Expat mama tribe?? [Archive] - MotheringDotCommunity Forums

east carolina

09-25-2008, 04:17 PM

Hello!

I consider myself an expat since I'm a US citizen living abroad, but I'm bicultural/bilingual and am now living in my other culture's homeland. I'm in Prague, Czech Republic.

My DH is 100% Czech, my DS was born here and is a dual citizen, bilingual kid. I've lived here for 8 years now, and while I love it, I often fantasize about moving and would love to live somewhere else in Europe for a change. Or somewhere else in the world, for that matter, I love moving around.

summermay

10-13-2008, 02:04 AM

Hello,

expat here. Well, currently again and adjusting, adapting and enjoying life. I am a SAHM and do some studies besides. :joy:

It feels so much like being on holiday..... much more relaxes, things are going easy and there is so much to explore.

Hope you other mamas enjoy it too!

amma_mama

10-13-2008, 03:21 AM

Ooh, can I join?! I think that there have been some threads in the Multicultural forum, but they do not appear to be very active...

We are expats, living in the Middle East (and my DH was, anyway, a South Asian expat in the US). We are here for my job, while DH has just finished his PhD and will be doing short-term consulting work. We have been here one year and are enjoying it. Our 4yo DD speaks Arabic fairly fluently now (and is teaching us some vocabulary now). Life is much more relaxing than back in the US though I am with the same employer. Much better work-life balance, which is one of the reasons we decided to be expats for a while (as well as to improve our financial situation). I do miss the US (and US "culture") sometimes but am fine with being here for another year. I would like to go back to the US for a while, then perhaps do another 2-year gig overseas, depending on location.

Rawa

10-14-2008, 08:55 AM

Hi I am an Australian married to an American living in Singapore. :)

expat-mama

10-14-2008, 10:44 PM

Hi there, :wave
Fellow expat here. But not a mama yet! I've seen this topic pop up a few times since I've been on MDC but haven't seen a full-fledged tribe form. This one looks like it might be taking shape. Cool!
We're Canadians and we've lived in a couple of places around East Asia for a bunch of years and traveled extensively in Asia, Europe and Africa. But we're moving back to Canada in the spring so dh can do his PhD and we can start a family. We hope someday to get back "out in the world" again though.

fishymama

12-07-2008, 05:19 AM

Hi, I'm an expat living in Hong Kong. Have been all over Asia as an expat for most of my life but as an expat mama? Only 8 months!

peaceatlast

12-30-2008, 07:22 AM

I'm an irish expat mamma now living in Cyprus with my OH and 2 boys and one dog!
Only been here 2 months though and OH works A LOT so going through the feeling isolated stage....:(

Any advice or tips would be great girls!!:joy:

I'd love to feel like I belong somewhere as at the minute I feel like I am just hovering over the planet!!!:cold:

expatmommy

12-30-2008, 09:12 AM

Give yourself 6 months. Spread your net wide; join every group or activity you are offered & eventually you will meet someone who you will click with. I've been living this expat life for almost 10 yrs now, in 4 different countries. This was advice given to me early on & it has always worked for me. I met my best friend at a truly horrible coffee morning after our eyes locked partway thru in agreement each knowing the other was having a miserable time! It was the beginning of a great friendship.

My intro: Almost 10 yrs, 4 countries, currently in Asia with my dh, 3 kids, #4 on the way & our 2 cats. We have signed on for another 2 years & then we'll see where we are at. Our older 2 are starting to ask to return to Canada permanently, so we'll reevaluate at the end of our contract.

Miss 1928

01-03-2009, 05:01 AM

:tiphat: Buon Giorno!

I'm joining the roll-call.

I'm a Californian (I would say California Girl, except that I'm not really a "California Girl", you know, tan, blond etc...) who fell in love with an Italian and so now I'm living in Rome. I've been here since 2000, but was sort of an "illegal alien" 'til we got married in March 2003.

I feel pretty well adapted to life here, but there are still things I have a hard time understanding or getting used to, and there are still lots of things I miss about my former life in California. It's funny, because Rome feels like home now, but I also think of Marin County as home too. Can I have 2 "homes"?

How often do you all get back "home"? I try to get back twice a year, but now it maybe only once a year.... since Ela will be 2 soon and won't be able to be a lap baby anymore. It makes me sad that my folks don't get to see their only grandbaby very often. I wish they would come out here more, but my dad really dislikes flying.

aussiemum

01-03-2009, 06:32 AM

I think that you can definitely have two places that you call home.

It's a funny thing, when I visit my parent's house (where I grew up) & I catch up with old friends who I haven't seen in ages, then I feel like I am 'at home'. Yet when I get back to my house in Australia where I have lived for the last 9 years, after a 15 hour flight across the Pacific Ocean, I also feel 'at home', because this is my home now, iykwim.....

Anyway. Great thread. :)

daileyjoy

01-20-2009, 05:31 AM

Natalie's Mama

01-20-2009, 05:49 AM

I'm a new expat! We just got our visa's last week actually. I moved to Hong Kong from Canada with my 2 month old baby girl. DH spent a month in Australia before we met him here. That was 4 months ago already! I love it here and we get a chance to do a few temporary moves to places all over the world which I can't wait to do.
So far I've been home once and we're going again next month. The first time was for a death in the family though, I have no intention of flying solo across the world with DD every 2 months! I wish DD had more family around too, I grew up really close to my family and I'm sad she won't get the same chance.

MamaRabbit

01-21-2009, 01:49 AM

That's one thing we struggle with. We go home every other summer for 6 - 7 weeks. We don't see anyone any more frequently unless they come out to visit. My dad came first and saw it was an easy place to travel to. Then my parents visited together a couple years later. My sister came for DS's birth. My BIL for Christmas (he lives in Guam so it's closer). My mom came for the twins' birth. But that's it for almost 8 years.

It is so rough leaving when visiting in the USA because so many of our relatives are getting older and we never know when it will be our last visit with them. I love love love my DH's grandmother and I cry every time!

(Now there are some that I don't mind living so far away from and 12,000 miles is a perfect distance for our relationship :) )

demetria

01-25-2009, 02:02 PM

Another one... in Switzerland.

Is there a tribe already formed for this? I would love to chat with other mamas who have experience being an expat for significant amountn of years, as well as help those just beginning there journys!
Whaddya think?
I should say, I don't know how a "tribe" works, just know they exist. :o

calynde

01-27-2009, 06:06 AM

And another one...also in Switzerland. :wink Originally from California, my dh is Swiss. I've been here for 7 years, but we will move abroad in 2 years for dh's work...we don't know where yet. I'm hoping for sun and coconuts. :D

demetria

01-27-2009, 06:23 AM

kmamma

01-29-2009, 12:28 AM

hello. i'm a swedish mama living in MN, USA with my american husband and two boys. been here for 10 years now, though not a citizen. the fees are outrageous now so that will not happen in the near future unfortunately. it sure would make travelling easier.

Josefina.

calynde

01-29-2009, 03:47 AM

Where are you in CH? We are in Basel.

Not too far away...in the capital! :wink

Coconut Chronicles

01-30-2009, 09:52 AM

:wave

Hi all... I'm Jamaican living in the US with my American DH for about 3 years now.

Tjej

02-01-2009, 11:47 AM

Hi, I'm a former MN girl living in Canada (have been here for the last 5 1/2 years).

Tjej

Mamato3wild ponnie

02-02-2009, 03:28 PM

American mommy living in Mexico with mexican dp...been here on and off for a year...here for good now...searching for english speaking mama's to meet up for lunch or play dates and still haven't found a soul...thought about putting an add in the newspaper...in english and see if i find anyone....the things we think of.

Morningcalm

02-04-2009, 12:23 AM

Another expat mama here in South Korea. We've been here for 3 years. My ds was born here and gets so much attention whenever we go out. Being an expat mama can be lonely at times and full of challenges.

east carolina

02-06-2009, 03:41 PM

I'm an expat mama living in Prague. But I'm a different sort of expat because I'm bicultural and bilingual and have roots in this country.

ExpatDeb

02-07-2009, 12:29 PM

lorelei

02-08-2009, 07:37 AM

Grahnola Mum

02-08-2009, 07:46 AM

Hello mamas!
I'm a British Mama living in Canada for the past 12 years. DH is Canadian and we met out here when we were at school. I love Canada - the country and the people and I am very happy here but I sure do get homesick sometimes. It's got harder since DD came along as I feel a long way from my roots.

Great to meet other expat mamas!

ExpatDeb

02-08-2009, 11:10 AM

I'm just a wannabe Us-expat, but I thought I'd come check out this thread. Any tips or good sites for info on making being an expat easier?
We're thinking it would be nice to move to the UK or Continent.
Well, aside from the fact that the dollar's worth f-all. lol

I am not in the UK...just the Republic of Ireland but you should check out the tax and visa situation before moving abroad. Be sure to check out what will be required for bank accounts, renting a home, etc. There are a lot of wacky documents you need and it is a PITA to try to get them once you are away from your home country. Lastly, be aware of the healthcare situation-in Ireland they have freeish healthcare but it isn't comparable to the coverage I had back home....sorting that out was a major stressor once we moved (and we got health insurance though DH's work).

I hope you find moving to a new place easier than I did and best of luck!

Morningcalm

02-09-2009, 07:16 AM

I am new here online but I am an American expat living in Ireland. Coming from California, I am not enjoying it here-weather, food, lack of family are all part of the reason. We have been here 2 1/2 years and DD was born here. DH is American/Canadian. I grew up and lived in LA my entire life until this move.

It is nice to be able to travel within Europe easily but it will be nicer when we eventually get to take our final plane trip back home to So. Cal.

I would love to talk with others in the same experience.

I'm sorry that you don't like Ireland. That is the one country where I would move to in a heartbeat. I found the countryside to be incredibly beautiful and the people to be the most hospitable. The food was really good to me. Mind you, I've been living in Asia these past couple of years so any western food is a treat to me.

But I totally understand what you mean about lack of family. I had my ds in Korea and not having my family around has been hard.

Grahnola Mum

02-09-2009, 03:13 PM

I hear ya on missing family - that's my biggest/only complaint about being an expat - wish I could move them all back here with me!

MittensKittens

02-16-2009, 05:51 AM

gilamama

02-16-2009, 12:44 PM

do you guys work? that has been really tough for me,trying to find a lucrative rewarding career for myself here (esp whaen i'd rather be a sahm).

Morningcalm

02-17-2009, 07:00 AM

Are you still there? I'd like to join as well! I'm in Serbia.

Morningcalm, you are in Korea now and lived in Ireland before? Me too! And I loved Dublin, except for the weather. Where in Korea are you?

I've visited friends in Galway a couple of times but I haven't lived there. I wish! My family and I live in the boonies out in Chungcheonnamdo province. Actually, we are returning home to Canada in 2 weeks. So, I guess I will soon to be an ex-expat! We'll probably be back out here but we need a time out.

MittensKittens- Where in Korea did you live?

Gilamama- I did work until 2 months before my son was born. He is 8 months now. I guess I could have returned to work as an English teacher but I wanted to SAH. There's no problem here in Korea for native English speakers to get good paying work. I know a couple of moms who work... mind you their children are older.

vickjul

03-20-2009, 11:48 AM

Morningcalm

03-20-2009, 11:24 PM

Bumping this because it looks like hubby, baby, and I may be moving to South Korea late this summer. YAY!

Q, though -- Has anyone moved household goods on their own before? I've done the whole pack-a-couple-of-suitcases-and-that's-it routine before, but at this stage in life, starting over from scratch just isn't appealing any more. We know it wouldn't be cost effective to move ALL our stuff, but would like to take baby gear, favorite teaching materials, and a few western "creature comforts" ... maybe 1,000 pounds of stuff in all.

Hubby's getting out of the Army in a few weeks, and we've wondered if we could pay the military to move us where we *want* to be instead of back to his home of record. Barring that, we'd like to find a door-to-door moving service. Port to port (Houston to Incheon, I guess?) would be our last choice.

That's great! Have you lived in South Korea before with the army? If not, please feel free to ask me questions. After three years in Korea, my husband and I finally figured out all the ins and outs of living comfortably as a foreigner.

Don't know about shipping to Korea. We arrived with very little and returned home with a baby! We sent lots of stuff home via Korea post as it was cheaper than a shipping company.

Well, we may end up back in Korea soon. Not sure... I'm enjoying the variety of food at home to much right now to consider going back there yet!

vickjul

03-22-2009, 09:57 AM

That's great! Have you lived in South Korea before with the army? If not, please feel free to ask me questions. After three years in Korea, my husband and I finally figured out all the ins and outs of living comfortably as a foreigner.

Don't know about shipping to Korea. We arrived with very little and returned home with a baby! We sent lots of stuff home via Korea post as it was cheaper than a shipping company.

Well, we may end up back in Korea soon. Not sure... I'm enjoying the variety of food at home to much right now to consider going back there yet!

Hubby was there with the Army. I'd been there for four years on the local economy when we met. In fact, we're going back to my old job (splitting it between us so that we can split the SAH parent role plus have time to pursue other interests), so we know the area where we'll be living and know we'll have an excellent working environment.

Thing is, I had an excellent job here that I gave up to go over there in 2003. And I started life over with the contents of a couple of suitcases and a few boxes. About the time I got my "dream" set-up in both my classroom and apartment, we got married ... and the Army sent us back HERE to start housekeeping over a third time. Now that we're getting out, it looks like we'll be starting over a FOURTH time. Eager as I am to get back, this business of starting over every few years has gotten old. I really want to hold onto the wardrobe I have waiting for Little Miss to grow into, her not-MIC toys, at least a part of my teaching library, some not-easily-replaced household items, etc.

If you do end up going back, I'd love to hear from you. It would be really nice to meet up with some similarly-minded English-speaking mamas and kidlets over there. :wink

zoebird

03-23-2009, 09:56 AM

i'm going to join, because we're strongly considering becoming expat americans in nz. my only worry right now is taxes. LOL!

our plan is to move to wellington, nz, where we can both have a lot of growth in our careers. and, it being a more family-focused culture and a slower pace, we think it would be even better for our baby too.

our hope is to travel home each year or every-other year, having family visit us in the alternating year. of course, my MIL won't come--she hates to travel and more than that, hates to spend money. for example. my SIL lives in las vegas, where one can find cheap flights all the time (under $300). my MIL has been out there once, my FIL twice in three years. even though they could afford to go, they think that's too expensive. NZ is currently clocking in around $1200 from philly, and so i doubt well see them often (and no love lost on my part).

my parents are more willing, but i don't think they'd come eveyr year.

Tjej

03-23-2009, 10:39 AM

zoebird - have you ever done that flight? It's more than just cost for that sort of a visit - it is very long. Painfully long.

I think it's great and fine that you want to do that sort of visiting, I have personally found that as my kids are getting older (they aren't old - 3 and 1) it gets harder to just fly with them and my parents come to visit a bit, but not as much as I thought they would. We go back to visit once or twice a year (it was more but that is what I do right now with the kids) and it works, but it does have its drawbacks. The kids get sick EVERY SINGLE TIME we go - the worst sicknesses they've ever had. So I spend our "vacation" with a sick kid or two. EVERY TIME. Kids touch everything and planes are germy, and it's all new germs where we go. When we visit, the kids have fun but there is a lot of needing to manage them and their emotions as we are with mostly strangers every time (we do webcam stuff with my parents, so with them it is not like that, but with my siblings and friends it is - although this issue does get better as the kids get older, so maybe that isn't really that big of a deal).

It sounds like a neat move, though. NZ sounds amazingly beautiful and it would be nice to be in a society that is very family supportive. I think we have a bit of that here too (Canada), compared to where I lived before (but I think a good part of that is that we are rural here, whereas I grew up suburban).

Tjej

zoebird

03-23-2009, 11:56 AM

yes, i've done the flight there and back. :) i didn't consider it painful. it was long, but i felt it was comfortable.

MamaRabbit

03-23-2009, 12:30 PM

Goodness, the flight from Atlanta to Bangkok with connection about kills me each way.... with 4 kids age 4 and under last summer!

We go back to the USA to visit family every other year. If they want to see us more often then they have to come our way, which has happened but not too often. A sister or mom or brother here or there. It's expensive to come this far :S

zoebird

03-23-2009, 03:33 PM

it is 6 hrs to LA, then a layover, then 13 to NZ which is overnight. i would likely break it to visit fam/friends in CA for a for a few days and then go to the east coast.

every other year seems fair to me!

proudmomof4

03-24-2009, 02:55 AM

Hello everyone,
I am a German mom with 4 children (but you knew that already, and, yes, a husband, also German!). We've lived in Suzhou (near Shanghai) for about 6 weeks now. From 1999 to 2004 we were expats in Grand Rapids, MI. My 2 youngest children were born there - that's how I made friends with the local midwife, "Mothering", and LLL.

Tjej

03-24-2009, 11:47 AM

Welcome, Andrea!

zoebird- You are much tougher than I am. I guess the last time I did a pan-pacific flight I was 5 months pregnant, but saying it was miserable is an understatement. It's do-able, but I've travelled a lot and found it taxing. Glad you don't find it bad since you'll be the one doing it, though. :)

Tjej

sarahdavida

04-27-2009, 01:58 AM

I see it's been a month or so since anyone's posted to this thread, but I'm another expat mama...American living in Peru with my Peruvian DH and our 2 yr old son, who was born here (pretty bad birth experience, unfortunately, resulting in a C-section)...we've been there for 4 yrs. now and I finally got my citizenship a few months ago, so we are all dual now, which makes going (and potentially moving) back and forth MUCH easier...

it's been a tough transition for me, but I do not regret it - DH's work environment is very positive - and in a few weeks I will start working, as well - for the first time since moving here...after having aquired enough Spanish to be comfortable...and getting over being sick a lot (stomach stuff and skin allergies - not a great climate in Lima) - it is easier, but was VERY difficult to have a baby here as a first-time mama...but I do feel the experience has made me stronger and more determined as a parent (and has made us stronger and more determined as a family)

all that being said, there are wonderful things, too...learning another language and being immersed in another culture...the people here have been very warm and welcoming...the food is amazing...the history, etc...I look forward to being more integrated into it all as time goes on...but it has also been extremely important for me to connect with other expats here...particularly women - and mothers...whether from the States or other countries...but being able to have people who can relate to your experience -who you can talk to in your native language - is essential...otherwise it is easy to feel isolated and/or out of place...

I joined the LLL group here in Lima and that has been invaluable for so many reasons (including my ability to breastfeed my son beyond his 2nd birthday, despite many challenges along the way)

not sure how long we'll be here - we are taking things as they come...it is an interesting life and, for now, I am happy to be raising my son in a bilingual, bicultural environment...

zoebird

04-28-2009, 09:00 AM

tjej:

i was going to do the flight while pregnant, but decided against it. so gald i did, because i don't think that would have been fun for me. :)

but i think this flight will be fine. we go may 22- june 12 for our scouting trip. and then we'll either apply as skilled migrants or for a long term visa for a business (2 yr work visa). i think we're going to do the second, and see what's what from there.

lilya'smum

04-28-2009, 03:18 PM

Hi mammas!!

I'm daughter of a German/American and Polish expats, I was born and raised in Spain. I live in London now, DD was born here as well.
I will love to move to a smallest city to raise DD in. SO (not DD's dad) is Mexican/Moroccan but he was raised in Mexico City.

I will like to move to a smaller place to raise DD. SO was offered a job in Aberdeen, Scotland. I'm totally digging it!!

green_pyxi

04-29-2009, 07:55 PM

Hello expat mamas,

I grew up as an expat in Germany and am now about to take my family to New Zealand. I'd love to find any Kiwi mums or any American mamas to give any advice on the transition.

As funny as it may seems, my mother who took me to Europe in the first place is giving my the hardest time about going to NZ. Even saying (while in anger) that she doesn't want to be there for the birth of her 2nd grandchild in Oct. I don't think she really means it, but it still hurts.

proudmomof4

04-30-2009, 03:08 AM

Oh well, "leaving" is always easier than "being left"...
I suppose your mother's reaction hurt you a lot but remarks like that seem to be part of the "package deal" for expats. (Not meant to downplay your feelings - just my and others' experiences.)
Good luck for your move!

ithappened

06-12-2009, 08:07 AM

I just thought I'd bump this!

I'm an American, married to an Austria. We lived in the US for a few years (after we met, married, worked in the states till our contracts ran out) then we moved to Austria (my idea) where we have been living for almost a year.

I like it here, still learning the language and have met some other expats. I do really miss my parents, but we do have the dog here and the baby on the way. . I am also working on my PhD starting this summer so my plate will be full and hopefully keeping me busy.

teeg1973

06-13-2009, 08:38 AM

Just noticing this thread!

I am an American living in Germany. DD and I have been here about 9 months (DH a year). I like a lot of things over here, but there are certainly things about the US that I miss. I also don't speak the language (yet) which can be very frustrating at times, such as trying to get my phone fixed (finally did last night) after it was out for almost two weeks!

I miss having my car here. I also of course miss seeing family. I would love for my mom to come visit, but due to physical disability, the size of her wheelchair and all of her medical equipment, it is not possible :(. I love staying home with my daughter (can't find work here), but also know how detrimental not working is to my career and our financial status, but what can you do?!? It would also be nice to have a few more friends - there are only two people that I can actually call friends here. It can be tough sometimes.

Things I love about being here - being able to walk to do my shopping (even if I do miss my car), all the bike paths, castles, swimming pools, playgrounds, ice cream, brats, bread and yogurt, the Fests, beautiful woods....

I would love to have another kid while we are here, but DH is not on board with it and says we can't afford another. That may be true, but I don't feel like our family is complete yet!
Tracy

ithappened

06-14-2009, 06:26 AM

teeg1973-

Silly question but I am rather curious. What sort of things are you doing to learn the language? I have been here about a year and have still yet to take a class (they are limited options in this area and I seem to always be gone for part of them).

I have been looking into learning tapes and DVDs but didnt want to spend money if they weren't worth it

teeg1973

06-14-2009, 06:48 AM

ithappened - ummmm, sadly I have not done much and therefore know very little! At our local VHS I missed the start of last Fall's course and the Spring course was canceled due to lack of enrollment. I can't afford a private tutor and I am not so dedicated to self learning. I have learned the most just in the last month or two as I am starting to be able to hear some words when people are speaking rather than it all being jibberish (most still is though). We also just started my DD in KITA, albeit early, so that she can start to pick up on the language. I have learned some through her and the interactions as school, but again not much.

I would love to use Rosetta Stone, as I do better on computer interfaces, but I need to save up some funds. I am also hoping that the VHS course this fall will happen.

In the meantime, it is hard. How about you? Have you found anything helpful?

Tracy

ithappened

06-14-2009, 09:35 AM

teeg1973- not really. I took one intensive class (2 weeks) which was great but since then there hasn't been enough people to start another section so Im sort of waiting until this fall to take a class at the local university since I won't be able to fly pre-baby anyways and they are much cheaper through a big school.

Does Germany have an intergration test you have to take? We have this 4 hour language test you are required to pass by 5 yrs living here or they threaten to deport you until you do pass :eyesroll . . . obviously, I'm pushing to move to Munich as a result (kidding but also not :D )

Austria makes it really hard to stay here as a spouse which makes no sense to me what so ever.

hollyvangogh

06-16-2009, 09:24 PM

Hi! :wave

I'm Holly. We moved from the US to Canada last year (DH has dual citizenship but grew up in Canada). I just got my PR status a few weeks ago! :joy:

I care about my home country...but I don't think you could ever convince me to leave Canada. I :heartbeat living here!

ithappened

06-17-2009, 03:46 AM

do any of you live near family? or whats your support system like in a foreign country?

hollyvangogh

06-17-2009, 12:14 PM

do any of you live near family? or whats your support system like in a foreign country?

We really don't have a support system. :(

ithappened

06-17-2009, 01:40 PM

hollyvangogh- we don't either, unless you count my FIL calling every 2 weeks or 3 weeks to ask us to help him do something. :angry

teeg1973

06-19-2009, 03:32 PM

No real support system over here either, but then when we lived in the States, we were also very far from family. One day I would like to live at least a couple hours away from family rather than a plane ride away! I do talk to my mom on the phone daily, but that is about it. I long for the day to be able to have one of the grandparents watch DD for a date night for DH and myself!

Tracy

fazer6

06-25-2009, 04:47 AM

I'm an English expat currently living in Spain. We've lived here for just over 2 years and wouldn't move back at all.

For people who want to learn the languages pimsleur is an excellent all talk course, just listen to the cds or put them on an MP3 player, other half is currently doing the spanish one and I'm working on 2 other languages. Other than that there's the FSI courses available free to download from the internet. Google for FSI free download. In the forum there's links to another site also collecting courses, I think the link is under the member contributions or somewhere around.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for boys names which work in both Spanish and English, I'm sort of liking Alejandro and Daniel at the moment, just a little concerned the male diminutive of Alejandro will sound a bit like the female diminutive of Alexendra.

neko

06-25-2009, 11:54 AM

I'm and ex- ex-pat thinking about returning to Japan with kid and husband in tow. I'll definitely be following this tribe for tips and ifo about raising a young child abroad.

ithappened

06-28-2009, 08:39 AM

I used pimsleur also and recommend it!

prone_to_wander

06-29-2009, 04:44 AM

Hey all,

I'm a Canadian who has been living in Hong Kong for 1.5 years with my partner. We are going to TTC come August this year.

ithappened

06-29-2009, 01:00 PM

prone_to_wander- welcome!!

prone_to_wander

06-30-2009, 01:55 AM

I was just wondering of anyone has had a homebirth in Hong Kong? I would really prefer to stay at home but all of the research I've done (many many hours) and I've found one midwife who might/maybe/possibly/if she is even still in the country do it but I'd like to find someone who has gone through it.

jul511riv

08-04-2009, 05:52 AM

American in Israel. Shalom/Hello. :D

ithappened

08-04-2009, 07:44 AM

hey jul511riv- welcome!

genifer

08-22-2009, 08:55 AM

What a quiet thread! Im bumping to see if there's any new expats out there or if any old ones want to chat...

Im american but lived in the UK for 10.5 years (I CANNOT believe its been that long!!!)

I live in the southwest of England but had lived up north (manchester) for 5 years, only moved to this beautiful part of the country a year ago... again I cant believe we've been down here that long.

So how's everyone else doing? How have you found living abroad? How has it shaped who you are and your out look on life (if at all)?

:love

ithappened

08-22-2009, 09:29 AM

genifer- hi! lately I have just been trying to figure out the bureaucracies of birth here.

Most OBGYNs who you see for your pregnancy in this country don't do
your deliveries and if I want the birth center route, I have to change to an OBGYN
who is registered with the center as a doctor assuming I don't just want to take whoe ever is on call that day.. this isn't too hard, they
have a list of about 20 in town who will do deliveries and monitoring
there but its sort of just one more then you don't want to have to
think about going into your third trimester :) and it cost money to keep the same doctor for the pregnancy and birth .. :/

No one explains or even asked me what kind of birth I wanted, I guess it was assumed since 98% of people deliver at the main hospital, I would go there to. . .

And the birth centers
are private in in my town, which means, if I want to go there, I have
to pay for it. The great thing is they charge a flat fee after insurance coverage, (3,000), which covers everything- if I need it, c-section, drugs etc. the price
doesn't change. Sadly with plans to have a natural birth, it feels
like a lot, but I am also spending 5 days there after (again required by law) and they have midwifes who will come to your home after that if you need help. So I
am trying to look at the big package :)

I am really just nervous about giving birth in a country I am not fluent in the language yet and wish there were more english speaking doctors/nurses/midwifes in this town so I didn't have to rely totally on my husband if I dont understand something.

proudmomof4

08-23-2009, 05:22 AM

teeg1973: In some cities in Germany there are German-American clubs / offices where you might get some support - I remember the "Deutsch-amerikanisches Buergerbuero" in Kaiserslautern.
Depending on where you live you could also try with the head of English classes at a university.

jul511riv

08-23-2009, 02:46 PM

yep, I'm back to birthing in this country (already had one here) and getting that all in order. Like anything else in Israel, it is a beaurcracy, but it will work out, G-d Willing. In the meanwhile, I'm trying to decide...ultrasound or not...

FloridaSurreyMomma

08-24-2009, 08:51 AM

This is my first blog response- so just learning "how to." I remember telling my parents, "don't worry, the Peace Corps is only for two years!"...now I have been overseas for thirty years and raised my kids in the UK. I would love to share experiences of long-term overseas living...if you don't mind an almost-grandma joining in the discussion!

jul511riv

08-25-2009, 05:12 AM

I'd LOVE for an almost granny to be part of the discussion. I think we could all learn an awful lot from you and get some perspective and insight that our generation is notorious for sorely lacking.:thumb

proudmomof4

08-25-2009, 05:46 AM

Welcome, FloridaSurreyMomma!
Maybe this is some kind of virus - once you caught it, you've got it?

Olma

08-25-2009, 07:53 AM

Count me in! I was borned in Eastern Europe, lived in US for many years and now we're in Belgium indefinately. It's nice to be somewhat closer to family than before but still it's a bit lonely, not a lot of friends yet.

Mamato3wild ponnie

08-25-2009, 10:55 AM

Im an American mommie...raising my children in Mexico....been here for almost 2 years....on and off....having some difficult times...i dont speak much spanish...and feel isolated most days.
I think i will check into that website for learning spanish...sounds great.

macondo mama

09-18-2009, 09:39 PM

i'm a canadian mama to 2 little guys, recently moved to a jungly beach town in argentina. i'm still figuring things out - the mama thing, the sahm thing, the jungle & small town thing... life is good, but lonely and wierd too. i just started blogging about it (link is in my profile).

i'd be especially interested to hear from any of you that have gotten involved in local social movements, your kids' schools, community groups etc. how do you deal with 'outsider' issues? how do you find the right spaces, take the first steps?

cheers!

ithappened

09-22-2009, 11:11 AM

welcome macondo mama!

I moved to Austria last year and live in a small very closed community. I found the best and quickest way for me to deal with outsider issues was by taking language classes (where I met other english speakers) as well as find expat/meetup groups within driving distance. I am still working on it but have made a few local friends since moving here, but to be honest, the internet is my lifeline and I would be homesick/friendsick without it..

zoebird

09-22-2009, 06:21 PM

we sent off our paperwork for new zealand today! so, we should know soon what their processing estimate is, and then get rolling on a new life in another country! wow! :D

ithappened

09-23-2009, 01:55 AM

I was wondering if any of you are US citizens living abroad who have had to do the consulate birth certificate applications as well as US passport applications yet for your children?

I was just wondering if we would need to do all of this before visiting my family in the US or if we can apply for it later. We are undecided about US citizenship for the babe yet but didn't know if we had to make the decision or risk being turned away at the boarder.

Lauren31

09-24-2009, 06:15 AM

Hello!

I consider myself an expat since I'm a US citizen living abroad, but I'm bicultural/bilingual and am now living in my other culture's homeland. I'm in Prague, Czech Republic..

Hi! I was just researching a trip to prague! I am living in Germany, about two hours from you and was hoping to get over there at Thanksgiving or after Christmas. It's overwhelming how much to do there. Do you mind if I have any questions, to ask you?