expat+HAREM, the global niche - Latest Comments

Re: Rolling stone: how are you shaped by the places you’ve been?

taraagacayak — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:24:26 -0000

I read an interview of Cat Stevens once where he said half of life is leaving home and the other half is coming back to it. The last time I visited my hometown I had this feeling that I was always in the wrong place - my husband was back in Istanbul, I was in California, but no matter where I was, I felt like I should be with my mother, my sister, my grandmother ... finally I sensed that my center-of-gravity was smack dab in the middle of my own being so that wherever I was was the right place. Wherever I was was home. What an interesting observation - about going back to a time, rather than to a place. Kind of like going back to a feeling.

Re: Rolling stone: how are you shaped by the places you’ve been?

taraagacayak — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 09:21:27 -0000

I like your definition of home Sarah. I can relate to it. For me too, home is not so much a place as it is people.

Re: Rolling stone: how are you shaped by the places you’ve been?

Judy Rickatson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:43:25 -0000

There's a quote I've heard Ruth Van Reken make several times in connection with what you're describing, Tara, "unpack your bags and plant your trees." Making a conscious decision that a new location is home (however temporary it might be) has a huge impact on your adjustment. Just love "And it's not just a place but a decision" - that's a keeper!

Re: Rolling stone: how are you shaped by the places you’ve been?

Anastasia — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:13:50 -0000

That's a great way to perceive home, Sarah, in constant flux of people, time and place -- as well as living styles and conditions. Good to see you here.... (everyone: Sarah kindly hosted an Expat Harem book tour event back in 2006, a brown bag lunch near Dupont Circle, in Washington DC!!)

Re: Rolling stone: how are you shaped by the places you’ve been?

Anastasia — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:09:36 -0000

Yes Di! The place is different. The people are different. You are different. So there is no 'going back.'

By the way, Catherine Yigit wrote about this sensation of missing an atmosphere that no longer exists --> "Same river, never twice" http://www.expatharem.com/2009...

Re: Rolling stone: how are you shaped by the places you’ve been?

SM Reidy — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:46:57 -0000

Growing up, my parents always had long-term guests: college and advanced-degree students from different countries. We had students from India, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Japan and Nigeria, just to name a few. I learned, very early on, that we're part of a much larger world. Home for me simply means the place where the people that I care about have lived and do live and gather. That includes all the wonderful students and their own homes that made up my childhood. Happily, we continue this and have had different people living with us. I love to learn about (and, perhaps in the future, see!) different ways of living around the world.

Re: Rolling stone: how are you shaped by the places you’ve been?

Di — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:11:06 -0000

Loved this. I've enjoyed Pico's words too, and wondered about that place called 'home'. I'm always looking for a sense of 'home' and yet, when I stop and consider that idea, I realise I left home 9 years ago. I recently wondered if I want to go back in time, rather than back to a place.

Re: Decolonize your inner world: Amna Ahmad shows how to gain sovereignty of your hybrid life

Di — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:09:51 -0000

I subscribed, as she seems like an interesting read ... but thank you.

Re: Decolonize your inner world: Amna Ahmad shows how to gain sovereignty of your hybrid life

Anastasia — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:05:30 -0000

Hi Di and Miss Footloose -- bummer. I'll ask Amna about the link and report back! She's been doing some reorganizing of her business.

Re: Decolonize your inner world: Amna Ahmad shows how to gain sovereignty of your hybrid life

Miss Footloose — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:42:09 -0000

The link leads to "Make Peace With Your Writing" and not to "Decolonize Your Inner World." What to do? ;)

Re: Decolonize your inner world: Amna Ahmad shows how to gain sovereignty of your hybrid life

Di — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:26:55 -0000

Hmmm, the e-book doesn't seem to be there anymore? I read and realised she wrote back in May. I might be wrong but that's how it's looking here. Loved the sound of it though

Re: Awkward greetings: the intercultural social dance

Anastasia — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:05:58 -0000

back in the usa for the past month, i've been befuddling people with my mixed up cultural greetings -- lunging unexpectedly, tripping over them, being strangely stand-offish (when i try NOT to do what is coming naturally --- that is, double kissing them)....

Re: Awkward greetings: the intercultural social dance

Romero Cavalcanti — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:31:17 -0000

In the Northeast of Brazil, it is common to say “um cheiro” (a smell) as a goodbye.
Greetings from Brazil.

Re: Push-me pull-you loyalty: where are global citizens torn?

Jgurel — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 05:38:31 -0000

Tara I was only yesterday asked by a young hairdresser who has lived in London for a while whether I preferred Turkey or England. I am always shocked as I came to live in Turkey marrying my Turkish husband in 1956 ....I have difficulty in replying to this question so now in future thanks to you I can reply that it is similar to being asked the question "which do you prefer your mother or father"?

Re: Push-me pull-you loyalty: where are global citizens torn?

Jgurel — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:32:19 -0000

I remember back in the fifties being asked "Does your Turkish boyfriend live in a house"? I would reply angrily "No he lives in a tent".....nowadays when I tell people while I am shopping in London that I live in Turkey, they reply "0h you are so lucky we have enjoyed our holiday so much" So travel has done wonders for people to appreciate different cultures and realise that we are not really all that different.

Re: Kate England finds her global niche

Linda — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:12:49 -0000

Kate's passion for what she does seeps through every sentence. So glad that she's concerned not only about a highly functioning workspace, but also an esthetically pleasing one as well. Instead of either/or, she focuses on 'and'.

Re: The Accidental Anthologist: creating a literary harem

Anastasia — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:52:49 -0000

Thanks Roxanne, appreciate your thoughts! Looking forward to your reaction once you get the book.

Re: The Accidental Anthologist: creating a literary harem

Roxanne — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:44:30 -0000

I love this post! I love how you acknowledged and confronted the voices of doubt and how you formed your support group. I cannot wait to read the book!

Re: I dream of GenY: in sync with today’s 20-something worldview

Anastasia — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:12:24 -0000

Thanks Linda! Glad you feel you've gained useful perspective along the way. I personally could've *skipped* the sleepy decade before the advent of Internet, but I can be impatient about 'gaining perspective'!

Re: I dream of GenY: in sync with today’s 20-something worldview

Linda — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 02:19:41 -0000

As a Baby Boomer 'tail-ender' like you describe, I can definitely relate to this post. In many ways I feel as though we get the best of all possible generational generalities. We respect the sacrifices of the WWII 'Greatest Generation,' we were steeped in Baby Boomer responsibility/loyalty/delivering on promises, and feel a kinship to Gen Xers and Gen Yers. I know I'm learning/doing/creating more now than a decade ago, but wouldn't trade the experience and perspective gained along the way. So long as we focus on the positives rather than the less stellar qualities of each era, it makes for an exciting, exhilarating ride!

Re: Decomposing self: misplacing your most valuable expatriate possession

KarlDrobnic — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 18:45:08 -0000

Then, something to put on the back burner, maybe? Or pass along to those in your circle?

Re: Decomposing self: misplacing your most valuable expatriate possession

Anastasia — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:26:34 -0000

Thanks Karl. I really enjoyed Dinner of Herbs and recommend it often. I'm not taking on new projects. In fact, I have just launched my new web-based venture GlobalNiche.net, and along with my memoir work-in-progress, my energies are completely spoken for. But thanks for the suggestion, and the compliment.

Re: Decomposing self: misplacing your most valuable expatriate possession

KarlDrobnic — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:38:23 -0000

Anastasia: If you're looking for a new project on expatriate women, I'd like to suggest you tackle the extraordinary life of the late Carla Grissman. You're probably familiar with her book "Dinner of Herbs". From fleeing the Nazis in 1939 to life in Tangier with the Paul Bowles set and onward to Turkey and finally being face to face with the Taliban at the Kabul Museum, hers was a remarkable life. I'm sure her many global friends would be willing to contribute if someone has the energy to act as the center. You seem to have a lot of the energy and enthusiasm that would be required. The image I'm posting with this is a Walker Evans photo of Carla taken in the early Fifties.

Re: Waking up Hausfrau: the secret of the Swiss

Hellene — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 03:34:51 -0000

I have to agree with you. I work in multinational company in HR and I can see from the Abrechnungen that most of the wifes of the employees do not work. I guess Swiss women have a very bad education as well. Myself I am half swiss & mexican. But even my friends and relatives female in Mexico are better qualify and have better education than womem here. Most of the womem here just have an 2 or 3 years Ausbildung. When they get married I can tell you from my swiss friends female they DO NOT want to work. I just tell you 1000 excuses..this and this and that..
Just think about it,,.. why a company wants to hire a women who has two children 10 & 7 have not worked in the last 10 years and just have a stupid Ausbildung of 3 years while there are womem from eastern europe, latinamerica, Uk & Germany that are more more qualify and have children as well a but have always worked (at least 50 %) just to keep them busy & Update.

Re: Expat Harem, the book: foreign women in modern Turkey

ValerieHamer — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:00:59 -0000

Not reviewed, out it on my wishlist as a hint to someone to buy it for me, hehehe. I will order it myself though because I hate waiting.:)

The link to the comment about it is here http://www.farawayhammerwritin...

Cheers

Val