Getting a hair cut should be a fairly simple procedure and yet I have found it to be one of the lesser known, but very real challenges of expat life. Plenty of expat blogs cover all the obvious, big ticket hurdles to being a successful and happy expat: emotional resilience, repatriation, culture shock, depression, leaving well… Continue reading Hair Raising and Hair Razing Expat Experiences Abroad
Tag: expat life
The Princess and The Fish
The mysterious picture of a girl and a fish on a beach. Who is she? What kind of fish is she holding?
Chicken Dumps Pig: Headline of the Day
Living in Africa never fails to surprise you, there is something unexpected every - single - day.
Action Barbie’s Failsafe Focaccia Recipe
It's possible that this will be the first and only recipe I'll ever share with you, but it's a goodie and has been a lifesaver over the years. I’m a reluctant cook and love to have a few cheeky tricks up my sleeve. When I say I’m a reluctant cook, preparing a meal for guests… Continue reading Action Barbie’s Failsafe Focaccia Recipe
Happy Expat Wife, Happy Expat Life: 5 Expat Life Strategies
A happy expat wife, husband, partner or spouse is an essential ingredient to having a happy expat life. So happy expat wife equals happy expat life. See how I adapted a well-known adage by throwing the word 'expat' in there? I would even go as far as to say that it’s MORE true that the original… Continue reading Happy Expat Wife, Happy Expat Life: 5 Expat Life Strategies
Discover 5 ways Expats and Jacarandas are Similar
Jacaranda season is upon us again here in South Africa (the trees bloom any time from September through to November - it varies slightly from year to year). These stunning trees blossom a stunning shade of purple bringing a smile to many. It struck me that the jacaranda trees and expats have a few things… Continue reading Discover 5 ways Expats and Jacarandas are Similar
Scotland vs South Africa Rugby – Supermarket Special
South Africans are gearing up for their Rugby World Cup match against Scotland today. Locals are already strutting their stuff in green and gold. Our son, (who is technically a quarter Scottish and an eighth South African) is firmly routing for the Boks. Somewhere he has a Scotland rugby shirt gifted by his rugby-fan grandfather (thanks… Continue reading Scotland vs South Africa Rugby – Supermarket Special
Expat Friendship: The Friend at Hand
The friend at hand is often your first expat friendship when you land on new shores. It's an idea adopted from an African proverb of unknown provenance. The first time I came across it was printed on a patchwork quilt that I won, a quilt made by a brilliant group of expat ladies (which is a… Continue reading Expat Friendship: The Friend at Hand
Surprise Soup
One of the wonderful things about being an expat is being part of a rich multinational community and the fact that you regularly have unexpected new experiences with lovely new people. For example… Last month a Japanese lady I barely knew threw open her doors and warmly welcomed a group of us over for a sushi… Continue reading Surprise Soup
Balancing Act
This is a gardener. He is trimming back trees on our residential estate in Johannesburg. To do this, he is standing atop a wall with electric wires both in front of and behind him. He looks up at the sound of my camera clicking. Then returns to the task in hand, shuffling further along the… Continue reading Balancing Act
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