"How expat spouses can beat the blues"
2008-10-28
Read below an article that was published in the October 2008 Beijingkids.

"It's a challenge for anyone to up and move to a new country, but the transition is especially tough for spouses with families. Kids attend school and make friends, while the employed spouse has a business card and a job - and therefore an instant identity and social network. For expat spouses, adjustment is trickier; they have to forge their own network and routine.
Jasmine Keel of INSPIRED, an organization that specialises in providing social, emotional and professional support for expat spouses, suggests meeting as many people as you can in the beginning, and then trying to meet like-minded people. "Socialize whenever possible, even if it means talking to someone at the pool at your complex or at Jenny Lou's, attending a religious group, or getting involved in national groups," Keel says, although she stresses meeting people from other nationalities as well.
Spouses should actively think about what they want to do here. Don't be afraid to attend professional networks, even if you don't have a business card. And don't underestimate the importance of creating a routine. Set up a project or study new skills such as photography or a foreign language. In many ways, recreating one's life can be enriching; it's a chance for people to explore interests they never had the courage or time to do before."

Jessica Pan