About Carole
expat life mentor and consultant
Founder of ExpatChild, host of the Expatability Chat Podcast and author of 'Expat Education: An Expat's Guide to Choosing a School Overseas'.
That's the formal bit...
MY STORY
“I wish I could stay here forever.”
I'm sure you've had the same thought, too!
BEFORE 'LOCATION INDEPENDENCE' WAS a thing!
Sitting alone on the high slopes of Machu Picchu, I watched the sun rise on Midsummer’s Day.
A powerful wave of pure happiness surged through me. I had this auspicious place to myself, on such a special day, before the crowds arrived.
As I looked over the valleys and mountains of Peru, the blissful calm was interrupted only by eagles calling and the gentle rustle of llamas as they wandered softly past.
“I wish I could stay here forever.”
I'd had this thought many times during the months I spent backpacking solo through South America.
head vs heart
Opportunities to stay had been offered: A job as a travel guide going all over the continent, for one. And an invitation to train as a Shaman in Ecuador, was another.
"Perhaps I could make it work?"
Reality stomped into my mind.
I couldn’t stay. Back home in the UK I had a career at the BBC waiting, and more pressingly, a mortgage to pay.
Life was very different in the mid-nineties when I made this particular trip.
Cameras came with film only. Internet was a very new invention that involved programming modems to connect email to another country – part of another job I did with a big advertising agency.
So, I returned home to my responsibilities. I continued to work in the UK, pay the mortgage, work some more. Yawn.
the dream comes true!
A couple of years later, the dream contract arrived: being paid to travel the world! Teaching people around the globe how to use these relatively new-fangled PCs.
From Europe to the US, Russia, Australia, and the Solomon Islands, plus many countries in between.
I had an absolute ball for a year or so. Then, while I was working in Hong Kong my contract was pulled suddenly.
Rather than go home, I went back-packing again. This time through South East Asia before, once again, being dragged back to the UK. Yep, you’ve guessed it, for grown-up financial reasons.
From then on, my life changed very quickly.
I'd met my now husband on one of these work trips, moved away from London, had a baby, and started my first working-from-home business; magazine publishing.
Then we moved to Tokyo!
the evolution of my own location independent life
When the chance to move to Japan landed in 2006, I jumped at the opportunity; but I had to sell my publishing business. Sad, but a true adventure beckoned. For a while, I did consider running it from Japan, but it was a local magazine, for local people, so I couldn’t be authentically in the community while living on the other side of the world.
Luckily, I was able to become a freelance writer, plus take on some webmaster work and forum support to keep me busy.
As a fairly new mum, and now a ‘trailing spouse’, my personal identity had taken a beating. Something that’s always been deeply important to me, along with independence. I needed to work for myself; for my sanity – or what was left of it!
The next business I started while in Japan was a success. However, there was a crucial product-based aspect to it, so it didn’t survive our next move to Germany, due to extortionate postage rates.
In 2012, I launched ExpatChild as an outlet for my writing, and to fill a gap in the online information available for those moving abroad with their kids.
In the years and moves since, I have learned an enormous amount from other people, studied a great deal and advised countless people on moving and living overseas.
My work has evolved into a true location independent business and is constantly growing to adjust to the brave new world we’re living in these days.
MY MISSION AND VALUES
To help YOU live the life of your dreams
My vital values
Straight-talking, no BS and pragmatic. I've perfected the art of getting to the point by speaking plain English. I don't use filler-fluff words, and I'm not afraid of telling truths.
Humour is as vital to me as oxygen, cats, and coffee! Laughter makes the world go around. I don’t take myself seriously, as you can see from this pic. No, I don't know what I am doing, either!
Authenticity: Who you see is who you get: I don't do artifice, and my memory couldn't keep up with fake stories, anyway.
Integrity is fundamental to me. I've even signed the Official Secrets Act in two former careers. But I can't tell you about that!
contact me!
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