The final stop in our series, “This Global Pandemic,” is in South Korea to visit Oklahoma native, Kara. She, her husband, and their four kids experienced the world of coronavirus, quarantines, and face masks before many of us in other parts of the world knew what was coming. In this episode, she shares the benefits of living in a very communal culture during a pandemic and how she and her husband made the decision to stay put for 2020, even though they had long-awaited travel plans to go to the States. Kara shares about some of the humorous moments of 2020, as well as how she finally gave herself permission to grieve the things that are hard about expat life.
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Next in our “This Global Pandemic” series we are travel to São Paulo, Brazil to visit Tennessee native, Melissa. Melissa along with her husband and three kids are determined to thrive and not just survive this pandemic. Melissa tells how they dealt with a visiting team of co-workers from America when the world began to shut down and she shares how regular tea times for heart checks with our children is instrumental. She has learned to laugh at the unexpected that comes moving to a new apartment during this crazy time.
Read MoreOne of the hardest parts about expat life is being so far away when tragedy strikes your home country. You want to hug your loved ones, process things out loud with your closest friends, and be near the ones you hold closest to your heart. In today’s episode, we talk with Tamika about what it’s been like to be a Black American woman, married to an Austrian, and living far away from the States as racial tension builds during a global pandemic.
Tamika shares what it’s been like to emotionally process events from afar, and how she and her children have become the go-to American source for their local friends and peers to ask questions about the current events in the U.S. We also discuss the delicate balance of talking with our TCKs about the hard things so they won’t be naive to what is happening in the world — and most importantly, in their own home country.
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Wherever you currently find yourself in the world, it’s no secret that all our lives have been affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. Our circumstances and situations might be different, but in an effort to create some solidarity between us we are starting a new mini-series titled “This Global Pandemic.” Each episode will have an interview with a new expat woman who will share her perspective on what life in the time of a global pandemic has been like for her.
In today’s episode you’ll hear from Kim, who lives in Ukraine with her husband and their six kids. They also have guardianship of three men with special needs and they work to deinstitutionalize people with disabilities. Kim shares with us what is was like for her family to unexpectedly welcome several new people into their home to quarantine with them, help a family get their adopted son to America in the middle of the pandemic, and what the Lord has been teaching her about releasing her love of control. Grab your favorite beverage and a comfy seat and prepare to be blessed by Kim’s story.
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