Empowering Expats to Feel Better, Get Unstuck, Overcome Obstacles, and Boost Their Confidence Abroad | Life Coach for Corporate, Solo, & Trailing Spouse Expats | Speaker
1. Where are you originally from and where you do you currently live?
I’m originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I’m currently in Santiago, Chile.
2. What has been one rewarding thing about living abroad?
As any expat knows, living abroad can be as challenging as it is rewarding. One of the most rewarding things about living abroad to me, is getting through every challenge abroad and coming out on the other side a better version of myself because of it.
3. What is one fun or random fact about you that people don’t know?
When I was three years old on a family vacation with my family, I caught a baby alligator. LOL! We of course put it right back in the lake.
4. What is one tip you would like to share with new expats
When the honeymoon phase ends abroad, AKA, when the challenges start setting in and the newness of everything wears off, validate your feelings and seek support sooner rather than later. When you live abroad, your sense of self, purpose, and identity are going through a huge transition and it’s very normal to feel lost. When you feel this way alone, you question everything & you may feel ashamed for feeling this way, telling yourself “you should be happy at the opportunity”. Opening up to get support, helps you move through this phase quicker, and figure out your purpose and deeper meaning abroad.
5. Your personal mantra or quote
This is always changing but right now “I can do hard things” is helping me grow through lifes challenges, obstacles, & curveballs.
6. What do you like about being a member of The Expat Woman?
Being an expat, my circle of friends has changed a lot over the past 8 years as friends move away, and things change. I am grateful for my current group of friends abroad, but really love having this virtual community of like-minded women living abroad to lean on for support. It’s so nice to have these deeper connections with other women living abroad who just “get it” in a way other friends might not because they haven’t lived it themselves.
Learn more about The Expat Woman Membership.
Learn more and connect with MARY MARTHA KIPCAK here
