MyCurrencyTransfer.com took some time out to speak with serial Expat Apple Gidley, 53. She is an Anglo-Australian now living in Houston, Texas, relocating a whooping 26 times within 12 countries throughout her life. We wanted to know a little more about Expat Life Slice by Slice, Apple’s expat story and what advice she would give to future relocatees.
1. Tell our expat readers about Expat Life Slice by Slice, what can they expect?
The book traces the experiences, the fun and some of the hiccups, of an itinerant life. The slices cover everything from a childhood in Africa and Asia, being an accompanying spouse finding either salaried or voluntary work, having and raising children abroad, the customs and cultures of various countries, coping with aging parents and empty nests through to repatriation and / or retirement.
The issue of staying connected to our roots and whether we really need to know “where is home?” is touched on throughout the book. Expat Life Slice by Slice portrays the enjoyment and privilege of living in a country not one’s own. It is an honest memoir that shares, through a take-away slice at the end of the each chapter, some of the lessons learnt along the way without, I hope, sounding preachy.
2. What motivated you to write the book?
While preparing a keynote address for the Families in Global Transition www.figt.org conference in 2010 I realized some of my experiences might help others relocating around the world.
There are a number of sponsoring organisations out there that give minimal assistance to their relocating employees and families. I know because apart from shipment help we’ve not had any, but then I never asked for it having learnt first hand from my mother. However for many the whole experience is daunting, particularly if moving with children, of any age.
John, my husband got tired of me talking about writing a book and suggested last year, in the nicest possible way, that I just do it, so I thought, “Sod it, I will!”
3. Briefly tell us your expat story?
It started when I was a month old when my mother and I joined Dad in Kano, Nigeria. It has continued through 26 more relocations and 12 countries. I met John in Papua New Guinea when we were both working there in the mid-70s shortly after Independence. He was a VSO (Volunteer Services Overseas) and I worked for a trading company, we joined forces and have been on the move together for over thirty years.
4. What is it about expat blogging that does it for you?
Blogging was a way for me to test the waters, to see if people would be interested in reading what I wrote, to see sometimes if I could provoke a response. I don’t just blog on expatriate issues but also about the cultural differences we can face in our own countries, as well as in countries that are home for a short while. Getting feedback, good and bad, from readers is immeasurably satisfying and I learn from them.
5. There is a big trend with expats taking to the blogsphere? Can it actually help with the relocation?
Like all information on the Internet we have to choose carefully what to believe. But yes, on the whole I think people moving to a different country, different culture, maybe away from home for the first time do get help, and possibly a little comfort, from blogs written by people who’ve been in the same situation and not just survived but thrived in their new environment.
I think the blogsphere has also helped those TCKs (Third Culture Kids) who may not know they actually have a box to tick until they come across an article on line. Suddenly their feelings of loss, isolation and occasionally despair now have an explanation and that can help them see the way forward in their next relocation, or as they settle into their chosen life.
6. What has been your single greatest challenge as an expat?
Making the decision to send our son to boarding school in England. I went when I was ten to my mother’s old school in Australia and loved it, but even as a teenager I realised how much my parents were missing and I did not want that to happen with my child’s formative years. But times had changed and he came home every holiday and we got to see him play all his sports, his school plays and so on. It was without doubt the right decision for him but would not have been for our daughter.
However as we had not anticipated the boarding school route we had not planned for it financially and that was a huge wake up call.
7. What would be your one piece of advice to a prospective expat?
Can I have two please? Go with curiosity! You’ll never learn all the nuances of a different culture but if you’re curious and show interest some incredible doors open. And secondly, because I’m taking two, try to manage expectations in all aspects of the expatriate life from physical to emotional to financial because they all affect the outcome.
8. What is in store in the future for Apple Gidley?
Not a clue! That’s part of the excitement of this kind of life.
Most of us have plans of some sort, or an idea of where we’d like to be in five or ten year’s time. Financially that’s crucial particularly now, but flexibility and a willingness to try new things is what has made our lives such fun, if not always the most sensible.
9. You are a serial expat: can you ever see this changing?
It has in a way already changed as Houston is now our base due to John’s job but we are always open to suggestions and new adventures.
10. Will there be any other books? If so, can you give us a ‘sneak peek’ of what we may expect?
I’m working on an art book that not surprisingly has a global theme, with a curator and his work with maps being the linchpin. Great fun. I’ve also got an expatriate-based novel on the go, and a book of short stories most of which have a foreign flavour!
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From the whole team at MyCurrencyTransfer.com, we wish Apple all the best of luck with her book and future endeavours.
If you have read Apple’s book or blog, feel free to tweet us your thoughts to @currencytranfr
