There are many reasons to become an expatriate; the expat life has its advantages and pitfalls, but there is one group of expats who may be more vulnerable than others.
We are talking of Western retirees with very limited funds, those lower middle class folks whose pensions make them poor in their home country but are high enough to maintain their lifestyle in some other countries.
Those other countries tend to be on the poorer side, and this sets the stage for some harrowing experiences, as a recent story about a German couple in Kenya illustrates.
When the couple retired, they looked at their pension and found they'd live a frugal life thereafter unless they moved to another country. They eventually settled on Kenya, where their German pension would be enough to maintain their current lifestyle, with lots of sunshine as an added bonus.
They arrived in their new country as late 50s, early 60s, spry folks and made themselves at home within the larger expat community. Then, a few years later, their life took a turn to the worse, a turn which is ending with the old lady leaving the country with the clothes on her back and a suitcase. The husband will follow soon as he fights of corrupt police and officials. Right now, he has to pay some 300 Euros a month in bribes to stay out of jail.
How did he manage to face being put in jail?
He went to buy the ticket home for his wife, and the travel agent called the police, saying that his German issued passport looked like a fake.
In a somewhat orderly country, they would check the passport, find it genuine and be done with it.
Not so, apparently, in Kenya.
How much of this is part of why Kenya has such an abysmal corruption record is not clear.
The couple's age may have something to do with it. Did they contact the German embassy in Nairobi? Would the embassy be willing and able to help, or would they refer them to a local lawyer.
If you think about finding a place in the sun, and we are not talking of Arizona or Florida here, do extensive research.
Starting retirement as an expat and ending that time as a refugee is not a good prospect.
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