conclusion: Why a Small Business Fail? Nearly All Problems Are Caused by Insufficient Cash Flow

It is a well-known error from aspiring entrepreneurs to underestimate the funds they need — an error that I also committed once.

If you are planning your first business, in a new industry (like I was 5 years ago), maybe cash flow is still a mystery in that sector. There is an enormous chance that you will miscalculate the money needed to take your plans from paper, and the time necessary to recover it. Fortunately, in my case, I found a local ally that warned me of these mistakes.

Business often takes longer than expected to deliver their full results. This time gap is one of the reasons nearly 1/3 of the companies collapse before their second anniversary. When calculating your finances, consider the worst-case scenario for at least the first two years to plan how much money you will need.

Sales need time to pick up, and until there, you need cash flow to survive.

Because cash flow is for a business what water is for an aquarium. If you have a hole that leaks it out, you need to discover it and tamper it quickly, otherwise, it will go dry.

An aquarium without water means death to your goldfish. A business without cash flow is death to your entrepreneurial dreams — until you start again.

The three traps listed in this article either are causes or results from cash flow problems.

Over-optimism Leading to Poor Credit Arrangements. It happens when someone wants to invest but does not have the resources to do so neither the arguments to raise cheaper capital without using banks.
Over-optimism Leading to Over Hiring or Over Investment. A trap that results in layoffs or assets returned when the excess staff or machinery remains idle, and the cash to sustain them is not enough.
Growing too fast while ignoring Marginal Costs. A sped-up expansion can quickly increase marginal costs of production or marginal costs of sale, to where companies are trapped between not delivering their services/products or forced to take loans to honor contracts.

Selection of related articles to why a small business fail:

5 Books Every Entrepreneur Must Read This Year - Even Before Starting a Business

Lessons from Skin in The Game – Nassim Taleb

4 Industries and Jobs That Will Disappear Due to Technology

Cultural Shock

4 Polish Habits To Increase Productivity That You Can…

For more productivity and proven, time-tested ideas, check Small Business Hacks. From Entrepreneurs to Entrepreneurs.

Polish professionals are among the most productive in the world, according to a survey from DeskTime. It surprised me that their productivity was far superior to Germans, a fact that would amaze even Poles themselves. Maybe that is why salaries in Poland improved so drastically recently. But when you observe how the Poles carry their duties and some Polish habits, it is easy to understand.

What is Productivity?

First, it is important to make clear what I mean by productivity. Let’s adopt the simplest definition: it is the output divided by time (or resources used). Productivity is, in this sense, analogous to the rate of production. A way to measure it is by GDP produced by every worked hour.

Productivity depends on factors like training, incentives, and experience on the job. It can also be boosted (or curbed) by few cultural aspects.

I remember when I was working as a stockbroker in Brazil, and every Wednesday my colleagues went to eat Feijoada at a nearby restaurant during our lunch break. This is a traditional Brazilian dish that is very heavy to digest. It even makes me sleepy, so I avoided eating it during workdays. Some of the other guys in the operations room were at a slow pace during their post-feijoada hours*. A slow stockbroker is an inferior stockbroker.

What you eat — or when and how long you take to eat — is not the only factor to impact productivity. Trivial habits have an enormous influence on a person’s output. I realized that after adopting a few practices from the Poles. Things that made my productivity boost.

Reading at the Public Transport

I start this by saying that this habit in São Paulo or most western megacities can be complicated unless you commute to work in unusual times, with little passenger influx. If the transport is cramped, your priority is to breathe, stay on your feet and avoid pickpocketers.

In Poland, it is not like that. Here it is common to have enough personal space to open a book in its trams, metros, or buses. I used to live around 50 minutes far from my work. I adopted the Polish habit of reading, so I took an ebook reader with me. This minor change, alone, helped me to read over 40 books in a single year, including some excellent books for entrepreneurs that were on my must-read for years.

I often see people complaining that they do not have time to read. When I ask what they do while they are sitting on the bus, they answer that they check Instagram or Facebook, gigantic time-wastes. Sure, Donna, every day you have a 1-hour commute to work and you tell me you have no time to read?

On a side note, I know it is tempting to reach for your phone and start scrolling on Facebook. Sometimes we even do it unconsciously. The solution I found is to put the phone in the backpack instead of my pocket.

Random things at Nature

Poland is one of the European countries with the largest proportion of its territory under environmental protection. They preserve 33% of their land in 2043 parks and natural reserves.

The abundance of natural areas serves well to the Polish habit of spending time in nature. Sometimes they do weird stuff, like a woman that almost died because she wanted to hike half-naked during winter. But on other occasions, they spend time in nature doing healthy activities. One of the funniest (and tastiest) polish idiosyncrasies is the habit of picking forest mushrooms.

Yes, you can buy them at the supermarket and they are not expensive. But this is not only about the mushrooms. It is about quality time spent with family and friends, breathing fresh air scented by pine trees, listening to birds, and watching squirrels and hedgehogs play around.

One still may argue: yes, to spend time in the forest is cool, but what is the relation of that with productivity?

The answer is that spending time in nature lowers your cortisol, improves cognitive function, and reduces blood pressure, increasing your overall productivity.

The Kanapki

Reading in the metro or hiking in forests are not exclusivities of Poland. But the habit of eating kanapki is something that I found nowhere else.

Most foreigners in Poland will discover it accidentally when they order a sandwich at a street stand and the attendant delivers something.. different. Because it is common that Poles understand kanapki and sandwiches as the same thing.

But they are not.

They are more similar to a giant version of the French canapé (the word kanapki derives from it) or the Spanish tapa. That is what every day, millions of Poles eat in their breakfasts or work breaks.

How the kanapki helps you to be more productive? They are easy to prepare and practical to eat, and they have fewer carbs than an ordinary sandwich, because they have 50% less bread. Carbs kill your productivity for a myriad of reasons, from messing with your insulin levels to flooding your brain with sleep hormones like serotonin and tryptophan.

No Lunch — at least at work.

During one of my first meetings with my wife — back then, my girlfriend, we had an extensive discussion about the polish word obiad. She translates it as “dinner”, while I call it “lunch”.

The truth is that obiad is neither.

It is later than what we call almoço in Portuguese or almuerzo in Spanish. In both Iberian cultures, this is the largest meal, happening around 13:00, and usually taking one hour or more. Some people even take a nap after it.

Obiad, on the other side, is around 16:00, and, depending on how quickly a person returns home after work, you have it with family.

Therefore, in Poland, lunch virtually does not exist — my wife still disagrees with me, she keeps insisting that obiad is lunch.

This is not a surprise only for Latin-Americans or Iberians, but even Brits are surprised that during lunchtime Poles stay working at their desks. The absence of a longer lunch break is common in other cultures, like in Germany, but rare, and even illegal, in most romance cultures.

How does that help? Fewer breaks lead to a better mental flow, using the primal resources of our mind, like hunger.

Conclusion: Polish Habits to Increase Productivity

There are few habits that I learned in Poland that raised my productivity and helped me to get more from my time.

Read on public transport, using my commuting time to learn useful things for my entrepreneurial journey.
Spend more time in nature, to reduce my cortisol and stress levels.
Eat Kanapki, and cut carbs.
Cut long lunch hours to interrupt my mental flow when performing cognitively demanding tasks, also called deep work.

The above-average Polish productivity is not new. We are talking about a nation that, after the II World War destruction, rebuilt its capital in only five years. There are many other things one can learn with the Polish habits, although I still find it disgusting to eat pizza with garlic sauce.

If you are planning to live abroad, it is a good time to check the things to buy before moving out, but if you already live abroad, I recommend this simple but life-changing advice for expatriates.

PS: After learning these interesting Polish Habits, if you want to know some interesting findings of productivity and multitasking (they will surprise you), watch the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RPNeLnRmeMu0026t=329s

Levi Borba is CEO of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, and a best-selling author. You can check his books here, his other articles here, or his Linkedin here.

Cultural Shock

Types of Expatriates

Reasons for Expatriation: Only 16% Look For a Better Life. What about The Rest?

What Is the Definition of an Expatriate?

An expatriate is someone who has moved from their native country to live in another country. The term is often used in the business world to refer to workers who have been sent by their employer (usually a large company or government) to another country for an extended period of time.

The word expatriate comes from the Latin word “ex” and the Greek word “patria,” both of which mean “out of one’s native land.”

Traditionally, an expatriate is considered to be someone who stays abroad for at least three months, although this definition is flexible. While it is possible to be an expatriate without being a diplomat, most expatriates work in foreign countries on behalf of their native country. Some examples of expatriates include:

Whare are the reasons for expatriation?

There are plenty of questions to answer when you are moving out. Instead of asking which one of the types of expatriates we are, our doubts are about more trivial things, like:

● Will my money, or salary, be enough?

● Where will I live?

● Can I speak their language, or at least learn it without a headache?

● What will I do with my belongings? Should I sell or ship it?

● What about the bureaucracy or the visa procedures?

● What should I do in case of getting sick or if i need emergency care?

I had been in these situations several times in my life. In another article, I wrote some of these troubles that expatriates experience. But here you will learn how to understand what you are, so you can look for the correct answers. This is the very first step for anyone moving out from home.

After you learn to identify what is your type, it may shock you to know that people move abroad without thinking about it! It may be the reason so many of them come back frustrated.

Periodically the network InterNations promotes The Expat Insider, one of the biggest worldwide surveys about immigration and emigration. They made a convenient division of the expats into 6 types.

Reasons for expatriation: The 6 types of expatriates.

1. The Optimizer: Representing 16% of the total, they moved for a better quality of life, finances, political, religious, or safety reasons. The majority of them are men (56%) and are in a relationship (66%).

2. The Explorer: They make 12% of the total, and moved because of the appeal of living abroad, or because they were looking for new adventures and challenges. Their numbers are quite balanced between men and women, and just a small minority have children.

3. The Foreign Assignee: Making 10% of the expats, they went abroad by request of their existing employers, and the large majority of them are men in a relationship.

4. The Go-Getter: Representing 21% of the respondents, they moved out to start their business, find a job, or were recruited locally. The majority are well-educated men in a relationship.

5. The Travelling Spouse: This 8% of the whole expat community are the ones moved to follow their partners. If most of the types until now are male-dominated, in this one, women are an absolute majority: 86%.

6. The Romantic: The last category represents 12% of the total. They moved to the country of their partners. Mostly are women in a relationship, but there are a significant number of men in this category (me included).

One interesting thing here is that the categories are not definitive. There are plenty of cases where Foreign Assignees become Go-Getters when they spot an opportunity and change from employees to employers. The Romantic also often is part of another category besides their current one.

When I moved to Chile, I was a Foreign Assignee, the same as when I moved to Qatar. My life in Poland started as a Romantic, but almost after arrival, I also turned into a Go-Getter by starting my business. Henceforth, categories should not limit or make you think you will always belong to only one of them. Eventually, expatriates will move from one to the other.

Conclusion: Reasons for expatriation and The 6 types of expatriates.

The 6 types of expatriates are:

The Optimizer (16% of the total)
The Explorer (12% of the total)
The Foreign Assignee (10% of the total)
The Go-Getter (21% of the total)
The Travelling Spouse (8% of the total)
The Romantic (12% of the total)

Have in mind that each of those types have their goals and dreams. Each of them have also their advantages and disadvantages. A Travelling Spouse or the Romantic may not feel as alone as an Explorer, while the Foreign Assignee, with the guaranteed income source from his job, will take less risk.

There is also a type not represented above in any category: individuals moving away to evade their families and domestic problems. My best guess for their absence is because they are short-lived. When you move away to escape from your private problems, you will not solve them at all. You are just making it even more difficult to solve them by distance when it gets unbearable.

There is another important characteristic you will discover when understanding your type: if you are a provisional or long-lasting expat. The first is someone planning to live abroad for a certain, pre-established number of years. The second is a person who is moving out with a long-term plan or permanently. A foreign-assignee or explorer most likely will be a provisional, unless they fall in love with a local or start their own business, becoming, respectively, a romantic or go-getter, two long-lasting types.

Are your plans in your new country temporary or long-term? Are you moving out just to progress in your career and then return home with a bigger salary or are you willing to build a new life outside? The first secret of life abroad is to know yourself by answering those questions. You cannot follow the other rules, especially the numbers 2 and 3, before defining who you are. You cannot research what is better for you or what are your goals if you don’t know what you are looking for. The answer to these questions not only will make you feel more comfortable and secure, but they will be a basis for a better expatriate life.

Ask yourself why you are leaving. Ask yourself if you are planning to come back soon. Then, you will have self-knowledge enough for the next steps.

If you are planning to live abroad, it is a good time to check the things to buy before moving out, but if you already live abroad, I recommend this simple but life-changing advice for expatriates.

Independent of what you are among the types of expatriates, you can save money with the hacks from this book.

Cultural Shock

Cultural Differences Argument at Work and Life

Image by Hajili Sevil for Wikimedia Commons. Culture Shock Illustration

The Logic to Ace Any Cultural Differences Argument

With higher mobility between cities, regions, industries, and continents, there is an equal boost in intercultural issues. Maybe you already had an argument about cultural differences or saw one cultural shock problem of the listed below:

Different approaches to power and authority. Individuals from societies like Japan or Malaysia, perform well under rigid hierarchical structures. Meanwhile, Scandinavians or Canadians favor more flexible authority schemes.
Individualism vs Collectivism. They praise individual initiative in Australia or the US. On the other side, in Asian countries like China it carries negative shades. In collectivist societies, initiative happens in coordination with the sorrounding stakeholders, or higher authorities.
Risk Aversion. Cultures vary in their inclination to take risks. That in part explains, for example, why the British explored almost the entire globe. Great Britain is one of the least risk-averse societies on the planet.

The cultural differences mentioned above are part of the discoveries from the Dutch psychologist Geert Hofstede. In a previous article, we wrote about Hofstede’s findings on cultural shock. In another article, I explained how these discrepancies in societal attitudes contribute to the feeling of homesickness to the point of, in certain cases, making it unbearable.

Why is it important to have an argument about cultural differences

There is a special type of problem that is forgotten when we talk about the cultural shock problem. It is a constant in universities and workplaces, harming cooperation between international teams or corporate departments. It caught my attention how this trouble is so harmful but still nearly nobody talks about it.

It is the Inertial Antagonism Syndrome. A widespread disorder slowing down or even blocks creativity and problem-solving qualities.

To understand what is inertial antagonism, think about mob rejection. It is the reaction entire communities have when they conform to a long-standing problem and do not know how to overcome it. Often people know that there is a problem, but they just prefer to keep the status quo instead of trying other ways to solve it.

The roots of inertial antagonism are assumptions we have against foreign methods. Sometimes these assumptions are well justified and avoid disasters. Often, on the other side, they are psychological barriers.

A famous example of Inertial Antagonism Syndrome happened in Spain. Vanderlei Luxemburgo is one of the most victorious Brazilian football coaches in history. He accepted to train Real Madrid in 2004.

The team had a squad filled with some of the most successful players of the time, nicknamed Galacticos. Luxemburgo adopted techniques like the quadrado mágico (magical square), a very offensive, Brazilian-minted formation. Spanish specialists warned that such an offensive style could not fit European fields. Later, Real Madrid fired him.

When locals tell you that the techniques from your land will not work here, listen to them and analyze their objections with the utmost care. If there are shreds of evidence that your once successful methods will not work, rethink your ways. But if there is no evidence of failure besides the typical inertial antagonism, then go forward, but with caution. Just like Ward Chartier.

Culture shock examples

Below is an example of culture shock and a recipe to avoid the inertial antagonism syndrome and solve the entire problem

Mr. Chartier is a seasoned expatriate. For 14 years, he lived in five different countries, including the Far East. When I asked about the conflicts created by bringing foreign methods and cultural characteristics, he answered me:

We, Americans, have the unfortunate reputation of being arrogant and loud. My personality is neither, but I still remained aware of the general perception and acted to avoid it. In addition, I avoided slang, spoke slower than my usual moderate pace of speech, and enunciated clearly.

A few people derided my methods and management tools as “Western thinking. Won’t work here.” My methods and tools were actually a hybrid of East and West, which I explained, but some remained intransigent. Let them think what they wish. My results were financially and operationally successful for the benefit of my customers and employers.

There are two points in the answer of Mr. Chartier that I would like to highlight:

1. There was a negative preconception from the locals. It was the idea that Americans are arrogant and loud. To confront and defeat this assumption, Mr. Chartier avoided giving any sign of these undesired characteristics. Perhaps behavior toward self-policing is a tiresome effort, and that is true. It sometimes feels that all the time you are stepping on eggs, or walking through a minefield to not hurt sensibilities.

Here it is important to balance how much you want to build an excellent reputation and establish a healthy image in your new environment. If this is a must for you, start avoiding now attitudes that give fuel to stereotypes.

2. When people doubted his battle-tested techniques, his first attitude was to check if there was any evidence to justify their doubt. Maybe they knew something that he didn’t? Maybe they already tried it before, and it already failed? Or maybe there was no raw (or human) material for this kind of solution in the place?

Talk to the grocery cashier: The source to close any cultural difference argument.

Remember that locals are in their places way before your arrival, so it is worthy to listen to their objections. This is one reason behind a recommendation I make to clients of my consulting firm that intend to venture into new territories. First have a talk with the grocery store cashier, or with the taxi driver. These locals have valuable insider advice that can soar the adaptation pace of any newcomer.

After careful investigation, Mr. Chartier realized that the critics of his imported system had no factual basis. They did not try his idea before. It never failed in a similar scenario, and it was applicable in the Far East. People resisted because of pure inertial antagonism. So he applied his methods and proved that they work by achieving excellent results.

Point 2 is a sympathetic approach to deal with reactions like “the techniques from your land will not work here”. Investigate, ask questions, and level the expectations to realistic standards. A wonderful tool for this kind of investigation is the PEST analysis.

By using point 2, you will manage to implement innovative ideas in your university or workplace while keeping healthy relationships with locals. Locals are, according to empirical evidence, among the most important allies to a successful career or business.

Regarding point 1, not giving reasons for people to believe in their preconceptions is prudent, but only if they are negative. If they are positive presumptions, be aware that you have a positive reputation to justify. One example is the natural expectation that British and Swiss citizens will be punctual.

Even if it is just a stereotype, it is positive, so worth keeping it, right?

If you live far from your home, check this article I prepared for you about homesickness.

This article about the cultural differences problems and argument solutions is a small part of the book below, highly recommended.

Levi Borba is the founder of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, and best-selling author. You can check his books here, his other articles here, or his Linkedin here.

Cultural Shock

What Is the Importance of Cultural Distance for Expatriates

What is Cultural Distance and How to Measure It?

You just received an excellent job offer abroad, or maybe you decide to open a company abroad and have the full plan read. Either way, you concluded that you checked what to consider when moving away from home. You think that the chosen destination offers a good professional perspective. Now it is time to pack your things and decide the date of the flight, right?

Not yet.

If you are planning to the new place, there are other things to consider. We will call this group the non-professional elements. The reason to consider them is that it is hard to have a successful career or enterprise if you are feeling miserable, living in a place you dislike, or in an environment that goes against your values.

In my first book, Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity, I dedicated one entire chapter to exemplify why understanding your own life project is important to succeed as an expatriate. This applies if you are a big-corporation employee, a foreign student, a person moving with your spouse, or an entrepreneur.

How to Measure Cultural Differences

A phenomenon frequently affecting expatriates is what I call environmental dissonance. It happens when your values conflict with the place surrounding you. In my before-mentioned book (Moving Out) I recounted the story of Breno, a colleague I met while living in the Middle East. Even having a good job and working in his field of specialization, he left months after arriving because the environmental dissonance became overwhelming to him.

Just imagine how more complicated is to suffer this dissonance while you hire and motivate a team, establish goals, write a business plan, pitch for seed capital, and so on. For this reason, becomes essential to assert that your target country, if also attractive to your business and career, also matches your life project and goals.

Just be aware that I am at no point advocating you should “follow your heart” or “listen to your feelings”. In fact, to follow your passion is poor advice. What I propose, instead, is to rationalize what your new country offers and how it matches your personal needs. For this, I recommend analyzing the following non-professional elements.

What is Cultural Distance

Cultural distance is a term that originates from Geert Hofstede, probably the greatest modern researcher in comparative cultural aspects. It is a method of measuring the differences in values and behaviors between cultures. Cultural distance metrics have been applied to national cultures, but they can be extended to any group of people in any organization. The cultural distance can be measured on a continuum, ranging from low to high.

Starting in the 80s with his book Culture’s Consequences, Geert Hofstede developed an extensive bibliography in the area, culminating with the institute that carries his name.

Present in 60 countries, the Hosfted Insights institute developed a model breaking down the cultural distance into 6 major areas.

Power Distance
Individualism
Masculinity
Uncertainty Avoidance
Long Term Orientation
Indulgence

Below, each definition, according to the Hofstede-Insights researchers:

The 6 Components of Cultural Distance

What is power distance

This factor reflects the culture’s attitude regarding disparities among us. The extent to which less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a society expect and tolerate unequal power distribution is measured by power distance.

What is Individualism

This dimension’s fundamental concern is the degree of interdependence that a society maintains among its members. It is whether people’s self-image is expressed in terms of “I” or “We.” Individualist civilizations are characterized by people focusing solely on themselves and their immediate family. People in Collectivist societies belong to ‘in groups’ that look after them in exchange for allegiance.

What is Masculinity

A high score on this dimension (Masculinity) indicates that competition, achievement, and success will drive society, with success defined by the winner / best in the field—a value system that begins in school and continues throughout organizational life. A low score (Femininity) on the dimension indicates that caring for others and quality of life are the prevailing values in society. In a Feminine society, success is measured by the quality of one’s life, and standing out from the herd is not admired. The primary question here is whether people are motivated by a desire to be the best (masculine) or by a desire to enjoy what they do (Feminine).

What is Uncertainty Avoidance

It’s about how a society handles the reality that we can’t predict the future: should we strive to control it or just let it happen? This ambiguity causes anxiety, which many cultures have learned to deal with in their own unique ways. Uncertainty Avoidance is a measure of how threatened individuals of a society are by ambiguous or unclear events, and how they establish institutions to mitigate the danger.

What is Long Term Orientation

This dimension highlights how every culture must keep some ties to its own past while dealing with present and future concerns. These two existential aspirations are prioritized differently by societies. Low-scoring normative societies, for example, prefer to uphold time-honored traditions and norms while viewing societal change with skepticism. Societies that score highly in this category, on the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they support efforts in contemporary education as a means of preparing for the future.

What is Indulgence

This dimension is defined by Hofstede-Insights as the amount to which people try to control their urges and impulses based on how they were raised. Control that is comparatively weak is referred to as “indulgence,” while control that is relatively firm is referred to as “restraint.” As a result, cultures are classified as either indulgent or restrained.

Cultural Distance Examples

The Hofstede country comparison and my own experience

When I had my first contact with the research of Dr. Hofstede, my immediate action was to check how the countries I lived in before (Brazil, Chile, Qatar, and Poland) scored in each ranking. The comparative results from each one – got from a tool available on his institute website – reflected with Swiss precision the reality I witnessed living in each of them.

For example, according to the results, the Power Distance in Qatar is very high. This matches my observations of a place where the people take as natural the near immutable social differences. Similarly, the higher levels of indulgence and femininity (as per Hofstede’s definition of femininity) in Chile are noticeable in their capital. At the end, the results from Poland fused two of my biggest impressions from living in this country: it is a non-indulgent society, with a considerable level of risk-aversion.

The two characteristics mentioned above – frugality and risk-aversion – of the Polish people contrasted with my cultural baggage.

As a Brazilian, I grow up seeing people spend a fair share of their income in branded shoes, new cars (paid in installments distributed across years), and eating out. Even though nowadays Poland has a similar income to my native São Paulo, someone will rarely buy a new car, and a 10-year-old vehicle is still OK. Personal anecdote: my wife considers it absurd that someone would spend over 5 times his salary on a new automobile. In contrast, in Brazil, it is not rare to see people buying cars with the price tag of their annual salary.

Cultural Distance example 2: Latin America vs Europe

This difference, summarized in the Indulgence factor of Dr. Hofstede’s research, probably affects not only me but thousands of other expatriates that move between Latin America and Europe. Sean Lana, an expatriate living in Germany, lists how other factors of Hofstede’s research (Individualism) impact his daily life.

Germany is not a country you want to be if your only major goal in life is to own a Bugatti, Ferrari, Tesla and shows off! Collectivism means the country is trying to redistribute wealth equally, at least in order to mitigate poverty and support low-income earners. Expect high taxes and you will enjoy a high quality of life with infrastructures. So if you are very individualistic, consider the next flight to another country. German organisation system is based on the ideology of Max Weber (bureaucracy), Americans practice Scientific management (Taylorism). If you are not used to obeying rigorous rules, regulations, huge laws, paper works, transparency, slow process, appointments, etc then you shouldn’t stay in Germany.

Cultural distance example 3: cultural differences when moving within a country

It is essential to remind that cultural discrepancies – of the types studied by Dr. Hofstede and perceived in the two examples above – can exist even inside the same country.

Henry Eshleman, a Park Ranger at Fairbanks North Star Borough in Alaska, USA, explained how he felt closer to foreign students than locals while in Indiana, Midwest of the same country.

In Indiana, being from Alaska made me an exotic curiosity. People would ask me questions I never got in Europe, Canada, or Mexico- “What are you doing here?” “Is it cold there?” “What it’s like when it’s light all the time?” And so forth. As a student, I rapidly realized I had more in common with the foreign exchange students, or with my buddy Angel, from Puerto Rico, than I did with the “regular” kids.

My biggest culture shock was essentially domestic in nature, the result of coming from a state which isn’t directly connected to the rest right into the Midwest Heartland.

Even in a country with the size of a single American state, cultural differences are noticeable. In Poland, the northern region of Gdansk has considerable differences from the Subcarpathian cities in the south. Differences were shaped during centuries of partitions between Russia, Austria, and Germany. Nowadays, the differences reflect electoral results, practices, and consumer behaviors.

Besides cultural characteristics, there are other non-business aspects to consider when doing a professional shift:

· Future family prospects: It is easy to make a decision when it concerns only you. The same is not true when it involves wives and kids. Even if you are single, it is important to reflect on what you want for the next years. If you are planning to build a family, consider this beforehand. This was my case when I decided to move out of Qatar (my previous country). My first thought was to move to Panamá with my then-fiancée, but we had plans to marry and maybe have kids in the next few years. For this reason, we live in Poland, closer to her family.

· The Time zone. I already mentioned how different time zones can create business problems. This also applies to your private life. A person in South Africa, even though is distant from his relatives in Europe, is still inside a similar time zone, but not someone living in the Middle East and with a family in South America. This was my case years ago. The 5 to 6 hours’ difference restricted the chances I had to keep in contact. During my mornings, they were sleeping. During their evenings, I was sleeping.

· How friendly the country is to your lifestyle. For example, if you enjoy practicing outdoor sports, places like Dubai or Doha may not be a good idea, since it is excruciatingly hot for more than half of the year.

To go deeper into this subject, my first book, Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity, has plenty of considerations to reflect on the personal side of expatriation. Still, if there is one positive piece of advice in business and personal life, it is to immerse yourself in the local culture from the beginning. Talk to the grocery store cashier is a good start.

Conclusion of what is cultural distance

· Cultural discrepancies: How you will adapt to different degrees of Individualism, Power Distance, risk-version, indulgence, and so on?

· Future personal prospects: Are you planning to marry, build a family, or remain single? What is the local offer of schools, nurseries, etc., fits your plans?

· The time zone difference: Is the time difference considerable? How will that affect your relationships back home?

· How friendly the country is to your lifestyle: Of your routine and favorite activities, what you can keep or adapt to your new destination?

If you are planning to live abroad, it is a good time to check the things to buy before moving out, but if you already live abroad, I recommend this simple but life-changing advice for expatriates.

This article on moving away from home while considering the cultural distance is related to the highly recommended book below.

Levi Borba is the CEO of expatriateconsultancy.com and a best-selling author. You can check his books here and his articles here. The inspiration for this article comes from the book Starting Your Own Business Far From Home: What (Not) to Do When Opening a Company in Another State, Country, or Galaxy