by Mariam | Oct 21, 2017 | Expat Identity, Expat Life, Expat Wife, Family Travel, Germany, International Move With Expat Kids, Motherhood Abroad, Raising Global Citizens, Raising Multilingual Kids, Travel, Travel With Kids, Uncategorized
Call it serendipity or a twist of fate – but when I got the email, I was traveling. I was on a beautiful five-day tour exploring Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast. And I was not supposed to be checking my email. That was one of the rules my husband and I had agreed upon...
by Mariam | Sep 12, 2017 | Expat Identity, Expat Life, Families in Global Transition, Redefining Expat, Uncategorized
As an expat blogger and writer, the number one question I get asked is “why do you call yourself an expat and not an immigrant?” Now, I know that the word ‘expat’ turns people off. When they see ‘expat’, they read ‘privilege’ and imagine me walking with a sign on my...
by Mariam | May 28, 2017 | Expat Life, Families in Global Transition, International Move With Expat Kids, Raising Global Citizens
She gave the globe a spin, and as the continents, oceans and countries whizzed by, she looked up and asked “Mama, where is Australia?” Her five-year-old mind was interested in this country far away, because one of her friends from Dubai had just moved there, with her...
by Mariam | May 18, 2017 | Expat Life, Expat Wife, Motherhood Abroad, Parenthood, The Help
I confess – I have long had a rather complicated relationship with the idea of having help at home. I suppose it can all be traced back to my childhood in Pakistan. Growing up amidst a plethora of house help was the norm, for upper middle-class families such as...
by Mariam | Apr 9, 2017 | Expat Identity, Expat Life, Muslim Expat, Muslim Expat Experience, Uncategorized
“Is it possible for me to take the day off work next week? It’s for a religious holiday, it’s the Muslim equivalent of Christmas – we will be celebrating ‘Eid’. But the thing is, this holiday depends on the lunar calendar, so depending on when the moon is sighted, can...
by Mariam | Apr 6, 2017 | Expat Careers, Expat Life
I remember the day like yesterday. I was sitting in our swanky hotel in Singapore, having breakfast. All around me, smartly attired men and women were eating breakfast before going to work. Their suits and ties and laptop bags reminded me of the life I had just said...
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