How to Convince Your Spouse to Move to Another Country

What to do when your life partner is apprehensive about moving overseas…

Moving can often put strain on a relationship, especially if your spouse does not really want to move. Moving internationally involves a lot of planning and change. Here are some things to consider when negotiating this major relationship decision:

Timing

This is a big decision that requires a lot of thought, planning, and often entails quite a bit of stress. That’s why you want to choose a time when your partner is in a good mood and has the time and emotional energy to process what you have to say.

Communication

There is no substitute for open and honest communication. Be supportive and sensitive to your spouse’s feelings on why they may not want to move. This type of decision won’t be made by your partner overnight, so be patient, don’t jump ahead and start talking about packing stuff from home, even in a hypothetical manner.

Be open to the idea that convincing your partner to do something they don’t think will make them happy may not be the right thing to do.

Don’t dismiss or minimize your partner’s concerns. When you’re talking to your partner about moving, listen closely, don’t move on to your next point without acknowledging what they’ve said. Discuss the difficulties you’ll face along the way, and work together on solutions.

Plan a vacation

Start by taking a trip and treat it as a vacation.  Maybe stay for a weekend and plan for a longer trip in the future.

Allow for your spouse to get acclimated to a new place. They may just start to adjust to the idea of living somewhere new. More likely, this first small step will lead to a second, bigger one.

Think about compromises

What might your other options be? Would you be open to the idea of trying it out for a few months? Would a long distance relationship work for a period of time so you can have the experiences you want but your partner doesn’t need to leave their job, friends, and family?

No doubt relocating is difficult in many ways. With sensitivity, understanding and support, you can make the move the best thing not only for you, but your partner.

Written by Jason Lowder

The world’s happiest industrialized nation

For the third year running, Australia has been revealed as the world’s happiest industrialized nation based on criteria including satisfaction, work-life balance, income and housing.

So what’s Australia’s secret besides the alluring backdrop of sun and surf, or great year-round climate and famous outdoor Aussie lifestyle that makes Australia one of the happiest places on the planet?

A Solid Economy

Australia recently celebrated it’s 21st consecutive year of economic growth. Think about it, no economic recession for 21 years. No other developed nation in the world demonstrates the underlying resilience of the state in the face of challenging conditions.

Australia is moving ahead consistently showing solid growth.  According to the International Monetary Fund, Australia is set to be the best performing major economy in the world over the next two year.

Australia is blessed with natural resources like, iron ore, coal and gas which are key contributors to the countries economic success. China currently is Australia’s largest trade partner, largest source of imports and largest export destination.

Written by Jenn Cosgrove

One of the greatest joys of traveling is sharing the experience with friends, family, and even your pet.

If you are considering traveling internationally with your pet, it’s important to begin planning way ahead of your travel date. Here are some tips on how to keep your furry friends relaxed and calm while traveling, whether by plane or a long scenic drive.

Take a drive

Before your drive, exercise your pet. Take a long walk or play fetch. Encourage your cat to play with its favorite toy. Exercise will give your pet a way to burn off nervous energy.

If your pet isn’t used to riding in vehicles, take a few practice runs prior to your travel date. Start with short trips to the corner store or to a friends house increasing the distance each time.

Make sure your pet is safely and securely restrained or confined to a pet carrier. Using positive reinforcement methods, place some treats in the crate or on the seat verbally encouraging your pet that this is a safe place where fun things happen.

Pack a pet travel kit

Before you hit the road with your pet, make sure they have all the traveling accessories they need as well. Include your pets favorite toy, blanket, chews, or familiar items to help make your pet feel more at home.

Keep your cool

Your pet can sense when you’re stressed and will react in turn. Keeping the energy positive as you’re packing the car and helping your pet into its crate or restrained seat will help alleviate any stress your pet may be feeling. Avoid loud unfamiliar noises, try some soothing music for your road trip.

When traveling by plane

• Try to book a direct flight if possible
• Do not feed your pet during the six hours before your flight. Try not to give them water for the hour before the flight
• Take your pet for a long walk before placing them in the carrier to burn any excess energy
• Make sure your pet has sufficient identification. Address tags with your cell phone number, pet name and rabies tags should be worn by your pet at all times. Health records should be up-to-date well in advance of your trip
• Avoid sedating your pet. If your pet is over stressed, be prepared ahead of time. Talk to your vet, there are a number of natural calming products on the market they  may be able to recommend
• Acclimate your pet to its travel carrier well in advance before your trip. Place a favorite toy and familiar bedding in the carrier

Do you travel with your pet often? Know any good tips to keep them relaxed while on the road? We’d love to hear them!

Every day containers of consumer goods are stacked by the thousands onto cargo freighters and transported from port to port across the globe. The volume of cargo traded through the world’s top container ports has increased dramatically over the years. A major reason for this is the increase in globalization throughout the world. Many of these ports work towards being one of the busiest ports in the world.

The changes in distribution and cargo-handling capabilities of the world’s biggest container ports show the shifts that the world economy has undergone over time. Container ships make about 9,000 port calls.

Workers at ports worldwide load and unload more than 10,000 liner ship stops per week. The average ship makes about 2 port calls per week.

There are different factors that determine how busy or large a port is. Some components are the area covered by the port, amount of traffic handled, and the role each port plays in the import and export capabilities of the nations they serve.

Many countries are gearing up to meet the additional demand for import/export. This method of transport accounts for more than 90 percent of the world trade by volume. New and bigger terminals are built with expansions of channels and waterways in order to prepare for this.

Read our list of the busiest ports in the world below.

Countries are eager to boast having the largest or busiest port in the world because it signifies their economic growth and power. With this power it indicates their presence in the global market.

Busiest Ports in the World

The following are among the busiest ports worldwide:

Port of Shanghai – China

The port of Shanghai is one of the most important gateways for foreign trade for China. It has been one of the world’s most active international trade hubs for over a century. This is still the busiest in the world today in terms of cargo tonnage.

Shanghai’s port has many economic advantages such as ideal natural conditions, great geographical location as it faces the East China Sea, perfect inland distribution infrastructure, and it serves a vast economically developed area.

Port of Singapore – Singapore

The Port of Singapore is the second largest port in the world. It handles more than 420 million tons of cargo every year.

The port terminals are located at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel, Brani, Pasir Panjang, Sembawang and Jurong. On average, Singapore’s port receives 140,000 vessels on an annual basis and connects Singapore to more than 600 global ports.

The port of Singapore transships a fifth of the world’s shipping containers and half of the world’s annual supply of crude oil. Singapore was one of the few who recognized the opportunities to establish ports for commercial trading.

Port of Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Port is the key factor in the development of Hong Kong. It is located in the Far East Trade Routes and is in the center of the fast-developing Asia-Pacific Basin.

Hong Kong Port provides good access for vessels from all over the world. One of the unique qualities of the port is that it efficiently handles cargo operations. The locations of the major cargo handling facilities, including container terminals, river trade terminal, mid-stream sites, public cargo working areas and supporting facilities, such as ship repair yards and typhoon shelters.

Like many of the world’s largest and busiest ports, Hong Kong in the South China Sea is a natural harbor and accounts for the cities strong presence in the world market.

Port of Rotterdam – Netherlands

Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is one of the oldest and largest seaports in Europe and it also ranked as one of the biggest marine ports in the world. It is the only port in north-western Europe that offers unrestricted access to ships with the deepest draughts.

The port handled 441.5 million tons of cargo in 2012, is a gateway to a market of more than 500 million European consumers and also is Europe’s largest center for agricultural business. The harbor functions as a crucial transit point for transport of goods between Europe and other parts of the globe.

Port of Tianjin – China

Port of Tianjin (formerly Tanggu) is the biggest and fastest-growing part of the city’s economy. In 2012, the Port of Tianjin’s cargo throughput reached a new record, growing 5.3 percent year-on-year to 476 million tonnes.

Located in the mouth of the Haihe River in northern China, the port connects to more than 500 ports and serves 189 countries. It is expected to handle 560 million tons of cargo in 2015.

Exporting to the Busiest Ports in the World

Schumacher Cargo Logistics can move your household goods and vehicles all over the world. Since 1977, we have shipped to the busiest ports in the world and offer the best rates and services. To start your shipment, fill out our Online Quote Form today!

From towering masterpieces of architecture to breathtaking natural scenery and lit-up romantic skylines, nothing inspires me to travel or move overseas quite like seeing a place on the big screen.

Movies have such a great power to inspire and trigger an itch for adventure, travel and mystery. They express feelings of freedom and explore ways in which personal journeys can change people’s lives.

There are so many classic and modern day films about expatriate life, it’s hard to find a definitive list. Here are just a handful of favorites.

Lost In Translation

Directed by Sofia Coppola
Starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson

Lost in Translation The film focuses on Charlotte’s personal struggle as she attempts to see a future for herself as John’s wife while also finding a career with which she can be happy. Bob and Charlotte become fast friends, and as they explore the culturally rich landscape of Tokyo, their friendship threatens to develop into something more.

Set in Japan, Lost In Translation describes the chance meeting between a well-known American actor, Bob, and a trailing spouse named Charlotte who is accompanying her celebrity photographer husband, John, while he is on assignment in Tokyo.

As they look for their “place in life” in a completely foreign and unfamiliar environment with cultural and language disparities, both characters blunder their way through the dynamic city of Tokyo.

The Beach

Directed by Danny Boyle
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Virginie Ledoyen, Tilda Swinton, Robert Carlyle

American backpacker, Richard (DiCaprio) arrives in Thailand seeking adventure. While staying in a seedy hotel in Bangkok, he meets a drugged-out character Daffy (Robert Carlyle) who tells him a fantastic story of a secluded island beach that’s a “paradise on earth.”

Richard decides to embark on a journey to find the beach taking along with him a young french couple. After a treacherous journey they finally reach their destination but the idyllic paradise soon becomes a nightmare.

Into The Wild

Directed by Sean Penn
Starring Emile Hersh, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener

Into the Wild is an adaptation of the popular book by Jon Krakauer, the true story of Chris McCandless, a young Emory graduate who is found dead in the Alaskan wilderness in September 1992 at the age of twenty-four.

After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness in search of a greater spiritual knowledge and communion with nature. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

The Painted Veil

Director John Curran
Starring Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Liev Schreiber

Somerset Maugham’s novel The Painted Veil was first adapted into a film in 1934.

Remade in 2006, the film tells the story of an Austrian woman who is forced to accompany her doctor husband to a remote Chinese province afflicted with cholera after she reveals her affair to him.

In an act of vengeance, he accepts the job in a remote village in China ravaged by the deadly epidemic.

It is to be her punishment. But it may be redemption for them both. Their journey brings meaning to their relationship and gives them purpose in one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth.

Our Other Favorite “Just Get Up and Move” Movies

Some other travel inspiring movies include:

• Endless Summer
• Before Sunrise
• Indiana Jones movies
• 7 Years In Tibet
• The Bourne Identity
• The English Patient
• A View To A Kill
• Casablanca
• The African Queen
• Out Of Africa
• Under The Tuscan Sun
• How To Lose Friends And Alienate People
• Life Of PI

What are some of your favorite films that pique your sense of adventure and inspire you to travel?