Comments on: Sunday’s Stories – Interview with Sharon

By: sharongilor

sharongilor — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:21:23 +0000

Thanks Emma. It was fun

By: Zuzanna

Zuzanna — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:05:48 +0000

Hi,

Great idea with your Sunday Story with expats. I'll be coming back

By: ExpatriateLife

ExpatriateLife — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:15:35 +0000

I identify a lot with Sharon's story, in that we have also been serial expats, with repatriations between postings. In some ways that's a good thing – it keeps you in touch with your home country – in other ways it's hard because it involves more moves and increases the physical and emotional upheaval.

I would definitely agree about expat life bringing you closer together as family. But again this has it's pluses and minuses as we all found it hard when it was time for my son to leave us to go to university.

Lastly, without doubt many accompanying partners struggle with their careers. At first I was happy to become a stay-at-home-mom, particularly as I'd been a frazzled working mother for 8 years. But later, particularly when my son left home, it was (and still is) difficult to put a career back together. I think it is for any woman who returns to the workforce, but much more so for expats because of the constant moving. Finding and maintaining an identity for yourself is a huge issue.

By: chompermom

chompermom — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:58:53 +0000

Wow, two years in advance to prepare! Wish I had been able to have that. We always get about 2 weeks to prepare, if even that, just 6 suitcases and not much money. I've had to just jump in with two feet. If it weren't for WWOOFing, and the seemingly random kindness of friends and strangers, I don't know where we would be. I'm grateful for the opportunities we've had, though.

Great information on your site, too.

Thanks for sharing! I love reading these expat stories.

By: EmmaOconnor

EmmaOconnor — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:38:21 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing your story here Sharon and for some excellent tips (especially the one about presuming the services woud all be there…. I fell for that).