I've been a "trailing spouse" for the past two years and our first adventures have brought us to South East Asia (SEA). I say "trailing spouse" in inverted commas because that makes it sound like I've been pulled along unwillingly, which is not true. I have my own career in South East Asia and am just as much up for the challenge of moving abroad as my husband (possibly more so!).
Having grown up in two different countries I am quite used to different cultures and customs and enjoy having a mixed "Identity".
Positives of having lived an extended time away from "home":
- Full, enriched life
- Open minded
- Understand different cultures
- Learn whats truly valuable and important in life
- Reinvent yourself
Negatives of living the expat life:
- How on earth do you answer the question "where do you come from?" Uuuuhh, I've lived equally across two countries and now live in SEA. I don't know "where I come from". My loyalties lie with two, not one place.
- Putting up with embarrassing people from your "home country" ahh.... you don't want the locals generalising that all people from England are like that... etc.
- Losing the ability to chat to old friends at home about current events: "Jordan who? Idols who? Radio host who? Which Restaurant?" --- Life at home moves on... without you!
- Loneliness. Its not easy to make friends. Its definitely not easy to make friends.
- Pretending to love the food - yellow food anyone?
Personally I LOVE living "abroad" with no intentions to go home anytime soon. We may be contemplating our next move but its certainly not "home"...
Inspiration from: HSBC Expat Explorer Blogs
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