Expat partner Vivienne van Deventer has lived in nine countries over the last 24 years but she has never grown tired of packing up and relocating to a new country.
Ideally a slow transfer
“To be honest I enjoy relocating. Perhaps it’s because I get itchy feet! But after three or four years in one place, I’m always ready to discover somewhere new,” says Vivienne. “Ideally, relocation should be a slow transfer. On one hand you want to appreciate the time you have left in one place. But you also want to do some research on your next destination. We have always known well in advance where we are going next. That has given us time to start the process…”
Let the house hunting begin
“The first thing I do – perhaps six to nine months in advance of relocating – is go online to start looking at houses and neighbourhoods. Where you live is such a central part of the experience. As an expat partner, remember that you will spend more time than anyone in the family at home, so you want to make sure you’re in a nice place. I find that looking at potential properties and neighbourhoods helps me to visualise our next destination, which is very helpful,” says Vivienne, a mother of four adult TCKs, who all live in different countries.
The importance of being social
“Remember that when you are new to a city, you have to go out to meet people. No one is waiting for you in your new home!” says Vivienne, who is now living in Edinburgh. “When we had the kids around, it was much easier to meet people. Now Rob and I have to be more proactive. But it’s a new phase of life – one which we have embraced!”
Remember to be open-minded
“It’s also very important to be open-minded. Relocation can be exciting but you will also face challenges, which can sometimes be unexpected. For example, we moved to London, where we struggled to develop friendships. By contrast we spent four years in Lagos, which is considered a hardship posting but it was perhaps the most fun assignment we had. It’s famed for its terrible congestion and as an expat you are not free to roam as there are security risks. But because of these limitations, the expat community really pulls together.”
Photo: Vivienne and Rob; distances to where they have lived; unpacking in Edinburgh
