Expat Women

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (February 7-8 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:56:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you enjoyed a lovely weekend! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World
http://bit.ly/y2645f

New Expat Novel by Chris Pavone Launching March 6 But Already Receiving High Praise. Expats, Espionage, Deceit... Sounds intriguing...
http://amzn.to/ygNnlr

Expat Competition: Win A Place At The London International Youth Science Forum
http://tgr.ph/yUYPol

On Facebook? Join The Expat Youth Page To Get The Latest Details (Coming Soon) On This Year's Expat Youth Scholarship
http://bit.ly/wr2Eim

2012 Indie Travel Challenge on Bootsnall
http://bit.ly/w7cMeJ

Expatica's Expat Education Fair in The Netherlands is March 24
http://bit.ly/wVX51h

25 Reasons Google Hates Your Blog
http://bit.ly/wEGtj1

How Do You Live Inside A House The Size Of A Parking Space?
http://bit.ly/ytJjco

Competition for UAE Residents:
"Could You Be The Next Ultimate UAE Explorer?"
http://bit.ly/w1DWFM

Expat Show Beijing, China, Scheduled for 28-29 April 2012
http://bit.ly/wOu19H

Interview with Social Media Director of Families In Global Transition's Judy Rickatson
http://bit.ly/zQSGrQ

And A Reminder... Registration Now Open for FIGT (Families in Global Transition) Conference, 29-31 March, Washington DC
http://bit.ly/xJnS7k

Enjoy!

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Expat Women in Dubai & Abu Dhabi, UAE: Interested In Part-Time Work With SIRVA Relocation?

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:53:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, If you are based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, or know someone who is, and you/your friends are interested in a great part-time work opportunity with SIRVA Relocation, please read on...

Introduction from SIRVA Relocation

Global relocations are on the increase and we are actively recruiting Relocation Consultants. We offer the right candidates a great part-time opportunity to use their expat living and moving experiences and be a part of our dynamic team to help our clients' international employees and their families settle into Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Main purpose of the Relocations Consultant role

• Work closely with the SIRVA in-house team of Global Assignment Consultants
• Accompany our clients’ expatriate assignees on their: Look-See / Pre Assignment Trips; School Search; Home Search; and Settling-In Program
• Complete an end-of-program report

Ideal candidates would possess the following attributes:

• Personal experience and/or knowledge of international relocation industry
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Initiative, independence, well organized
• PC literate with good knowledge of MS Office
• Must have and maintain up to date knowledge of the local and expatriate living and life style issues within the UAE’s international community with schooling information in Dubai or Abu Dhabi
• Languages a distinct advantage
• Real Estate knowledge and contacts is essential
• Training will be offered to the right candidates.

Please urgently send your resume to: Kashish.Navlani@Sirva.ae
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Thank you.

SIRVA, Inc. is a leader in providing relocation solutions to a well-established and diverse customer base around the world. The company has redefined the relocation industry by offering innovative ways for customers to achieve their individual business goals, while providing global end-to-end relocation services, including program development and management, home purchase and home sale services, household goods moving, and mortgage services.

SIRVA conducts more than 300,000 relocations every year, transferring corporate and government employees and moving individual consumers. The company operates in more than 40 countries with approximately 2,600 employees and an extensive network of agents and other service providers in over 175 countries. With our global reach and local expertise, people trust SIRVA to listen to their unique needs and deliver seamless relocations every day.

Expat Writers: Interested in Submitting Your Story to Caravan Press?

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:31:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, Are you an expat writer wanting to have one of your stories featured in a new book? If yes, then please read on...

Caravan Press are a group of expatriate women writers based in Brussels, Belgium, since 2010. They are currently compiling a collection of stories for their forthcoming book and would like to invite submissions - from all over the world.

"We are currently seeking original, unpublished tales of interesting, funny, serendipitous or barely thinkable (but mostly true, of course) expat observations and experiences. Topics may include, but are not limited to the following: Culture Shock (classic or "reverse"); Food; Travel & Adventure; Friendship; Language; Life Experiences; etc.

Submissions should be limited to 1,500 words and sent via www.caravanpress.eu by May 15, 2012. All authors of selected stories will be notified by Caravan Press prior to mid-July 2012.

Kind regards, Bena Mattagne, For The Caravan Press Team."

Expat Research Results & New Requests: Can You Help?

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:22:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, Firstly, thank you to those who last year helped Regula Sindemann by completing a survey related to her Masters thesis on Cultural Intelligence. Regula kindly shares her main findings below.

Secondly, we have a two more researchers today looking for help with their expat-related research. Please help if you can. Many thanks! Andrea Martins

Research Results from Regula's Cultural Intelligence Research:

"Last year, I finished my Master thesis on the concept of Cultural Intelligence and its relevance for expatriate spouses/partners. (Thanks to everyone who helped!) We had 153 data sets, which allowed me to run meaningful statistical analysis, and I wanted to share my main findings here:

In case you are wondering what Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is: 'CQ is the capability to function effectively in culturally diverse situations' (Ang & van Dyne, Handbook of Cultural Intelligence, 2008). Basically, it predicts and explains why some people thrive and some struggle in culturally diverse settings. It consists of four complementary capabilities or dimensions: CQ Drive, CQ Knowledge, CQ Strategy, and CQ Action.

Main findings:

The findings showed a significant correlation between CQ and the satisfaction level expat spouses/partners (ES) expressed. In other words: Those respondents who assessed their CQ at a high level, also reported a general satisfaction with their life as an ES.

Interestingly, not all dimensions showed the same influence: CQ Knowledge, i.e. the level of understanding about how cultures are similar and different, played the least influential part. This suggests that whilst it is certainly helpful to know e.g. how to present a gift in China or how to behave in an Islamic environment, it will not guarantee a good assignment experience. Motivation, strategy and action play an equally if not even more important role.

CQ emphasizes learned capabilities more than personality traits. It is not fixed, but can develop and grow through experience and learning.

Being happy and satisfied is obviously very important for the ES him- or herself; however, it also has a strong influence on the assignment success of the expatriated employee. So, expatriating companies are well advised to invest in ES, be it with relocation services, housing allowances or, and I bet you saw this coming, by helping them to increase their CQ with training or coaching.

If you would you like to learn more about CQ and the possibilities of developing it, or you have comments, please let me know. I am also happy to share ‘my knowledge’ and to refer you to some interesting books or web pages on this topic.

Whilst my project focused on CQ and its relevance for ES, I do believe that the concept of CQ shows strong promise of being valuable to all global citizens. It is a framework that fosters cultural understanding and respect; a mind-set beneficial to individuals, organizations and nations alike. Best wishes, Regula Sindemann."

New Research Request: For Repatriates

Thekla Wesche is currently conducting research for her Masters thesis, with the Human Resource Management department of the Radboud University Nijmegen, in The Netherlands. The topic of the thesis is related to repatriation. The supervision is by professor Dr. Beate van der Heijden.

"Repatriation of expatriates is often neglected by organizations. Research has shown that employers often do not optimally value new experiences gained abroad. This, in turn, can cause serious problems while readjusting in the home country. Therefore, it is important for organizations and management to get more insight in perceptions expatriates might have after their international assignment.

The specific objective of this study is to get an understanding of how perceptions of the psychological contract of repatriates influence their organizational commitment. The focus of the research is on expatriates who have returned to their home country recently.

The survey takes about ten to fifteen minutes. Thank you in advance to anyone who can help. Warmest regards, Thekla Wesche."

New Research Request: For Expatriates in Israel

Dani Kranz is a social anthropologist in the Institute of Area Studies Transnational at Erfurt University (Germany). Her current research project concerns expatriates and their families in Israel. The project centres on how expatriates experience Israel, how they structure their social relationships, and if they form a community of expatriates. She will be conducting fieldwork in Israel in February and March 2012.

"I am specifically seeking for expatriates, who would agree to an interview and/or letting me take part in their daily activities. I am happy to discuss my project, and provide further details. I also seek contact to former expatriates, expatriate spouses or children who used to live in Israel. Full anonymity and full confidentiality will be granted. Your support would be very helpful for me. Kind regards, Dani Kranz."

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (February 2-3 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:44:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope your week has been fantastic! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

The 10 Types Of People That Drive Flight Attendants Nuts
http://bit.ly/A7SjnQ

Great News For Expat Partners In Europe:
"Non-EU skilled Workers: Common Rules To Ease Intra-Corporate Transfers"
http://bit.ly/wKhEu1

The Expat Chick-Lit Author Who Followed Her Heart To London
http://tgr.ph/xSA6n9

Write An Essay About Australia To Win $6,500
http://bit.ly/A9DrUX

Behind An Expat's Wine Startup Success
http://bit.ly/wD0qkX

Google To Start Country-Specific Censorship for Blogs
(... and how to manually redirect)
http://on.mash.to/zIER3q

Twitter Has Refined Its Technology To Censor Messages On A Country-By-Country Basis
bit.ly/AaooOf

Expat Entrepreneur Laurie Villarreal (in the Netherlands) Talks About Her Marathon Training Camps
http://bit.ly/AkyPUP

Santa Fe Relocation Invites Global Mobility Professionals To Complete Their 2012 Survey
http://linkd.in/yvac30

“My Gutsy Story” By Pamela Sisman Bitterman
http://bit.ly/ycrc42

20 Ways To Annoy A Swede (Expat Blog Post)
http://bit.ly/yQLjci

New Zealand Introduces Retirement Visas From 29 March 2012
http://tgr.ph/z9XmKM

And one from us...

Like Freebies? Here's a (generous) sample from our Expat Women motivational book!
http://bit.ly/mZmTXP

Enjoy!

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Meet Annabel Candy – Expat, Web Designer, Copywriter and Travel Fiend

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:23:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, You may recall that when we launched our book Expat Women: Confessions - 50 Answers to Your Real-Life Questions about Living Abroad last May, several kind women donated prizes for our launch competition. Today, we would like to introduce you to one of those wonderful women...

Meet Annabel Candy – Web Designer, Copywriter & Travel Fiend

Two years ago, Brit Annabel Candy was experimenting as a blogger and set up a travel blog called Get In the Hot Spot. Since then, Annabel's blog has grown exponentially and Annabel even scored a free trip to Shanghai, courtesy of Coca Cola!

Expat Women: Annabel, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Annabel: I was born in the UK and I have lived in France, Laos, Zimbabwe, the USA, New Zealand, Costa Rica and now in Queensland, Australia. I have been a web copywriter and web designer for 17 years, and currently run an Internet marketing company called Mucho (with clients in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and Africa).

Growing up, I always dreamed of living in a hot tropical place by the sea and I am so grateful I actually do. I work from home and live with my husband and our three school-aged kids. It is quite chaotic, but the beauty is that we can always escape to the nearby beach when we need some down time.

Expat Women: How did you come to be living in Australia?

Annabel: My husband and I owned our own web design and copywriting business in New Zealand and our three kids were born there. But we are both travellers and yearned to hit the road again. It took us a while to pluck up courage, but when our youngest child was two, we sold our house, along with most of our belongings, and moved to Central America.

We did not speak Spanish at first and had never been there before, so most of our friends thought we were crazy. We lived in the jungles of Costa Rica for 18 months with no Internet. We loved it but schooling the kids was hard (we had to buy desks for the classroom) and of course we could not do any web design work without the Internet! It was a great experience but in the end we decided to move to Australia instead - it had the warm weather and the Internet.

Expat Women: Why did you start blogging?

Annabel: I started because I wanted to learn about blogging and have a creative outlet for my writing (that was not anonymous like my normal web copywriting work was). I started blogging before I left New Zealand (but the blog was understandably on hold while I was without Internet in Costa Rica). It was 2006, and in my first blog post I wrote that I was going to: "Stare fear in the face and overcome my fear of being read, the fear that my writing would be judged." I never wrote another blog post for three years!

Expat Women: So what inspired you to pick up blogging again in 2009?

Annabel: I decided to give it another go. This time, I was determined to stick with it, even though at first, it was depressing because no one was reading my blog. However, slowly but surely, I started to connect with readers and get subscribers.

I started guest posting on other people's blogs and that helped grow my blog faster. Then, after I had been blogging for one year, Coca-Cola got in touch and paid for me to go to a social media conference in Shanghai (!) because they liked my writing. That was a real breakthrough moment because finally I felt that all the effort I had put into my blog was being recognized.

Expat Women: But is guest-posting just giving away your best content for free?

Annabel: I have learnt to stop thinking of guest posting as "giving away" my best work and start thinking of it as free prime time advertising. I am proud to say that my writing has now been featured on some of the biggest blogs on the Internet, like Problogger, Copyblogger and Zen Habit - and that has helped me grow my blog more than anything else. It has also been an excellent way for me to connect with new readers and raise my profile.

Expat Women: Do you make money from your blog?

Annabel: My core business is web design and copywriting, but blogging has helped me get clients all over the world, which is a huge benefit because I live in a holiday area with limited business opportunities otherwise.

In New Zealand I could never get a job unless I met the client. But blogging has helped me get clients all over the world. Not because of my qualifications (I do have an MA in Design for Interactive Media) or experience, but because of the personal experiences and stories I shared on my blog.

Now, I also sell my own e-book about blogging and promote other people's products, so blogging has allowed me to increase and diversify my income in these ways as well.

Another benefit: I can now also pick and choose what work I do. I have reached a point where I only do jobs that I enjoy and work with people that I like, which is a real luxury. For example, I just got a travel writing job for our local tourism board, where I go for a massage or try a new beauty treatment, then write about it for them. How good is that? :)

Expat Women: Do you have any advice for other bloggers and writers?

Annabel

But success with anything depends on perseverance, so my advice is stick with blogging, if you enjoy it, even when you want to give up.

Do not expect to see any results for a year or so, but promise yourself that you will keep updating your blog at least weekly. Blogging is an art, not a science. So keep blogging, keep experimenting and have fun with it!

Annabel Candy shares her travel stories and personal writing at Get In the Hot Spot. Or find her blogging tips and blogging book at Successful Blogging.

Thanks Annabel! Andrea

Expat Women February 2012 Features

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:37:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a lovely week! Please take a few minutes to read, enjoy, share and tweet about our new February home page features below. Thanks so much and I wish you a wonderful week! Andrea

Success Story
Irmgard Lafrentz
President, Globalpress Connection
Germany's Irmgard Lafrentz moved to Silicon Valley with stars in her eyes, hoping for a job with Cisco, Sun or Intel. With no job offer forthcoming, Irmgard started her own business as a global matchmaker between U.S. high technology companies and the international trade and business media. Now, her business turns over six (and sometimes seven) figures...
Read More

Business Idea
Beaded Lily
Lily Mordà
In 2001, Americans Lily Mordà and her husband Timothy James took a two-month trip to Italy, and never left. Since then, Lily and Tim have built a thriving bead business in the Oltrarno – Italy's artisan area in Florence. Students travel from all over the world to learn in their studio, and their beads are bought by the likes of Chanel, Ferragamo and Escada...
Read More

Mothers
Moving Your Children Overseas After A Divorce
Ewan Cambell MacDougall
If you have started a family (or moved your family) overseas but your marriage did not turn out to be the happily ever after you hoped for, you might be feeling like it is time to go back home, or maybe start afresh in a new country. But beware: taking children overseas without the consent of their other parent can be considered child abduction...
Read More

Money Matters
U.S. Expat Taxes in 2012 – What's New?
IJ Zemelman, EA, Taxes for Expats LLP
If you are an American who needs to pay U.S. taxes, this article lets you know about about recent requirements for Foreign Investment Account Reporting (FATCA), gives information for securities and business owners, touches on gift tax dodging and IRS investigations, and highlights increases to IRS auditing measures...
Read More

Expat Confession
Intercultural Couple
Extract from Expat Women: Confessions
Recently I moved to my partner's home country, Japan. I myself am from Denmark, which is where we met. However, ever since we moved to Japan four and half months ago, our relationship has been having problems. It seems that the man I fell in love with has transformed into a different person...
Read More

Meet the Author
No Chopsticks Required: My Family's Unexpected Year In Shanghai
Katrina Beikoff
In 2008, Katrina Beikoff and her partner Gary Smart accepted one-year expat assignments with the Shanghai Daily. What followed was a very busy year involving major events such as China's massive snow storm, the devastating Sichuan earthquake, the Tibetan uprising, the Beijing Olympics, and the melamine-tainted milk scandal...
Read More

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Just a reminder that our blog is separate from our main site, so if you are reading this blog post online or you are only subscribed to our blog, you will not automatically receive our Expat Women monthly newsletters.

To receive our monthly newsletters and to go in the running to win our monthly prize of a complete set of Explorer Publishing Mini-Guides, please sign up today to our main site, ExpatWomen.com. When you join, you will also receive a link to download our free e-book of Winning Stories. Thanks for your support!

Should You Start A Franchise Business in 2012?

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 03:16:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, We recently asked MyDestination.com (one of our valued ExpatWomen.com sponsors) about why 2012 might be a great year for franchise businesses. If you have ever thought about becoming a franchisee, you might be interested in their response...

Neil Waller:

"The beginning of every year sees many different types of resolutions being made, from quitting smoking, to taking up the gym. Starting your own business is one resolution that is frequently heard, but all too often not followed through. The planning required, financial considerations and the likely success of a new venture, all tend to put people off. However, investing in a franchise business can negate many of these considerations; you can be your own boss and have all the benefits of having your own business, without many of the stresses and strains. Here is why 2012 might be your year for investing in a franchise...

When considering starting a business, the fear of failure leads most people to stay safe and plod along in their current jobs, even though they have a burning entrepreneurial desire. Investing into an already successful and prosperous franchise business will hopefully reduce your stress that the business might fail. If you are already joining a business that is profitable and proven, your franchise should benefit from the authority and reputation of the business you are buying into, significantly reducing the risk of failure.

Entrepreneurs will undoubtedly need much assistance when starting a business, as it is impossible to have adequate experience in all areas of business. When you join a franchise business, you are able to access this experience and expertise needed to grow your franchise, through a centralised support structure that will be in place. As a new franchisee you should be provided with assistance and advice on all areas required to succeed in becoming a successful franchisee (including marketing, advertising, sales and so on).

After all, it is in the interest of the franchise company that as a franchisee you develop your franchise as much as possible. This reduces the risk of making mistakes in developing your franchise, as you will always have a support structure to guide you through the many challenges you will face.

Purchasing a franchise is also significantly cheaper than starting your own business, where overheads often become extortionate very quickly. The main outlay will be the fee you pay for your franchise; this will depend on the size of the franchise that you are buying and what destination it is in. However, for this you should receive all that is necessary to start your franchise, such as a website if it is an online franchise, a restaurant, a shop or maybe some office space. The access to the already mentioned support structure is also invaluable.

In economically uncertain times, franchising does represent a fantastic opportunity to run your own business. The fact that banks and venture capitalists are highly reluctant to invest in start-up businesses, means that you will need to raise most of your business capital yourself these days. So, investing in a franchise could reduce your initial costs, and help to bring benefits to you faster.

Whether you franchise or start solo, I wish you all the very best with whatever you start in 2012! May it be a fabulous year for you.

Warmest regards, Neil Waller, Co-Founder, MyDestination.com."

MyDestination.com is a franchise based network of travel sites, powered by a diverse community of local experts on the ground, providing local knowledge and local deals.

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (January 25-26 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:42:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope your week has been fantastic! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

Self-Published (Former Expat) Author Gets Movie Deal After Being Discovered On Twitter
http://bit.ly/AqIunA

Invent Your Future Job: Be Unique, Be Social, Be Global - by Expat Coach Anne Egros
http://bit.ly/wdglBS

5 Most Common Expat Injuries in China
http://bit.ly/yiXRLA

Is America Shutting The Door On Expats?
http://tgr.ph/Az9u4X

Delhi Journal: The Expat Experience (Wall Street Journal)
http://on.wsj.com/AbnBkU

Expat Selena's Observations On Her New Life In the UK
http://bit.ly/zuDviJ

Britons Rush For Australian Visas
http://tgr.ph/ynU41x

Interview: Expat Writing Mentor Jo Parfitt talks to Expat Author Matt Krause About His Turkish Love Story 'A Tight Wide Open Space'
http://bit.ly/yDewJp

Middle East, Africa & Eastern Europe: Best For Expat Pay & Packages
http://tgr.ph/zNu4MB

American Expats: 10 Year IRS Statute of Limitations: How Long Can The IRS Collect From You?
http://bit.ly/zHt2uS

U.S. Military Kids Now Have Their Own (Official) Social Media Playground To Help Deal With Challenges Of Deployment
http://ht.ly/8F4Oz

6th Annual Overseas & Military Voting Summit (Washington & Online) 27 January 2012
http://bit.ly/zD7fIZ

And one from us...

Like Freebies? Here's A (Generous) Sample from our Expat Women Motivational Book. Enjoy! http://bit.ly/mZmTXP

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Expat Entrepreneur Success Story in Russia

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:25:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, Here is a wonderful expat success story from Russia. A premium bakery chain that turns over $2 million each month. Incredible!

Hint: If you cannot see the video in your email feed, try clicking on the Russia Today page: http://rt.com/news/prime-time/story-success-pain-quotidien-605/

Insights from Robin Pascoe, who Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Her First Book for Expats

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:40:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, Our wonderful friend Robin Pascoe, well known for her books about expat living, recently celebrated her 20th anniversary of the publication of her first book for expats (congrats Robin!). She reflected on this milestone on Facebook recently, and kindly gave us permission to republish her insights here for your easy reading...

From Robin Pascoe on 12 January 2012:

"I’m always telling people not to ignore important milestones in their lives, but did I mention I rarely take my own advice?

It’s the 20th anniversary of the publication of my first book for expats, indeed an anniversary of the first expat book that told wives it was OK to be angry and resentful of their husbands and to wonder, who the hell am I anyway?

Originally published in 1992 as “The Wife’s Guide to Successful Living Abroad”, in 1993 as “Culture Shock: A Wife’s Guide" but finally, under my own Expatriate Press, re-issued and updated in 2009 and given the title I wanted for it all along, “A Broad Abroad”, it was so much fun to put into words and print what so many women were feeling but no one was saying!

So today, in acknowledging this important milestone in my life (you always remember your first!) here are five great memories I associate with this book:

Of the many rejections I received when sending out the manuscript, my favourite that made me laugh out loud was from a Hong Kong publisher who wrote to me and said: “Expat wives have servants. Why do they need a book?”

The night the publisher in Singapore called me. We were living in Beijing and it had been months since I had sent them the manuscript. The managing editor apologized for just finding it, but she wanted it. I cheekily suggested there should be a follow up book for parents and the editor said, “start writing that now.”

My Chinese cook (yes, ok, I had a cook) came to where I was sitting at the phone, completely unravelled with joy, carrying a tray with a double shot of scotch and a cigarette for me. (No cook, no smoking and actually, no drinking anymore since I lost my fear of flying and no longer need to be fuelled by vodka).

The day the books arrived in Beijing I had a choice: I could go to the airport and be the first to open the boxes containing my new baby. Or I could attend a piano recital of my first baby (an 8-year-old Lilly). I chose my daughter and never regretted it.

My first speaking tour: Husband Rodney said, “You should go to promote the book in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore since you have friends in all three places who would be sure to help you.”

Me? “You mean: alone???”

Never mind that he pushed me out of the nest and my comfort zone, it was in Tokyo that I attended a lecture given by Dave Pollock whose Third Culture Kid bible was still years away from publication. I gave Dave a copy of my new book (since he’s quoted in it) and when he got up to speak to the school audience, the first words out of his mouth were: “I have just been given a book that I know everyone in this room will want to read.” A great friendship and mentorship was born. Like so many people, I still miss him.

Weeks after that first tour: I was sitting at the dining room table in Beijing with my then 3-year-old-son Jay reading a three week old Hong Kong paper, the South China Morning Post. Scanning the book page, I was, as the Brits say, gobsmacked.

“Mommy has the #1 bestseller in Hong Kong, Jay. Eat your carrots.” It was the beginning of leading a life I didn’t participate in (or know about) most of the time.

I realize I could probably write a hundred great stories associated with this book but won’t bore everyone to death. However, I have saved one last great memory that I cherish the most: The countless women who came up to me during my years on the road and said, “Thank you for writing this, Robin.”

Remarkably, the book (and all of the ones which followed) are still selling after all these years!

Find yourself in my books, as I used to say..."

Note: Robin retired from expat writing last year, but her books and videos are still available on her website, ExpatExpert.com.

Happy Birthday Expat Women!

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:59:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, Just a quick but sincere post to thank you for your support, feedback and testimonials over the past five years that ExpatWomen.com has been online.

I was just about to log out for the night (it's nearly midnight here) when I realized that today is the birthday of our site's launch five years ago, on 16 January 2007!

Thank you for 'being there' and for 'spreading the word' for us. Incredible to think that we now have more than 2,000 self-submitted Expat Women blogs on our directory, more than 1,000 quality content pages (country and expat club information, motivational articles and more), 300+ readers' stories, 5 years' worth of high quality newsletters, and much more.

I hope ExpatWomen.com has helped you and I appreciate in advance that you please keep spreading news of it to your friends and networks. Thanks so much, and enjoy January 16! Andrea x

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (January 16 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:02:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you are having a fabulous start to 2012! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

The World's Most Walkable Cities
http://bit.ly/ypO4Po

The Highs and Lows of Expatriation
http://fb.me/sECmUFGY

Expat Liz Visits a South Korean Cat Cafe
http://bit.ly/A3VcJz

Registration Now Open for FIGT (Families in Global Transition) Conference, 29-31 March, Washington DC
http://bit.ly/xJnS7k

Is Hong Kong's Pollution Driving Expats Away?
http://tgr.ph/A17DiR

It's Easy to Break the Law in Dubai Without Realising It
http://tgr.ph/wghGT5
Note: After I tweeted this, someone wrote to tell me that a poppy seed on bread could lead to arrest! And another person advised that vanilla essence could do the same! Wow. Be careful, Everyone.

US Migration Study Results Released by United Van Lines
http://bit.ly/xaTo3E

Top 15 Girlfriend Getaways (includes a water slide in a shark tank!)
http://bit.ly/wtYF7a

Expat Author Interview: Russell Ward Talks to Jack Scott about His New Book, Perking The Pansies http://bit.ly/wS0bkk

Expat in Israel? Dr. Dani Kranz in Germany Needs Your Help for A Research Project
http://linkd.in/xkTeeL

How To Work From Home Like You Mean It
http://bit.ly/w0RkjQ

Anyone Interested in The Casting Team Contacting Them for House Hunters International (U.S. version) is Invited to Contact @BlondeinAround via Twitter

Before you clear out your old expat paperwork, send it to the Expat Archive Centre
http://www.xpatarchive.com/

And one from us...

Here is where you can see the latest self-submitted blogs on our Expat Women Blog Directory - Enjoy!
http://bit.ly/igeWXc

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

New Expat Book This Week: At Home In Dubai

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:19:00 +0000

Hello Everyone, We do not normally give shout-outs to books that are specific to any one location (given that our members are based in 190 countries), but given that around 25-30% (true!) of our members are based in the United Arab Emirates, we thought you (or your friends in the UAE) might like to know about this new book...

"@ Home in Dubai: Getting Connected - Online and On the Ground"
Author: Anne O'Connell (Released 12 December 2011)
Publisher: Summertime Publishing

Anne kindly sent us an e-review copy and after a quick scan of the rich content, it seems she has done a great job at putting together some very useful information about moving to Dubai - well done!

If you are interested, I invite you to take a look on Amazon.com here (affiliate link) or on Amazon.co.uk here (affiliate link).

Thanks Everyone - and have a great day/night! Andrea

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (December 14-15 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:47:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a great week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

New: Results From 2011 HSBC Expat Explorer (Expat) Survey
http://bit.ly/sRfJKs

BBC Video: The Life Of The Trailing Spouse Who Wants To Work Abroad, But Cannot
http://bbc.in/uDfvnC

Top 10 Global Topics Most Discussed On Facebook In 2011
http://bit.ly/rYnNr1

Which U.S. Companies Import The Most Talent From Abroad?
http://read.bi/vHIT0s

Best of 2011: Books For, By & About Expats
http://bit.ly/t89EfP

25 Australian Travel Blogs & Bloggers To Watch In 2012
http://bit.ly/rt7sih

How To Live Safely Abroad
http://bit.ly/sycBbR

I Miss The Food & The Massages, But There's Life After China
http://tgr.ph/vMfPB5

More Americans Go Abroad For Economic Opportunities
http://bit.ly/uasXI7

The True Cost Of Expat Living In Australia
http://fb.me/tsv7DedJ

And finally... my personal news of the week via Twitter...

"It's official... Our family's moving again! Kuala Lumpur-to-Sydney-to-Sunshine Coast (Australia) in 4 months... Can't keep up? Neither can I sometimes..." Andrea :)

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Barclays Wealth International: Press Release from an Expat Women Sponsor

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:39:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, One of our Expat Women Gold Sponsors, Barclays Wealth International, recently issued a press release about how new clients could save on international payments. If you need to make payments across borders, you might be interested...

Barclays Wealth International: Press Release (Extract Only)
International payments savings for new clients of Barclays Wealth International
* New clients save a minimum of £25 on each international payment1
* Savings also available on a range of other online payments

Barclays Wealth International has introduced an exclusive offer for new clients, which provides significant savings on a range of online payments. Clients who apply for an international bank account with Barclays Wealth International before 6 January 2012 will enjoy the following savings until 14 January 2013:

* Reduced fees on international payments – standard payment charge is waived
* No fees on cross-currency transfers between Barclays accounts
* No fees on euro payments within Europe2
* Free same-day sterling payments (CHAPS payments)

The potential savings for new clients are significant. International clients make on average three international payments each month. By taking advantage of this exclusive offer, an international client making 3 international payments a month could save £900 in one year. For full details of the offer and conditions can be found here: www.barclayswealth.com/paymentsoffer. Thanks.

About Barclays Wealth
Barclays Wealth is a leading global wealth manager, and the UK’s largest, with total client assets of £170bn, as at 30 June 2011. Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail banking, credit cards, corporate and investment banking and wealth management with an extensive international presence in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs over 145,000 people. Barclays moves, lends, invests and protects money for customers and clients worldwide.

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (December 11-12 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:29:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you just enjoyed a fabulous weekend! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

How To Be An Expat Inspiration: Diana Baur Interviews Michelle Fabio
http://bit.ly/ttW44l

Companies Unhappy With Expat Strategies: A Survey Of 140+ Companies Has Found Many Not Satisfied
http://tgr.ph/vTQnfH

A Look At The Difference Between The TIME Magazine Cover In The U.S. Versus Abroad
http://ti.me/v8if27

Beware: The Love Trap [Video] on 60 Minutes
(Andrea's Note: I know an expat in Malaysia who fell for this - Don't be a victim...)
http://bit.ly/rGtezt

An Expat’s Guide To Surviving A Tax Audit
http://bit.ly/tahheT

Volvo Executive Elisabet Wenzlaff Tells Of How studying Abroad Helped Her Career
http://on.ft.com/vqVNNk

Is The Grass Really Always Greener On The Other Side?
by Expat Anne Egros (who moved from Belgium to the United States)
http://bit.ly/tDjRjL

Understanding & Overcoming The Challenges Of Pursuing An Expat Career, By Megan Fitzgerald
http://bit.ly/vzMYZQ

Wondering If Traveling Abroad Is For You?
http://bit.ly/sNWsVF

Adventurous Expat Lawyer Cycles 17,000km home from China to Norfolk
http://tgr.ph/sYWzHz

Uncertainty in Expat Life
http://ow.ly/7G67K

Expats: Starting a Franchise Career Abroad? Learn from Fay Jones & Fiona Butler
http://bit.ly/ugS8b8

Expats: Interested In Starting A Business Abroad In France?
http://bit.ly/s8BjaN

American Expats: Can You Still Get Tax Benefits If You Live In A Foreign Restricted Country
http://bit.ly/w0lmoE

...And finally, this one is not expat-related, but I loved it, so am including it just for fun...
[Video]
"100 years of style in 100 seconds."
http://bit.ly/uSKqJQ

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Expat Partners: Do You Really Want To Work, Or Are You Just Paying Lip-Service To Your Lack Of A Career Abroad? (Survey)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:37:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, Evelyn Simpson and her colleague Louise Wiles have put together a survey with regards to how relocation abroad has affected the career choices of accompanying expat partners.

If you can help by completing the survey, please do so here. They estimate it to take about 15 minutes.

Here are some words from Evelyn Simpson...

"When I contemplate the dynamic and successful careers that my husband and I had when our expat days were just beginning, I wonder how, after nearly 12 years of moving over three continents and with two children, our lives would be if we were still trying to maintain both of those careers. Here are just some of the problems for which I could not envision solutions:

* How would we manage to engineer moves with different companies to the same countries without one or other of us stepping back?

* Would we both be able to get working visas if one of us had to look for a new job with a move?

* Would we both be able to progress our careers with multiple moves or would disruption, language issues, salary issues, recognition of qualifications and experience have derailed one or both careers?

* How would we have managed childcare issues - day to day, days when kids were sick, holidays - without all our familiar systems in place?

* How would we have managed the practicalities of our six moves if both of us had to start work straight away?

For us, it was a moot point. I wanted to be able to see my daughter in the mornings and the evenings but the intensity and unpredictability of investment banking would make that a rare occurrence. So I resigned. But for other couples, these are just some of the dilemmas they face when one is offered the opportunity to move internationally and both want to continue with their careers.

Unfortunately the numbers show that few couples manage to pull it off successfully. The Permits Foundation's 2008 International Survey of Expatriate Spouses and Partners showed that while 90% of spouses and partners were either in paid employment or self employed prior to relocation, only 28% remained so after relocation.

In my own case, the decision was carefully thought out and driven by my desire for a change as well as the needs of our family. However, after two more international moves and another baby, a return to work in a new country, and with limited support seemed like a long shot. And that’s before I considered that, before long, we would be on the move again. Luckily for me, in coaching I found my vocation, which I can conveniently practice from wherever I find myself and which gives me the flexibility to accommodate our family logistics. However, you can see that although my initial decision was purposeful, the unintended consequence of our choices was that my options to return to a traditional workplace were limited, regardless of my legal entitlement.

Earlier this summer, Louise Wiles, founder of Success Abroad Coaching and I responded to a question on LinkedIn which asked if accompanying partners really want to work or whether we just pay lip service to the idea of working, safe in the knowledge that legally, most of us are prevented from doing so. Inspired by the question and our interest in the lives of accompanying partners, we decided to launch a survey, which explores this topic and also considers the factors which influence the choice to work or not and how that choice affects life satisfaction.

If you would like to support our work, please complete the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/partnerscareerchoices

Many, many thanks! Evelyn."

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (November 24-25 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you have been enjoying a great week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

Hotels Around The World With Amazing Views
http://tgr.ph/rEHj1a

My Father, the Expat Codebreaker, by Alison Ripley
http://tgr.ph/rT4I9L

43 Reasons An Expat Might Love Living In Sweden
http://bit.ly/uvN3sp

6 Tips To Save On International Currency Transfers
http://bit.ly/rQgLv0

Another Work-From-Home Scam - Expat Women Freelancing Abroad Should Beware
http://bit.ly/vlc0oh

Goodbye to Singapore's Mr Chips - 32-year Expat Honored on His Retirement
http://tgr.ph/tDJV20

Interesting Websites If You Are Raising Kids Abroad
http://bit.ly/vsu4zq

2011 Expat of the Year in the Philippines - Named at Asia CEO Awards
http://bit.ly/vaHYZ1

Expats in the Netherlands? Expatica's Expat Education Fair is on 1 December in Amsterdam
http://bit.ly/tu2o7A

Man Watches Home Being Robbed Through His iPad While On Holidays 8,000km Away
http://bit.ly/tErErE

Repatriate Blogger for The Telegraph UK, Ex-Expat Chelsea Girl Says She's Looking At The UK Through Chinese Eyes Now
http://tgr.ph/ufTSvx

Black Women in Europe - PowerList 2011
http://bit.ly/w5a4ww

And the quote for the week...

"You only have one privacy setting: public... use social media wisely." from @coolcatteacher

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (November 15-16 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:16:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a fabulous week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

Is Your Accent Ruining Your Career?
bit.ly/rq3nav

10 Tips for Landing a PR Job Abroad
bit.ly/sVGxOk

3 Traps Facing New Global Leaders (Harvard Biz)
bit.ly/tkWzso

UK Expats and Wills: Why, Where, How and Other FAQs
bit.ly/tqKkKh

Life's a Beach: Living as an Expat on Sydney's Northern Beaches & Sharing My Life Less Ordinary, (Russell Ward)
http://bit.ly/v1dDXm

3 Ways To Raise Bilingual Children
tinyurl.com/cfwmvzu

17 Adventure Trips To Take Right Now
bit.ly/rKDGe9

20 of the World's Weirdest Natural Sights
bit.ly/ta1wh5

13 Insanely Cool Resumes That Landed Interviews At Google and Other Top Jobs
read.bi/tPg8Ci

Feature: 3 Inventive Businesses Set Up To Make Expat Life Easier (Telegraph Expat)
fb.me/1iLOAUlUh

The True Cost of Commuting: You Could Buy a House $15k More for Each Mile You Move Closer to Work
lifehac.kr/uoP7mj

And finally... a big congrats to the Gold Coast (QLD, Australia) for securing the 2018 Commonwealth Games!

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a fantastic day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (November 8-9 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:14:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope your week has started with some nice surprises! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

Top 10 Best Value Destinations for 2012 (Lonely Planet)
ow.ly/7iCkn

iPad2s Up For Grabs! Simply Vote For Your Favourite British Place Abroad (Telegraph Expat)
bit.ly/p54uCE

Expat in the Netherlands? Win 2 @CRAVEcompany The Hague copies - Featuring Women Entrepreneurs
bit.ly/shkpcs

Experts Discount Expat Fears About Recent Landmark Ruling On UK Tax Affairs
tgr.ph/tyS8Tc

20 Most Recent Blogs In Our Expat Women Blog Directory
bit.ly/igeWXc

Strategies For A UN Job Search (Part 3): Review Recruitment Options
bit.ly/s51nJA

Shanghai Launches Expat Recruitment Drive
tgr.ph/rrU1yX

Should Travel And Living Abroad Be All About You? What About Helping Others?"
bit.ly/sanuu5

Expat Josephine McDermott Tells The Story Of Her Unforgettable 4 years in China (Telegraph Expat)
tgr.ph/sf0ZzX

Locations Are Like Lovers... New Blog Post by Expat @shamozal
bit.ly/tnpbFs

New "Gutsy Living" Interview With Karen Van Der Zee - About Life Abroad & Her Gutsy Decision To Go Marry A Foreigner In Africa
bit.ly/sJIbwK

...ps. If You Missed Our Expat Women Interview With Karen About Her Success As A Writer Abroad, With 35 Novels Published by Harlequin, Here It Is Again...
bit.ly/rBfYk5

My Favourite Quote This Week:
"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." - Erin Majors
(found via @GreatestQuotes)

And Finally, A Warning...
80% of Burglars Use Social Networks To Find Their Next Target [Infographic]
bit.ly/tBxxUQ

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a fantastic day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (October 30-31 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:58:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you enjoyed a wonderful fun-filled weekend! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

Registration Now Open For FIGT (Families in Global Transition) Conference, March 2012, Washington
http://www.figt.org/

Expat Entrepreneur Interview:
Expat Life Coach John Falchetto talks to Mara Vaughan (Egypt)
http://bit.ly/slgfUc

Expat Life: What’s a Nice Protestant Girl Doing in this Place?
http://bit.ly/vEYSUL

How Air Pollution Impacts Expat Kids
http://bit.ly/tTLl9i

Feeling Negative Abroad?
Read Our Expat Women October Confession
http://bit.ly/ohAty9

British Expats Refusing To Go Home:
15% Call Off Repatriation Plans
http://bit.ly/t0AUwp

Strategies for a UN Job Search (Part 2):
Research the Duty Stations (Passport Career Blog)
http://bit.ly/rVKunE

Luxury Clinic Sued After Australian Expat Left Blinded in One Eye (Moscow Times)
http://bit.ly/se8VTM

Can You Relate To This 1955 Philip Larkin Poem Title?
"The Importance of Being Elsewhere"
http://bit.ly/uim9nw

British Expat Sets Up A Theater Studio In Moscow (Video)
http://bit.ly/u8ZjfR

Plus, a quote that I liked this past week:
"If you're OK out of your comfort zone... you're not out of your comfort zone." by @lesmckeown (thanks @JohnFalchetto for sharing)

And finally, news from @LonelyPlanet's Twitter feed:
"Iceland is the top country destination as voted by Lonely Planet travellers for 2012!"

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a fantastic day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (October 25-26 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:41:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

Excellent Article About Moving Abroad and/or Moving Back Home - on Matador Network
http://bit.ly/ods96E

"Hired in Shanghai: How I Did It"
Great Post For Expats (or Anyone) Looking for Work
http://bit.ly/noRP7P

Challenges Faced By Expat Women - via Escape From America Magazine
http://bit.ly/nYBlzu

Expat Divorce A Tricky Affair
http://bit.ly/qeIspv

Career Break Travel Myths - via Lonely Planet
http://bit.ly/qwNeZQ

Expat Coach Directory
http://bit.ly/oBXwGS

Expats: Want To Win an IPAD2? Tell The UK Telegraph Expat Your Favourite British Place Abroad
http://bit.ly/p54uCE

Digging Deep: 'Earthscraper' Building To Plunge 300m Underground In Mexico City
http://bit.ly/uyDBq9

Strategies For a UN Job Search - on Passport Career
http://bit.ly/qXsb3Y

Reminder: David Pollock Scholarship Applications for Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Conference (March 2012) Due December
http://bit.ly/pWB3N3

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a fantastic day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (October 12-13 edition)

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:20:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, I hope you are having a sensational week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

Love it! Expat Creative Solution For When Locals Stare At Foreigners
"'You Lookin' At Me? Fake Book"
http://bit.ly/o10wZn

Expat Entrepreneurs Sowing Seeds of Success Abroad
bit.ly/raazI2

27 Tips For First Time Expats
http://bit.ly/oEqfqb

Thailand Overtakes Bahrain As "Best Expat Destination" In HSBC Explorer Survey Results
http://bit.ly/r3L7YX

Want To See A Preview Of HSBC 2011 Expat Explorer Survey Results?
(Full Report Available November)
http://bit.ly/mRDqWG

10 Tips for Successful Expat Living: Flashback
http://bit.ly/n4g6Vo

"Why Aren’t Gulf Expats Saving Any Money?"
http://tgr.ph/rcuWxR

Hats Off To Becky! “From Career Breaker to Expat”
http://bit.ly/qL0zkG

5 Expat Types You May Meet When Living Overseas
http://bit.ly/pvZiY3

"Julia Child's Curiosity About French Cuisine Led To A Displaced Life"
http://bit.ly/r0ylvp

7 Deadly Sins of Expats and Social Media
http://bit.ly/mToamS

…And finally, a great reminder for repatriates! "Never let your memories be greater than your dreams." Doug Ivester (quoted on Twitter by @GreatestQuotes)

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a fantastic day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Domestic Violence in Expat Communities

noreply@blogger.com (Expat Women) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:09:00 +0000

Hi Everyone, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we wanted to make sure you are aware of an important resource, should you find yourself in need of help. While leaving an abusive relationship is challenging for any woman, for women living abroad, the challenges may seem insurmountable.

The Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center works with abused American women and their children in foreign countries to provide domestic violence and child abuse advocacy, resources and tools so that they can navigate the complicated jurisdictional, legal and social international landscapes, to be able to live their lives free of abuse either in the foreign country or back in the United States. Both civilian and military populations are served. (Unfortunately they are only resourced to serve Americans, but non-American expats are being abused can refer to this website and/or call to ask the AODVCC if there are any other possible resources in their current local area.)

Advocates and case managers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week internationally toll free. First dial the AT&T USADirect access number for the country you are in. You can find the access number for the country you are in here. After dialing the access code please enter our phone number: 866-USWOMEN (879-6636) after the prompt. For more information please visit www.866uswomen.org.

Warning: Please remember that your emails and website searches can be tracked from your computer. If you fear for your safety, you might prefer to use a computer other than your own to visit sites like this.

By the way, if you missed our Expat Women interview with the founder of the AODVCC, Paula Lucas, you can read about this inspirational woman, and she escaped domestic violence, here.

Stay safe, and thanks in advance for spreading the word, Andrea.