For my monthly blog post for Expat Focus, I wanted to write something about the launch of my book. But quite frankly I am getting a little bored of telling people why I wrote the book…..living in St Lucia….meeting other spouses….hadn’t got a clue…needed to be better prepared…blah blah blah. When you’re boring even yourself with the story then you know it’s time to move on.
So I decided to write about two fictional women, both caricatures but both with elements of real people that I know (elements, guys, elements; neither of my characters are ACTUALLY based on anyone I know). One of these women, who I chose to call Rachel, is hopeless. Totally un-clued up about what her new expat life will be like. The other, Sarah, is basically that annoying woman you probably always try to avoid who seems to know everything and want you to know it all too. Okay, it’s NOT me, alright. Anyway it’s not a very long story and you can read it for yourself here. But here’s my question:
If you have ever moved somewhere new, as an expat or even within your own country, how prepared for the move were you? Do you wish you had done more planning? Or do you think that sometimes doing too much planning can spoil the sponteneity and excitement of a new life somewhere?
Answers on a postcard please! (or altetnatively leave your thoughts in the comments section below).
expatpartnersurvival.wordpress.com 
I am the super-planner, but that’s more because I don’t like surprises, good or bad. I research everything, like local blogs, supermarkets, church groups – anything that might be useful or help us ‘blend’ quicker. I have folders, and tabs. (Remember Monica from Friends?) Husband and daughter are more fly be the seat of their pants….probably to counterbalance my insanity!
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Love it. Monica! Perfect description of the “organised” woman in my tale….
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I think it’s a question of balance. We did immense preparation but half the knowledge we’d gained was out of date once we moved!
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P.S. And a lot of that knowledge had been gleaned from apparently up-to-date blogs!
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I agree. Guide books are hopeless too for things like hotels and restaurants. I think with a lot of things you just feel your way once you’re there.
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Absolutely. I think I’d be surprised by just how much I’ve picked up without realising.
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Great points. Preparation is so necessary before moving abroad. You definitely can’t assume your career and social life will reconstruct themselves in a new location. I struggled a lot with other expat partners telling me I wouldn’t be able to work on my visa, when in reality they were just wrongly informed, so it definitely pays to do your own research.
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Thanks Amanda. That’s great that you’ve been able to work. I know it comes as a shock to some that this is even something they need to think about…
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