Showing posts with label andrea martins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label andrea martins. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Expat Women relaunch + 2 sweet treats!


Hi Everyone, Yes, it's true!

After a two-year break, I'm excited to announce that ExpatWomen.com will relaunch for you this year, thanks to its recent acquisition by an expat investor in the Middle East.

The new owner plans to grow the site bigger and better for you in 2014, so stay tuned for the exciting relaunch date.

On a personal note, I wish to thank everyone who has supported Expat Women since its launch in 2007. Without you, the site would not be the treasure chest of information and inspiration that it is today for so many women around the world.

But wait, there's more...

Before I leave your inbox forever, I'd love to offer you two sweet treats over at my new sites:


1ST TREAT: 
VIP DISCOUNT TO HELP GET YOUR IDEA LAUNCHED & NOTICED

If you have a business idea burning inside you, I invite you to come join me over at Launched & Noticed... and here's why...

After years of answering thousands of Expat Women emails and reviewing 2,000+ blog submissions, it's been sad to see so many websites and email outreaches fall flat.

I don't want this happening to you (anymore).

I would love to create a course (and a community) for you that:

1. Gets your business idea launched and noticed 

By launching good products and writing emails that grab attention, I'm so grateful to have enjoyed:

  • An interview with a supermodel;
  • An unexpected phone call from a TV personality;
  • A one-on-one meeting with the head of a $90 million business empire;
  • A direct call from the head of product development for a company whose annual revenue is close to $1 billion; and
  • A buyer for my six-year labor of love, ExpatWomen.com.


2. Saves you time, money and sanity


3. Is full of practical tips and lessons learned...

  • Business planning;
  • Setting up your website and social media (on a budget!);
  • Writing website copy that attracts dream clients;
  • Choosing online software that makes your day easier;
  • Testing your idea sooner rather than later;
  • Motivating yourself on a daily basis;
  • Understanding website SEO, page rankings and online trends;
  • Successfully reaching out to influencers in your target market;
  • Guest posting on big-name sites;
  • Building credibility on social media; and
  • Getting through what Seth Godin calls "the dip".

Just tell me what you most need help with!


Come join Launched & Noticed and you'll receive (for free):

1. An exclusive VIP discount
When the course launches later this year.

2. The chance to have your say
I promise to personally write to you and ask what you'd most like to see in our very first course - so that it's jam-packed with the most useful tips, blueprints, resources, worksheets and video tutorials possible. (I also promise to keep your business idea and progress confidential.)

3. Free tips along the way
Snippets of all the good stuff, plus updates from the feedback received.


Sound good?


Come join me here: Launched & Noticed


start a business, business ideas, entrepreneur, business course, andrea martins







2ND TREAT:
$50 DISCOUNT CODE FOR STORY RESUMES

If you are looking for work (at home or abroad), then this might be more up your alley...

With only six seconds* to impress a recruiter, you need to grab attention fast.

That's where Story Resumes comes in.


Story Resumes is an innovative new service to help you get noticed (and hopefully hired) faster.

We transform an ordinary resume into an eye-catching masterpiece that captivates everyone who sees it and helps your resume climb to the top of the application pile!


Come check us out today and remember to use your EXPAT WOMEN $50 discount code before it expires on June 1, 2014. (Feel free to share this coupon with your networks.)


resume, story resumes, creative resumes, career, jobs, get noticed







Thank you

Finally, on a personal level, it has been an honor to serve you.

Thank you so much for inviting me into your inbox.

 I wish you and the Expat Women community every success and I hope we meet again soon!


Andrea Martins x


Email me: andrea at launchedandnoticed dot com

Tweet me: here

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

So What Is The Exciting New Venture...?

Hi Everyone! I hope you're enjoying a wonderful day/evening.

Remember last week when I mentioned that I had a new venture to tell you about? Well, I'm so excited to finally share it with you today.

Not interested in the new venture? That's okay. But please don't unsubscribe just yet because I have a feeling there might be some exciting 2014 Expat Women news to share with you in the coming months and I'd love you to be the first to know.

In the meantime, my really big personal news is that on October 30, 2013, I launched something very dear to my heart... a way to help frustrated job seekers get noticed (especially those of us who have gaps in our resumes from expat postings, parenting breaks, sabbaticals, volunteer stints and more).

The background...

It all started two years ago when I repatriated. Eager to get back into the traditional workforce, I struggled to get noticed for jobs. A recruiter friend told me that I had "too many gaps in my resume" and "was not stable" (because we had lived 3 years in Indonesia, 4 years in Mexico and 2 years in Malaysia).

Do you know how frustrating this feels? 

If yes, then great! Then you'll understand exactly why I decided to do something about it. But rather than bore you with text, here is a cartoon version of Our Story...



If you like what I'm trying to do, can you please spare a few minutes to help? This is the first venture I've started since putting Expat Women 'on a break' in March 2012. I'm starting from scratch again and would be so grateful if you could help spread the word?

Here are some quick and easy ways to do so..

1. Click 'like' on the Facebook button at the bottom of our home page

2. Post a shout-out online and/or email anyone you think might be interested

3. Watch our 'How Harry Met Sally' video [only 49 seconds] on YouTube, so we can start to climb the YouTube rankings

4. Paste on your site one of the gorgeous images from our Press page and let people know where to find us

5. Join our generous affiliate program here (and yes, expat bloggers especially welcome!)

Thank you in advance for anything you can do.

Andrea Martins x


Ps.1. Want to be able to quickly copy and paste some text? 

Love this new idea to help frustrated job seekers get noticed! (Started by #Expat Women co-founder @andreaexpat) http://www.storyresumes.com #resume

You know 'when' Harry met Sally, but do you know 'how' Harry met Sally? [Video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04k_wdZTJaA #resume #expat


Ps.2. All feedback is of course very welcome in the comments.

We're learning as we go with this new venture and all ideas are appreciated. Thanks so much again!





Sunday, November 3, 2013

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


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

2 Awesome New Books for Expat Women Interested in a Career and/or Business Abroad

Hi Everyone, I'm so excited to share two newly-released books from my good friends Jo and Melody, that are must-have books for any expat woman interested in a portable career/business abroad and/or just being inspired by women who have set up their own business, almost failed, then successfully turned their business around.

The first book, A Career in Your Suitcase by Jo Parfitt and Colleen Reichrath-Smith, is in its fourth edition and is literally THE handbook for any expatriate woman wanting a portable career that she can take with her from country to country. It's the kind of book that you can read before you venture abroad, and every year thereafter on your expat journey - to help you continually clarify what it is that you want abroad, and then turn those ideas into actionable steps.

Bonus - If you're super quick (you only have about 24 hours), you can score a free Kindle copy of A Career in Your Suitcase before the price changes. (If you do grab one, and you like the book, please kindly leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads, to reciprocate Jo and Colleen's nice gesture. Thanks!)

The second book, Flipped It! by Melody Biringer, is a gorgeous colour e-book that profiles 40 women entrepreneurs who decided to flip their business models/concepts when times got tough, instead of ditching them. (Jo Parfitt is featured. As is another inspiring expat friend of ours, Natalie Sisson, aka The Suitcase Entrepreneur - who also has some great e-books available on her site - eg. BYOB Build Your Online Business Guide and The Ultimate Toolkit for Entrepreneurs.) What an inspiration these women are - and a reminder to us to never, never, never give up on our ideas/dreams!

By the way, if you missed Melody's first book, Craving Success, I also highly recommend that one (it's a very quick, easy and enjoyable read). Craving Success goes through the 20 businesses that Melody has had on her entrepreneurial journey, en route to her current passion, Crave. As even Melody says, most of her businesses were full of mistakes and failure - but she learnt something from every one of them. Sometimes I think we learn more from other people's mistakes, than from all the success stories out there that make it look like the journey was easy. What do you think?

Thanks for your potential support to these wonderful authors and I wish you a wonderful day/evening!

Andrea Martins x

ps. I am not currently giving many shout-outs on this blog for new books (unless I am super-passionate about them). But if have written a new book and want a shout-out on Twitter, feel free to tweet me the link and a personal message via @andreaexpat and I will try and help you there. Thanks!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Expat Women: Confessions - It's Our 2 Year Anniversary - Can You Help?


Hi Everyone, To celebrate the second anniversary today of our first Expat Women book, can you please help us 'share the love'? If yes, please send these links to anyone you think might enjoy/benefit from some real-life reassurance that "there are fun times and there are tough times, but at all times, believe in yourself and know that you are not alone". 

Somewhere, someone who's feeling overwhelmed or all alone, will someday, probably thank you for it!

Freebie: Download our free (48 page!) sample here

Buy Now (&/or Read Reviews): To buy for yourself, your expat club, or one or ten (Who's to blame a girl for trying?) of your friends, we invite you to click here: Amazon or to get it instantly, Amazon Kindle

What's in the Book?

"If you have ever wondered what it is like to live abroad, work abroad or accompany your working partner abroad, this book is for you. If you are already living the expat life but have mixed emotions about settling in, rebuilding your identity, relationship changes, successfully managing your money and career, raising children far from home or repatriating, this book is also for you.

In Expat Women: Confessions - 50 Answers to Your Real-Life Questions about Living Abroad, experienced expats Andrea Martins and Victoria Hepworth share a wealth of wisdom and positive tips to motivate you at every stage of your expat journey. They cover popular topics like leaving family back home, transitioning quickly, intercultural relationships, parenting bilingual children and work-life balance. They also address more difficult issues such as expat infidelity, divorce, alcoholism and reverse culture shock. This unique book is the perfect addition to every expat bookshelf."

Who Likes the Book?


"What a great book! For the first time, a real-life manual that will reassure every expat woman that she is not alone in her unspoken feelings and questions. I loved it!" Ruth E. Van Reken, Co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds

"A must for anyone who is, has been or will be an expat!" Peggy Love, GMS, CERP, President, FIGT (Families in Global Transition)

"This book is a great resource for all expat women." Leslie Brant Teixeira, Director, U.S. Department of State Family Liaison Office

"A terrific book! Real-life examples of the challenges expat women face, with insightful and practical advice, this should be on the must-read list for anyone involved with expatriate administration."Andrea David, Head of Global Mobility, Bloomberg

"Expat Women: Confessions is a wonderful addition to the literature on the experiences of women during their lives abroad. Andrea and Victoria answer difficult questions with empathy, an upbeat attitude, and wisdom. This is a book that every expat woman should keep at her bedside for the moments that inevitably surface when abroad - and even after repatriation." Elizabeth Perelstein, President, School Choice International and named one of Fortune Magazine's 10 Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs (2010)


Freebie: Download our free (48 page!) sample here

Buy Now (&/or Read Reviews): To buy for yourself, your expat club, or one or ten (Who's to blame a girl for trying?) of your friends, we invite you to click here: Amazon or to get it instantly, Amazon Kindle

Thank you so much for your valued support - and I wish you a fantastic week!

Andrea Martins




Sunday, April 21, 2013

Expat Women: You Are More Beautiful Than You Think

Hi Everyone, Even though we are still 'on a break'... as soon as I saw Dove's Real Beauty Sketches video tonight, I just had to share it with you because it sends such a powerful message that I thought it a good wake-up call for all of us women across the globe, expat or not (and irrespective of the video's commercial intent). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Best wishes, Andrea Martins. x





Thursday, October 18, 2012

Expat Women - Trailing Spouse Research & Call for Expat Writing Submissions

Hi Everyone, I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful week! Whilst our main Expat Women site is still on an indefinite "break", we wanted to share the following quick news items which might be of interest...


‘Being Dumped In To Sink Or Swim’: An Empirical Study of Organizational Support for The Trailing Spouse

Congratulations to my friend Dr Yvonne McNulty (a leading authority on expatriate return on investment and an academic expert in the field of expatriation) on the recent publication of her 'Being dumped in to sink or swim' paper, in the journal Human Resource Development International. 

Yvonne is an Australian who has lived as an expat in the United States, Singapore and now China. She rose to expat-research prominence years ago, with her four-year study about the challenges and opportunities for the Trailing Spouse. If you are interested in reading Yvonne's comprehensive article, please visit this site (current article price is US$36). 


New Survey Results Published - Career Choice and The Accompanying Partner

Evelyn Simpson and Louise Wiles (co-founders of the site AccompanyingPartner) released last month the results of their “Career Choice and the Accompanying Partner” survey. The survey of 312 accompanying partners on expat assignments in 59 countries around the world explored the decisions they make in relation to their own careers when they relocate with their partners on expat assignments. 

The study, which has been shortlisted for a European EMMA award by the Forum for Expatriate Management, helps organisations to understand how the assignment experience can affect the accompanying partners’ well being and provides a road map for providing them with effective and cost-efficient support. It highlights the desire of many accompanying partners to work, the factors beyond the availability of work permits which affect their ability to work, and the possible effects on the fulfilment that they may derive from the assignment experience. 

A free summary of the survey report is available on their AccompanyingPartner website, where the full report also can be purchased for €147. You can also contact Evelyn Simpson and Louise Wiles via info@accompanyingpartner.com.


Expat Women in Asia: Call for Submissions

Editor Shannon Young is seeking contributions from expatriate women in East Asia for a new anthology from Signal 8 Press in Hong Kong. 

"This collection will feature the writing of women who are currently expatriates or who previously lived in an East Asian country. For the purposes of this anthology, we construe East Asia to include Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and the ASEAN countries. All submissions should be creative non-fiction and/or travel memoir pieces that speak to the expat experience in modern East Asia. Potential topics include travel, work, relationships, gender roles, safety, family, and repatriation. We are looking for stories with a strong and personal narrative arc, not just travel guides or descriptions of the places you’ve lived. We hope to make this anthology as inclusive as possible, as well, and we welcome submissions from women from different parts of the world. 

Contributions should be between approximately 2000 and 5000 words in length. Each writer will receive two copies of the completed anthology and a percentage of the royalties to be determined by the final number of contributors. Please send all submissions, with a brief paragraph about the author, to shannon [at] typhoon-media [dot] com. Submissions should be in Microsoft Word, .doc or .docx format, and in a standard font. The deadline for submissions is 28 February 2013. This title will be released in paperback and e-book formats in the spring of 2014. Thank you."   


Listed Your Expat Women Blog Yet?

Our Expat Women Blog Directory is still very active. New blogs are added all the time. If you have not submitted your expat blog yet, please consider doing so here. We would love to see it.


On Twitter?

Finally, if you are interested in more regular expat headlines, social media tidbits, motivational quotes and tips from writers around the world, feel free to follow me on Twitter via @andreaexpat.


Until next time... thank you for your ongoing support and I wish you a truly sensational weekend,

Andrea (Martins)

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Quick Updates from Expat Women

Hi Everyone, I hope you have all been really well? Whilst our main Expat Women site is still on an indefinite "break", we wanted to share the following quick updates which might be of interest to you...

Permits Foundation International Mobility and Dual Career Survey
Dual career and partner employment concerns impact on the ability to attract employees to international assignments. That is one of the key findings of the latest International Mobility and Dual Career Survey 2012 conducted by the Permits Foundation. Two thirds of employers report that partner careers have an impact on mobility and more than half said that employees had turned down assignments. Click here to see the full survey report.

Women's International Networking (W.I.N.) Conference 2012
This year's W.I.N. conference will be in beautiful Rome, Italy, 3-5(6) October. The theme this year is "Make Space: Find Possibilities". For more details, please visit their main website.

Global Campaign To Empower Americans Abused Abroad
- South America
The Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center is headed to South America: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. If you would like to attend one of their sessions please email Brooke Galloway, brookeg@866uswomen.org for more information.
- Worldwide
In addition, they are running free webinars from September to December, for American women based all over the world. Please rachelp@866uswomen.org for further details.
(Remember, if you are concerned that someone might be tracking your emails and website searches, perhaps use a computer other than your own to enquire about these webinars.)

Families in Global Transition (F.I.G.T.) Conference 2013
Do you have a personal history to share, a work philosophy, a special expertise, research findings, or strategies for successful international relocation? If so, then think about attending and speaking at next year's F.I.G.T. conference in Silver Spring, Maryland (March 22-23). If you are interested, the deadline for speaking proposals is September 10, so hurry here to get started on your proposal.

Blog Directory
Our Expat Women Blog Directory is still very active. New blogs are added all the time. If you have not submitted your expat blog yet, please consider doing so here. We would love to see it.

Twitter
Another channel that is still actively sharing expat headlines, social media tidbits, motivational quotes and tips from writers around the world is our/my Twitter account.

Thanks and best wishes for your week, Everyone,

Andrea (Martins)



Monday, April 30, 2012

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (April 30 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a wonderful week. Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

Choosing Between Making Money & Doing What You Love (HarvardBiz)
http://bit.ly/HpmDVU

Do Expats Need To Balance The Fun Of Now With The Security Of Later?
http://on.ft.com/H3VDJo

10 Things To Know Before Traveling To South East Asia
http://bit.ly/H0h1Oq

New Australian Magazine "International Traveller" Is Looking For Travel Story Contributions (Prizes To Be Won)
http://on.fb.me/IJ6wSk

Living In The UK? New Subscription-Based Group For Professionals Relocating To London
http://www.provisita.com/

20 Business Lessons Learned While Riding Across Africa (by sometimes-expatriate-sometimes-repatriate Kiwi Natalie Sisson)
http://bit.ly/HF72QJ

Take A Look Around The World's Most Expensive Apartment
http://shar.es/r3VTn

Travel Friends, Forever Friends
http://bit.ly/H1ZFSW

Expat Case Study: How Long Would Your Money Last If You Retired Today?
http://bit.ly/I98eKS

Meet The Expat Chefs Who Left Their 5-Star Jobs To Set Up Their Own Restaurants In India
http://bit.ly/HvnzpE

Are Expat Women Safe in Kuwait?
http://bit.ly/JXg8gt

World's Strangest Theme Parks [In Pictures]
http://bit.ly/Iobnu2

A Sad One... Isolation Takes Its Toll On Expat Execs
http://bit.ly/HuUDzv

One from us... If younhaven't yet downloaded a sample from our Expat Women: Confessions - 50 Answers to Your Real-Life Questions about Living Abroad, just click here and happy reading!

Videos of the week (not expat-related, but brilliant)...
A Day Made of Glass (by Corning):
Video 1 http://bit.ly/Ki1uuj
Video 2 http://bit.ly/Iz4Fgr

And finally, a quote that I adored from The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie this week...
"Everything will be alright in the end. And if it's not alright, it's not yet the end."

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.


If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please sign up here for if/when we restart our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (April 26-27 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope you have enjoyed a fabulous week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

How Expat British Cook Rachel Khoo Got A Taste For Life In Paris
http://tgr.ph/IlnRVk

Clements Worldwide Announces Global Launch of its 4th Annual Expat Youth Scholarship
http://bit.ly/JuI9qM

5 Ways To Stay In Your Expat Bubble Abroad
http://bit.ly/INAYgq

Finding Love When You Least Expect It: An Expat's Story
http://bit.ly/IllKB6

Get Up Close Personal With "Expats" Author Chris Pavone
http://bit.ly/HSmzkz

Tips For Integrating Successfully Into A New Way Of Life Abroad
http://bit.ly/HJ1u6a

Can You Help An Honours Student With Her Survey?
Expatriate Stress & Coping With An Overseas Assignment
http://bit.ly/IBRrPu

Win An Entire AirAsia Plane Flight (Sydney to Kuala Lumpur) For You & 302 Friends
http://bit.ly/HwVbGw

5 Lessons Learned at 2012's FIGT Conference
http://bit.ly/HsnPof

April's Worldwide ERC Mobility Magazine
http://bit.ly/H5KhVs

Architect's Plan To Connect NY Buildings Via Bridges In The Sky
http://bit.ly/H5HOtZ

8 Mistakes Expats Make That Can Leave Them Feeling Disconnected
http://dld.bz/aXpF6

Repatriates Needed To Help @suziefinnie With Online Survey
http://svy.mk/HcBCBB

And a quote for the week... "Most people don't have you on their mind. Move forward and stop analyzing what you think they are thinking." by @teracarissa via @talentdiva

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.


If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please sign up here for if/when we restart our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (March 27-28 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope your week has started really well! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

How Many Expats Are Living Beyond Their Means?
http://bit.ly/GEnMux

How To Work In Someone Else's Country
http://tgr.ph/GThat2

The THNK Tank: Why Amsterdam Wants Your (Creative) Brains
http://is.gd/uV4jVc

My Top 3 Tips For Moving Abroad & Then Repatriating
http://bit.ly/z6Ny6V

The Logistics Of A Dual Career Search
http://bit.ly/GWh5RE

44 Countries in 44 Years: What’s Your Travel Philosophy?
http://bit.ly/HfQ9fy

The Decision To Move Is Never Easy
http://bit.ly/GEKWM9

International Schools: >3 Million Children Now Get A Global Education
http://tgr.ph/GRh5EN

Jo Parfitt Interviews Dr. Lisa Pittman and Diana Smit
(Authors of Expat Teens)
http://bit.ly/GDRHPH

Luxembourg City is 66% Expats?
http://vsb.li/X4O7rf

Deloitte's Global Mobility Report
http://bit.ly/GzwSU9

Pros & Cons Of Expat Life in The Netherlands
http://bit.ly/xI5WFB

Telegraph Expat has launched an International Schools Directory
http://tgr.ph/GzwR6x

And finally, a quote for this week:
“Always believe something wonderful is about to happen"
Lisa Messenger

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.


If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (March 13-14 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a wonderful week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

Why "Expat" Is A Misleading Term For Multicultural Couples
http://bit.ly/AaxCpt

7 Secrets To Success As An Expat Executive (Forbes)
http://onforb.es/zTNAzw

Expat Life: Italian Lessons Left My Head In A Spin
http://tgr.ph/zCzfBw

Top 6 Tips For Expat Women
http://bit.ly/A8yp1L

Is Doha The Ideal Expat Destination?
http://tgr.ph/xbXjoo

Have You Ever Slept in a World Heritage Building?
by British Expat Annabel Candy
http://bit.ly/wRLFL9

Worldwide E.R.C.'s March Mobility Magazine Online Now
http://t.co/TcfrbLkM

Can You Help? Short Online Dual Career Survey For Accompanying Spouses/Partners Of Expats
http://bit.ly/yh5wGM

W.I.N. (Women's International Networking) Conference Goes To Tokyo, 18 May
http://bit.ly/AdF4W4

Got A Favorite 'Blog About Blogging' To Nominate For This A-List Blogging Competition?
http://bit.ly/At6X1Y

Final Reminder: F.I.G.T. (Families in Global Transition) Conference March 29-31
(I highly recommend this conference. I attended in 2007 and 2009 and found the attendees incredibly friendly, genuine and collaborative. Keep up the great work, F.I.G.T. team!)
http://bit.ly/9wo6VZ

And finally, a quote for this week:
"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
George Bernard Shaw

***

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If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (March 6-7 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope you having a wonderful week! I'm back from last week's trip to Japan and wanted to share some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

A Beautiful Look at Pinterest From Expat Travel Writer Christine Gilbert
http://bit.ly/x6Lbiy

Women Move Into Asia’s Corner Offices: NY Times Talks To The Female CEO of Ogilvy Greater China
http://nyti.ms/xcspF9

Telegraph Expat Talks to Expat Ali Meehan, Founder of the Costa Women Network in Spain
http://tgr.ph/zBRb4A

New Trailer For Expat Film: Shanghai Calling [Video]
http://bit.ly/wFePxb

Looking for a Job Abroad? Learn from American Expat in Sweden, Kate Reuterswärd
http://bit.ly/wCpesx

How Expat Annabel Candy Got Headhunted for a Jaunt to Japan
http://su.pr/ABpgzN

Consultants Help Turn Frequent-Flier Awards Into Tickets
http://t.co/yhYtULIS

New Off-The-Beaten-Path Tour in N.Korea Comes With Big Price Tag
http://bit.ly/wURu4P

Why Do The UAE's Expats Know So Little About The UAE?
http://tgr.ph/xLGEAo

Last Chance! Explorer Publishing's Competition for UAE Residents:
"Could You Be The Next Ultimate UAE Explorer?"
http://bit.ly/w1DWFM

Not related to being an expat, but my favorite video from last week:
The CIA Loves Facebook [Brilliant Tongue-In-CheekVideo!]
http://bit.ly/z2oLbM

And finally, some expat wisdom from Expat Lingo's Jen Brown...
"There are always hard days,but here’s the secret no one dares tell the ones back home: we’re the lucky ones"

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.


If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (Feb 15-16 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope you having a wonderful week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

Can You Live On Social Media Alone? These Two Travelers Swap Cities To Find Out
http://tnw.co/z1zxZK

Expat Belgian Guy Finds Tasmania (Australia) An Unlikely Market, But An Excellent Source Of Ingredients For Chocolate House
http://on.ft.com/yOjcCH

Notes On No Longer Feeling Like An Expat
http://bit.ly/A3oARm

Thinking Of Volunteering To Build Houses In Cambodia? Read Robin Pascoe's (aka Expat Expert's) Report
http://bit.ly/xNEJrK

Big in Japan: A Look At Some Of The Most Popular Western Exports To The Land Of The Rising Sun
http://tgr.ph/zRChuB

When Expats Become Trapped Abroad
http://bit.ly/yW89zK

U.S. Proposing Wide Ranging Plan To Curb Expat Tax Dodgers
http://on.wsj.com/z6SiH0

Expats Flock to India Seeking Jobs, Excitement
http://nyti.ms/yuTEN8

Our Friend Adrienne Graham (aka @talentdiva) Has Turned Her Popular Article "No, You Can't Pick My Brain, It Costs Too Much" Into A Book - Check It Out
http://bit.ly/xjbUFJ

A Powerful Video (For Parents Everywhere, Not Just Expat Parents)...
Photos, Smart Phones And Social Media - A Terrifying NBC Report (2010) - And How You Can Change Your Phone's Settings
http://bit.ly/xCrdOD

New U.S. State Department Warning Maps Out Unsafe Areas Of Mexico
http://lat.ms/xoNhqF

Reminder: Competition for UAE Residents:
"Could You Be The Next Ultimate UAE Explorer?"
http://bit.ly/w1DWFM

Reminder: Expat Partners Wanted To Complete Questionnaire/Research On Career Choices/ Aspirations Whilst Overseas
http://fb.me/1jXycz62D

Reminder: Expat Women In Dubai And Abu Dhabi, UAE: Interested In Part-Time Work With SIRVA Relocation?
http://bit.ly/zwKYbb

And our quote of the week...
“We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”
Whitney Houston

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.


If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (February 7-8 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope you enjoyed a lovely weekend! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World
http://bit.ly/y2645f

New Expat Novel by Chris Pavone Launching March 6 But Already Receiving High Praise. Expats, Espionage, Deceit... Sounds intriguing...
http://amzn.to/ygNnlr

Expat Competition: Win A Place At The London International Youth Science Forum
http://tgr.ph/yUYPol

On Facebook? Join The Expat Youth Page To Get The Latest Details (Coming Soon) On This Year's Expat Youth Scholarship
http://bit.ly/wr2Eim

2012 Indie Travel Challenge on Bootsnall
http://bit.ly/w7cMeJ

Expatica's Expat Education Fair in The Netherlands is March 24
http://bit.ly/wVX51h

25 Reasons Google Hates Your Blog
http://bit.ly/wEGtj1

How Do You Live Inside A House The Size Of A Parking Space?
http://bit.ly/ytJjco

Competition for UAE Residents:
"Could You Be The Next Ultimate UAE Explorer?"
http://bit.ly/w1DWFM

Expat Show Beijing, China, Scheduled for 28-29 April 2012
http://bit.ly/wOu19H

Interview with Social Media Director of Families In Global Transition's Judy Rickatson
http://bit.ly/zQSGrQ

And A Reminder... Registration Now Open for FIGT (Families in Global Transition) Conference, 29-31 March, Washington DC
http://bit.ly/xJnS7k

Enjoy!

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.


If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (February 2-3 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope your week has been fantastic! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

The 10 Types Of People That Drive Flight Attendants Nuts
http://bit.ly/A7SjnQ

Great News For Expat Partners In Europe:
"Non-EU skilled Workers: Common Rules To Ease Intra-Corporate Transfers"
http://bit.ly/wKhEu1

The Expat Chick-Lit Author Who Followed Her Heart To London
http://tgr.ph/xSA6n9

Write An Essay About Australia To Win $6,500
http://bit.ly/A9DrUX

Behind An Expat's Wine Startup Success
http://bit.ly/wD0qkX

Google To Start Country-Specific Censorship for Blogs
(... and how to manually redirect)
http://on.mash.to/zIER3q

Twitter Has Refined Its Technology To Censor Messages On A Country-By-Country Basis
bit.ly/AaooOf

Expat Entrepreneur Laurie Villarreal (in the Netherlands) Talks About Her Marathon Training Camps
http://bit.ly/AkyPUP

Santa Fe Relocation Invites Global Mobility Professionals To Complete Their 2012 Survey
http://linkd.in/yvac30

“My Gutsy Story” By Pamela Sisman Bitterman
http://bit.ly/ycrc42

20 Ways To Annoy A Swede (Expat Blog Post)
http://bit.ly/yQLjci

New Zealand Introduces Retirement Visas From 29 March 2012
http://tgr.ph/z9XmKM

And one from us...

Like Freebies? Here's a (generous) sample from our Expat Women motivational book!
http://bit.ly/mZmTXP

Enjoy!

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.


If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Meet Annabel Candy – Expat, Web Designer, Copywriter and Travel Fiend

Hi Everyone, You may recall that when we launched our book Expat Women: Confessions - 50 Answers to Your Real-Life Questions about Living Abroad last May, several kind women donated prizes for our launch competition. Today, we would like to introduce you to one of those wonderful women...

Meet Annabel Candy – Web Designer, Copywriter & Travel Fiend 

Two years ago, Brit Annabel Candy was experimenting as a blogger and set up a travel blog called Get In the Hot Spot. Since then, Annabel's blog has grown exponentially and Annabel even scored a free trip to Shanghai, courtesy of Coca Cola!

Expat Women: Annabel, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Annabel: I was born in the UK and I have lived in France, Laos, Zimbabwe, the USA, New Zealand, Costa Rica and now in Queensland, Australia. I have been a web copywriter and web designer for 17 years, and currently run an Internet marketing company called Mucho (with clients in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and Africa).

Growing up, I always dreamed of living in a hot tropical place by the sea and I am so grateful I actually do. I work from home and live with my husband and our three school-aged kids. It is quite chaotic, but the beauty is that we can always escape to the nearby beach when we need some down time.

Expat Women: How did you come to be living in Australia?

Annabel: My husband and I owned our own web design and copywriting business in New Zealand and our three kids were born there. But we are both travellers and yearned to hit the road again. It took us a while to pluck up courage, but when our youngest child was two, we sold our house, along with most of our belongings, and moved to Central America.

We did not speak Spanish at first and had never been there before, so most of our friends thought we were crazy. We lived in the jungles of Costa Rica for 18 months with no Internet. We loved it but schooling the kids was hard (we had to buy desks for the classroom) and of course we could not do any web design work without the Internet! It was a great experience but in the end we decided to move to Australia instead - it had the warm weather and the Internet.

Expat Women: Why did you start blogging?

Annabel: I started because I wanted to learn about blogging and have a creative outlet for my writing (that was not anonymous like my normal web copywriting work was). I started blogging before I left New Zealand (but the blog was understandably on hold while I was without Internet in Costa Rica).  It was 2006, and in my first blog post I wrote that I was going to: "Stare fear in the face and overcome my fear of being read, the fear that my writing would be judged." I never wrote another blog post for three years!

Expat Women: So what inspired you to pick up blogging again in 2009?

Annabel: I decided to give it another go. This time, I was determined to stick with it, even though at first, it was depressing because no one was reading my blog. However, slowly but surely, I started to connect with readers and get subscribers.

I started guest posting on other people's blogs and that helped grow my blog faster. Then, after I had been blogging for one year, Coca-Cola got in touch and paid for me to go to a social media conference in Shanghai (!) because they liked my writing. That was a real breakthrough moment because finally I felt that all the effort I had put into my blog was being recognized.

Expat Women: But is guest-posting just giving away your best content for free?

Annabel: I have learnt to stop thinking of guest posting as "giving away" my best work and start thinking of it as free prime time advertising. I am proud to say that my writing has now been featured on some of the biggest blogs on the Internet, like Problogger, Copyblogger and Zen Habit - and that has helped me grow my blog more than anything else. It has also been an excellent way for me to connect with new readers and raise my profile.

Expat Women: Do you make money from your blog?

Annabel: My core business is web design and copywriting, but blogging has helped me get clients all over the world, which is a huge benefit because I live in a holiday area with limited business opportunities otherwise.

In New Zealand I could never get a job unless I met the client. But blogging has helped me get clients all over the world. Not because of my qualifications (I do have an MA in Design for Interactive Media) or experience, but because of the personal experiences and stories I shared on my blog.

Now, I also sell my own e-book about blogging and promote other people's products, so blogging has allowed me to increase and diversify my income in these ways as well.

Another benefit: I can now also pick and choose what work I do. I have reached a point where I only do jobs that I enjoy and work with people that I like, which is a real luxury. For example, I just got a travel writing job for our local tourism board, where I go for a massage or try a new beauty treatment, then write about it for them. How good is that? :)

Expat Women: Do you have any advice for other bloggers and writers?

Annabel

But success with anything depends on perseverance, so my advice is stick with blogging, if you enjoy it, even when you want to give up.

Do not expect to see any results for a year or so, but promise yourself that you will keep updating your blog at least weekly. Blogging is an art, not a science. So keep blogging, keep experimenting and have fun with it!

Annabel Candy shares her travel stories and personal writing at Get In the Hot Spot. Or find her blogging tips and blogging book at Successful Blogging.

Thanks Annabel! Andrea

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Expat Women February 2012 Features

Hi Everyone, I hope you are enjoying a lovely week! Please take a few minutes to read, enjoy, share and tweet about our new February home page features below. Thanks so much and I wish you a wonderful week! Andrea

Success Story
Irmgard Lafrentz
President, Globalpress Connection
Germany's Irmgard Lafrentz moved to Silicon Valley with stars in her eyes, hoping for a job with Cisco, Sun or Intel. With no job offer forthcoming, Irmgard started her own business as a global matchmaker between U.S. high technology companies and the international trade and business media. Now, her business turns over six (and sometimes seven) figures...
Read More

Business Idea
Beaded Lily
Lily Mordà
In 2001, Americans Lily Mordà and her husband Timothy James took a two-month trip to Italy, and never left. Since then, Lily and Tim have built a thriving bead business in the Oltrarno – Italy's artisan area in Florence. Students travel from all over the world to learn in their studio, and their beads are bought by the likes of Chanel, Ferragamo and Escada...
Read More

Mothers
Moving Your Children Overseas After A Divorce
Ewan Cambell MacDougall
If you have started a family (or moved your family) overseas but your marriage did not turn out to be the happily ever after you hoped for, you might be feeling like it is time to go back home, or maybe start afresh in a new country. But beware: taking children overseas without the consent of their other parent can be considered child abduction...
Read More

Money Matters
U.S. Expat Taxes in 2012 – What's New?
IJ Zemelman, EA, Taxes for Expats LLP
If you are an American who needs to pay U.S. taxes, this article lets you know about about recent requirements for Foreign Investment Account Reporting (FATCA), gives information for securities and business owners, touches on gift tax dodging and IRS investigations, and highlights increases to IRS auditing measures...
Read More

Expat Confession
Intercultural Couple
Extract from Expat Women: Confessions
Recently I moved to my partner's home country, Japan. I myself am from Denmark, which is where we met. However, ever since we moved to Japan four and half months ago, our relationship has been having problems. It seems that the man I fell in love with has transformed into a different person...
Read More

Meet the Author
No Chopsticks Required: My Family's Unexpected Year In Shanghai
Katrina Beikoff
In 2008, Katrina Beikoff and her partner Gary Smart accepted one-year expat assignments with the Shanghai Daily. What followed was a very busy year involving major events such as China's massive snow storm, the devastating Sichuan earthquake, the Tibetan uprising, the Beijing Olympics, and the melamine-tainted milk scandal...
Read More

Not a Member Yet?

Just a reminder that our blog is separate from our main site, so if you are reading this blog post online or you are only subscribed to our blog, you will not automatically receive our Expat Women monthly newsletters.

To receive our monthly newsletters and to go in the running to win our monthly prize of a complete set of Explorer Publishing Mini-Guides, please sign up today to our main site, ExpatWomen.com. When you join, you will also receive a link to download our free e-book of Winning Stories. Thanks for your support!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (January 25-26 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope your week has been fantastic! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

Self-Published (Former Expat) Author Gets Movie Deal After Being Discovered On Twitter
http://bit.ly/AqIunA

Invent Your Future Job: Be Unique, Be Social, Be Global - by Expat Coach Anne Egros
http://bit.ly/wdglBS

5 Most Common Expat Injuries in China
http://bit.ly/yiXRLA

Is America Shutting The Door On Expats?
http://tgr.ph/Az9u4X

Delhi Journal: The Expat Experience (Wall Street Journal)
http://on.wsj.com/AbnBkU

Expat Selena's Observations On Her New Life In the UK
http://bit.ly/zuDviJ

Britons Rush For Australian Visas
http://tgr.ph/ynU41x

Interview: Expat Writing Mentor Jo Parfitt talks to Expat Author Matt Krause About His Turkish Love Story 'A Tight Wide Open Space'
http://bit.ly/yDewJp

Middle East, Africa & Eastern Europe: Best For Expat Pay & Packages
http://tgr.ph/zNu4MB

American Expats: 10 Year IRS Statute of Limitations: How Long Can The IRS Collect From You?
http://bit.ly/zHt2uS

U.S. Military Kids Now Have Their Own (Official) Social Media Playground To Help Deal With Challenges Of Deployment
http://ht.ly/8F4Oz

6th Annual Overseas & Military Voting Summit (Washington & Online) 27 January 2012
http://bit.ly/zD7fIZ

And one from us...

Like Freebies? Here's A (Generous) Sample from our Expat Women Motivational Book. Enjoy! http://bit.ly/mZmTXP

***

To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.


If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Insights from Robin Pascoe, who Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Her First Book for Expats

Hi Everyone,  Our wonderful friend Robin Pascoe, well known for her books about expat living, recently celebrated her 20th anniversary of the publication of her first book for expats (congrats Robin!). She reflected on this milestone on Facebook recently, and kindly gave us permission to republish her insights here for your easy reading...

From Robin Pascoe on 12 January 2012:

"I’m always telling people not to ignore important milestones in their lives, but did I mention I rarely take my own advice?

It’s the 20th anniversary of the publication of my first book for expats, indeed an anniversary of the first expat book that told wives it was OK to be angry and resentful of their husbands and to wonder, who the hell am I anyway?

Originally published in 1992 as “The Wife’s Guide to Successful Living Abroad”, in 1993 as “Culture Shock: A Wife’s Guide" but finally, under my own Expatriate Press, re-issued and updated in 2009 and given the title I wanted for it all along, “A Broad Abroad”, it was so much fun to put into words and print what so many women were feeling but no one was saying!

So today, in acknowledging this important milestone in my life (you always remember your first!) here are five great memories I associate with this book:

Of the many rejections I received when sending out the manuscript, my favourite that made me laugh out loud was from a Hong Kong publisher who wrote to me and said: “Expat wives have servants. Why do they need a book?”

The night the publisher in Singapore called me. We were living in Beijing and it had been months since I had sent them the manuscript. The managing editor apologized for just finding it, but she wanted it. I cheekily suggested there should be a follow up book for parents and the editor said, “start writing that now.”

My Chinese cook (yes, ok, I had a cook) came to where I was sitting at the phone, completely unravelled with joy, carrying a tray with a double shot of scotch and a cigarette for me. (No cook, no smoking and actually, no drinking anymore since I lost my fear of flying and no longer need to be fuelled by vodka).

The day the books arrived in Beijing I had a choice: I could go to the airport and be the first to open the boxes containing my new baby. Or I could attend a piano recital of my first baby (an 8-year-old Lilly). I chose my daughter and never regretted it.

My first speaking tour: Husband Rodney said, “You should go to promote the book in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore since you have friends in all three places who would be sure to help you.”

Me? “You mean: alone???”

Never mind that he pushed me out of the nest and my comfort zone, it was in Tokyo that I attended a lecture given by Dave Pollock whose Third Culture Kid bible was still years away from publication. I gave Dave a copy of my new book (since he’s quoted in it) and when he got up to speak to the school audience, the first words out of his mouth were: “I have just been given a book that I know everyone in this room will want to read.” A great friendship and mentorship was born. Like so many people, I still miss him.

Weeks after that first tour: I was sitting at the dining room table in Beijing with my then 3-year-old-son Jay reading a three week old Hong Kong paper, the South China Morning Post. Scanning the book page, I was, as the Brits say, gobsmacked.

“Mommy has the #1 bestseller in Hong Kong, Jay. Eat your carrots.” It was the beginning of leading a life I didn’t participate in (or know about) most of the time.

I realize I could probably write a hundred great stories associated with this book but won’t bore everyone to death. However, I have saved one last great memory that I cherish the most: The countless women who came up to me during my years on the road and said, “Thank you for writing this, Robin.”

Remarkably, the book (and all of the ones which followed) are still selling after all these years!

Find yourself in my books, as I used to say..."

Note: Robin retired from expat writing last year, but her books and videos are still available on her website, ExpatExpert.com.

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