Tag Archives: identity

You know you’re an expat mom when…

Posted on May 13, 2012 by

In honour of Mother’s Day, I humbly offer this ode to all those amazing women who organize international relocations, feather new nests in strange lands, guide their children through the choppy waters of integration, and generally hold their family together … Continue reading →

Posted in Identity, Third Culture Kids | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

And the walls (in my head) came tumbling down

Posted on May 10, 2012 by

My first day in Singapore was a game-changer. Honestly, I didn’t see it coming. I arrived yesterday morning, a day late (thanks to a 10-hour delay at Pearson Airport that made me miss my connecting flight at Heathrow), but that … Continue reading →

Posted in Adjustment, Identity, Singapore | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Not-so-diplomatic incidents

Posted on May 3, 2012 by

I was sitting in Starbucks, waiting for Younger Daughter’s riding lesson to end, and I’d brought along a book to help pass the time. When the first laugh popped out, it took me by surprise. I checked to see if … Continue reading →

Posted in Book review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Expat women in Singapore: The skinny on being skinny

Posted on April 12, 2012 by

My honeymoon period in Singapore ended the first time I went clothes shopping and discovered I’d become “plus sized” overnight. I wouldn’t have minded if it weren’t for one thing: I weighed all of 120 pounds. That’s 54½ kilograms. Eight … Continue reading →

Posted in Adjustment, Singapore | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

What’s in a name?

Posted on April 9, 2012 by

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
/By any other name would smell as sweet. I can’t say I agree with Miss Capulet on this one. I’m sure if the flower we know as the rose were called … Continue reading →

Posted in Identity, Language | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments

The Easter Bunny always knows where you live

Posted on April 5, 2012 by

Yesterday I slipped two Lindt chocolate bunnies into my shopping basket and thought of how much Easter has changed now that my girls are teenagers. The first casualty was the early-morning Easter egg hunt, which thrilled them to the core … Continue reading →

Posted in Adjustment, Singapore, Third Culture Kids | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The positives of growing up overseas as a Third Culture Kid

Posted on March 19, 2012 by

There are many advantages to a TCK upbringing. Third Culture Kids develop valuable skills, including multilingualism, open-mindedness and adaptability. US President Barack Obama, who lived in Indonesia as a boy, shone a spotlight on Third Culture Kids during his election … Continue reading →

Posted in Third Culture Kids | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Career-planning tips for expat stay-at-home moms

Posted on March 12, 2012 by

Many expat moms decide to re-establish a career while living overseas. Careful planning is the key to a smooth transition from stay-at-home mom to working woman. Expatriate wives who are stay-at-home mothers might find that re-entering the workforce after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Working Overseas | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Loving “The Expat”

Posted on March 7, 2012 by

“Why would we move to Luxembourg?” “To make a lot of money, and travel around Europe all the time.” That’s not the opening of The Expats, a new thriller by Chris Pavone. But to most of us who are (or … Continue reading →

Posted in Book review | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

How effective is intercultural training?

Posted on March 5, 2012 by

Cross-cultural training improves skills that lead to expatriate satisfaction, including intercultural competence and effective interpersonal communication. Intercultural training is a multidisciplinary field that emerged after the end of WWII. From the pioneering work of organizations such as the US Foreign … Continue reading →

Posted in Predeparture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment