When I moved to South Africa, the absolutely smartest thing I did was join the Auto Club. They publish a guide to driving and living there that is amazing. Lots of advice about what to keep in your car if you drive in remote areas, information about poisonous snakes (the most important thing is to catch the snake, so the doctors know what kind of anti-venom to give you), and just tons of other useful information. I can't remember if it came with the membership or I bought it separately, but it was great.

I like the Culture Shock series. There's one for nearly every country in the world. They give you some idea of what you are going to run into. Sometimes I think they are a little out of date and old-fashioned. I used to get one along with a guidebook whenever I traveled in a country outside of the US, Canada, and Europe.

I liked Baghdad without a Map by Tony Horwitz. Each chapter is about one of his attempts at being a freelance journalist while living in Cairo. While the book is not about really living overseas it does touch on it from time to time.

I think anything that gives you a feel for the frustrations and pleasures of living in a foreign environment helps. Anything that makes you laugh about it helps more.

I found a book called Getting Out:Your Guide to Leaving America.I'm finding it to be really helpful because it's up to date and features interviews with people that left the US and how they did it.It also explains the whole visa process.I highly recommend it.

Great suggestion, I just looked into it an bought myself a copy.

__________________
Michael Kettner
Managing Editor
www.expatriateglobal.com

Try Enid Blighton's... 5 go mad in Dorset!
Probably one of the great pieces of writing ever produced...impelling in fact!
Not only does it give you a great insight into the history of Dorset and surrounding areas....but it also keeps you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and double twist it has...till the very last page has been read.
I just can't praise it enough!

But what does this book have to do with being an expat?

everything....and more!
Enid Blighton was indeed an ex-pat herself!
her books have sold more than 400 million copies and have been written in over 3400 translations..... infact she only comes behind Lenin and of course Shakespere in the I have sold the most books catergory.
So not only do I think old Enid deserves a mention on this thread... I believe we should adopt her as our Patron Saint of Ex-Pats.... or at least give her a title that befits her stature....... Ermmm....let's see..... maybe Moderator?
lol

'Who Moved My Cheese' - Dr Spencer Johnson, is a great book about dealing with change, great short story. Very revealing....