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An Expat Wife
Welcome to my world. I'm an English woman married to a Swiss guy and living in Switzerland.... hence 'Swisswife'. I've been An Expat Wife since 2006 when my husband's company moved us to Asia. One day, my husband came home and said he had been asked if we would consider a 2-year assignment in Hong Kong. We were both very excited. For him the opportunity to work in a different continent would be fabulous. For me, who had only ever lived in England, the entire idea was exciting. I was a city girl. I'd lived in London since the age of 21. Hong Kong was a city. It sounded fabulous, it was a completely different culture, and despite never even having been to Asia I was excited. Three years later, we were packing again for a move to Singapore. I'd only ever been to Singapore on holiday and, looking back, I realize I had a very unreal view of how living in a country that averaged 30 degrees EVERY day with 90% humidity would be. The assignment in Singapore was quickly followed by a 20 month-stay in Upstate New York - a strange part of the USA (think Mad Men and Stepford Wives) but it did afford us an amazing chance to travel around the States. We fully embraced every opportunity and managed to visit 23 states in the short time we were there! The end of the assignment in New York meant the start of a life in Switzerland. While Switzerland is home for my husband, I still feel like an expat here and am often described as 'Ausländerin' (foreigner)... so even if we stay here for ever, I will still always be An Expat Wife. 
If you carry on reading my site, you will quickly learn that I am a few things: avid traveller, Champagne drinker, restaurant connoisseur (not just posh ones), Gordon Ramsey minion, amateur photographer, people watcher/get-to-know-er, and occasional golfer. 
My biggest passion is food. I have always loved food. I can't get my head around people who eat to live.... I definitely live to eat !! I love trying new restaurants, but also enjoy the familiarity of knowing what I will order before I even sit down in an old favourite. We have been to some amazing restaurants during our travels. When living somewhere new I have made it a priority to find a good restaurant that we can go to for special occasions, take visitors to or to go back to on the days when I'm are having an "I don't want to be here anymore" day. I've added Restaurant reviews to my blog postings as recommendations. I'm not reviewing all the restaurants we go to, just the ones that are good enough to suggest to friends. Being An Expat Wife, I have the luxury of time and I really got into cooking in a big way when I couldn't find some of my favourite things from home. When we were in the USA I was shocked by all the additives, chemicals and sugar in the prepared food and so I started making as much food as possible from scratch, bread, pastry, sauces and I even bought a mincer to grind my own beef and pork. This passion certainly helped to satisfy my craving for pork pies and my husband's love of beef pie - I just make my own. I'll also share some of my successful attempts in my blog posts, in case you want to try some too. 
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Countries I've visited so far.... Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Cuba, Denmark, England, France, Fiji, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Lichtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, Turkey, USA, Vietnam, and Wales Last Stops..... London, Boston, Thailand, NYC. Currently in.... Switzerland Next Stops.... Amsterdam, Tokyo, Vienna. |
Travel is another passion, the last time I looked at my Trip Advisor Travel Map it told me I’d been to 45 countries. I LOVE traveling. I enjoy everything about it starting the moment I’ve booked a flight ticket, to researching restaurants to eat at and what the weather will be like.
We travelled to many places in both Asia and the USA that we would never have been to had we not been living close by.
Not many people get to go to Rapid City and Mount Rushmore, play golf at Mission Hills in China, visit the panda sanctuary in Chengdu, stay in a hut on Inlay Lake in Burma or get to Everest Base Camp.
Here are the countries I’ve visited so far: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Denmark, England, France, Fiji, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Litchenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, Turkey, USA, Vietnam, and Wales…..
Not many people get to go to Rapid City and Mount Rushmore, play golf at Mission Hills in China, visit the panda sanctuary in Chengdu, stay in a hut on Inlay Lake in Burma or get to Everest Base Camp.
Here are the countries I’ve visited so far: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Denmark, England, France, Fiji, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Laos, Litchenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, Turkey, USA, Vietnam, and Wales…..
Luckily my husband travels a lot with his job and I am in the fortunate position of being able to tag along. It also means that we don't spend too much time apart, and on the odd evenings off my husband gets we can go out to dinner together.
As I travel so much with him I even got a BA gold card 3 years ago, and I adore the benefits especially the lounge access...
I am quite happy to be a solo tourist which is good as my husband’s day usually consists of going to the office, a day full of meetings and client lunches and dinners.
I also find people are more likely to strike up a conversation with a single person than a couple which adds to the whole experience.
During the years there have been plenty of ups & downs and tears & laughter. I've been fortunate enough to visit many far-flung destinations and meet some amazing people. Travel expands the mind, and living somewhere new certainly does too.
If you get the opportunity - grab it with both hands and enjoy the adventure.
I decided to write this blog for a few reasons. Of course, this is my way to share with you some of the things I have learnt on my journey, but I also hope it can be a resource for anyone contemplating or facing relocating or already living as an expat.
Most importantly, it is a window into the life of An Expat Wife, what I have been doing, where I have been doing it and what I have been eating...I hope it gives some people not only ideas, but maybe the confidence to go out alone and enjoy the new opportunities that being An Expat Wife can bring.
There is no doubt it's an amazing experience, but I also want to show there is another side... not quite as glamorous as everyone back home thinks.
I have met so many expat women who were uncomfortable with their new status and are struggling with being 'An Expat Wife'. I often find my self giving advice on how to cope on both practical and emotional levels, what to do to fill the day and a whole host of other issues that arise when people find themselves alone (well during 9-5 at least) in a new country and without their own job.
I'd love to hear some stories from you. How did you find my site, are you an expat or contemplating expat life? Are there any questions you have that I may be able to help with? Feel free to drop me a line using the contact form below.
Want to subscribe to my site and receive notifications of new posts? Simply fill in your email address just below...
As I travel so much with him I even got a BA gold card 3 years ago, and I adore the benefits especially the lounge access...
I am quite happy to be a solo tourist which is good as my husband’s day usually consists of going to the office, a day full of meetings and client lunches and dinners.
I also find people are more likely to strike up a conversation with a single person than a couple which adds to the whole experience.
During the years there have been plenty of ups & downs and tears & laughter. I've been fortunate enough to visit many far-flung destinations and meet some amazing people. Travel expands the mind, and living somewhere new certainly does too.
If you get the opportunity - grab it with both hands and enjoy the adventure.
I decided to write this blog for a few reasons. Of course, this is my way to share with you some of the things I have learnt on my journey, but I also hope it can be a resource for anyone contemplating or facing relocating or already living as an expat.
Most importantly, it is a window into the life of An Expat Wife, what I have been doing, where I have been doing it and what I have been eating...I hope it gives some people not only ideas, but maybe the confidence to go out alone and enjoy the new opportunities that being An Expat Wife can bring.
There is no doubt it's an amazing experience, but I also want to show there is another side... not quite as glamorous as everyone back home thinks.
I have met so many expat women who were uncomfortable with their new status and are struggling with being 'An Expat Wife'. I often find my self giving advice on how to cope on both practical and emotional levels, what to do to fill the day and a whole host of other issues that arise when people find themselves alone (well during 9-5 at least) in a new country and without their own job.
I'd love to hear some stories from you. How did you find my site, are you an expat or contemplating expat life? Are there any questions you have that I may be able to help with? Feel free to drop me a line using the contact form below.
Want to subscribe to my site and receive notifications of new posts? Simply fill in your email address just below...
***Everything I have written is purely my opinion and based on my personal experience. As with everything in life, we all have different perspectives and approach things from different backgrounds. I don’t like heavy metal music - that doesn’t mean you should stop listening to it. I start my day with a strong coffee, but that doesn’t mean I’m suggesting it's healthy. I try to offer a balanced view, however, sometimes, I simply don’t like something. Emailing me to tell me my taste in music is undeveloped isn’t going to make me go out and buy Def Leopard’s Greatest Hits. If my opinion is different to yours and this upsets you, then it's easy to just stop reading.**
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