I have recently noticed that articles talking about the so-called ‘trailing spouses’ have been taking over my screen. They usually discuss issues such as professional sacrifice, work/life challenges and even identity crisis. There is no denying that 90% of expat spouses have experienced many or all of these feelings. There are definitely ups and downs, and every once in a while you ask yourself: ‘what am I doing here or shouldn’t I be doing x, y, z instead?’ etc.
However, we must remember that moving out of our comfort zone to experience a completely new way of life was (hopefully) a joint and well-thought decision. And it probably was the right decision too. Apart from the obvious reasons (seeing countries that you could barely place on a map before, testing your stomach with extremely new flavours and making friends from all sorts of backgrounds and nationalities), what many fail to see is that this can be the perfect opportunity to reinvent yourself completely…at least for the time being!
I am sure those gloomy days back home when you were barely exposed to sunlight are still fresh in your memory. How about the interminable commute? And most importantly…how often were you daydreaming at your office desk about doing something radically different? Well, now is your chance! Whether exploring a new career, taking up studies again, finally learning how to bake a cake or even volunteering…there is really no excuse. Perhaps the most difficult part is to find out what is it that you really want to do!
True enough the expat life may not be the wonderful fairy tale adventure that you had in mind, but since we cannot fight the elements, why not make the most out of it? Especially because maybe sooner rather than later you might be once again living in an eternal winter, and daydreaming about chicken
rice and Bali weekends ;-)
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” (Milton Berle)
Victoria
However, we must remember that moving out of our comfort zone to experience a completely new way of life was (hopefully) a joint and well-thought decision. And it probably was the right decision too. Apart from the obvious reasons (seeing countries that you could barely place on a map before, testing your stomach with extremely new flavours and making friends from all sorts of backgrounds and nationalities), what many fail to see is that this can be the perfect opportunity to reinvent yourself completely…at least for the time being!
I am sure those gloomy days back home when you were barely exposed to sunlight are still fresh in your memory. How about the interminable commute? And most importantly…how often were you daydreaming at your office desk about doing something radically different? Well, now is your chance! Whether exploring a new career, taking up studies again, finally learning how to bake a cake or even volunteering…there is really no excuse. Perhaps the most difficult part is to find out what is it that you really want to do!
True enough the expat life may not be the wonderful fairy tale adventure that you had in mind, but since we cannot fight the elements, why not make the most out of it? Especially because maybe sooner rather than later you might be once again living in an eternal winter, and daydreaming about chicken
rice and Bali weekends ;-)
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” (Milton Berle)
Victoria
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