Archive for the ‘Expats’ Category

SA expats miss biltong the most

2012-04-26 22:12

Johannesburg - Biltong, drowors and boerewors are the foods most missed by South Africans living in London, according to a survey released on Thursday.

"It's not surprising that three of the foods that came up in our top ten list were of Dutch origin - biltong, drowors and boerewors," said Ryan Mackie from SA Hotels, which conducted the research.

"It's interesting to see the long-term impact the Dutch have had on South Africa's current-day culture."

These three high-protein favourites were followed by Sparletta Creme Soda, Simba Nik Naks and Mrs Balls Chutney.

The other four foods making the top 10 were Peppermint Crisp, Ouma Rusks, maize meal (pap) and Tennis biscuits.

The research was done in London, where about half of the estimated 140 000 South Africans living in the UK are found.

Researchers interviewed the owners of South African food stores in the UK to find out what foods they sold most, and consulted expatriates through e-mail, phone and Facebook.

- SAPA

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SA expats miss biltong the most

Pattaya Mail

It was a traditional Songkran celebration at the Pattaya City Expats Club meeting on April 15. Pettipont, in traditional Thai costume (a friend of club member Sermsakdi, who made the arrangements for the celebration) greeted members and guests as they entered the Amaris Tavern by the Sea Restaurant. Restaurant Manager Tok and member Marjorie Bassett were also on hand to extend greetings. They offered those entering an opportunity to pour water over the golden Buddha while it was resting on the Taverns front desk, and to perform a ceremonial wai.

When the meeting opened, master of ceremonies, Richard Silverberg, after a few introductory comments, turned the meeting over to Noi Nongkoonoi, manager and chief guide for the Sanctuary of Truth. Noi explained the unique history of the Songkran celebration - its origin as the Thai celebration of the New Year according to the lunar calendar, and the importance of the ceremony that all were about to participate in. Noi explained that the ancient ceremony was performed as a showing of respect for the familys elders, monks, and others of significance to the family or the village. The water, having been cleansed by being poured over the shoulder of the Buddha is considered Lustral Water, and is poured over the hands of the elders and others selected by the family as a gesture of respect and hope for the New Year.

Noi of Pattayas famous Sanctuary of Truth shares with PCEC members and guests the traditional origin and practice of Songkran - slightly different to the common practice of today.

The Club was honored to have a very special guest in attendance, Satil Kunplome. She is the mother of five children. They all have achieved important elective or appointive positions in Thai government including the mayor of Pattaya and the mayor of Bang Saen. She is also a noteworthy member of the Thailand Womens Development Group. At the clubs invitation, she graciously joined other elders of the club at the front table to be honored in this very important Thai traditional Songkran ceremony. To add to the occasion Satil was dressed in a traditional Thai ladies costume of the time. She was accompanied by two friends and her driver who also participated in the ceremony.

Following the pouring of the Lustral Water, Noi talked very knowingly about the ceremony that everyone had just experienced and its importance to the Thai people. Those in attendance felt that they had participated in a lovely and moving traditional celebration from Thai history. The club prides itself on having had continuous meetings since its founding eleven years ago. Rather than suspending its meetings during the hectic water throwing exuberance of Pattayas Songkran Festival, during the past few years the club has fostered the true meaning of Songkran to their fellow expats by holding a traditional Songkran celebration.

Following the ceremony, all posed for a group photo.

MC Richard Silverberg then updated everyone on upcoming events. This was followed by the always informative and sometime humorous Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about expat living in Thailand, Pattaya in particular. The Pattaya City Expats Club meets every Sunday. Read more about the Clubs activities on their website at http://www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.

Arriving at the Pattaya City Expats Clubs annual Songkran celebration, member Marjorie performs the washing of the Buddha.

A tender moment as member Richard LeCavalier receives Songkran blessing from his lovely Thai wife, Phap.

Guest of Honor Madame Satil Kunplome receives the traditional Songkran blessing from PCEC member Janet Smith, while her husband Richard Smith receives the same from Pattaya Blatts editor, Elfi Seitz.

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Pattaya Mail

Expats to help build refineries in Iran

Iran's Deputy Oil Minister Alireza Zeighami says Iranian expatriates can invest in development of oil refining and distribution industries in the country.

The official said Friday that Pars condensate refinery of Shiraz is one of the most important candidates for building the countrys first national refinery, Mehr News Agency reported.

The official added that USD 47.5 billion has been allocated for the development of various sectors of Iran's oil refining and distribution industry, including construction of refineries, oil and products transfer pipelines, oil storage facilities, and new oil tanks.

Total length of [oil transfer] pipelines should increase from [the existing figure of] 3,700 kilometers (km) to 5,100 km by the end of the Fifth Economic Development Plan (2015) and to 6,500 km by the end of the 20-Year Perspective Plan (2025), he stated.

Zeighami further said about USD 25 billion dollars should be invested in developing new oil refining capacity with priority given to Pars condensate refinery in Shiraz, Persian Gulf Star refinery, Anahita refinery in Kermanshah, Shahriyar refinery in Tabriz, and Hormoz refinery in Bandar Abbas.

Pointing to Iran's plan to invest about USD 7 billion in developing oil refineries of Isfahan and Abadan, the official said Iranian expatriate can invest as much as they can in various projects related to Iran's oil refining and distribution industries.

The deputy oil minister stated that USD 2 billion should be invested in developing storage capacity for oil products in Iran by 2015 and about USD 3 billion should be invested in building necessary pipelines.

Zeighami concluded by saying that about 70 percent of the process of building oil refineries has been indigenized by Iranian contractors and manufacturers and the figure can be increased up to 90 percent by the end of the Fifth Economic Development Plan.

SS/HGH

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Expats to help build refineries in Iran

The Expat Guidebook Tip of the Day – Throw Away Your Watch – Video

22-04-2012 09:14 The latest tip in our Expat Guidebook Tip of the Day series is simply this throw away your watch. You won't need it while you are living in other countries as an expat/digital nomad. This is especially true in Eastern Europe and Latin America, because while people work hard they don't always adhere to the 8-hour-a-day grind of the American existence. Mexico in particularly is known as the land of tomorrow because people sort of shrug their shoulders and go on about their business rather than stress about what time it is...and one of the biggest challenges for first-time digital nomads/expats is adjusting to the difference. The relaxed, slow-paced lifestyle is one of my favorite parts about traveling and living in other countries.

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The Expat Guidebook Tip of the Day - Throw Away Your Watch - Video

French expats cast ballots in south Lebanon

SIDON, Lebanon: Tens of French expatriates arrived Sunday at a polling station in the southern coastal city of Sidon to cast their vote in the first round of Frances presidential elections.

The entrance to Frances Cultural Center in Sidon, converted to hold to casting of ballots, was heavily guarded by the Internal Security Forces and the premises were off limits to non-French nationals.

Voters were thoroughly searched upon entering the facility amid tight security outside the center and surrounding area.

Over 44 million French are registered to vote in this years presidential election.

Ali Shams, 89, said that he has been participating in the voting process since 1955 but declined to give details about his preference saying: I have the right not to say who I voted for.

Others laughed when asked whether the French voting process resembled the Lebanese one.

There are 10 candidates running for Frances top post but incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy and his Socialist challenger Francois Hollande are expected to go against each other in the next round of voting in a two-week scramble for the line.

An average of the last eight polls released ahead of the end of first round campaign at midnight on Friday showed Hollande winning the first round with an average of 28 percent support, against 26.4 percent for Sarkozy, Agence France Presse reported.

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French expats cast ballots in south Lebanon