A few months ago, I decided to start this blog – a place to organize my thoughts about expatriation, repatriation, international living, raising TCKs, multiculturalism – essentially my life. During this journey, I’m having the pleasure of discovering other bloggers who write about the same subjects from different perspectives and quite literally, from all over […]
Few would argue that moving abroad brings uncertainty and many challenges. Some researchers even rank moving houses, as the third most stressful event in life. But the reality remains that we, expatriates, have to relocate from one place to another. Thus, each of us has to be responsible for staying motivated and effective during these […]
I grew up moving from one house to another, and to tell the truth I didn’t enjoy it very much then. After all, how can any of us take pleasure uprooting our lives and having to start all over again in a new location? Research points out that change in living conditions is considered a […]
Like many of my fellow expatriates, I believed that going back home after spending time abroad should have been a piece of cake. The experience of repatriation triggered a series of uncomfortable feelings and shocked me. Although I sounded like a Brazilian, I dressed differently, could not fully understand the local news, and felt out […]
When we live abroad, far from our family and friends, there is always a risk of losing someone dear to us and not be able to be physically there. A realistic part of the expat’s experience frequently overlooked. A few weeks ago I was filled with consternation as I learned about a new way of […]
I adore when these presents come in the form of moments such as meeting friends at some airport around the world, encountering a neighbor at the local grocery store, or getting to chat with friends and family I don’t get to see frequently. The other day, I drove for about an hour to do just […]
Finding a home in your new destination. During my first years abroad, I squarely knew where “my home” was. It was a small city in the countryside of São Paulo state, in my native Brazil. I missed my family and friends, the peculiar musty smell of my tropical city. Oh, and how I missed the […]
As an expatriate or world traveler, it’s important to create an authentic understanding of cultural differences while respecting our own unique individuality and special talents. Here is something funny that happened to my family last month related to cultural misunderstanding. A little background, we relocated to the United States six months ago. This is our […]
One of the things expatriates have is a fresh eye. We see newness where most people only see routine. Recently, I had the opportunity to observe a fellow newcomer who hadn’t seen snow yet. She arrived from a tropical country over the summer and is experiencing her very first winter. I loved when she asked […]
You’ve just got news that there is an exciting job offer for you or your spouse on the other side of the globe. Maybe, you have been waiting for this opportunity to arrive for a long time. Or perhaps, you didn’t see this coming at all. Either way, these are exciting times. You feel thrilled […]
