'I went from a two-hour commute to a 10-min scooter ride by the sea'

eXpat Files Welcome to another instalment of The eXpat Files, in which we chat to Reg readers who've decided to make a go of it in a foreign land.

This week, meet Eric Manfra, who's moved from the USA to balmy Bermuda.

The Register: How old are you and where do you live in the USA, when you're there?

Manfra: I'm 33 and hail from New Jersey.

The Register: What kind of work do you do and with which technologies?

Manfra: I'm an infrastructure engineer, specialising in server and desktop virtualisation (VMware, Hyper-V), storage (Netapp, 3par, Equalogic), and messaging (Exchange, Lync).

The Register: Why did you decide to move to Bermuda?

Manfra: I got tired of spending two-plus hours commuting to work each day and wanted to improve my family's quality of life. I still work a lot of hours but I spend more time with my family and friends than ever. The 10-minute ride along the ocean to work on a scooter is quite the improvement.

The Register: How did you arrange your Bermuda gig?

Manfra: I searched for job listings on my own and eventually found a recruiter that specialised in jobs in Bermuda and Grand Cayman. After lots of paperwork and tests I was accepted and my family moved to the island.

The Register: Pay: up or down?

Manfra: My wife and I went from two incomes to one, in the end I am very pleased with the decision.

The Register: How do workplaces differ between the USA and Bermuda?

Manfra: At work they are very similar, there's lots of work to be done and not enough time to do it. Going from consulting to in-house was more of a change than the physical location.

The Register: Will your expat gig be good for your career?

Manfra: I believe it will be, more international experience and working with people from all over the world has helped me grow in many ways. From a technical aspect we are very progressive, so I am constantly being exposed to new technologies.

The Register: What's cheaper in Bermuda? What's more expensive?

Manfra: The best deal in Bermuda is the yearly scuba diving membership, everything else is double US prices or higher. Everything is relative, the bigger the house the more it costs to rent. Utilities (electric, gas, internet, etc) are all double what they were in the US. As a whole the cost of living is very high, don't underestimate it when considering living in Bermuda.

The Register: What do you miss about the USA?

Manfra: The ability to get anything you want delivered to your house the next day.

The Register: What's your top tip to help new arrivals settle in Bermuda?

Manfra: Do your research before you arrive and set your expectations lower: it is an island, there are bugs, politics, and oddities.

The Register: What advice would you offer someone considering the same moves?

Manfra: Don't think twice, if you have the chance do it. If you don't have the chance, work towards it. Living and working in another country is an invaluable experience, no matter where you are from.

The Register: We have to ask: do you get to wear Bermuda shorts?

Manfra: Sometimes, but I don't wear the knee-high socks.

The Register: Another one we have to ask: Bermuda has a reputation for housing ... erm ... interesting financial institutions ... and for being peculiarly affluent. Or are we recycling insulting clichés?

Manfra: I haven't experienced anything out of the ordinary, every company I have dealt with is on the level and legit. As for being affluent, there is a lot of money here, with the cost of things there has to be.

The Register: And because this is the weekend edition, what can you do on weekends in Bermuda that you could not do in the USA?

Manfra: I go scuba diving every weekend in beautiful warm blue waters, I couldn't do that any time of the year in New Jersey. If you like being active and your hobbies can be done outside, Bermuda is a great place to live.

If you are an expat, or know an interesting one, let us know so we can share your/their globe-trotting tale. ®