Welcome to Expat Crack!

- As you may notice, the site is currently under construction. Expat Crack looks to be an exchange of Expat information from Expats for the Expatriate community.

How many times have you wished you have the answer to an Expat question and not know where to turn? Someone has been there. As expats ourselves, we look to resource and learn from our worldwide expatriate community. Together we can find the answer!

If you have a question or interesting topic – leave a comment. We would love to work towards finding the answer for all of us. After all, if we haven’t experienced it yet as an expat, we likely will. Thanks for your interest!

The Expat Crack crew.

“Your FIX for Expat info!”

What is the new emerging market for China? How about Space.

While the USA and others cut budgets for manned spacecraft, China has been working plans to place another manned spacecraft into Space.

CNN reports,”The country’s space program plans to dock its first manned spacecraft on its orbiting space laboratory in mid-June, China’s state media reported Saturday. If all goes as planned, China will be the third nation after the United States and Russia to complete a manned docking.”

Rumors say that China has further plans to head to the moon.

With the private space industry taking flight, China is flexing its might as well.

The question is, what will this mean for the citizens of Earth? More missions and countries joining the ‘space club’ only means a faster growth towards more frequent manned space flights.

Perhaps the future of personal spacecraft is not as far off as we think.

what are your thoughts?

via China to launch manned spacecraft in mid-June – CNN.com.

The civil unrest in Nigeria continues as a new wave of religious-based attacks happened Sunday resulting in at least 8 fatalities and many injured.

A car-bomb was rammed into a church in Jos, resulting in several deaths and resulting the church building into a pile of mangled wood and metal.

Following the bombing, people took to the streets. CNN reports ”Three people died in clashes Sunday with police in Jos, Nigeria, hours after a car bomb killed five people during services at a church nearby.”

This following two other church bombings last week killing 15 and injuring many others.

What does this mean for the stability of Nigeria?

Undoubtedly the religious clash between Islam and Christianity in Nigeria continues to fuel the violent attacks. The question is what will the government do to prevent future attacks on the innocent and peruse the murderers to justice?

What do think?

via 8 killed in Nigerian church blast, clashes – CNN.com.

The changing political tide ifs far from over as the new elections for the National Assembly follow voters narrowly choosing a new Socialist President in Francois Hollande.

Many voters are embracing the change, having felt betrayed by the previous political regime.

Others are a bit in shock as French voters abandon the middle for polar ends of the political spectrum.

This last week voters turned out to select new representatives for the National Assembly. BBC reports ”Left-wing and green parties won a total of more than 46% of the vote compared to 34% for the centre-right UMP party, interior ministry figures showed.”

This shows a significant shift towards the left as President Hollande’s party and allies gain ground.

While only slightly more than half of registered French voters turned out for the first round of elections, many analysts predict the trend to follow into the next round.

The question then is not wether French voters are believing in Hollande’s vision for France, or even simply want a change from what they have now, but what impact will the shift have on the everyday citizen?

What do you think?

via BBC News – French election: Socialists and allies win first round.

The most recent Spain bailout plan gave a short raise to the falling market trend with a decision by Eurozone leaders Saturday.  BBC reports,  ”On Saturday, Eurozone ministers agreed to lend Spain up to 100bn euros ($125bn; £80bn) to help its banks.

Analysts said the deal would buy time for policymakers to solve other problems facing the 17-nation eurozone.”

The question is how much time does this measure truly buy?

Many agree that this will not be the long term solution to Spain’s financial trouble, as this path has been visited in recent years before.

The question then is not if but when will the Eurozone start to stabilize? Or will it?

What do you think?

via BBC News – The euro and Asian markets gain after Spain banks deal.”

The expat community is known for being globe-trotting travelers with first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay, eat, and experience the local scene in any city they visit. It seems there is a new challenge on the horizon.

Space.com reports- Space tourism has already reached low-Earth orbit, and now the industry is shooting for the moon.

After helping to send seven private citizens on eight trips to the International Space Station — starting with Dennis Tito, who became the world’s first space tourist on April 28, 2001 — the Virginia-based company Space Adventures is mapping out a tourist trip around the moon.–

Most anyone has images ingrained in the mind of the first moon landing. What would it be like to take your own ‘small steps for man’?

While the price is not within reach for many of us and we are not likely to find cheap fares on our favorite .com travel site, the thought of space travel is quite alluring.

“How was London?” “Oh yeah?.. I just returned from space.”

Top that.

via Next Giant Leap for Space Tourism: A Trip Around the Moon | Private Spaceflight & Space Tourism | The Moon and Space Exploration | Space.com.

As if there was a single person connected to the internet, television, radio, or newspaper in the last month did not know- the UK’s famous royal family had a small wedding at the end of April. The Royal wedding turned out to be quite the international affair.

The Expat Crack crew spent the day working with the ceremony streaming live via internet.

CNN reports- Prince William of Wales slipped a gold ring onto the finger of Catherine Middleton Friday, and the couple vowed to love, comfort, honor and to keep each other in London’s biggest royal wedding in three decades.-

Watching the wedding along with expat Brits and non-Brits alike, the whole world seemed to give a large interest in the wedding. News crews from across the globe sent reporters and cameras to get footage and interview the throngs of people who gathered in Hyde park to celebrate. Some of us even attended a garden party to celebrate the event here in Paris.

The question we must pose is then not ‘did you watch it?’ but “why did you watch the wedding?”

via William and Catherine marry in royal wedding at Westminster Abbey – CNN.com.