Florence Gindre is not only a seasoned expat. She’s an experienced repat. This French woman went ‘back home’ 3 times! Last year, she published a short recount — in French — about her latest comeback ‘De retour chez soi’ and this is how we met. Today, she has generously accepted to share her story and and […]
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Repatriation – The True Story Of ‘Going Back Home’ 3 Times
Filed Under: Personal development Tagged With: repat, Repatriation
Emotional Abuse – Why Expat Couples Are At Risk
She comes back home, tired but thrilled. Her Vuitton bag, her manicured nails, her Chanel tailleur… She feels so attractive. In the elevator bringing her home to the 27th floor, a luxurious duplex with panoramic city view catered for by the company, she is in a dream… The CEO, Henry, has just appointed her to […]
Continue reading...Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: accompanying partner, Emotional abuse, Emotional abuse in expat couples, Expat marriage, expat men, Expat Women, Expatriate Family, Psychological trauma, relationships, trailing spouse, Trauma
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 other team so aggressive? The lack of sportive spirit is obvious. Some of those girls had knives in […]
Continue reading...Filed Under: Personal development Tagged With: cross-cultural communication, Disconnection, Expat Women, expatriate, Expatriate Family, relationships, trailing spouse
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, Lisa needs to think about the logistics: Will she go alone to the funeral? The trip is expensive. When and for […]
Continue reading...Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: accompanying partner, expat and death, expatriate, Expatriate Family, Trauma
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. Her senses can’t grasp its reality. Living 15000 km away, she has no chance to jump in the car and […]
Continue reading...Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: accompanying partner, expat and death, expatriate, Expatriates' relatives, Expats
Jet Lag – 7 Ways For Your Traveling Partner To Avoid Becoming A Moody Sloth
Sally is pulling her hair. The kitchen tap is leaking, Max is sick and Sarah has a performance at school this morning. Murphy’s law. As usual, Harry is travelling for work. Since they came to this new country, he’s been away half of the time. He wasn’t even around when she moved in with the […]
Continue reading...Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: accompanying partner, Disconnection, Expat and self-care, Expat marriage, expats and jet lag, relationships
Trailing Spouse: 12 Reasons You Weep And Laugh At The Same Time (And Why It Matters)
Moving abroad — leaving everything behind — feels like jumping into the void. It’s both exhilarating and scary. You feel at the same time excited by the adventure and guilty for this opportunity some will never have. You find yourself filled with joy at the prospect of broadening your horizons and loaded with sadness when […]
Continue reading...Filed Under: Personal development Tagged With: accompanying partner, Expat Women, Expatriate Family, trailing spouse
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 mobility and often tied to the dictate of global companies and fast changing economic conditions, entails a heightened number of unknowns to […]
Continue reading...Filed Under: Personal development Tagged With: accompanying partner, Expat Women, expatriate, Expatriate Family, Expats, relationships, trailing spouse
Three Good Reasons You Struggle With Living in Uncertainty
“We’ve now been living in this country for two years. My husband’s contract is officially finished in 6 months.” Lisa is telling her story for the umpteenth time to Beth, a new mum whose son just joined the International School. “His contract may be renewed but there’s also a strong probability that it won’t. We […]
Continue reading...Filed Under: Personal development Tagged With: accompanying partner, Expat and self-care, Expat Women, Expatriate Family, trailing spouse
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. After six months in this new country, you’re still struggling to hold a simple conversation, let alone read the […]
Continue reading...Filed Under: Relationships Tagged With: accompanying partner, Expat marriage, Expat Women, expatriate, relationships, trailing spouse, Trauma