SWAP en Nouvelle-Zélande

Hi everyone,

My name is Deborah, I’m French. I’m married and have two children. I’m a clinical psychologist specializing in psychotraumatology, and I’m also pursuing medical studies.

For some time now, I’ve been seriously considering moving to the United States. My long-term goal is to practice medicine in the U.S., with a particular interest in forensic pathology. I know the journey is demanding (USMLE, residency, fellowship, etc.), but I’m ready to commit to several years of hard work.

For now, I’m focused on building this project thoughtfully. I want to improve my English, better understand the American system, and connect with people who’ve already gone through this process or are living in the U.S.

I have a few questions:

- Are there any doctors or international students here who’ve successfully matched into a U.S. residency? - When did you start preparing for the USMLE? - What advice would you give to someone still in medical school? - Which states would you recommend for a future career in forensic pathology, with a good quality of life and good schools for kids? - Is it better to do an observership or a research fellowship before applying for residency? - What are, in your opinion, the pitfalls to avoid when planning such a project?

Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to respond. I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share!

Hi everyone, my son’s school is offering him a one-month Erasmus trip to Ireland, but he has to find a junior cycle school that will accept him and a host family on his own. Honestly, we’re struggling—we’ve contacted two schools and haven’t heard back! If you have any leads...

What price should I expect to pay for a modest small apartment or a large room in a bedroom community in Quito? Are restaurants and food expensive? And which airline is best to travel from Montreal? Thanks for your answers

Hi there,

I’m considering moving to Miami to live and work for a few years.

If anyone knows what the administrative formalities are—both for getting a work permit and for the steps and reputable organizations to contact (since I imagine there are scammers in this space) when buying a studio in Miami or Miami Beach—I’d love any info you can share!

Have a great day

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has already had the experience of working abroad? I don’t have a specific country in mind yet, so I’m open to hearing about your experiences on this topic—the pros and cons, etc.

Thanks! :)

Hi there! I’m a young Malian looking to work in Morocco. Besides a passport, what other documents are required at the **Moroccan** border? Thanks for your help!

Hi there. I’m planning to move to Luxembourg around December 2025 or January 2026. I’ll be looking for a job and settling in. My question is: is it too complicated to find housing? Is the job market more advantageous and easier than in France? I’m open to any information that could help me. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Hi everyone,

I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences about marrying a Cuban and moving to Cuba (not the other way around!). Yes, some of us actually *want* to stay on the island! Is it possible to work there without too much hassle, or is it really complicated?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m moving to Bangkok with my family (4 people total) in August 2016.

I’d like to know what local salary you need to live comfortably.

I’ll have housing and a car provided.

Thanks for your help! Fred.

Hi everyone,

I’m heading to Bangkok for a 5-month internship, and I’m wondering about the budget because I’ve read all sorts of things—so I decided to post here to get answers tailored to my situation! :D I found housing that costs me 7,000 baht (I know it’s a bit pricey, but it’s super convenient...), which works out to about 160 € all-inclusive. So, I was wondering if it’s realistic to live on 500 or 600 € per month, and if so, under what conditions? Is that enough, considering I’ll be working 40 hours a week?

Thanks in advance for your replies—I hope they’ll reassure me!

Hi everyone,

WEP offers loads of different projects, including one I really like: helping and volunteering on a farm, particularly in South America (Peru or Argentina).

I’d love to know if anyone has tried this project or knows someone who has... or has done something similar? I’d like to get some feedback before diving into the adventure.

If so, could you share your thoughts on the project, any tips, etc.?

Thanks to anyone who replies!

Cheers,

Here’s the link to the site: http://www.wep.be/01455/fr/Jobs-Stages-Volontariat/Farmstay/Argentine/Votre-programme

Hello,

We’re planning to move to Quebec.

Could you share any tips or advice to help us prepare for our arrival?

Work...

Thanks

Hi there, Our departure time is getting closer (we have less than 2 years left—it’s both a long time and so short!). To start preparing seriously, we’ll need quite a bit of info. If anyone knows the rates charged by movers for a crate to French Polynesia, or what pitfalls to avoid (I know you can get quotes directly from movers, but I’d love insights from actual customers😉). Are there any special requirements before leaving France (aside from taxes...)?

Thanks to everyone for your help—every bit of info is useful. We’re aiming for a departure around 06/2010 (just need to save up a little more...). Thanks again!

Hi, I’m a self-employed physiotherapist in France, and as my wife (a nurse) and I look into working abroad in about two years, I’ve been offered an equivalence to become a respiratory physiotherapist in Switzerland. Actually, I’m currently doing a postgraduate diploma in pediatric respiratory physiotherapy and want to specialize in that area. Anyway, that’s not the main point—could anyone explain the pros and cons of doing this job in Switzerland? Based on the paperwork I’ve received, the equivalence seems purely administrative or almost... What about working conditions, quality of life, salaries, etc.?

Thanks for your replies. PS: Same question for my wife, a nurse, regarding her integration.

Thanks, Nicolas and Bérengère

Hi everyone!

I’m looking for information about jobs in early childhood in New Caledonia. I’m currently a childminder in a MAM (multi-accueil) and I’ve also worked for about 6 years in several daycare centers as a childcare assistant. In the summer of 2026, my husband is being transferred to New Caledonia. We’ll be living near Nouméa. Do you know if the early childhood sector is a good field for jobs there? Can’t wait to discover this island! Right now, we’re in the middle of all the administrative paperwork for our 3 kids, finding housing, bringing our cat to the territory, and so on! Thanks for your feedback!!

Hi there, I’ve been living in Bali for a month now, but unfortunately on a VOA visa. I’m looking for a European company that’s set up in Indonesia. I’m in electrotechnical maintenance—air conditioning, cold rooms, 220V/380V electricity. I’ve been a tradesperson for 3 months and can bring my full professional toolkit. If anyone’s interested, let me know! You can send me a message. Best regards,

Hi there,

I’d love to go to Japan to travel, and if things go well, work there too. Has anyone tried finding a job there? Is it even possible without speaking Japanese? I’m thinking of starting out in restaurants (dishwashing or serving) and then moving into my field, IT.

Quentin

Hi everyone!

I’d like to move to Spain, specifically to Málaga. To do that, I’d like to know if I’ll need any official documents from France to work there, or anything like that... I’d also love to hear from people who’ve moved to Spain for work—do Spaniards like the French? Is it hard to fit in? What are the salary ranges for a ready-to-wear salesperson? And is it easy to find housing?

Thanks! 🙂

Hi there,

TELI Club shares summer job offers in Canada—if you're tempted by a job as a camp counselor in Canada, you should know there’s now a specific work visa for that. All the info is here: https://www.canada.ca/fr/immigration-refugies-citoyennete/services/travailler-canada/permis/moniteur-camp-residentiel.html#type

Hi everyone! 👨🏾‍🤝‍👨🏻

My partner and I currently live in Antibes—we’re both freelancers working remotely. We’re thinking about potentially moving to Italy.

We’d like to settle near the French border, between Ventimiglia and San Remo (this is important because we need access to Nice Airport twice a month). ✈️

I’d love to hear about life in this region! We’re looking for a quiet spot close to the sea. Any recommendations? As for the paperwork, is it difficult to get everything official? Is finding housing tough in this area? What kind of guarantees are usually required? If any kind soul could shed some light on this, we’d really appreciate it! 🥺🏻

Thanks so much for your help and advice! ☺️

I'm looking for an au pair who'd like to come to Bournemouth in the south of England, and I'd love to know what the best websites are to find one, please.

Hi everyone,

I’d like to get some information about my eligibility for the DV Lottery.

About my background: • I earned a *Bac Pro* through VAE (*Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience*), issued by the *Éducation nationale*. • I also have a professional certification as a *Conseiller en Insertion* (Employment Counselor), issued by the Ministry of Labor. • Altogether, this adds up to a *Bac+2* level.

I’d like to know if this level qualifies me to apply for the DV Lottery.

Regarding my work experience: • I work as an *Employment Counselor*. • I checked on O*Net Online for the classification: Job Zone 4, SVP Range: 7.0 – <8.0. • I only have one year of experience, but I handle similar tasks in business creation.

So my question is: can I apply for the DV Lottery despite my relatively short experience, given that my job falls under Job Zone 4?

Thanks in advance for your answers and advice! !

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for info on villages around Aix, like Fuveau, Bouc-Bel-Air, or even Éguilles and Venelles? We’re a couple with a child living in the Paris region, and I’ll be relocating to Aix-en-Provence in spring 2026. We’d love to swap our apartment for a house with a pool within 20-30 minutes max of central Aix, with a budget of around 650k €.

In terms of climate and geography, I’ve read that Aix is in a basin where it can get really hot. What about the surrounding villages that are a bit more elevated, like Venelles? Is it just as stifling?

For a family, which area would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Starting this spring, we want to settle near Aix-en-Provence. We're tired of living in the mountains with all the snow—we really need some sunshine and a fresh start. Is it hard to find a house to rent there? What about prices? If you have any great tips or useful info about the area, we’d love to hear it. I work in education and want to do prevention work in Marseille or Aix—are there jobs in the social sector?

Anyway, we need tons of info, but we’re sure we’re going to take the leap—no hesitation, adventure is adventure!!! Thanks for your help and any experiences you can share.

Hi,

I’m an osteopath and I’d like to set up and open an osteopathy practice in Thailand. I don’t have a precise location in mind yet, but I’m thinking maybe Hua Hin. I saw there’s an osteopath based in Phuket, so I wrote to him for some info, but he still hasn’t replied🤪!

So I’m reaching out to people who live there or know the country well: I’d like to know what the best ways are to advertise and get known in Thailand. Are there any local classifieds newspapers? First, I’d like to practice from my apartment. Is that allowed in Thailand? Ideally, I’d like to work part-time in a private hospital as an osteopath. I’m thinking that in Thailand, the medical field is much more open than in Europe!!! Has anyone seen an osteopath or chiropractor working in a Thai hospital? Do you know the price of a consultation?

Any info you can share will be super helpful! Thanks in advance[;)!!!]

Hello everyone, We’re a small family from the south of France, with a 2-year-old little boy, and we’re dreaming of starting a new adventure abroad by opening our own business. For now, we haven’t chosen a specific destination yet. We mainly speak French, with a basic level of Spanish and English, and we’re ready to improve these two languages if needed. We’re looking for a multicultural, safe country with quality healthcare and good schools accessible for our son. We’d also love a pleasant place with a mild climate where life is good. Our idea is to travel to different countries to explore, compare, and refine our project. We’d be really happy to read your tips, experiences, or anecdotes if you’ve already undertaken a similar project or if you know key points to anticipate. Thanks in advance for your shares and help—it would really help us move forward with our project! 😄

Hi everyone, I’m heading to Dublin as an au pair in a few weeks. I’m looking for a reputable language school. It’s so hard to choose! Has anyone already done a language stay in Dublin? Any tips? Thanks so much! :)

Hi everyone, so I’m planning to go study at a community college in the U.S., but the only snag is which one—there are so many options over there! I’ve heard about one in California, Diablo Valley College, and another in Florida, Valencia College. I know both states are super attractive for tourism, but my main criteria are teaching quality and price. I’m open to any advice, comments, or suggestions—thanks in advance! The start of the semester is coming up, and I’m a little nervous... READY, SET...... GO...... TO YOUR KEYBOARDS!!!!!!!! lol

Hi,

Has anyone gone on a language study trip in Europe? If so, which agencies did you use? What can you tell me about it? Thanks a lot! Kelkune

Hi! I’m looking for an apartment in Malaga from September (2025) until January for my Erasmus exchange, but I’m not finding much, and it seems like there are a lot of scams. Does anyone have any leads or tips? Thanks!^^