Slowly Carla involved herself more in the community and made her house comfortable. With support and guidance she found the confidence to not only survive, but thrive in a difficult environment. The effect of Carla being happy and positive was that the children also began to enjoy the experience and stopped being negative and anti social, traits that Carla had unknowingly transferred to them.
Robin Pascoe is a well-known traveling spouse who is internationally recognized for her books, articles and presentations on the challenges of global living and adjustment. In an interview on the Expat Women website, Robin noted that in over 20 year of working on behalf of expats, despite thousands of words, policies, research and surveys, expat spouses are no further ahead in having their needs and challenges really understood and taken seriously by the powers that be (including often, their own spouses). Robin says;
I still hear the same conversations I did 20 years ago.
However Robin admits that the advent of the technology age has made the expats life easier.
I think what has changed dramatically for spouses have been the technologies. Phones, computers, etc make them feel less isolated from their families, cultures, pop culture, books, resources etc.
On the Positive Side
There is no doubt that being an expat spouse can be challenging. However, there is also a very exciting side to the lifestyle. If managed with proper support, then it can lead to a great opportunities and personal growth. When asked what would make the transition to a new country easier, the unanimous verdict from all my interview subjects was, having someone to talk to, to lean on and to give you guidance. It also helps to have a positive attitude and be open to new possibilities. One of the ladies commented;
The main factor that will influence the ease of your transition is you, and your attitude to your move.
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Maureen Morton
May 10, 2013 at 7:58 pm
Dear Karen
I found this article fascinating. I often wondered and marvelled at how you coped and were coping in those early years. To have remembered and written it down is so worth while and I hope it will go into the reading package of every new expat, wherever they are going.
I can also see a career blossoming for you, wherever you are, by introducing this concept, of providing a coach to expatriate spouses in the early days of their moves, to the Human resources manager of companies. You could certainly sell the idea on the basis of cost alone, when you think how much money they lose when an employee goes home early because the family cannot settle in a new country.
Thank you so much for sharing this with me. I really enjoyed reading it.
Nothing like the usual academic waffle
love and hugs
Maureen
Truth always
May 12, 2013 at 4:35 pm
Hey, Karen doesn’t mention here the really telling background story of how she came to be an expatriate, leaving her former policeman husband for her current one that’s a banker, with three kids under 10 at the time. Plenty of grey facts about whether it was adultry as well. Not sure I would recommend her services as a lifecoach. Amazing how some people re brand themselves so anyone needing marketing tips should follow her advice. Also one of her current family members seems to be leaving the positive notes. Karen as a lifecoach is the funniest thing I could ever imagine. Would be interesting to hear her guidance in ethics or family morals
e.curran
May 14, 2013 at 4:09 am
Truth always , isn’t it strange how people like you do not use their real name especially when they are leaving negative views, or just their side of a story.
vorameghana
May 30, 2013 at 2:55 am
Expatriate is very important, especially for those who travel to different countries for work purposes. Expatriate can be anyone which chooses to live in a country other than the motherland.http://www.whatisall.com/people/what-is-an-expatriate.html