Excellent Expat Books Worth A Shout Out

Hi Everyone! I can't believe it's been six months since my last update. Whilst Expat Women is still 'on a break' (I'll tell you about my new venture very soon), there are a few fantastic books that have crossed my desk in that time that really deserve a shout out.

Small Biz Abroad: 
Finding a Small Business That Fits You and Works Well Overseas
by William Beaver

William Beaver is the epitome of a lifelong expat entrepreneur. He has had the openness and courage to pursue lots of business ideas, he has willingly mentored others, he has never given up, and he constantly sees opportunities instead of obstacles. 

The great news is that rather than keep all of his learnings to himself, William has put together the most impressive free expat e-book I have ever read. He shares links to 385 expat businesses, he reveals his Top 20 Mistakes with this overseas small businesses, and much, much more. 

If you're an expat (or soon-to-be expat) contemplating starting a business abroad, William's free e-book (available for download from his home page) is an excellent read and I highly recommend it. 

The Suitcase Entrepreneur:
Create Freedom in Business and Adventure in Life
by Natalie Sisson

If you remember our Expat Women interview with Natalie last year, you'll recall that this former body sculpting champion is an absolute dynamo. Originally from New Zealand, Natalie has citizenship in the United Kingdom, permanent residence in Canada, has travelled to 63 countries, lived on 5 continents, broken a world record, won a gold medal in Ultimate Frisbee and has now grown her laptop business to six figures annually. Amazing.

Having written multiple e-books for her website, Natalie has now stepped it up a level and released her very first book on Amazon. And it's brilliant. Why? Because not only does it share motivational messages, anecdotes, lessons and stories, but it gives the best list I've ever seen of products and resources that you can use to build your business, each with Natalie's explanation of what the product does and how it worked for her. 

In my humble opinion, that list alone is worth the price of her book. I wish I'd had this list when we set up Expat Women. I'm so glad I had this list when I just set up my new venture (details soon). 

Harvesting Stones:
An American Woman's International Journey of Survival
by Paula Lucas

This book I have not read yet, but we interviewed Paula Lucas on Expat Women some years ago, I've met Paula in person a few times, and I'm totally in awe of everything she does, so I have a feeling her book will impress also. 

In short, this book shares the story of how for 14 years, Paula lived what looked like an ideal life overseas in the UAE: A Newsweek photojournalist husband, worldwide travel, a successful advertising, marketing and PR business, and three beautiful sons.

But she also hid a terrible secret: the children suffered severe child abuse and Paula, horrific domestic violence, at the hands of her husband. Her husband threatened to kill her and the children during increasingly violent rages. Her pleas to the American Embassy and the State Department were futile. Finally her chance to escape materialized, thanks to a thief. 

Paula went on to set up the American Domestic Violence Crisis Line in 1999 and has been proactively helping American expats suffering domestic violence ever since. Paula's dedication is phenomenal.

Want More?

Unfortunately I don't have the capacity to let you know about every great new expat book released anymore. (Huge apologies to everyone who's emailed me information about their new book this year).

But if you do want more, I invite you to head over to my friend Jo Parfitt's Expat Bookshop. Lots of great resources there (including Expat Women: Confessions).

Thanks Everyone and I wish you a sensational week!

Andrea

Domestic Violence in Expat Communities

Hi Everyone, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we wanted to make sure you are aware of an important resource, should you find yourself in need of help. While leaving an abusive relationship is challenging for any woman, for women living abroad, the challenges may seem insurmountable.

The Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center works with abused American women and their children in foreign countries to provide domestic violence and child abuse advocacy, resources and tools so that they can navigate the complicated jurisdictional, legal and social international landscapes, to be able to live their lives free of abuse either in the foreign country or back in the United States. Both civilian and military populations are served. (Unfortunately they are only resourced to serve Americans, but non-American expats are being abused can refer to this website and/or call to ask the AODVCC if there are any other possible resources in their current local area.)

Advocates and case managers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week internationally toll free. First dial the AT&T USADirect access number for the country you are in. You can find the access number for the country you are in here. After dialing the access code please enter our phone number: 866-USWOMEN (879-6636) after the prompt. For more information please visit www.866uswomen.org.

Warning: Please remember that your emails and website searches can be tracked from your computer. If you fear for your safety, you might prefer to use a computer other than your own to visit sites like this.

By the way, if you missed our Expat Women interview with the founder of the AODVCC, Paula Lucas,  you can read about this inspirational woman, and she escaped domestic violence, here.

Stay safe, and thanks in advance for spreading the word, Andrea.

Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center: Info Sessions In India & Australia

Hi Everyone, As part of the AODVC's Global Campaign To Empower Americans Abused Abroad, they  would like to warmly invite expats in India and Australia to their upcoming information sessions, taking place as part of their global outreach campaign.

The information sessions will cover the issues facing Americans (but all nationalities welcome, of course)  surviving domestic violence abroad, and who they can turn to for assistance. You will hear from an AODVC advocate and a US Consular Officer.

This event is being presented by the Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center (AODVC), in collaboration with American Embassies & Consulates, the Ending Violence Against Women & Children Task Force of FAWCO (Federation of American Women Clubs Overseas) and numerous expatriate women’s groups.

Sydney, Australia, August 28
Melbourne, Australia, September 4
Mumbai, India, September 15
Delhi, India, September 18

To register, please click here. Thanks.

Global Giving's "Give More - Get More Challenge"

Hi Everyone, It's our pleasure to give a shout-out again this year to Global Giving - a wonderful site making it relatively easy for needy projects to promote themselves to donors, and for donations (large and small) to reach needy projects around the world.

Right now, Global Giving have a "Give More - Get More Challenge" that runs through December 1. Donate to your favorite projects - the more they raise, the more matching funds they can earn. Projects that raise the most money, or get the most donations, can win bonus funding as well.

"GlobalGiving is changing the way people give, offering donors a transparent, high-impact giving experience. You choose where you want your money to go, and we get it there, quickly and efficiently. Locally-run projects with creative ideas that would never be funded through traditional structures also have access to new sources of funds. And finally, we make sure donors get feedback about how their contributions have been put to work and the results achieved - with satisfaction guaranteed through the GlobalGiving Guarantee."

And if you find it all a little overwhelming, Paula Lucas (a previous success story interviewee on our main Expat Women site) would gladly welcome any donation you could make to the Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center via the Global Giving program.

Thanks and have a wonderful day/evening! Andrea

Americans Suffering Domestic Violence Abroad: Information Sessions in Europe

Hi Everyone, If you are suffering, think you know someone who is suffering, or if you just want to volunteer to help, read on to find out more about an upcoming round of informational talks in Europe by the AODVC...

"The Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center (AODVC), an American-based nonprofit that provides services to Americans experiencing domestic violence while residing in foreign countries, in collaboration with the Ending Violence Against Women Task Force of the Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO), would like to extend a warm welcome and invite you to join us for one of our 2009 informational sessions on the issues that face Americans overseas experiencing domestic violence.

These sessions will be held as the first part of a program to train volunteer outreach ambassadors; locations and dates of these meetings are as follows:
London, October 17
Amsterdam, October 20
Frankfurt, October 24
Copenhagen, October 27
Paris, October 30
Geneva, November 2

The sessions will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will end at 11:45 a.m. Networking with coffee and pastries will begin at 9am. There will be a lunch to follow until 1:00 pm, after which the volunteer ambassador training sessions will begin.

The informational session will consist of a welcome, an introduction to AODVC, a discussion of issues facing the population served, and a briefing from a representative of the local US Embassy or Consulate.

These sessions are part of our Global Campaign to Empower Americans Experiencing Domestic Violence Abroad. We are committed to giving voice to this unheard population of American overseas domestic violence survivors and are excited to embark on this informational program.
Please click here to register for the informational session. For further questions, please contact Brooke Galloway. To see this information online, click here."

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To read our Success Story interview last year with the remarkable Paula Lucas (aka founder of the Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Centre - formerly known as the American Domestic Violence Crisis Line), please click here.