Image provided by Danai Roussi - @Dos.Phot
Danai Roussi is a Greek psychologist and photographer that knew from an early age that she would like to see the world one day. Throughout her travels, she realized that there were many similarities amongst European, Arab and other expat women she met along the way.
A journey of self-discovery took her to Amman where she found out that starting a second career can be very fulfilling and a great source of happiness. Read her interview today.
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Sustainable fashion designer, Theresa Bastrup Hasman
At the core of this talented entrepreneur, there’s a deep concern for sustainability and ethical work practices. Theresa Bastrup Hasman is a Danish fashion designer whose passion and exquisite sense of style have taken her on a very fulfilling journey. Now in New York, she tells us what it was like to have lived in one of Asia’s poorest countries and how that helped her thrive personally and professionally.
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Pictured here, author and environmental activist Chelsea Juneidi. Image © Chelsea Juneidi
This is the story of the author and creator behind the popular blog My Amman Life. Chelsea Juneidi is a vegan environmental activist who is inspiring people in Jordan to find the most sustainable and humane alternatives for eating, traveling, shopping and volunteering locally.
Leaving her home in the U.S. at the age of 21 brought life-changing opportunities for this month’s entrepreneur. After spending a decade in Spain and then moving to the Middle East, Chelsea’s environmental concerns and activism only grew throughout the years. Now in India, she shares the journey that led her here. Read her story on this week’s blog.
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Compassion in action is the best way to describe the purpose of this month’s entrepreneur. After moving from Washington DC to Latin America, Nina Logan Smith knew her career abroad had to be a meaningful one. Now living in the Middle East, Nina is making an impact in the lives of cats and people around her. This is her story.
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This Newari lady was very generous with her time and allowed me and the other fellow photographers to take photos of her during our last photo shoot at Bhaktapur, Nepal. © Diana, The Elephant Soul
As expats, we’re fortunate to travel extensively and to meet many people from all walks of life. At the same time, it is easy for us to stay with the same crowd and miss out on opportunities to connect with other circles. In other words: we stay in the bubble.
In this week’s blog, I share 4 ideas to help you spend time outside the expat comfort zone. Are there local festivals or religious ceremonies that are open to the public? Is there a cause that interests you that could help you connect with local organizations? Check these out!
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Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash
Before I used to think that being able to accomplish things on my own and being self-sufficient were a sign of strength; however, I am glad I recognized the need to be connected to others and that by holding myself accountable to other people I am helping myself and others more effectively.
Here are five lessons learned —so far— from starting an accountability group overseas.
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Photo credit: ©Christine Meintjes
Thanks to expat entrepreneurs like photographer and filmmaker Crystaline Randazzo, we gather inspiration to pursue our passions wherever we are in the world. Pursuing a creative business with heart and soul is not only possible but mandatory to find happiness in a lifestyle that is often times uncertain and challenging.
It is with great pleasure that we share the interview of this exceptional woman who, after surviving the devastating Haiti earthquake of 2010, readjusted her career path and began to share the life experience of those affected by this disaster and beyond. Almost a decade later, Crystaline Randazzo is expanding her horizons and her projects. This is her story.
Read MoreFor a decade now, I have been regularly getting rid of clothes, books, shoes, magazines, electronics, ornaments, bags, linen, cutlery, homeware, accessories and anything one could possibly accumulate at home. Often times when I buy clothes, I make sure to give away similar items from my closet, that same day. So how is it possible then, that you find yourself in the same situation every year (or every season) again and again?
After recently decluttering my closet à la Marie Kondo, I want to share seven ways it has promoted a sense of wellbeing so far. The task is not finished, but here’s what I have experienced.
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Pictured here, American photographer and designer Monique Kovacs Nathan at the Bouddhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo provided by the artist.
Living overseas makes us stronger and wiser in different levels. Though it is usually the challenges that help us grow the most. No country, I assume, comes without its own set of challenges. Living as an expat who is constantly on the move is part of it.
In this month’s interview with American photographer and designer Monique Kovacs Nathan, we will talk about how leaving behind a promising career in California helped her find a new purpose to help disadvantaged children in Nepal and how spending time to cultivate her passion for creativity was a gift she would forever treasure. This is her story. It is sure to inspire you.
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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
Up to a few of months ago, I would start my mornings with my alarm clock (on my phone) and I’d check my phone right away while still in bed. I couldn’t wait to find out about all the news from my friends abroad, check my Instagram account and even read the news. By the time I got out of bed, I already felt rushed, had little time to eat and get ready, and not to mention I would neglect the morning walks with my elderly dog as I had no time. It was only 9 a.m. and I felt irritated, stressed and short of patience. Here’s what I did to change that.
With these 5 easy tips, you’ll make your mornings more enjoyable (and calm).
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Anabelle Colon has had various jobs. It is not surprising given her many talents. Her sense of humor, her friendliness and easy-to-talk-to attitude have opened many doors for Anabelle throughout her life journey. But it has been her passion for art and handmade designs that have lead her to pursue a profession faraway from her native Dominican Republic.
In this month’s interview, Anabelle Colon, a savvy Dominican jewelry designer shares her insights on pursuing a creative business and moving from one country to the next. This is her inspiring approach to the nomadic lifestyle.
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This photo was taken on a cold winter morning in Kathmandu Durbar Square with my photography mentor, the amazing Laxmi Prasad Ngakhusi.
The struggles of us entrepreneurs are real but so are our dreams and passions. By not giving in to daily procrastination, we can experience the joy of creativity. It is my hope that we do not get discouraged by the setbacks we encounter along the way. Otherwise we will never now the wonderful things that await for us on the other side of fear and resistance.
Here are 5 ways to beat procrastination and start living in the daily joy of creativity.
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By being more present in our daily non-digital worlds and seeing all the things we can be grateful for, we will find more contentment and joy. And when we stop comparing ourselves and our lives to the feeds of other people, we will be more contempt knowing that what we have today is not only good enough but precious.
Here are five tips on how to be happy and content in a busy social world without having to give up social media completely.
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It is not easy to leave behind your career, your colleagues as well as your financial independence when you follow your partner to pursue their career around the world. However; one of the privileges of living a nomadic lifestyle is that it enriches your life in a myriad of ways that have nothing to do with what you do for a living.
So how do you get to meet other interesting people when you’re not working a 9-5 pm job? Here are five ideas on how to get to know other expats outside an office environment.
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Nausheen Shaikh is an Indian entrepreneur currently living in Amman, Jordan. This is her story on how to pursue your passions and keep a positive outlook when you move overseas.
Indian entrepreneur Nausheen Shaikh shares her story on how gratifying it is to pursue your passions when you live overseas and the opportunities this lifestyle brings.
Her love for handmade paper designs started from an early age. It wasn’t until she moved to Jordan that she had the opportunity to pursue it on a daily basis. Read on to find inspiration on how creativity can be very fulfilling but how it can also connect you to others as well.
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Lizzie Alexander from Sisu Holistic Health shares her personal journey to wellness. It all started in Amman, Jordan.
From researching the world’s oceans and their ecosystems to changing her career to holistic nutrition and health coaching, Lizzie Alexander has not only transformed the most important aspects of her life, but she is now helping others to do the same whilst living in Amman, Jordan. This is how she did it.
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Leaving towns or countries is so very interesting and exciting. Going to new places near or far can be a great life experience; but how can we make new friends if we don't know anybody there?
Here are five easy ways in which we can make new friends wherever we go, no matter how often or seldom we move.
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Landscape of the Old Town taken from the City Walls of Dubrovnik.
As an expat who is following your spouse’s footprints you can often times find yourself wondering what is the purpose for you in this lifestyle. Will there be a meaningful path of your own while living overseas? For a couple of years I had spent too much time inside my head, hearing an inner chat that wasn’t working for me, whilst comparing myself to others who had “good office jobs”. I didn’t see the value of what I was doing because I wasn’t formally employed.
A month after surviving the Nepal earthquake of 2015, I heard the message. Life had a purpose and a calling for me. This is what happened.
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