​“What have you been doing all day?” my darling husband says as he walks through the door, after a long day at work. He doesn’t mean it as an accusation, but I take it as one.
 
Yesterday, our freight arrived. I have two little children running round and round tall looming towers of boxes, stacked so high they are starting to sway in the wind. There are 381 of them. It’s all very well that the removal company offer a “surface unpacking service” (i.e. they will put things on surfaces, but not in cupboards), but there are no surfaces. Every inch is covered with piles of random stuff. Despite my finely honed organisational skills, there’s a toothbrush and a pile of toiletries by the kitchen sink, a bike in my lounge and a dolls’ house in my bedroom.

This is an extract from Do they eat soup in England? is a book for all expats and repats.

​​Offering advice and insights to those who are new to the expat family, and reuniting family members spread across the globe, this book will make you laugh and cry.

​Real-life stories from expats and repats share knowledge we all wish we had had at the time. Available from Amazon.

The world today is a funny place, unrecognisable from the carefree days of yesterday - or even yesterday.

A couple of evenings ago, the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, declared a state of emergency. Effectively, it's house arrest unless you need food or medicine. 

It sounds drastic, but we've only fallen in line with other countries - the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has proven itself to be an invisible opponent outwitting governments across the globe. The number of cases increases by 20% overnight, leaving us looking suspiciously at those around us. Or those that used to be around us now we're in isolation.

Amanda, an American, gave birth to her two children in Dubai, and then moved to the UK. Intrigued with the way they see the world, she hopes their expat experience will give them a broad acceptance of the world, while still understanding their place in it. Here's her story, which is an extra from the book Do they eat soup in England?, available from Amazon:

When we moved to Dubai, I gave up my career to support my husband's promotional opportunity. I arrived in a new country and culture without a plan for myself, but having a family seemed to be the natural step, especially as Dubai is family-friendly. Leaving my career was hard to do at the time, but it's been a wonderful experience and allows us great flexibility as a family.

I was lucky to have both my children in a country with excellent quality private healthcare. While many women choose to return to their home country for birth, that wasn't an option for me due to a 17-hour flight and high-risk pregnancies.

Identity has been the main issue with having the children in a country where they don’t have citizenship. Our only option was to pursue the citizenship of our home country for our children. Given the option, we would have pursued dual citizenship as this would have given the girls a link to their cultural identity. They are technically Americans, but they have never lived there. We now live in the UK, and they may feel British, just like the other children at their school. I want them to feel a belonging to the country if that’s important to them. 

When people ask what nationality they are I generally describe them as culturally confused. Time will tell. My little one was five-weeks-old when we moved from Dubai to the UK. My older daughter remembers life in Dubai, but has spent the last 18 months in the British school system. She knows she sounds different to her classmates and when people ask her why, she tells them she’s an Arab. She has both a broad and incredibly narrow sense of culture all at the same time! 

I honestly believe the children have a good life abroad and wonderfully enriching opportunities. I don't want them to feel different their whole lives. I don't want them to feel different from their peers living abroad and then feel different to Americans if we move back there. We're trying to find a balance. Their cultural experience will be different, but not necessarily better or worse. They might know different television shows or music or foods to their peers in the US, but those aren't things that matter. 

I also think they'll have an expanded view of "home". Home is where I live and contribute, but not necessarily where I'm from. Home is the dining room table where I have breakfast with my parents and do my homework, and that sense of home can exist anywhere. 

The main disadvantage to expat life is the instability. We don't know how long we're going to live somewhere and where we're going next. I've tried to let go of that worry. We'll land exactly where we're supposed to. The last four relocations have proven that. We've loved every place we've called home for different reasons. But I imagine it's going to get harder as the children get older and their friendship groups and interests are established. I just don't want them to feel displaced or lonely. People who have lived in the same place their whole lives find expat instability hard to understand and swallow. I see it as part of the adventure. Where we go next, and when, is a mystery, so we'll enjoy life in this spot for as long as we're here. We will make it our home, even if it's temporary. 

The other primary disadvantage is the distance from family. Our children don't get to see grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends nearly as much as we'd like. I'm grateful for FaceTime and Skype, but it doesn't replace a hug or a bedtime story on Grandma's lap. 

It’s interesting to try to see your expat life through the eyes of your children. They don’t see cultural differences as a benefit of being an expat.
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I think they'll have an interesting story to tell, hopefully making them unique, accepting, adventurous, compassionate people. 

They don’t see themselves as different. They just accept people, regardless of their race or religion, and that's what makes all the struggles worthwhile. ​

Do they eat soup in England? is a book for all expats and repats.

​​Offering advice and insights to those who are new to the expat family, and reuniting family members spread across the globe, this book will make you laugh and cry.

​Real-life stories from expats and repats share knowledge we all wish we had had at the time. Available from Amazon.

Different parts of the World have visitor peaks at different times of year. You make your decision on a summer or winter vacation based on whether it’s in the northern or southern hemisphere. If you want the soft powdery snow you probably won’t head to the European slopes in July. And if you want to enjoy a glass of something crisp, white and fruity in the warm sunshine of a rose garden, you’ll probably check the weather forecast first. But while important, weather doesn’t always dominate our decision making process when it comes to travel destinations.

So how else can we make a decision? There are endless adventures to embark upon so how can we choose where to go next? Here are some alternative tips for taking a trip:

Tip #1 The sportman’s race

If you’re a petrol head you may be checking out the Formula One calendar and planning your trips (Melbourne, Australia, and Malaysia are March’s hot spots in case you’re wondering). And the Barmy Army knows where the English are playing cricket at any given moment. If you’re not a sportsman, why not choose a random sport, look up the latest fixtures and just go for it. You don’t even have to go to a match or take part. So, finger in the air, let’s take extreme ironing. According to the Extreme Ironing Bureau this is “the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.” Originating in England it is now a World-wide phenomenon that has taken place underwater, on mountainsides, and while parachuting. Does that whet your appetite? A little too extreme? Perhaps a scuba diving holiday to the Great Barrier Reef or hiking in the Alps might be more up your street: leave the iron at home.

Or how about cheese rolling or bunny jumping? If you choose these sports you could be heading to Gloucestershire in the UK or Sweden. Pick a sport and off you go.

Tip #2 Take up a new hobby

Your destination might be determined by an event or a hobby. Tai Chi, for example, is the Chinese martial art practiced for its defence and health benefits. You could be heading for a retreat in Thailand or you may fancy taking part in a Tyroleon Tai Chi Festival in Merano, Italy. Or what about a trip to the Emerald Isle to learn about the traditional ancient craft of basket weaving? Stick a pin in the map, find out what the local traditional craft might be and plan from there. Or if you enjoy reading find your favourite book and follow in the footsteps of the author.

Tip #3 Choose an ingredient

If you like your food why not base your search on an ingredient? If fish is at the top of your menu you may be impressed by the Nigerian fishing festival held in Argungu in February. This festival started in 1934 as a peace building contest between the people of Argungu and nearby Sokoto. The three-day festival culminates in an hour-long fishing frenzy, with up to 35,000 fishermen, teamed in pairs, plunging into the muddy Malan Fada River carrying hand nets and gourds for flotation. The pair that catches the largest fish, possibly weighing more than 50kg, in their bare hands is the winner, claiming a prize equivalent to around $8,000 plus a minibus.

And the famous La Tomatina is always an option. This annual food fight festival is held on the last Wednesday of August in Bunol, near Valencia, Spain. Thousands join what is thought to be the World’s biggest food fight, where more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets. The week-long festival features music, parades, dancing, and fireworks.

Tip #4 Choose an object

You’re sitting at home enjoying some wine and you stare into the glass. How about glass blowing? You could be spending August in the Pyrenees in France at the annual Festival des Arts du Verre. Or maybe you’re inspired by the candle twinkling on the windowsill. Try a festival of light. You could be heading to the UK’s Blackpool Illuminations annual Lights Festival in autumn. Founded in 1879, this annual show runs for six miles and 66 days along the Lancashire coast.

Or if you fancy something warmer how about a Diwali festival of light? This five day Hindi festival takes places between mid-October and mid-November and is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore to name a few countries. Decorations, candles and fireworks make this a beautiful time to visit.

Tip #5 Type your name into Google…

…There’s a small town called Helen in Georgia, USA. With its German inspired architecture, surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen has a distinct Bavarian feel about it. So whether your name is Barry (Wales), Stanley (Falkland Islands) or indeed Alice (Australia) you could be heading for an interesting place. I said could – this is not a guarantee.

So all you really need is a search engine, and an open mind. Pack your suitcase and send me a postcard.

The practical bit:

·      Formula 1: https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2020.html

·      Argungu Fishing Festival: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/argungu-fishing-festival-will-be-back-in-2020/

·      Extreme Ironing Bureau: http://www.facebook.com/ExtremeIroningOfficial?fref=ts

·      Cheese Rolling: https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/gloucestershire-cheese-rolling-2020-dates-3688857

·      Swedish Federation of Rabbit Jumping: http://skhrf.se/english/

·      Irish basket weaving: http://irishbasketmakers.com/
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·      Tai Chi Chuan Festivala: https://festivalsandretreats.com/tai-chi-chi-kung-festivals-events-europe/
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​·      La Tomatina tomato festival: http://www.latomatinatours.com/

​·      Festival des Arts du Verre: http://www.palau-verrier.com/

·      Blackpool Illuminations: https://www.visitblackpool.com/things-to-do/blackpool-illuminations/
​

According to a new global study, the main reason that expat families move home early is the lack of emotional support.
How quickly an expats settle in a new country is as much about what they have left behind, as it is about getting to grips with their new surroundings. It takes nearly 25% expats more than a year to feel settled, but once they do they spend between five and 10 years abroad. 

Even with the squeeze on expat packages, employees are often well supported, surrounded by colleagues and a recognisable business structure. However, economic migration isn’t often possible without the help of spouses and families.

Mean, brooding, dark and cold. Not a description of my husband, but our first impression of Scotland in April.
 
“We’ll avoid the midges,” the husband said. Of course we will, because it’s too cold for anything to survive.
 
“We’ll see beautiful beaches,” he said. True, he had shown me photographs of stunning stretches of empty white sand. Empty because it’s too cold to get out of the car, let alone take a leisurely stroll. It’s nature’s way of mocking us. You can look, but you can’t touch.

​The story of Half-Hangit Maggie belongs to the Grassmarket. It was here that Maggie Dickson was hanged in 1724 for concealing her pregnancy and trying to get rid of her stillborn baby. She was pronounced dead, sealed in a coffin and sent back to her home town of Musselburgh for burial. On the way, the journey was interrupted by a knocking sounds – Maggie was still alive. She lived for another forty years.

When I asked my husband for three adjectives to describe Argentina he came up with: “wine sodden, welcoming and weirdly Welsh”.

Might seem like a strange collection of words, but it’s not far off the truth.

Let’s start with the Cambrian influence: A small community, descendants of Welsh settlers, who moved to Patagonia in 1865. They even still speak Welsh, or a nineteenth century version. You can visit and inspect how life has changed over the years, and compare with your knowledge of Cymru culture.