How can women live an enjoyable expatriation?

In general, women tend to be associated with personal skills which are considered conventionally “feminine”, such as flexibility, sensitivity, and empathy. Some potential expat women may have rejected an assignment because their partners were not willing to change their own career path rather drastically. On the other hand, those women who do in fact accept expat assignments are confronted with a “man’s world” among international employees. For those and many other reasons expat women face more challenges than their counterparts. To make living internationally more enjoyable, and to allow better assimilation into the community, women need to understand some of the potential differences trying to overcome them.

One major factor that leaves a person vulnerable in any situation is unfamiliarity. Learning such details as which streets and which neighborhoods are safest is one aspect of safety. The most common piece of advice given to expat women is to study the history, culture, and more importantly, the local language. It facilitates engagement in the community, makes taking care of tasks less frustrating, and helps to alleviate the feelings of isolation. On the other hand, networking with other expats as well as locals in the community is invaluable for feeling safe and secure in a foreign country. Networking is not just about adding friends to a list or finding fellow English speakers to talk to. Rather, it is about finding helpful and positive connections that help to gain some sense of control in a foreign culture.

As stated above, finding connections is a great need for expat women. Keeping a diary, or writing about one’s experiences in any way is always connective, and helps to sort out their feelings, while blogging is one of the best ways to establish friendly connections. Blogs are an excellent way for expat women to gain a valuable insight into the expat experience. An important effect that often results is becoming connected with others – expat bloggers, expats, potential expats, people who are interested in this interesting lifestyle choice, and many other pleasant surprises.