I am 44 years old, originally from UK. Lived in Amersfoort, Netherlands for 6 years. First came due to partner’s assignment with Dutch bank.
How long have you lived there and how long will you stay? What keeps you there?
Been here shockingly for 6 years and been leaving since 2006. My partner’s work keeps us here and my love for him keeps me here.
What do you do to make a living?
I’m an expatriate coach working with clients globally who are at differing points in their Expat journey. My business can be found at Live Life Now Coaching.
Describe your average weekday and weekend day.
I have to say there is no average day in my life! I have to juggle multiple roles in my life, coach, businesswoman, writer, mum, partner, often a single mum, mum’s taxi, housewife, cook, friend, school representative, member of women’s group. So no day is the same its just fitting things in and getting on with it!
What skills have you learned while living abroad?
Mindfulness, being in the present! A cultural perspective, a European and International outlook. A smattering of Dutch. Knowledge of setting up a business as a woman in a foreign country, networking abroad, networking and business growth using social media. A more reflective personality than when living at “home” in UK.
What are you missing (professionally) by not being in your home country?
I miss my old team and job still. I miss being able to attend HR and Law seminars and conferences. I miss the UK Coaching group I trained with and being able to readily network, interact and co-work with its members as well as attend is fantastic events. I miss the career opportunities I had in the UK and don’t have here, hence why I became a independent operator.
If you could live anywhere, where would that be and why?
I’d love to head back to California and live in or near San Diego or San Francisco. I just enjoyed being in those cities, I felt at home there. And if I could I’d head back to London to our bachelor apartment and pick up the urban professional life again….however, that’s just a dream now as with children its just not going to be that way again at least not for a good few years!!!
What is your favorite gadget that makes your work life abroad better?
It has to be the Internet fullstop. I can find resources, information, friends, develop business ideas, network professionally and socially plus call those living elsewhere for free (SKYPE) and keep in contact by so many different lines – FACEBOOK, Twitter, Linkedin…..
Do you have a favorite book that inspired you to travel or consider a different way of living?
As a child I would sit for hours with my grandfather asking about photographs in the National Geographic and remember wanting to go to these places to see these things and meet the people there. Currently, I always recommend Brigid Keenan’s Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse
Other than your blog, do you have a favorite expat blog?
Expat Women of course, plus Tiffany Jarman-Jansen’s Clogs and Tulips.
{ 1 trackback }