Fellow Expat – You Could Do With A Tiny Act Of Love Today

There are people in this world who are not refugees. There are people in this world who are not celebrities. There are people in this world who are not making the headlines. Those people have a … [Read more...]

Expat in a country that speaks the same language as you – Blessing or curse?

The netball game just finished. Olivia is in tears. Her team lost 10 to 0. Sandra, her mum, is fuming on the bench. ‘Why is the game so violent, the referee so biased, the girls from the … [Read more...]

Expats – The News You Dread (Part II)

  Lisa just lost her Mum. It was totally unexpected. They lived 15000 km apart. Once she can cry no more, her numb brain emerges back into practical reality. Beyond the pain of loss, … [Read more...]

Expats – The News You Dread (Part I)

  The news came by email. Like a punch in the gut. ‘Mum died last night.’ Lisa is stunned. She can’t detach her eyes from those four words. Her brain understands the meaning too well. … [Read more...]

How To Live With Uncertainty – Two Coping Strategies That Could Change Your Life

Living in uncertainty is not an expat privilege. Anyone may get a cold, be fired or lose a loved one tomorrow without notice. Life is unpredictable. But the expat existence, linked to high … [Read more...]

This Widespread Disease Can Kill Your Expat Couple (Here’s What You Can Do About It)

You longed for this moment all day. And when you heard the car’s engine at the front door, your heart bounced. “Finally! He’s home!” Today was like so many other days. You hadn’t seen a soul. … [Read more...]

2014 – A Year in Expatland

End of last year, I took you on a journey: the story of an expat family through a compilation of all the articles published on the blog. The suspense was at its peak: we left this family in … [Read more...]

Difficult Expat Conversations – A Hidden Factor Makes You Lose Your Balance When Planning The Holidays (Part III)

There comes a time in every trailing spouse’s life when the thought of the holidays makes you want to... well… hide. Why? Because holidays mean even more work and … [Read more...]

Difficult Expat Conversations – The One Thing You Can’t Avoid To Create A Peaceful Holiday For Everyone (Part II)

Sally’s in a tricky situation.  For the last few weeks, her parents have been chasing and pressuring her: “When are you -- and the kids -- coming back for Christmas?” Sally is agonizing. She’s … [Read more...]

True Story: 4 Lessons To Prevent Burn-Out Or Depression In Your Expat Family

Ashley is the leading spouse -- (aka the expat employee) -- of an American family.  I met Ashley on LinkedIn a few months ago when she commented on “3 Myths About Self-Care That Make You Gamble … [Read more...]