Monthly Archives: June 2022

Costa Rica remains one of the world’s most popular retirement destinations for foreigners.  In 2022, both International Living magazine and the World Economic Forum ranked Costa Rica second among its top 10 global retirement destinations.  “The secret has long been out about Costa Rica’s popularity,” International Living reported.  “But that does not stop millions of visitors and new foreign residents from discovering its special brand of enhancement, lured by the country’s tropical climate; lower cost of living; friendly locals; affordable medical care; vast real estate options; and, of course, its natural beauty.”  The World Happiness Report also ranks Costa Rica among the 10 “happiest countries in the world.”

The Ivory Coast -- officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire -- may not be as well known to residents of New York as other English-speaking countries in Africa, but the small West African nation is enjoying increasing tourism alongside strong economic growth.

“Côte d'Ivoire is a stunner, shingled with starfish-studded sands, palm-tree forests, and roads so orange they resemble strips of bronzing powder,” Lonely Planet stated. “This is a true tropical paradise, and a country that is moving towards economic progress – it's a nation that is modernizing its lifestyle and culture, but managing to do so without losing its identity.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/cote-divoire)

The country of 32.6 million borders Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, and Mali, as well as the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean.  It covers some 125,000 square miles, almost two-thirds of which is agricultural land.  The most biodiverse country in West Africa, Côte d'Ivoire spans coastal beaches, lowland forests, savannahs, and mangroves.  Côte d'Ivoire is an ethnically and religiously diverse country.  While French is the official language, almost 80 languages are spoken here.

Los Angeles is America’s second most populous city after New York.  Greater Los Angeles—which includes Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Ventura County, and Orange County—has a population of nearly 19 million people.  Known for its endless freeways and commercial sprawl, Greater Los Angeles is the largest metropolitan region in the United States by land area and includes over 200 cities such as Santa Monica, Pasadena, Culver City, Glendale, Long Beach, Carson, Irvine, Anaheim, and Inglewood.  Sitting on the edge of America, Los Angeles is an important Pacific Rim city with strong ties to East Asia.  Los Angeles has the busiest seaport in the United States and the most flights to Asia than any other U.S. city.  Los Angeles and Southern California have a huge population of Vietnamese Americans.  Numbering well over 300,000 residents, Greater Los Angeles has the largest population of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam.  A large segment of this population is concentrated in the Orange County towns of Garden Grove and Westminster, which is home to the most famous “Little Saigon” in the country.  This area has over 200 Vietnamese restaurants and dozens of Vietnamese coffee shops, bakeries, supermarkets, banks, and television and radio stations.

Uruguay continues to attract foreign retirees drawn to its safe and secure economy, moderate climate, and highly-developed infrastructure.  About 90 percent of its population is European (largely Spanish and Italian), creating a culture with strong European characteristics.  International Living magazine ranks Uruguay among its top 10 global retirement destinations, stating “The country is less well-known than many other destinations in Latin America; however, it is a particularly attractive option for people considering where to retire in Latin America.”  Uruguay’s bustling modern cities, beachfront cottages, and quiet farms provide retirees with plenty of options.

Atlanta has a population of 6.1 million people, making it the 9th most populous metropolitan area in the United States.  The city, known by locals as “The A”, is the commercial capital of the Southeast and has the third-highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the country.  The Atlanta metro area includes the municipalities of Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Alpharetta, Marietta, Duluth, Norcross, Tucker, Decatur, Mableton, and others.  Atlanta is a diverse and international city that in recent years has attracted a growing number of East African immigrants, including a few hundred people whose native land is Uganda.  There is an Atlanta chapter of the Ugandan North American Association that in years past has hosted social events for people with ties to Uganda.  Atlanta is home to a few nonprofit organizations and church groups doing work in Uganda.  The Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity—two of the most famous organizations in Atlanta doing international work—have supported Ugandans for many years by helping to eradicate disease, mediating conflict, and providing health education and housing to people in the rural parts of the country.  Kampala, Uganda’s capital and largest city, can be reached from Atlanta with one stop in Doha (Qatar) on Qatar Airways.

UPDATED January 21, 2024

Greater Houston is the fifth most-populous metropolitan area in the United States and has a population of over 7 million residents.  It encompasses nine counties and includes the cities of Sugar Land, Baytown, Conroe, Pasadena, Pearland, The Woodlands, and Galveston.  This is a fast-growing and youthful city that attracts entrepreneurs, corporate businesspeople, international investors, and students.  Houston is one of America’s most ethnically diverse cities and its global presence has been growing in recent years.  It has the largest population of Asian Americans in the Southern United States, which includes over 100,000 residents with Chinese heritage.  Chinese in Houston have a history that goes back over 150 years, however, much of the population’s growth came in the 70s with the influx of Chinese from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia.  The presence of immigrants from China has been a more recent phenomenon that started three decades ago with the admission of their country into the World Trade Organization and the draft of Yao Ming by the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association.  Known as the “Yao Ming effect”, Houston became a popular destination for investors from China and helped put a spotlight on the city’s Asian community.

UPDATED November 26, 2022 (Please see information below under "Other things to consider")

Denver, known as the “Mile High City” because of its elevation of 5,280 feet, is the capital of Colorado and is one of the fastest growing cities in America.  The Denver Metropolitan area is the 19th most populous metro area in the U.S. and has a population approaching three million people.  The metro area includes the towns of Arvada, Castle Rock, Centennial, Lakewood, Littleton, Thornton, Westminster, and Aurora.  The region’s growing and diverse economy, along with its proximity to Rocky Mountain ski resorts and other outdoor recreational activities, make Denver one of America’s best places to live.  Denver has a diverse economy and strong foundation of companies operating in various industries such as healthcare, financial services, media, apparel, electronics, mining, aerospace, energy, and foods.  Although Denver still maintains a small population of immigrants from Asia and the Pacific Islands, there is an active community of about 15,000 Filipino Americans who proudly celebrate their cultural heritage and traditions.  Denver is home to the Filipino-American community of Colorado, an organization that organizes an annual event—the Philippine Festival—which promotes Filipino culture and commemorates the Philippines' independence from Spain in 1898.