The Lovely Haze of Baby Days
Lindsay Madsen, mother of four living in Denmark, has written the perfect book for new mothers everywhere.
Expats
Why a Doula is a Must for International Births
Having moved from the UK to The Netherlands age 22 with no job, nowhere to live, and a partner who’d never even visited the place, I figured that moving to Sweden thirteen years later would be easy. Sure, I didn’t speak much of the language, but I could understand some, and yes, I’d miss my […]
The Culture Shock is Free at Walmart for Returning Americans
“What is it like when your American friends visit you? Are you totally overwhelmed with culture shock?” Our Swedish neighbor asked one night at dinner. “No, the culture shock doesn’t happen when friends and family visit because we’re still in Sweden. They are only a tiny piece of America in an ocean of what’s familiar. […]
Winging it in West Africa
Listen to Nicola narrate her chapter in Knocked Up Abroad Again Nicola Beach is a second-generation expat who has dodged bullets in Lagos, stray cats in Istanbul, got cozy in Jozi, and is currently in Hong Kong. She blogs about her family’s far-flung travels at https://expatorama.com Did you enjoy Nicola’s chapter? If so, be sure […]
A Personal “Goodness of Fit” Test for Your Next Relocation
The conscious decision to open or close a life-changing gateway is an emotional process. Before an international relocation (or a domestic one, for that matter) every component of the decision is weighed countless times over. Potential consequences from each path and direction are analyzed from all angles. The immediate, intermediate, and long-term effects are mapped […]
You’re a Jigsaw Puzzle Piece
Imagine you are a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. You are made of cardboard and have crisp edges that fit alongside your fellow puzzle pieces. Together, you make a beautiful picture and the picture isn’t whole without you. Now, imagine that you are mixed in with other puzzle pieces. In the testing of all of the […]
Looking for trash, volunteers discover streets are super clean
Determined to “clean up the streets” a small group of volunteers in a suburb outside of Stockholm, Sweden, struggled to find trash to fill their bags. Armed with gloves, oversized trash bags, and water to stay hydrated in the hot June sun, the group wandered along the pedestrian paths searched for anything to grab using […]
Send Messages to Your Loved Ones Through the Moon
“The moon is a loyal companion.It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.Uncertain. Alone. […]
Seeking Health Care When You Don’t Speak the Language
Your doctor’s office is really a beehive of data. Your patient data requires effective communication between you (the patient) and the doctor. Then communication happens between the doctors, nurses, and the administrative staff in the clinic. Then, your data is often transmitted to other doctors in other clinics and out to laboratories and back again. […]
Monday Morning Emails May be a Future Preview of Our Lives
Every parent is afraid they are making a mistake when raising their children—abroad or domestically—and Jo Parfitt and Terry Anne Wilson are no different. In their book, Monday Morning Emails, they often question if their decision to move their families frequently throughout their children’s childhood results in their children’s inability to cope with difficulty. Monday Morning Emails […]