New Sweden: The “Secret” American Colony

by Eliot Stein BBC    Ask most Americans and they’ll tell you that the United States started in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 when the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence.    But chances are, almost none of those coming realizes that the US’s political and ideological birthplace was once part of a little-known …

Five Choices For Disaffected American Expats

by Blake Bachelor CNN    (Blogger’s note: Yesterday we ran the first part of a BBC story explaining why many Americans, especially retirees, are leaving for other places. Today reporter Blake Bachelor gives details of just where to go and how best to thrive there.)    Here are five countries that are well-suited for retirees. …

Seeking The American Dream In Other Places

by Blake Bachelor CNN     Drawn by sunshine or a lower cost of living, a growing number of Americans are choosing to live their golden years outside the US, in the hope that it will better suit their financial or lifestyle needs and wants.    While official numbers aren’t available, companies and organizations that specialize …

Dual Citizenship Now A Popular Escape Route

by Ellie Cobb BBC    When Emily Hill, a novelist from Everett, Washington, heard about the recent changes to Canada’s citizenship-by-descent rules, she immediately wondered whether a family connection might make her eligible.    “I felt like I’d been struck by lightning,” she says, explaining that her grandmother was born in Montreal. “This possibility was …

People Are Leaving The ‘Uncool’ USA

by Nick Lichtenberg  Fortune Magazine    In 1883, American poet Emma Lazarus wrote “The New Colossus” during an age of great immigration to the New World, as part of an effort to fund the pedestal for France’s gift to the United States: the Statue of Liberty in New York City.    “‘Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!’ …

In Praise Of Mexico, Lettuce And Billy Joel

by Kevin Burton    On a tip from a new friend, I knocked on the door of Interlingua language school one day, and asked the good people there to employ me.    Shockingly, they took me up on it.    This was in the Reagan 80s. I was in somebody else’s country, Mexico, and somebody …

Countries That Will Pay You To Move There

by Meghan Shouse housebeautiful.com    Moving out of the United States may sound appealing for cultural, political or personal reasons, but the process can be challenging. Securing the right visa for you and your family is often a difficult task, especially without easy entry options like schooling or family ties.    Still, if your desire …