Fab 5 Friday...

So we've been living abroad for almost 10 months now and there are lots of things I've learned. Some I've learned easily...and others I've learned the hard way. Someone the other day asked me what advice I'd give to new ex-pats...those who have never lived abroad before. I don't know that I've lived abroad long enough to truly provide any great nuggets of knowledge, but today's Fab 5 is what I would tell someone knew to the ex-pat life.

1. Be open to ALL of the experiences. Each and every day you will experience something new - a new event, a new person, a new emotion, a new victory, a new disaster. You need to take the time to learn from each and every one of these new experiences - the good, the bad and the ugly. They're brought to you, given to you, or thrown at you for a reason.

2. Stay grounded and have good friends. There are a lot of spoiled, pretentious assholes in the ex-pat community - people who have an overinflated ego and an even bigger sense of entitlement. You can spot the ones you want to steer clear of quickly as a conversation with them usually is pretty one-sided and you won't get a word in edgewise. Or, watch the way they treat people - poor manners and rudeness are abundant. I'm fortunate to say, I have remained free of those people and have wonderful friends. And, so do my children. A great deal of staying grounded involves your circle of friends. Good friends abroad make you feel like you have a little piece of home with you. Seek those people out and remain true to your values.

3. Travel. I can't say this enough. Travel, travel, travel. Take full advantage of every school holiday, long weekend - hell, pull your kids from school for a few days. (Sorry teacher friends...I was a teacher and I know that kids need their instructional time, but traveling teaches a lot of things too!) Visit various parts of the country you are living in and the countries that surround you. This may be your only opportunity to visit some places - maybe you're not going to be an ex-pat forever - so get out there and explore.

4. Have your bad days and then get over it. We all have them. Days when absolutely nothing goes right. You can't find that ingredient you need for dinner, the repairman shows up 6 hours late, you get a speeding ticket from some corrupt police officer who really just wants 100rm. Whatever the case may be, have your pity party (within an allotted time frame and preferably with a good bottle of wine or Grey Goose) and move on. You chose this life. You chose to be here. Make the best of it! The good far outweighs the bad.

5. Be grateful. Something good happens each and every day. You may have to search for it a little harder on certain days, but it's there. We're lucky as ex-pats. If you're an ex-pat, you or your spouse works for someone who thinks they are talented enough to go and share their knowledge and expertise with others. The perks for most ex-pats are pretty good. (Yes, I know not all ex-pat packages are created equally. Some companies do more than others. But, none of us are hurting.) Be thankful for your time wherever you are and everything it has brought to you and your family. Lots of people never get to experience this part of life...


“Life might be difficult for a while, but I would tough it out because living in a foreign country is one of those things that everyone should try at least once. My understanding was that it completed a person, sanding down the rough provincial edges and transforming you into a citizen of the world.”
–David Sedaris, Me Talk Pretty One Day