About coachlaurie

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Female

Currently Lives:

Al Kuwayt, Kuwait

Citizen Of:

United States

Past Expat Posts:

Spain

France

Portugal

Japan

Angola

About coachlaurie

Laurie A. Santos, Motivational Speaker and Certified Life Coach, has over 15 years in Behavioral Sciences, passionate living, and break-a-big-big-sweat salsa dancing. A former United States Probation and Parole Officer, she turned in her handcuffs and badge to pursue her love of travel which included a 20-year dream of living in Spain and Portugal. When she returned from Europe to the United States, Laurie says she finally had the guts to operate her Speaking and Coaching boutique at a full-time level. After Spain, Laurie headed to formerly war-torn Angola, Africa in 2009, to live out yet another dream of working in international journalism. Once she achieved what she called the Extreme Dream of her life by moving to Spain, the “dream-bug” didn’t quit so she set off for Salmiya, Kuwait, where she published a country report in the UK’s #1 newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, on the current changes, trends and expected developments of this small Middle Eastern country formally invaded and occupied by Iraq. Currently, Laurie’s settled in the country of Kuwait, located in the Arabian Gulf, setting up communication and branding campaigns for three clinical national studies while still coaching clients in Africa, Europe, the U.S., and beyond. She’s expanding her Speaking practice and business in the Middle East although she owns a home in the San Francisco Bay Area. A self-proclaimed globe-trottin’ gypsy, this adventurous chick visited 13 countries from 2009-2010. If anybody can provide specific methods on exactly how to accomplish dreams, it’s Laurie. With her sassy, spicy, straight-talk and compassionate, inspirational nature, she leads regular workshops and tele-courses that keep her audiences captivated and entertained while also getting to the nitty-gritty of exactly what is holding them back. Laurie A. Santos is also the host of Extreme Dream Radio where every week she interviews special guests from all over the globe who share their unconventional stories of how they made their dreams come true.

My Website:

http://www.extremedreamtraining.com

Advice for New Expats

1. Don't forget your hobbies and talents and tap into them while you're away. My example: I salsa dance and make sure I always join the salsa community where ever I live. 2. Tune-into your creativity-Use the time that you are abroad to learn a new skill or something you've always wanted more exposure. Take classes on this new skill and mingle with the other students. 3. Step out of your comfort zone-Challenge yourself each day to learn and do something new. You moved abroad for a "total" experience which requires some personal challenging in your part. 4. Become a member of a group, find out where local centers are that offer cultural classes or excursions and make a concentrated effort to attend. Use social media even before you move to your destination to become "friends" with folks who are already in the area. 5. Get to know and appreciate the culture-Go to local restaurants, do your best to learn the local language and speak it when you can and attend cultural workshops and events. You will thank yourself later that you did so. 6. Journal-Always write out your experiences when away; you are afterall creating your legacy when gone. Not only will your journal serve as your personal "vent" container but it can awaken you to patterns you've been creating in your life as well as point out what makes you feel good. 7. Get out of the country you are "ex-patting" in. It's important to see other places nearby to keep you feeling fresh regarding the country you're living in at the moment. Plus, most of Ex-pats are living the ex-pat experience to travel, right? 8. Don't forget your personal "why." In other words, keep your eye on the prize and always keep at the forefront of your mind why you chose the country you are living in, why you chose to live abroad and then assess if you are hitting your targets and goals. If not, it may be time for a reframe or to re-asses what is going on and what you need to do to feel better. 9. Don't commiserate with other Ex-pats. There is nothing more annoying that a bunch of Negative Nellys going to town on the country they're living in and not appreciating the experience they are having that many cannot have. If you don't like where you're living or what you're doing, get out. Nobody told you had to stay there but stop spreading your negative disease to others and ruining their experience. 10. Write a gratitude list every morning of all the things you appreciate about your Ex-pat experience. Do it again at night and repeat often. 11. Make a conscious effort to notice everything and always stay CURIOUS and FASCINATED by the county you're in and by the people in your world. If you keep an awake/aware/beginner's mind and come from radical wonder and radical amazement your life will be transformed while living overseas. 12. Play, dance, sing, laugh, find ways to bring joy into your life. Find that inner kid again and let him/her out. 13. Do all the things you never had time to do: read, walk, write a book, take classes, study a language or two, learn to sew, play an instrument, create a website. Whatever it is, maximize on your time while away.

I would love to live in...

This is the question of the year. Not sure I have found

Education:

California Polytechnic University at Pomona
  1992 to 1996

San Jose State
  2000 to 2002

Coaches Training Insitute
  2002 to 2003

Coaches training Institute
  2002 to 2004

Favorite Websites:

http://www.extremedreamtraining.com/extreme-dream-radio
http://www.extremedreamtraining.com/extreme-dream-store.htm

Favorite Assignment:

Kuwait/Middle East

Favorite Cuisine:

Thai

Favorite Museum:

Pablo Picasso in Malaga, Spain

Favorite Movie:

Shopgirl

Favorite Book:

The Alchemist

Favorite Sports Team:

Golden State Warriors

Some Forum Posts:

Kuwait: English Tutor:

Hello, I am currently offering private tutoring and have two references from two adult Kuwaitis that I currently tutor. I look forward to connecting with you soon. You may email me at CoachLaurieAnneSantos@yahoo.com. Thank you kindly in advance and Ramadan Kareem.

Kuwait: help:

hi andrews12, if you are found HIV+ during your medicals, you won't be able to stay in kuwait, unfortunately. they are pretty strict on this one. i have heard of situations where some strings were pulled through "waste" and folks have been able to remain but i believe this is pretty rare. i used to work in a large medical facility and was told prior to me working there that a doctor who had worked there for a long time had come up HIV+ on his medicals and was terminated forthwith and was trying to find a way to remain in the country desperately but unfortunately, as the story goes, he had to leave. i hope this information is helpful to you and in the meantime, take good care. peace and blessings to you.

Kuwait: Westerners dating, living in Kuwait:

Hi Daniel, I am American and have lived in Kuwait for 3 years. What brought me to Kuwait was doing International Journalism work whereby my company always sends a male/female team that have to live and work together. My male colleague and I lived in various apartments without a marriage license and never had one problem. There are many apartment complexes especially in the Salwa area that cater to ex-pats and they don't ask a thing. As for seeing your girlfriend, daily if you want and in private, that will not be a problem. I have found that the laws on the books, although they sound harsh, aren't observed much around these parts. My boyfriend and I never have any problems and see each other in our apartments as much as we like. And, if it's any consolation, my Kuwait unmarried neighbors (a man and a woman), live together! Everybody minds their own business and leaves couples alone. You can hold hands in public and I've even seen Kuwaiti men and women kiss each other on the cheek in public. It's far more free here than even Dubai at times for in Dubai, westerners who've been caught kissing on the cheek have been deported! You and your girl can go about your business without any issues. And, you can even live together and nobody will say anything. That's been my experience and the experience of SEVERAL of my ex-pat friends. Hope this helps.

Date Joined:

7/23/2009

Total Posts:

10

Posts/Day:

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