Advice

Relocation Advice | The Ulitmate Guide To Living Abroad, Overseas Property, Emigration And Moving Overseas

Are you the best and the brightest?

Australia’s migration system is going through an overhaul, but what will it mean for those of us hoping to make the move Down Under? Words Jane Riley

In September last year, the Australian government introduced the first in a series of changes to its migration policy in a bid to attract the “best and brightest” migrants and help control Australia’s rapidly rising population. So what are the changes and how may they impact on anyone thinking of making the move Down Under?

The points system used to assess migrants has been tightened; English language requirements have increased – you now need a higher level of English than before; the number of owner/business investor visas being approved has been capped; and references are being more thoroughly checked.

Where to begin?

We look at taking your first steps in your new language, Spanish. Words Juan Kattán-Ibarra

If you are a beginner in Spanish, you may be wondering how difficult Spanish will turn out to be or how different it is from English. Spanish is not in fact a difficult language to learn, and there are many reasons for this. If you have never encountered Spanish before, you will be surprised to find that there are many similarities between Spanish and English, especially in the area of vocabulary. Many of the words that are similar have their origins in Latin, (visión vision, diario diary, mover to move, etc.), while many others have their roots in Greek (programa programme, sistema system, escuela school, etc.).

You will be able to deduce the meanings of many Spanish words from the similarity or correspondence between certain forms, for example Spanish -ción English -tion (acción action, situación situation), -ad -ty (libertad liberty, universidad university), -mente -ly (especialmente especially, exactamente exactly), -ico -al (idéntico identical, práctico practical), -ista -ist (artista artist, dentista dentist). But some words that look the same have different meanings in Spanish and English: actual (current, present) – actual, asistir (to attend) – to assist, carpeta (folder, tablecover) – carpet, etc.

Read more in the March issue of Living Abroad magazine

Nipping out for a tuck

Having cosmetic procedures carried out in Spain may cost less than in the UK, and means you can recuperate in the sun. Words Liz Silverster

With a good selection of private hospitals and clinics, Spain makes a great choice for cosmetic surgery. While the Euro exchange rate means you won’t get such a great deal as you did a few years ago, you’re still likely to pay less than in the UK and with great service, post-op care and accommodation usually included in the price, it really does look like a good option.

If you’re thinking that Spain may be the place to go but are considering it alongside other countries, bear in mind that Spain is preferable to faraway places – there are lots of cheap flights and it doesn’t take long to get there. With long-haul destinations, being stuck on a plane for many hours and excessive time changes are not a great idea post-surgery. Besides, the large expat community means English isn’t such a problem in Spain as it can be in some other countries, and the hospitals have a great reputation.

Read more in the March issue of Living Abroad magazine

Hands across the water

In the second part of our two-part series on French greetings, we give you the lowdown on how the French shake hands. Words Charles Timoney

‘To shake hands with someone’ in French is serer la main à quelqu’un. The English verb ‘shake’ refers to the slight up and down movement that you traditionally make with your hands when shaking hands with someone and formally saying, ‘How do you do?’ When French people shake hands there is none of this up and down movement, you just grasp the other person’s hand and keep your hand immobile during the grasping process. This is reflected in the French word serer, which means ‘to grasp’ and not ‘to shake’.

Spanish Steps

Picking up a bit of Spanish isn’t as simple as learning just one language. With four distinct official languages and many dialects, it’s important to know what to expect if you’re making the move.