Many expat partners will have had to quit their jobs before relocating to a new country. But the expat life then subsequently gave them the time and space that they needed to reinvent themselves.
Starting over
They say that a change is as good a break. But sometimes the expat life means taking a break which leads to change. Before relocating to France, one expat partner Marie Bachalat had to quit her job as a school teacher in Belgium. Although she is a French speaker, she quickly realised it wasn’t practical to try and transplant her career in education. “I would have had to retrain and earn a new diploma to be a teacher in France. Also with the French system for allocating educators, you might not get a job in your locality but in a completely different part of the country,” says Marie, a mother of three, now living in northern France.
A new business plan
“Although I have been kept busy with my two kids, I have also had more time in France to pursue studies and consider a new career pathway. When I was a teacher, I was always taking evening classes to learn new skills. I have always loved using my hands and I’m also very interested in wellness. I took courses to learn more about massage therapy, reflexology and hydrotherapy. When I started a family, I became even more curious about how these therapies could be used to enhance the well-being of pregnant women and newborn babies. So in future, I would like to become a certified therapist in this field.”
Confidence and clarity
As she is only going to be in France for a short time, Marie is now studying and developing a business plan for when she returns to Belgium: “I loved my career as a teacher and sometimes I still miss it. But this expat life has given me an exciting opportunity to reinvent myself. I definitely wouldn’t be following this new path if we had stayed in Belgium. I am also grateful for the support I have received from my husband’s company and Global Connection. That was the key for me because it enabled me to start this journey with more confidence and clarity.”
* Interviewee’s name has been changed
Photo: iStock
