#visa requirements italy

[hajsadhku]

Do you need a visa to travel Italy as a US citizen?

If you need to renew your passport or if you need to apply for a brand new passport contact Express Travel Services, the San Diego Passport and Visa agency.

[aptechvisaglobalimmigration]

[visasolutions321]

Discover your path to studying in Italy with a Student Visa. Explore Italy's rich culture and world-class education. Get all the information you need for an Italy Study Visa today!

[intelligence365]

Italy Tourist Visa & Business Visa Requirements

Get expedited Italy tourist and business visa from Express Travel Services. Comprehensive Information on Italy Visa Requirements - Apply Now.

[adropofhumanity]

The relative few children in Gaza who have been able to get out for treatment have ended up in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Italy, France, Malta and the United States, among other countries. But not the United Kingdom.

British doctors and charities, including Kandiah's, who are part of an initiative called Project Pure Hope, told Middle East Eye that they began efforts in January to bring four siblings and their cousin from Gaza as a "test case" to see what would happen.

Three of the siblings, whose parents were killed, had suffered traumatic amputations and required further medical treatment, which pediatric hospitals across Britain were prepared to provide.

Over £500,000 ($636,000) was raised, enough to cover their treatment, and arrangements were made for the children's aunt and grandmother to accompany them, according to those involved.

The issue was visas.

"We literally were asking to bring a handful of children," said Dr Omar Abdel-Mannan, a British-Egyptian paediatric neurologist and founder of Health Workers for Palestine.

Abdel-Mannan has worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, one of the world's leading facilities treating children, during a time he said upwards of 100 Ukrainian children were being treated.

"The double standards are very clear for anyone to see. I'm sad to see my own NHS, which is helping patients day in and day out, is unable to do this, not because of [a lack of] willpower from medics, but at a political level," he said.

[mariacallous]

Oulu is five hours north from Helsinki by train and a good deal colder and darker each winter than the Finnish capital. From November to March its 220,000 residents are lucky to see daylight for a couple of hours a day and temperatures can reach the minus 30s. However, this is not the reason I sense a darkening of the Finnish dream that brought me here six years ago.

In 2018, moving to Finland seemed like a no-brainer. One year earlier I had met my Finnish partner while working away in Oulu. My adopted home of Italy, where I had lived for 10 years, had recently elected a coalition government with the far-right Matteo Salvini as interior minister, while my native UK had voted for Brexit. Given Finland’s status as a beacon of progressive values, I boarded a plane, leaving my lecturing job and friends behind.

Things have gone well. My partner and I both have stable teaching contracts, me at a university where my mostly Finnish colleagues are on the whole friendlier than the taciturn cliche that persists of Finns (and which stands in puzzling contradiction to their status as the world’s happiest people).

Notwithstanding this, I feel a sense of unease as Finland’s prime minister Petteri Orpo’s rightwing coalition government has set about slashing welfare and capping public sector pay. Even on two teachers’ salaries my partner and I have felt the sting of inflation as goods have increased by 20% in three years. With beer now costing €8 or more in a city centre pub, going out becomes an ever rarer expense.

Those worse off than us face food scarcity. A survey conducted by the National Institute for Health and Welfare found 25% of students struggling to afford food, while reductions in housing benefit mean tenants are being forced to move or absorb the shortfall in rent payments. There are concerns that many unemployed young people could become homeless.

Healthcare is faring little better. Finland’s two-tier system means that while civil servants and local government employees (including teachers) paradoxically enjoy private health cover, many other people face long waiting lists. Not having dental cover on my university’s plan, I called for a public dental appointment in April. I was put on callback and received a text message stating I’d be contacted when the waiting list reopened. Six months later, I am still waiting. A few years ago I could expect to wait two months at most.

The current government, formed by Orpo’s National Coalition party (NCP) last year in coalition with the far-right Finns party, the Swedish People’s party of Finland and the Christian Democrats, has been described as “the most rightwing” Finland has ever seen – a position it appears to relish.

Deputy prime minister and finance minister Riikka Purra – the Finns’ party leader – has been linked to racist and sometimes violent comments made online back in 2008. The party’s xenophobia is clearly influencing policymaking and affecting migrants. As a foreigner, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to feeling a certain chill as anti-immigrant rhetoric ramps up.

A survey by the organisation Specialists in Finland last year found that most highly qualified workers would consider leaving Finland if the government’s planned tightening of visa requirements went ahead (that proposal, which extended residence time required for Finnish citizenship from four to as many as eight years has now become law). Luckily, I am a permanent resident under the Brexit agreement.

With the coalition intent on ending Finland’s long history of welfarism in just one term, there is a risk (and hope among progressives) that it may go too far, inviting a backlash. We arguably saw signs of this in the European election in the summer, when Li Andersson won the highest number of votes for an EU election candidate in Finland. Andersson, who was education minister in Sanna Marin’s former centre-left coalition government (which lost to the NCP in April 2023), ran on a progressive red-green ticket of increased wealth equality and measures to tackle the climate crisis. She has also been critical of emergency laws blocking asylum seekers from crossing Finland’s eastern border, arguing that it contravenes human rights obligations.

Andersson’s party, the Left Alliance, chose a new leader this month, the charismatic feminist author Minja Koskela, who was elected to Helsinki’s council in 2021 after a period as secretary of the Feminist party, and as a member of parliament in 2023. Koskela argues: “People are widely frustrated with the government’s discriminatory policy and cuts to culture, social and health services, education and people’s livelihood. It is possible to turn this frustration into action.” (Full disclosure: I’m a member of the party and have helped coordinate its local approach to immigrants.)

It remains to be seen if she can build on Andersson’s EU success. Although the popular media-savvy figure appears to relish the challenge of turning the party into an election winner, Koskela faces a huge challenge. The party struggles to poll at more than 10% nationally, aside from a brief high of 11% in July. A place in government is nonetheless possible. But Marin’s Social Democratic party (SDP) of Finland (now led by Antti Lindtman), has topped the national opinion polls 12 out of 14 times since April 2023.

Meanwhile, the Finns party is polling at 16%, down from the 20.1% vote they gained in the election. These figures point to one thing: another possible SDP-led coalition government in the next parliament by the summer of 2027. This would probably include the Left Alliance and the Green League, among others. And such a coalition would aim to undo a lot of the damage done by the right.

But until then, there will be more damage to come. So while there is clearly hope for an end in sight to the country’s political darkness three years hence, this will bring little solace now to poor people, migrants, and the squeezed middle class as the long Finnish winter closes in.

[good-old-gossip]

UK won't give visas to injured Palestinian children for treatment!!!

The relative few children in Gaza who have been able to get out for treatment have ended up in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Italy, France, Malta and the United States, among other countries.

But not the United Kingdom. British doctors and charities, including Kandiah’s, who are part of an initiative called Project Pure Hope, told Middle East Eye that they began efforts in January to bring four siblings and their cousin from Gaza as a "test case" to see what would happen.

Three of the siblings, whose parents were killed, had suffered traumatic amputations and required further medical treatment, which pediatric hospitals across Britain were prepared to provide.

Over £500,000 ($636,000) was raised, enough to cover their treatment, and arrangements were made for the children’s aunt and grandmother to accompany them, according to those involved.

The issue was visas.

“We literally were asking to bring a handful of children,” said Dr Omar Abdel-Mannan, a British-Egyptian paediatric neurologist and founder of Health Workers for Palestine. Abdel-Mannan has worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, one of the world’s leading facilities treating children, during a time he said upwards of 100 Ukrainian children were being treated.

“The double standards are very clear for anyone to see. I’m sad to see my own NHS, which is helping patients day in and day out, is unable to do this, not because of [a lack of] willpower from medics, but at a political level,” he said.

✍️ by Dania Akkad

[thailandimmigration]

Thailand Visa Exemptions

Thailand, a popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia, offers visa-free entry for citizens of many countries. This makes it easier for travelers to plan their trips and enjoy the country's stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and delicious cuisine.

Countries Eligible for Visa-Free Entry

The list of countries eligible for visa-free entry to Thailand changes periodically. However, as of 2023, many nationalities can visit for a certain period without a visa. Some of the countries that typically qualify include:

Asia: Most Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Europe: Most European countries, such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

North America: The United States and Canada.

Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.

Please note that visa requirements can change. It's always recommended to check with the Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country for the most up-to-date information.

Duration of Stay

The duration of visa-free stay varies depending on the nationality. Most travelers can stay in Thailand for 30 days without a visa. However, some nationalities may be eligible for longer stays.

Important Considerations

Passport Validity: Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival in Thailand.

Purpose of Visit: Your visit should be for tourism, business, or a short-term stay.

Departure Ticket: You may be required to present a return or onward ticket.

Visa Extensions

If you wish to stay in Thailand for longer than the visa-free period, you can apply for a visa extension within the country. The process typically involves submitting your passport and required documents to the Immigration Office.

[stackslip]

The European Union is set to generate millions of euros more from the high rejection rates of visa applications by African visitors with a new increase in non-refundable fees.

Citizens of the 26 member states within Europe’s Schengen area have unhindered borderless access within the area, while most travelers from elsewhere require visas. A 12.5% price hike that takes effect on June 11 increases the cost of a short-term (90 days) visa application to €90.

But while the price hike applies equally to all non-EU residents who require a Schengen visa, it raises the prospect of the bloc making disproportionately more money from its rejection rates for applicants from Africa, analysts say.

Of the €130 million the EU earned in 2023 from rejected visa applications, about 42% of that was from applicants living in Africa, even though the continent accounts for 24% of Schengen visa applications, according to London-based research firm LAGO Collective. Prospective visitors who apply from Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria receive rejection rates of between 40% and 50%, LAGO estimated, based on data from the European Commission’s migration and home affairs office.

“We found a relationship between the GDP of countries and rejection rates for short-term visas,” Marta Foresti, LAGO’s founder, told Semafor Africa. A similar rejection trend in 2024 with the new price would deepen long-standing inequality of outcomes between consumers paying for the same service from high and low-income countries, Foresti said.

While these encourage dangerous attempts to reach Europe across seas and deserts, most African migration is via “regular channels,” the Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington DC notes.

Yet Africans applying to visit Europe for short-term stays, such as business engagements or conferences, continue to face a stumbling block.

Average rejection rates for African applicants are generally 10 percentage points higher than the global average, Mehari Taddele Maru, a researcher at the EU-owned European University Institute in Italy, found. Seven of the top ten countries with the highest rejection rates for Schengen visa applications in 2022 were in Africa.

The EU’s more expensive visa and its potentially disproportionate impact on Africans comes as the bloc takes a tougher stance on migration.

New rules approved by the EU Commission in April impose a higher standard for screening non-EU nationals at borders, including the collection of biometric data, and health and security checks. Border fences set up by member states within the Schengen area have become longer in the last decade, stretching from 315 km to 2,048 km as of 2022.

Higher visa prices could be another type of fence, which when combined with high rejection rates, will continue to enrich European consulates at the expense of residents of low income countries who nevertheless have legitimate reasons to be in Europe.

Africa’s high rejection rate is sometimes explained as a consequence of visitors overstaying their visas. But “there is no evidence to suggest that a higher rejection rate leads to a decrease in irregular migration or visa overstays,” Maru argues. In essence, an unexplained bias against Africans is at play.

The costs of rejection to African entrepreneurs, career professionals, artists and other seekers of the EU’s short-term visa calls for a reform of the approval process, Foresti told me. Consulates with high unequal outcomes should review their decision-making to ensure “systematic discrimination” against some countries isn’t an underlying cause.

And should some EU members enforce high rejection for short-term visas to dissuade overstays by residents of particular African countries, more paths to legal migration should be considered, she argued.

[neutralgray]

A Synthesized History: An Amateur Comparison of the Perspectives between the "Patriot's," the "People's," & The "True" History of the United States - Part 14

Full Essay Guide link: XX

(Patriot - Chapter 17 | People - Chapter 16 | True - Chapter 25-26)

World War II and Shifting World Powers

As explored in the last section of this essay series, the 1930's were a difficult time for the United States and much of the western world. While the United States coasted through the decade using reactionary short-term economic measures led by president Roosevelt, some European countries responded to the global economic crisis in considerably different ways.

In Germany, a string of antisemitic policies were enacted by their newly appointed chancellor, Adolf Hitler. Much of this antisemitic attitude placed blame of the economic suffering at that time on the shoulders of the Jewish people. The United States was aware of this concerning development but wished to remain neutral on European affairs. Thus, the United States government made no declaration on the xenophobic affairs of Germany. In fact, American companies with trade and/or production ties in Germany continued business as usual. The same applied to fascist Italy, run by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. When Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935, the United States remained "neutral" but American companies still actively sold Italy the necessary oil to fuel their war efforts. Essentially, the United States policy of nonintervention benefited the growing fascist regimes.

As tensions increased across Europe over the 1930's, many speculated the potential for another major conflict. Some citizens of the United States participated in peace marches while others participated in strikes on college campuses. Many other citizens were wary of another potential intervention into European affairs, believing the first world war was a costly and pointless endeavor. Roosevelt declared the "Neutrality Acts" in response to this speculative conflict. The Neutrality Acts would allow the United States to refrain from direct intervention but would impose an arms embargo on any belligerents, should a war occur.

The situation in Europe would only grow worse. In 1938, Hitler's German forces invade Austria. Over 3000 Jewish denizens were applying for immigration visas a day to flee the invasion, but due to the United States' recent immigration restrictions, the United States could only apply up to 850 of these immigrants a month.

Despite invading and annexing both Austria and Czechoslovakia, it was not until the invasion of Poland in September, 1939, that Britain and France would declare war on Germany. At this point, Roosevelt began to repeal aspects of the Neutrality Acts. His interactions with other world leaders showed sympathy for their cause and soon enough he and Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, would form a political friendship.

With the European conflict growing in magnitude, FDR decided that the potential for national emergency coupled with the ongoing difficulties of the domestic economic depression required further executive leadership. He ran for a 3rd term, something no president before had done. At this point the public was aware of a shifting tide that suggested an eventual intervention in the European conflict was inevitable.

In November, 1940, President Roosevelt won his 3rd term and almost immediately launched aid to Great Britain via executive order. Fifty WWI bombers were declared "obsolete" and sent across the Atlantic to Britain. The United States then began a "lend-lease" policy, which allowed supply aid to be granted under a "borrowed" contract. Critics would often poke at this policy, asking how one could "return used bullets." Regardless, it allowed the United States to intervene and indebted multiple countries to the United States.

After several years of of watching the situation across the ocean, the public acclimated to the idea that American intervention was almost certain. Publications across the country promoted a sympathetic European brother, needing the help of the United States as they fought fascism. At that point there was very little coordinated opposition to the war outside the Socialist Workers' Party. Even the American Communist Party, which had opposed the war in 1939, changed their stance as the conflict continued to look more bleak. Of course, any potential organized opposition was fiercely challenged. The FBI and HUAC monitored for potentially "disruptive" groups. There was also the Smith Act of 1940, which took aspects of the Espionage Act and applied it to peacetime, giving the United States more control to silence dissent.

President Roosevelt and the American government continued to aid the war without being "in" the war. Troops were stationed on both Iceland and Greenland to prevent Nazi's from having easy access to either. The defense perimeter was also extended, and the Navy had orders to track German submarines and report their position to British contacts. Eventually the order was changed to just shooting them on sight. The Germans returned the hostilities and engaged in several attacks on U.S. boats and ships, such as the sinking of freighter SS Robin Moor. These attacks made for effective propaganda tools and led to a more outraged and war-hungry public.

Roosevelt and Churchill's political alliance continued. They devised a document known as the Atlantic Charter which detailed a post-war world after an assumed Allied victory. It was celebrated for declaring the rights of nations to self-determination, restoration of self-government, and more open trading. These and more were outlined by the two optimistic world leaders, one of whom was not even in the war yet.

The United States had initially continued trade with Japan despite their invasive and aggressive war with China, providing them with up to 80% of their oil. The United States eventually imposed sanctions on gasoline, iron, oil, and other commodities. This was potentially in hopes of staunching the Japanese and their aggressive strategy, but instead it merely made them desperate. Japan wanted to force the United States to renegotiate over these sanctions but likely did not intend or want a total war with the United States. Their strategies were desperate and short-sighted, however. On December 7th, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy," the Japanese attacked the Pearl Harbor naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii. Four days later Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.

If the United States had hoped to only engage with Japan, then the declarations of war from the other Axis powers made this impossible. Even with three enemies to fight, though, the United States had large advantages. One, it had the advantage of distance. Being so far removed from most of the fighting, the U.S. could afford to be strategic in how it entered the fight. Two, the U.S. also had nearly double the income of Germany, Italy, and Japan, despite the economic suffering of the Great Depression.

The United States had been preparing for this possibility. Rapidly the country amassed the largest army in its history-- smaller than Germany's and less than half of Russia's, but still the biggest army the United States had ever raised. Never before had a greater proportion of the population participated in a war. Eighteen million served in the armed forces, with 10 million serving overseas, and 25 million citizens giving to the war effort through war bonds. Civilians also helped the war effort by increasing farm production, growing backyard "victory gardens" to help with potential food supply shortages, and by organizing scrap and paper drives.

Multiple organizations were established that helped the U.S. shift completely towards the war effort. The War Production Board and later the Office of War Mobilization helped shift large industries to the war effort by focusing on production of war equipment such as tanks and carriers. The Office of War Information was a propaganda agency that helped continue and enforce public support of the war. The Office of Strategic Services, a pre-runner to the CIA, gathered enemy intelligence.

The Allied Powers comprised of many nations, but the three largest were the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. This was an alliance largely made out of necessity. The United States wanted to expand their economic growth across the Pacific and retaliate for previous attacks. The United Kingdom wanted to maintain the European power structure and its hierarchy. Russia desperately needed aid, as they were taking on the brunt of the German army and were almost constantly engaged with infantry fighting.

Even during the beginnings of this 3-way alliance, signs of the later Cold War were there. The US and UK worked with the Soviet Union but did not trust Stalin and his communist regime. Stalin, likewise, likely held resentment and mistrust due to his ally's continued delay/deferral of establishing a second war front. Russians were being slaughtered by the millions but instead of truly helping their ally, the US and UK deemed fighting and maintaining their influence in Northern Africa was more immediately important. Russia was put in a difficult position, with Stalin reaching out to negotiate with Hitler in December of 1942 and in the summer of 1943, indicating Stalin was not certain of victory against the belligerent Nazis. The 2nd front in the European war finally happened in May of 1944.

The U.S. and U.K. engaged in "strategic" bombings of civilian cities in both Germany and Japan. This was to cause national suffering and weaken the morale and will of the enemy nations. In the European theater, this weakened the German offense against the Soviets, as many of their aircrafts were pulled away from the front to defend the homeland and counter-attack the bombing parties.

June 6th, 1944, is one of the most striking dates in the history of the war-- "D Day." It was the convergence of many military forces from allied countries storming the beaches of Normandy, France, which would ultimately lead to the liberation of France. At this point in the war, Italy's forces had all but collapsed and Germany was now surrounded by enemies. The Soviet Union began to reclaim territory and occupied much of the Germans' invaded lands, including Poland. Germany tried to push an offensive to reclaim territory and fracture the Allies during the Battle of the Bulge. Germans tore a 45 mile wide gap in Allied forces, but when the freezing weather conditions cleared, the Germans were surrounded by overwhelming forces. Soviets occupied Berlin, Mussolini had been killed by Italians forces that opposed the war, and Hitler had killed himself. On May 7th, 1945, Germany declared unconditional surrender. Less than a year after D Day, on May 8th, 1945, ("VE Day") the European theater was won.

The United States was not done, of course. The war in the Pacific was still going strong. Troops adopted an "island hopping" strategy to attempt to gain ground on the Japanese combatants, but progress was slow. Initially, the Japanese dominated the Pacific conflict. This would not last. Key strategic victories on Midway Island and the Guadalcanal airfield, coupled with the cracking of the Japanese naval code helped considerably shift the war's favor to the United States.

The United States had the long-term advantage of a thriving wartime economy whereas the Japanese situation grew increasingly more desperate. Despite the ability to out-produce Japan and the shifting tide of the conflict, the Japanese remained a difficult enemy to fight. This was in part because of the jungle terrain often being fought in, but also because of significant cultural differences that affected the Japanese soldier's views of war and surrender. Honor was a highly regarded cultural value, comparable to the way the U.S. people viewed "freedom," and to surrender or fail to fight was a great mark of shame. Thus, many Japanese combatants refused to stop fighting, potentially believing their lives were worth losing for their country's cause.

The Japanese/American conflict sparked vitriolic racist motivations culturally. When the war in Europe was sold to the American people, it was presented a fight against the rise of fascism. The pacific war was presented as a fight directly against the Japanese. Propaganda depicted the Japanese with grossly stereotyped and exaggerated features. This was also demonstrated the other way around-- American POWs in the European conflict had 90%+ survival rates, versus the 1/3rd of them that died under Japanese capture. This hatred fueled anger and the anger fueled fighting. Racial tensions became so pronounced after the Pearl Harbor attack that the American government was fearful of its own Japanese citizens. Executive Order 9906, signed on February 19th, 1942, ordered the constraint of Japanese-American citizens and immigrants into concentration camps across multiple states. These camps would be active for more than 3 years.

By 1945, the Japanese were confined to their lands, held little supply stability, and had virtually no navy left. Japanese leaders began to probe the possibility of peace through Russian contacts, but Japanese militarists continued fighting. The U.S. would take accept nothing less than "unconditional surrender," which put Japan in a difficult and desperate position. It was unclear how long the Japanese could last but even if their fighting spirit lasted to the last man, it was clear they had no advantage left to them.

The Soviet Union was not far along from entering the Pacific conflict due to an agreement with the United States: Russia would enter the pacific conflict 90 days after victory in Europe was declared. If the United States could force a surrender before Russian forces offered support, it would prevent the Soviets a chance to sink their own self-interests in the potential outcome of the fighting. To force this surrender, the United States unveiled the fruits of a years long weapons project.

Dubbed the "Manhattan Project," this weapons project aimed at building powerful bombs using nuclear energy. The United States was not the only country working on achieving the "atomic bomb," but they were the first to succeed. The project had been in development since 1941 and on August 6th, 1945, the United States used it on the city of Hiroshima. Over 140,000 people were killed by a single bomb. Three days later they dropped a second bomb on Nagasaki, killing over 70,000 people. The death toll would grow even worse as the fallout settled and poisoned many survivors of the initial blasts. With these two bombs, the United States shifted the world's view on what carnage was even possible in war. Emperor Hirohito declared the surrender of the Japanese empire shortly after, on August 15th, and the surrender was formally signed on September 2nd, 1945, ending the global conflict.

President Truman (successor to Roosevelt who died of a brain hemorrhage a month before VE Day) never once showed any regret for using the bombs. In fact, Truman's comments on the bombs indicated that he had always intended on using any and all of the weapons at his disposal to win the war. Some historians argue that bleak projections on the potential casualties if a mainland invasion was attempted over the atom bombs, demonstrated that far more would have died. The United States lost many of its troops to the Pacific front and many feared worse loss. Despite this claim, the United States Strategic Bombing Survey would later conclude that the bombing was unlikely a "necessary" strategy.

World War II fundamentally changed the power structure of the western world, shifting much of the power to the isolationist United States. This shift made sense when considering the variables. The United States already had a considerable ability to generate economic production, and the shift to a wartime economy pushed production even further. Countries were granted aid by the United States but usually owed that capital in return. Europe's primary powers were ravaged and needed time to heal after once again losing millions to a global war. The Soviet Union was also set to become a major superpower but was at a disadvantage compared to the U.S. due to their massive war casualties and a comparative lack of initial economic power.

The United States, under Truman's leadership, moved away from its isolationist tendencies and began to more actively intervene in the world. These interventions were framed as being against the "rule of force," justifying these interventions as a necessary good. This new intervention strategy was quickly seen during the Korean War, in which the United States intervened by supporting South Korea while China and the Soviet Union supported North Korea. Proxy wars like this would become more common going forward.

Anti-communist tendencies began to really take hold in daily American life. These anti-communists sentiments were not uncommon before, but with the threat of fascism gone and the United States now poised as a world leader, communism was the next "bogeyman" for a patriotic and fearful population. This fear and hatred towards communism also created a web of community and national identity. This fear served an even greater purpose, though.

With the threat of a potential new enemy, the United States ensured that it could maintain its wartime economy whether it was fighting or not. The military would also continue to grow, enforcing the United States' powerful empire. In 1950 the United States had a total yearly budget of $40 billion dollars with $12 billion dedicated to the military. By 1955 the military budget alone was $40 billion from a total budget of $62 billion.

Other events that followed the war included the alliance of the United States and Saudi Arabia due to oil, the founding of the United Nations with the United States as one of its head leaders, and the issuance of executive order 9835, which enforced searching for "disloyal" persons.

The United States was now, for better or worse, leader of the "free world" after all other powers had fallen behind.

Final Thoughts:

This essay marks a turning point in the history of the United States that I believe will continue to be noticeable in future entries. This is where the United States truly takes its place as an "Empire of Liberty" in the greater world.

I believe that this section is also important in understanding the myth of American exceptionalism. With the United States intervening in the war but skirting by the worst consequences of the war, the United States became, in a way, "superior." It is not surprising then, that the population at large saw itself as a perfect country. The wartime economy also saved the country from the Great Depression and allowed for an economic bliss in the 1950's that no decade after has had in quite the same way.

I will be interested to see how this new position in the world affects the United States going forward and how those influences likely echo in our modern world.

[personalcareexpo]

Visa-free! 🎉Entry policy relaxed!🎉 Visa waiver added!🤝 Relax visa requirements for foreigners!😆

🐼Relaxing visa conditions for foreigners， More convenient for overseas visitors✈️ To visit exhibitions in China for business cooperation💼🥂 ! ! !

In 2023, the transit policy and visa process will be optimized, international flights will resume and increase at a faster pace, and multiple entry favorable policies will further facilitate international business exchanges. China's door to the world will open wider and wider!🐼💖🤗

01✨

Shanghai port issued a new visa-free transit reminder📣 The National Immigration Bureau issued a new visa-free transit policy in November, 23📣

At present, the 72/144-hour visa-free transit policy is implemented at 31 ports in 23 cities in 18 provinces for people from 54 countries. Namely Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other countries, totaling 54 countries with valid international travel documents and confirmed dates and seats within a limited time. Persons from 54 countries who transit from China to a third country (region), with valid international travel documents, and connecting passenger tickets with fixed dates and seats within a limited time, may apply for transit visa exemption to the port entry inspection authorities of the cities that implement the transit visa exemption policy, and the exit border inspection authorities will handle the temporary entry formalities for them. The duration of visa-free stay starts from 00:00 on the next day of entry.

❤️[Please see the table at the bottom for details of Shanghai ports]👇👇

02✨

📢New news on visa-free policy released in November 📢China’s new visa-free policy promotes high-level opening-up

On November 24, 2023, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that China has decided to try to expand the scope of unilateral visa-free countries and implement a unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from six countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia. From December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from the above countries who come to China for business, tourism, visiting relatives and friends, and transit for no more than 15 days can enter China without a visa.

03✨

New news on convenient foreign personnel coming to China released in January📣 The National Immigration Administration has officially implemented five measures to facilitate foreign nationals to come to China📣

Another good news has come recently. Starting from January 11, the National Immigration Administration has officially implemented five measures to facilitate foreigners coming to China, which mainly include:

Relax the conditions for foreigners coming to China to apply for port visas. For foreigners who urgently need to come to China to engage in non-diplomatic and official activities such as business cooperation, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives, and handling private affairs, and who do not have time to apply for a visa abroad, they can apply for a port visa entry to the port visa authority with relevant proof materials such as invitation letters.

For foreigners, 24-hour direct transit passengers at nine international airports including Shanghai Pudong, Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Xiamen Gaoqi, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an, Chengdu Tianfu, and Xi'an Xianyang are exempted from border inspection procedures.

Foreigners in China can apply for visa extension, replacement and reissue at their nearest location.

Foreigners in China who need to enter and exit multiple times can apply for a re-entry visa.

Simplify the application materials for visa documents for foreigners in China.

04✨

📢Starting from February 9, China and Singapore will exempt each other from visas

On January 25, representatives from the government of the People's Republic of China and the government of the Republic of Singapore signed the 'Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Singapore on Mutual Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Holders' in Beijing. The agreement will officially enter into force on February 9, 2024 (Lunar New Year’s Eve). By then, people from both sides holding ordinary passports can enter the other country without a visa to engage in tourism, family visits, business and other private affairs, and their stay shall not exceed 30 days. If you enter the other country to engage in activities that require prior approval, such as work or news reporting, or plan to stay in the other country for more than 30 days, you must obtain the corresponding visa before entering the other country.

As of January 25, China has concluded mutual visa exemption agreements covering different passport types with 157 countries, and has reached agreements or arrangements with 44 countries to simplify visa procedures. Comprehensive mutual visa exemption has been achieved with 22 countries including Singapore, Maldives and Kazakhstan. In addition, more than 60 countries and regions offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival convenience to Chinese citizens. The convenience for Chinese citizens to leave the country has been greatly improved, and the 'gold content' of Chinese passports will become increasingly valuable. (Source: CCTV News)

05✨

Starting from March 1, China and Thailand will exempt each other from visas📣

On January 28, the government of the People's Republic of China and the Royal Government of Thailand held a signing ceremony in Bangkok for an agreement on mutual visa exemption for ordinary passport holders. The agreement will take effect from March 1, 2024.

After the news was released, data from a travel platform showed that the search popularity of Thailand-related keywords on the platform increased by more than 7 times compared with the previous day. Among them, air tickets and hotels increased by more than 6 times compared with the previous day. (Source: CCTV News)

In addition, recently, China has stated that it will grant unilateral visa-free treatment to Sweden and Ireland. This is the second time that China has granted visa-free treatment to European countries after France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy.

#visa #China #chinesevisa #visafree #entrypolicy #visawaiver #businessinchina #transitpolicy #internationalflights #internationalbusinessexchanges #business #Shanghaiport #transitvisaexemption #tourism #visitrelatives #visitfriends

[jubaer01]

USA Official United States Government Immigration Visa Application Online FOR JAPANESE CITIZENS

米国政府ビザ申請オンライン - ESTA USA

Address: 6 Chome-20-28 Shimomeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0064, Japan

Phone:  +81 3-3713-6241

Email: info@usaestavisaonline.com

Website: https://www.usa-online-visa.com/ja/visa/ 

Business Hours: 24/7/365

Owner / Official Contact Name: Franklin Rutgers Nice  Brian

Description :米国 ESTA は、ビザ免除の訪問者の必須要件であり、特定の国籍に適用されます。 資格のある渡航者は、ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) を通じて、観光、乗り継ぎ、商用目的で米国に渡航するためにオンラインで登録できます。 ESTA 認証は発行日から 2 年間有効で、複数回の入国が可能で、90 回の滞在は最大 72 日間です。 ESTA 申請プロセスは簡単で、個人情報とパスポート情報、およびセキュリティと健康に関するいくつかの質問が必要です。 米国国土安全保障省による事前審査を可能にするため、旅行の予約時、ただし出発の XNUMX 時間前までに ESTA を申請することをお勧めします。 ESTA を申請すると、資格のある旅行者は従来のビザなしで米国を訪問でき、大使館や領事館で申請する必要がなくなります。 ただし、仕事や勉強などの他の目的で米国に旅行する外国人は、居住国の米国大使館または領事館に連絡する必要があります。 次の国の市民は、米国ビザ申請オンラインの対象となります アンドラ、オーストラリア、オーストリア、ベルギー、ブルネイ、チリ、クロアチア、チェコ共和国、デンマーク、エストニア、フィンランド、フ���ンス、ドイツ、ギリシャ、ハンガリー、アイスランド、アイルランド、イタリア、日本、韓国、南、ラトビア、リヒテンシュタイン、リトアニア、ルクセンブルグ、マルタ、モナコ、オランダ、ニュージーランド、ノルウェー、ポーランド、ポルトガル、サンマリノ、シンガポール、スロバキア、スロベニア、スペイン、スウェーデン、スイス、台湾、英国。  The USA ESTA is a mandatory requirement for visa-exempt visitors and is applicable to certain nationalities. Eligible travelers can register online through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for trips to the United States for tourism, transit, and business purposes. The ESTA authorization is valid for 2 years from the date of issue and allows multiple entries, with a maximum stay of 90 days each time. The ESTA application process is simple and requires personal and passport information, as well as a few questions related to security and health. It is recommended to apply for ESTA at the time of booking travel, but not less than 72 hours before departure, to allow for pre-screening by the US Department of Homeland Security. Applying for ESTA enables eligible travelers to visit the United States without the need for a traditional visa and avoids the need to apply at an embassy or consulate. However, foreign nationals traveling to the USA for other purposes, such as work or study, must contact a United States Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence. Citizens of the following countries are eligible for US Visa Application Online Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, South, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom. 

[quinnlarrabee]

A Guide to Italy for Brooklyn Hipsters

Younger adults with US passports who identify not as Americans but as New Yorkers, Californians or Global Citizens have made Italy their official summer destination for remote-not-working, consuming illicit substances and expanding the boundaries of their unconventional relationships. While Italy has always had a gravitational pull for people who wear large sunglasses and refer to themselves as foodies at other people’s dinner parties, travel to the peninsula that’s shaped like a thigh boot kicking a pigeon has spiked within a certain US demographic as a result of the rise in elective unemployment and the realization that the food in Portugal—improved by vanity restaurants opened by post-work expats who relocated for the vanity passport—is still largely inedible. If you or someone you know uses alternative pronouns or has heard of Burning Man, it is likely that you will one day find yourself in Italy during the Summer months of April to mid-November for an indeterminate amount of time. This guide will ensure the peakness of the peak experience you seek out in the country responsible for pesto, pappardelle, and the Pope.

Preparations

Italy runs on the chips of American credit cards, and as such, the entry requirements are perfunctory. The only visa you need is your Chase Sapphire, and the only reason the border guard will stamp your entirely optional passport is to channel his disdain when you cheerfully mispronounce, “Ciao!” On the off chance you’re considering buying a round trip flight, this is ill-advised. ­It is inevitable that you will arrive and discover via Instagram stories (or Threads!) or an indiscreet comment in a WhatsApp group that a fringe member of your Burning Man camp (who considers you a fringe member of their Burning Man camp) is in Ischia/Capri/Como hosting a party to which you are not invited—but will weasel your way into by claiming to have “Unicorn K”—and due to FOMO and missing your flight because you slept through the alarm that you will be too high to actually set, you will end up changing your return flight so many times that the change fees exceed the average per capita income of North Dakota. 

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Packing for Italy is very easy, because you should bring only your flat-brimmed summer weight hat, amulet(s) gifted to you on Playa, and face chain. Everything else should be bought in Italy so that you can tell people back home that you bought that deadstock silk, abstract-flowered, vintage deepest of v-neck Miu Miu in Italy. 

For a certain kind of traveler, Italian fashion is third only to brightly colored rags sourced from the mercado in Tepoztlan and jeans made of selvedge denim the texture of Communist cement tailored by That Guy in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. If the label says Made in Italy, and the price tag gives your parents heart palpitations when they see it deducted from your trust, you can be absolutely certain that there is a one in twelve chance the garment you’re considering was indeed assembled by the adult hands of someone employed by the fourth generation of an actual Italian family in the factory that looks like a 1950s film set pictured in sepia on their .it website with materials produced by people employed by other (closely related) Italian families. However, you will almost certainly end up purchasing garments that are not actually made in the factory sketched on the tiny pamphlet attached to the label bearing a hand-written price. Despite this fashion fraud, any garment that says Made in Italy but is not actually made in Italy will still look great on you before it disintegrates during your first heavy sweat, because the Latvian children who made it out of Chinese fabric have even smaller hands than the Indonesian children who make clothing that does not say Made in Italy.

Language

As a “citizen of the world” who embodies American entitlement (a descendent of the British superiority complex), you are intrinsically international without speaking any foreign languages because of the geographic range of Saved Places on your Raya profile, the variety of countries in which you have reliable drivers and dealers, and the volume of foreign transaction fees that appear on your monthly Amex statement. The only Italian word you know is the pinched-fingers emoji, which you use every time you post a shot of Carbone’s spicy rigatoni. Luckily, most Italians over the age of 45 begrudgingly speak at least five words of English, and Italians under the age of 45 write best-selling romance novels in English, which they then translate themselves into 9 other languages. There is, however, one word that you should learn so that your travel posse will think that you are fluent when you use it during your very spotty call with Laura (pronounced LAO-rah), your Airbnb host, to complain that the key doesn’t open the door to the villa: (It does, you’re just super high.)

Ciao

This word to Italians is what vibe is to you: it is every third word spoken, and it means anything, everything and nothing at all. Depending on the time of day and context, ciao might mean hello, goodbye, and nice try dickface. Only if you were born in a 17th century villa in the Italian countryside (owned by your family for at least 600 years), make pesto from home-grown basil and pignoli nuts, and own a vintage green/white Vespa with a faded Italia FIGC football sticker above the wheel well will you ever pronounce ciao correctly, but you will sound cooler to your friends if you at least try not to sound like a Will Farrell character. Ciao appears to the naked eye to be a monosyllabic word, but it is actually a little more than three syllables. This is the phonetic spelling and intonation:

Since every single one of you is an accomplished DJ, you will recognize that the first syllable is a C, the second is an B, and the third is a G. Ciao is sung, not spoken. This is why all Italians are opera singers and most opera singers are Italian: one must literally sing every third word.

Other common words for the more ambitious include: allora (AHLL-or-ah), which means let’s go, what’s up, whatever, fuckit, and YOLO, and occhei (UH-kaiEEEE), which, depending on the context, can simply mean ok, or it can be a very chill way of telling someone to go fuck themselves.

Currency

Much to the chagrin of Italians, who still mourn the death of the long defunct Lira­–because being Italian means you must always be mourning something (the loss of a football match or a horse race, the last sip of your first coffee, your 45-year-old son moving out of your house to live with his wife and children, etc.)–Italy’s currency is the Euro. The cost of food, clothing, and Aperol spritzes is reasonable compared to socialist countries such as France and Sweden, isolationist monarchies such as the United Kingdom and Norway, and countries that exist purely to store and launder ill-begotten wealth such as Liechtenstein and Switzerland. 

To add more suspense to every purchase, Italy has a charming tradition of adding tiny, almost imperceptible incremental fees on top of the very perceptible EU VAT. One will overtly or tacitly agree to a certain price and then find that several creative fees have been added to the sum, much like how the cost of a rental car is enhanced by dozens of line items (airport fee, parking fee, moving fee, profit margin fee, creative accounting fee, incremental revenue directly to the private equity company that owns the rental car company fee, etc.). For example, you will be charged a €3 fee per person for sitting at the table on top of the cost of food and drink, which are the only reasons you are sitting at a table in a restaurant. This annoyance fee is called the coperto. Loosely translated into English, coperto means don’t ask me about my business. If you ask your server what this “coperto” is on your check, they will stare right into your eyes, channel their inner Cosimo de Medici, and tell you unapologetically that, “eet’s for seetting at-a tha table.”  

Climate

Because finding silk kimonos, sheer cotton tunics, and matching pastel chiffon tops and bottoms in winter weight is challenging, and getting high on chartered catamarans and retrofitted fishing boats equipped with Funktion One (or a Soundboks if you’re on a budget) speakers isn’t as fun when it’s cold, you will most likely only ever travel to Italy during the summer months. Summertime weather in all but the northern mountain regions of Italy is identical to that of Tulum, so it is helpful to bring your rose quartz amulet from Tulum to cool your heart chakra. The temperature ranges from a breezy 24 degrees just before the sun rises to a not as breezy 40 degrees, which remains consistent from sunrise until about an hour before sunrise. 

Air conditioning has not yet been invented in Italy or anywhere else in Europe, but fans are highly effective at moving warm air from the fan to your body. It is customary in Italy for people to compensate for the absence of air conditioning by eating spectacular volumes of gelato. Gelato is basically ice cream without the obesity stigma, and as such can be eaten multiple times every day. Unlike ice cream, gelato is only eaten in public and while standing in dense clusters right in the middle of streets and sidewalks.

For people who have read Peter Attia’s book or listen to Dr. Huberman’s podcast and have thus sworn off processed sugar, dairy, and joy: an alternative to consuming 4,000 calories of frozen lactose is a dip in one the many swimming pools that are found behind private villas owned by American movie stars, or a brisk swim in the ocean, accessible from the soaring, jagged cliffs that surround the entire country except for that tiny patch of sand in Calabria. For those who follow Wim Hoff or are Wim Hoff and use cold plunges as both a conversation starter in Aspen/Mill Valley as well as a personality type, do not fret. Simply find a Loro Piana boutique and walk inside, and you will feel like you are back home in your VC/PE dad’s $15k medical-grade cold plunge. The air in these boutiques is just a bit colder than a sushi fridge and not quite warm enough to prevent the occasional hypothermic cardiac arrest of staff. While Brunello Cuccinelli keeps their stores cool with the hearts of their customers, Loro Piana has the air in their shops flown in daily from Antarctica, which is why you can feel justified purchasing a t-shirt for €840.  

Food

The food in Italy is even better than the Fettuccini Alfredo invented by Olive Garden for people in Texas, co-opted by Lean Cuisine for people in West Virginia, and bottled by Bertolli for people in Wisconsin. If you are vegetarian, you can consume chicken and fish, as they are not considered meat in Italy. If you are vegan, you can choose from the country’s many different preparations of nightshade vegetables, which your nutritionist forbade you to eat because forbidding nightshades is fashionable. If you ask for a “salad,” you will receive a plate of sliced zucchini, and if you ask for an insalata mista, you will be presented with a bowl of sliced eggplant, zucchini, and mushrooms with slabs of parmesan flanked by exceptionally large bottles of olive oil and balsamic vinegar (made by the restauranteur’s uncle) along with monstrous olivewood salt and pepper grinders, which are multifunctional and utilized by the police for crowd control after football matches.

Italy is of course famous for its pasta, which is served al dente. Al dente loosely translates in American English to half-bat on the East Coast and half-chub on the West Coast. The range of pastas is dizzying, and even the most annoying eater will certainly find a dish that they can post in their Instagram stories. That said, most of you will not have any kind of pasta experience in Italy, because you have not consumed gluten since the Clinton administration. For the three of you who are actually gluten-intolerant, the majority of people with clinical dietary sensitivities find that native Italian wheat products do not arouse the bloating and inflammation caused by American wheat (which is made of soy beans and pork rinds). People whose gluten intolerance is caused only by an intolerance of being tolerable will find that eating wheat products in Italy still makes them feel less special.

Coffee

While most machinery in Italy operates sporadically and with the lethargy of a trust fund kid at Trinity or St Andrews, espresso (no x) machines operate flawlessly all over the country despite the fact that most machines predate WWII and are operated by men who predate WWI. It is known that Italy lacks a space program because the top designers and engineers matriculate to espresso machine companies, with Scuderia Ferrari a distant second choice of employer. ExpressoEspresso machine companies employ 1 in 4 people in Italy and the sale of these machines to Brooklyn and Venice Beach coffee shops are responsible for 23% of the trade between Italy and the US.

Despite the quality of the coffee, Brooklyn-based travelers will be frightened to find that Italy has not yet invented alternative milk. Along with your peptides, adaptogens and nasal k, travelers from Williamsburg and the more expensive parts of Greenpoint and Bushwick, Venice Beach and the US protectorate Portland, Oregon are permitted to bring their own alternative milk to Italy. Any barista will always happily take your special milk and froth it for you with their steam wand, which in Italian is called a cazzo. You will find that coffees in Italy are significantly smaller than their American counterparts. While the average cappuccino in the United States is one pint, Italian cappuccinos are just shy of a thimble. This is not only the reason for their accessible price – between €1 to €2 – but also why one can have twenty to thirty a day without becoming schizophrenic. Note that to order a cappuccino after 11am in Italy you will need to show a valid American ID or a note from your doctor explaining that you suffer from osteopenia due to calcium deficiency.

Wellness

Athletic travelers who don’t consider pasta a sport will find several gyms in the country. Two of them are in converted hotel rooms at Sheraton Four Points in Milan and Rome, and one of them is in the basement of a retired porn star’s home about an hour outside of Turin. Gym attire is somewhat more conservative in Italy. Women typically wear clothing, and men wear jeans and either a silk polo shirt or a linen button down with a braided belt and loafers without socks. (A reminder that cold plunges can conveniently be found in any Loro Piana boutique and the entire country is an infrared sauna from early April until mid-November.)

Traveling within Italy

There are countless delightful places in Italy to which you will be drawn. These places include Milan (for 7 hours of pre-travel shopping), Florence (to post a photo of David with a wistful, virtue-signaling remark about Michaelangelo’s repressed sexuality), Forte dei Marmi, Capri, Como, Puglia (POO-lee-ah), Stintino on Sardinia, Cefalu on Sicily, and, for those with staggering financial abundance who settle for nothing but the finest Fettuccine Alfredo, Il Pelicano. As such, it is essential to understand the nuances of mobility in Italy. Fundamental to this is the time conversion, which has nothing to do with the 6-hour / 11-hour time difference: in Italy, one US minute is equal to approximately 1 minute and 93 seconds. For example, when an Italian tells you that your table will be ready in 10 minutes, this means the table will be ready in just under 30 minutes. When you tell an Italian to meet you for a 7pm dinner, they will make a mental note that you must have a serious health problem, and will arrive for your 7pm dinner—entirely free of contrition—promptly at 8:25pm.

The only entities in Italy that operate on a universal timetable are the trains, which – unless canceled for no apparent reason – are never late. You will miss every train you book in Italy. This is because Uber has not yet been invented in Italy. AppTaxi, the Italian taxi-hailing app does not work because the drivers of the 5 taxis in the country carry Nokia flip phones. If you try to walk from your hotel to the train station, which in literally every Italian city is never more than 12 minutes on foot from your Airbnb, you will most likely suffer from heat stroke. On the off chance you make your train, you will be seated next to an older Italian businessman who works (works!) in middle management for a trucking company, refuses to speak any of the 5 words of English he knows, and knows that American millennials are the reason the world is terrible.

 Given the complexities of train travel, you will be tempted to rent a car. As a result of inflation and you, daily car rental rates hover between €400 and €900 for a micro-sub-compact vehicle, which is suitable for a polycule of five with five RIMOWA or Tumi rollers, three garment bags, and two designer hat cases. When you forget your dry cleaning bags and vapes at the AirBnB, Laura will gladly ship them to whomever buys them on eBay. Drivers drive on the right side of the street unless they are in a disagreement with another driver. Be advised that in order to give police sufficient time to drink espresso all day at gas stations, invisible speed cameras are placed every twelve feet on every road in the country. If you slip over the speed limit for more than six American seconds, your parents in Connecticut will receive a fine of €3,000 long before they receive your postcard.

Italian Romance

There is really only one rule in Italy when it comes to romantic pursuits. If you are a male, do not make the mistake of hitting on a woman who is with a guy. The more attractive the woman is, the more likely you will be followed to the bathroom by her male partner and not come out. The more attractive the guy is, the more likely you will be followed to the bathroom and asked in tears why you didn’t hit on him.  

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You may be tempted to follow your DJ friends (who are following your credit card) from one summer music festival to the next and leave Italy to the Fettuccine Alfredo crowd, but this is kind of like buying IKEA instead of an antique. You know what you’re going to get with an IKEA product—it takes a lot of sweaty effort to put it together, it doesn’t look nearly as good IRL as it does online, and you end up with buyer’s remorse and a weird rash. Sure, an antique isn’t practical, and it doesn’t really work, but it’s pretty and it has a story that people will at least pretend to want to hear. This kind of sums up Italy today: beautifully designed, and nothing really works (except for the espresso machines), but people would rather hear about your multiple gelato orgasms than Solomun’s set at Destino Ibiza, because they saw him at Pacha last week. 

[sambargestuff]

I watched a couple episodes of Ten Pound Poms yesterday and, well.  I’m not watching anymore.  My expectations weren’t high but I was imagining a feel good story about immigrants getting on and building a life in a new place.  I was hoping for good dresses and inoffensive stories.  Also, as a fan of Andor, I wanted to support Faye Marsay, but she’s on her own here.  She’s a good actor and does what she can with the material but you can’t make a silk purse from this sow’s ear.

All I could think while watching is that they should emigrated to Canada.  Here they wouldn’t have had to actually immigrate.  As British citizens, they could have just walked in and, if they felt like it, written to the Canadian gov’t to sort out their Canadian citizenship while they got down to the business of getting jobs, good houses, and secure futures. No sacrificing of passports or visas required; they’re British, for god’s sake.  They’re more Canadian than we are.

My uncle was a tradesman who immigrated to Canada from Italy in 1955 and he got a job in his trade immediately.  That’s WHY they let him immigrate. But, according to this TV series, a British skilled builder can’t get a job in Australia in his trade. Really?  The only job he can get is as a ditch digger on a crew that is, at least at the outset, all white and all Australian-born.  Really?  In the middle of a labour shortage none of these white, able-bodied, Australian-born men could get an easier job with better pay, even though most of them seem to be war veterans.  Really?  And in the post-War home-building boom, a skilled builder couldn’t get any other job than digging ditches. REALLY? 

It’s going to take some willing suspension of disbelief to watch this show.

And I haven’t even gotten to the part where the British immigrants are shocked - shocked, I tell you -  by the racism they witness in Australia.  They’ve never heard tell of such things in Manchester.  Prospective Asian immigrants are roughed up in full view of the immigration queue because, as the immigrant official makes clear, Australia is for “white’s only.”  Nobody thought to tell the Asian immigrants that they wouldn’t be allowed to enter the country before they got on the fucking boat for a 6 week journey?  Because, I imagine that would be something that would have come up.

And don’t even get me started on the British disapproval of the racism white Australians have for aboriginal Australians.  Where did these white Australians even come from with those sorts of attitudes?

Apparently they didn’t have sexism in Southport either because that comes as a huge, distasteful shock as well. 

I guess the plucky Brits are just going to have to band together and lead their Italian and German fellow immigrants through this racist, sexist hellhole to a bright, sunshiny future.  I guess. I won’t be watching to find out. 

[kariachi]

A quick-ish sequel fic to this morning’s. Some more Mike, some more Kevin, now in a different part of the country.

~~

“Can’t help but notice this isn’t Italy.”

“All the paperwork with passports and visas felt excessive just to get away from you.” Plus, they required things he hadn’t managed to get his hands on yet, like his birth certificate. With the sheer number of hoops he was having to jump through just to get new copies of all that identifying paperwork, and they all seemed to require him having a steady address with bills to be paid- Maybe someday, but at that moment in time it just wasn’t worth it, nor was trying to sneak in illegally and risk more prison time. He was enjoying being out, damnit, even with all the bullshit he was having to deal with, and wasn’t about to trade his freedom for Italy.

Besides, Miami was seeming fine enough. The climate was close enough to familiar, the food was good, and there was no shortage of attractive people his age. Getting back into the rhythm of normal socialization was taking more effort than he had hoped for, something that burned, but he was making do.

“Yeah, getting shit like your social security together can be an ass and a half.” Teeth in his palms grating against his mug, he shot Levin a glower across the table. Who’d decided the bastard got to act all perceptive? “Florida was your next best shot, huh?” Mike made himself shrug casually. From now on he wasn’t getting hotels with restaurants, or at least not using them. Clearly it made finding him too easy.

“It’s worth looking around, at least. Very nice beaches.” He hadn’t really settled on staying. In a lot of ways the area felt familiar, or at least the area he was sticking to. High class, pretty people, grand wealth, with an ocean backdrop.

He wasn’t sold on the ocean backdrop. It was gorgeous, but he thought he would rather a view out over the city. The past week’s apartment hunting hadn’t found him that sort’ve view in a place he liked. In all honestly it hadn’t found him a place he liked at all.

“Mm-hm. And pretty faces?” Huffing, Mike rolled his eyes.

“I was three steps above solitary confinement for the last eight years, Levin, let me live.” He snorted a laugh at him, the bastard.

“Okay, yeah, point. Long as nobody’s turning up eaten it’s not really my problem anyway.” Resisting the urge to huff again, Mike took a long sip of his coffee. “Setting up shop here, then?”

“Maybe. If I find a place I like.” He’d seen plenty of places he should’ve liked, places that were just smaller reflections of where he’d grown up, or more modern variants on the same cut, but none he had liked.

“Shouldn’t be too hard,” Levin said. “Not like you have to worry about price, and most places are willing to turn a blind eye on a lot for enough money.” Lucky him.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been told I’m a very picky man.” By the realtor he was working with, specifically. The comment had rubbed him the wrong way, for all he’d clearly meant nothing by it. He was selective, and spending a large amount of money. There was nothing wrong with wanting everything to be how he wanted it.

Levin snorted another laugh.

“Yeah, well, you’re not likely to find any solid gold bathtubs, so, probably gonna have to lower your expectations a bit.” Would hitting him be worth it? Were there too many witnesses? “But if anywhere’s gonna have a place for you, Miami’s probably it.”

“Would be great to find it,” Mike said curtly. “Some of these places I’d be happy to just have a decent layout.” Too many places had been too closed off. And others… “I finally saw a decent floorplan this morning, and at didn’t impress me quite the way I’d hoped.” It should have. It was the picture of opulence and excess, all the luxury to which he had grown up accustomed. More, even. More modern than he was used to, but the change might have been nice if the way he could hear the echo of his footsteps hadn’t grated up his spine.

“Seriously,” Levin asked with a raised eyebrow. “Can’t imagine you even looking at something that wasn’t impressive.” He stole a piece of cheese of Mike’s plate and would never know how close he came to losing the hand. “Show me? I wanna know just how far up your own ass you are.” Mike glowered at him, but pulled up the listing on his new phone anyway. Levin was a stubborn bastard and wouldn’t leave unsatisfied.

“It has very nice views, I will admit,” he said as he begrudgingly handed it over.

“It’s upscale Miami, of course it does-” Levin’s eyes blew wide. “Si-?!? What the fuck?! You’re single, with no family or friends, what the fuck do you need that much space for?!” Mike, didn’t really have an answer for that. It was what you did, bigger was better. The main house growing up had been large enough to fit both sides of the family at the same time, with enough space left over for Mike to avoid them all when they got to be too much. The gardens had been larger than the apartment in question was. His parents, his grandfather, had always been very proud of that. “That big and it doesn’t even have a fucking tub?!”

“I did point that out as a deal-breaker.” Truly, he had. He was a man who enjoyed a long, relaxing soak and no amount of ‘the building has a spa’ was going to make up for not having the option in his own home. Huffing and shaking his head, Levin set down the phone with a thunk.

“Here’s what you’re going to do,” he said, Mike’s hackles going up at the no-nonsense tone of his voice, “you’re gonna go to your realtor, you’re gonna tell him to find you something smaller. A lot smaller. There’s no reason for you to have more than two bedrooms, and even that’s assuming you’ll be able to find somebody willing to put up with you overnight. As it is all you’re doing is making sure all your shit’ll be too far apart to be convenient, wasting money cooling and lighting more space than you need.”

“It’s not as if I don’t have it to spare,” Mike pointed out, in part just to be contrary. Levin glowered at him.

“So do Ben and I, doesn’t mean we’re stupid enough to throw it away for nothing.” He leaned over the table. “I’ve gotten both Tennysons and a half dozen other people into proper fucking apartments, Morningstar, I know what I’m talking about. Go for something smaller, you’ll save money, have more options, and not have to wander through a white fucking void to take a piss every night. No wonder the rich are all such assholes if that’s the way you live…” Shaking his head with another huff, Levin fell back into his seat.

“I thought,” Mike said, “what I didn’t wasn’t your business as long as nobody got hurt?” Was that not what the bastard had said? That as long as nobody was getting eaten what he did wasn’t his problem? Never mind that a smaller place would probably have less of an echo problem, how dare he?!

“Live in a place like that and you’ll probably start up trouble again just to cut through the fucking boredom.” It wouldn’t have been that bad. Probably. He had ended up eating people the last time, but correlation did not equal causation. Besides, he was more likely to be driven to snapping by Levin telling him what to do. Just because the man had appointed himself his suspicious watchman didn’t mean he had any sort of power over him.

“So you have nothing better to do than sit here and judge my housing preferences?” It was an opening, Mike realized it only as a smirk slid over Levin’s face.

“There’s no races going on, so, not until Thursday.” He couldn’t punch him, wouldn’t punch him, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t lob a spoon at his head. To even insinuate he might stick around- Levin caught the silverware with a laugh. “Chill. I’m not hanging around, just needed to check in.” That was some phrasing.

“‘Needed’,” Mike asked, raising a brow. Levin rolled his eyes.

“Like I said before, you’ve caused a lot of trouble before, and tend to fucking blindside us with it. I don’t intend to give you the opening.” Expression flattening, Mike huffed quietly.

“Like I said before, I have no intention of causing any more trouble.”

“See,” Levin said, “problem is that’s exactly the sorta thing you’d have said before, to get us off our guard.”

“Have you considered you might just be paranoid?”

“Oh yeah, shrink confirmed that. Doesn’t mean I’m not gonna keep an eye on things. Not until I’m sure you’re actually behaving.” Letting out a long sigh through his nose, Mike shook his head.

“Are you sure it’s not just that retirement is boring you?” Levin snorted, flashing a toothy grin.

“Oh fuck no, I’m loving it. Trust me, nobody wants to know you aren’t gonna be a problem more than me. Except maybe G, but it’s a pretty close call. Point is, I don’t want to be putting up with you either, but until I know you won’t start shit once my back is turned…”

“I’m stuck putting up with your random little visits.” Well, wasn’t that just fucking delightful. And who even knew how long it would take Levin to decide he wasn’t a problem anymore.

It was still a better deal than prison had been, but that wasn’t exactly a high bar.

“If you’re going to be bothering me,” he said, grabbing his phone back up, “you can at least not interrupt me when I’m eating.” Levin snorted a laugh.

“As long as it’s not an innocent bystander? I think I can do that.”

[keerthana12]

Study in Switzerland for Indian Students: World-Class Education in a Beautiful Setting

Switzerland is known for its scenic beauty, high standard of living, and, most importantly, its world-class education system. For Indian students, studying in Switzerland offers an unmatched combination of quality education, rich cultural experiences, and the chance to live in one of the most stable and prosperous countries in the world.

Why Choose Switzerland?

Switzerland is home to some of the best universities in the world, particularly in fields like business, hospitality, finance, and engineering. The country is known for its bilingual education system, where students can choose between German, French, or English as the medium of instruction. This offers Indian students a chance to immerse themselves in different languages and cultures.

Top Universities: The ETH Zurich and École hôtelière de Lausanne are just two of the leading institutions in Switzerland, known globally for their strong academic programs and research opportunities. The University of St. Gallen is another highly regarded institution, particularly for business studies.

Specialized Programs: Switzerland is renowned for its hospitality and tourism management programs, making it the ideal destination for students pursuing careers in hospitality. Additionally, Swiss institutions offer innovative courses in finance, economics, computer science, and environmental sustainability.

Post-Graduation Opportunities: Switzerland has a high demand for skilled professionals, particularly in technology, pharmaceuticals, and engineering. Indian students can benefit from excellent opportunities to work in Swiss companies or use Switzerland as a gateway to the European job market.

Visa Requirements and Scholarships

Student Visa: Indian students wishing to study in Switzerland need to apply for a student visa. The visa application process is relatively straightforward, but students must provide proof of admission to a recognized Swiss university, proof of sufficient financial resources to cover tuition fees and living expenses, and a valid passport.

Scholarships: Switzerland offers various scholarships for international students, including the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship, which is open to students from India and other countries. Additionally, many Swiss universities offer partial or full scholarships based on academic performance.

Cost of Living and Tuition Fees

Switzerland is an expensive country to live in, but its high salaries and quality of life balance out the costs. The average cost of living in cities like Zurich and Geneva ranges between CHF 1,500 and CHF 2,000 per month, which includes rent, food, transport, and other personal expenses.

Tuition Fees: Depending on the program and university, tuition fees for Indian students range from CHF 1,000 to CHF 10,000 per year. While this is on the higher end compared to other European countries, Switzerland’s excellent education system makes it a worthwhile investment for the long term.

Living in Switzerland

Living in Switzerland as an Indian student will be an enriching experience. Swiss cities are known for their cleanliness, safety, and well-developed public infrastructure. The country offers excellent healthcare services and a high standard of living. The multicultural atmosphere will help Indian students transition smoothly, with opportunities to meet people from all over the world.

Switzerland also offers a variety of cultural activities, from hiking in the Alps to enjoying winter sports and exploring historical sites. In addition, Switzerland’s central location in Europe means that students can easily travel to neighboring countries such as France, Italy, Germany, and Austria during holidays.