In a survey of more than 200 women living abroad, 74 percent said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their lives while only 12 percent said they weren’t. Foreign women living in Switzerland, France and Belgium ranked the highest in satisfaction levels while those in Spain and Germany polled the lowest.

"The Belgians are friendly and used to foreigners, so blending in is easy," wrote one respondent. "The country is centrally located in Europe with good access to many other countries and cultures while the distances in the country are short enabling easy access to cultural and sporting activities."

Other said they were glad of the low crime rate, the values placed on a balanced life, children and the environment, happy to be with their foreign partner and to experience another culture.

"I feel I like almost everything about my country of residence," wrote one resident of France. "My life is great, full, peaceful and everyday there are new things to learn, new challenges to meet and to help me grow…My neighbors are great (all French)...coming to live here is certainly one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life."

While most people responding rated their country of residence positively, residents of Spain found the most to like about their host country with only nine percent viewing it negatively. In contrast, 26 percent of respondents living in Germany have a bad impression of their host country.

"German culture is too rigid and stoic for me," wrote one German resident. "I find it to be the most boring culture I’ve yet experienced. It is a very rule-oriented society and they are not afraid to correct you in public (when you make a mistake while recycling or parking your car)."

Professionally, 48 percent of respondents said they were happy or very happy and those in Switzerland, the Netherlands and France said they were most satisfied with Spain coming in last.

"I gained my middle managerial experience in the Netherlands," wrote one foreigner living in the Netherlands. "Due to the Dutch work ethic, I believe my project management and human resource management skills developed much better than expected."

About 20 percent of respondents said they were dissatisfied and expressed a myriad of reasons including racism, sexism, underemployment, bad bosses, low wages and inflexible working conditions.

"Flexibility within the work force is not optimal," wrote one Dutch resident. "There are few part-time jobs for working moms. Job sharing is not in the works therefore making it more difficult for expat women to work."

Others said language and work culture clearly played a role in hindering their professional development.

"I am able to find only limited work with my limited German language skills," said a resident of Germany. "Also, because I am over 50 years of age, the possibilities in this country are limited. I do something that I don’t like in a place that I don’t like with and for people I don’t like in order to get health insurance and a few extra euros."

The top challenge for most respondents (55 percent) was missing family and friends. Coming in close behind were problems with the host country’s language (49 percent), meeting new people (42 percent) and different values of the new culture(36 percent).

In fact, foreigners living in Switzerland and Germany said they had the most problems with the language, 67 and 58 percent respectively, while those living in the Netherlands had the most problems with climate.

"I guess you can say that I didn’t move to NL for the climate," wrote one resident of the Netherlands. "The weather here is terrible! The wind and the dampness is bone chilling!

Meanwhile, those in Switzerland and Spain had the most problems with the host country’s culture.

"I’m uncomfortable not knowing the law in Spain, and even more uncomfortable knowing that there are often no set standards and rules," wrote one expat in Spain.

Gender discrimination was mentioned often by readers as well.

"The prejudice against women is much more obvious here in Switzerland than in the US," wrote in one resident of Switzerland. "Childcare and schools are not easy for working mothers. Lack of innovation and creativity in business and old hierarchies are still well entrenched."

Another said that "women in Spain are not expected to be independent and this causes me problems."

And the wish list? It is long and varied. Still, many respondents want equality enshrined in the legal system of the host country – and enforced - as well as better networking and support groups for foreign women abroad.

"I need help," wrote one expat from an undetermined country. "I feel so isolated and alone."

-- Jabeen Bhatti

Copyright Expatica 2008