Why I'm here

Briefest background: I grew up in a small city in New England, secretly envious of my cousins who had lived in four different countries by the time they were teenagers. I spent a year abroad in France my junior year of high school and then took advantage of every opportunity to leave my home country over the next couple of decades, studying, working, and eventually as the accompanying partner to my husband and main kid-wrangler for our three children.  

I originally decided to share my experiences because I had never had much support from the organization that hired my husband (I wrote about this here). I thought it could be helpful- to others who have been going through similar moves and to me as I try to figure out what kind of work I'd like to aim for, once my kids are all in school.  The more I have made an effort to learn about this world of people who have moved because their partner has the anchoring job, the more I realize that there are already cross-cultural coaches, resettlement advisors, online networks for trailing spouses, multiple groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, even conferences. I wondered if I was just trying to reinvent the wheel- provide support where it already existed, if only one knew where to look. I finally stopped trying to talk myself out of this and just do what I can to join the conversation, to add another point of view to the collection of experiences that are the expat trailing partner lifestyle.

So I began with this, tapped out with my thumb on my ipod as I waited to pick up my kids from school.  I was enormously apprehensive about starting a blog- I am leery of the "look at me! look at me!" of the blog world- afraid people will think I'm just seeking attention, afraid maybe it's true.

In the first months I sought out friends who could add another point of view on this life and Andrea, Meredith, Mishka, and Monica were patient and willing to share their stories.  At that time, I mistakenly thought that I had stopped moving and would be settled in one place for longer than usual. In November my husband got word that he would be laid off and, starting in December, my posts shifted in focus as we began to prepare for the next, nearly inevitable move.  I was glad to get away from pure reflection and to write about this transition as it continues to unfold.