After relocating from Tokyo to Fukuoka, expat partner Agnieszka Gawedzka decided to reach out to another Global Connection member living in Germany. She explains what motivated her to do so.
Complete contrast
“It’s a totally different vibe in Fukuoka, compared to Tokyo, that’s for sure! But I love it here. I’m close to the sea and surrounded by mountains, which is wonderful!” says Agnieszka (Aga), a coach and therapist. Previously she worked in Warsaw, Shanghai and Tokyo, where she met her husband Martin.
Different experience
“Although I’m used to relocating and living in Asia, this is the first time that I am an expat partner, so it’s been a different experience moving to Fukuoka. Even if I have a clear focus (building my business as a coach and therapist), I’ve had to get used to not having colleagues and not going to the office, which were always at the centre of my previous relocations,” says Aga.
Online networking
“From chatting about the relocation process with Ines, my Global Connection consultant, I was curious to know how other expat partners adapted to the change they experienced. Ines pointed me in the direction of an article on the Global Connection website about another Polish expat partner, Edyta Nales, who lives in Frankfurt. I read the story and thought it would be nice to connect with her via the Global Connection directory…”
Who else is around?
“After an exchange of emails, Edyta and I scheduled a video chat to introduce ourselves better. It was super nice to learn more about her personal experiences of relocation and expat life. We may live in very different places but we are still going through similar emotions as expat partners,” says Aga. “During the call, Edyta and I agreed to reach out to more Polish expat partners via the directory to see if we can organise a virtual coffee morning, which I hope will happen soon.”
Sharing experiences
“For me, when it comes to relocating and expat life, how you feel is at the heart of everything. There is no magic wand to make everything perfect. If you feel stuck, it’s really a mindset challenge, isn’t it? And I guess that’s what motivated me to reach out to Edyta and the other Polish expat partners. By sharing experiences, I think we can help each other to overcome challenges and tap into all the positivity around us.”
Photo: Agnieszka Gawedzka
All Global Connection’s corporate clients are leading multinationals. Due to some of their policies, we do not use their name in public articles. However, expat partners signed in to our private Media & Network can see the multinational’s name.
