Due to the large number of working spouses resisting their partners' assignments abroad, employers have realized the need to provide solutions to reduce this resistance.
Fortunately, globalization and the Internet have brought new chances for trailing partners, e.g. starting your own business as a portable career or embarking on an open-learning concept.
Despite initial resistance, experienced expatriates like to pass on this advice: there will never be a dull moment and time flies. Although you may not be able to imagine at first, there are many chances to get a busy life.
Finding a job as a spouse does not automatically imply happiness in some places and you may be much better off with alternatives you never ever considered in the first place. All you need to do is to adjust your expectations and realize that success does not always come with money!
First, I would like to remind all of you, that this may be the perfect time to plan for a baby! The quality of life for a mother (or father!) in Asia is tremendously increased by the opportunity to engage a live-in maid or even a nanny. You do not have to miss out on night life nor are you restricted from traveling. Just take along the maid and the baby.
And there is still plenty of time for you to try the following options, which may look equally attractive in your CV or resume and offer new experiences:
Take a Degree or Course Online
Websites:
Medical courses online
http://www.CECity.com
The British Council
http://www.britcoun.org
Open University (Singapore and Hong Kong)
http://www.open.ac.uk
International Center for Distance Learning
http://www-icdl.open.ac.uk/
Master of Business Administration (Durham Business School)
http://www.dur.ac.uk/dbs
US Paralegal Studies
http://www.aips.com/
University of London-External Programs
http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/
Sheffield Hallam University UK
http://www.shu.ac.uk
Jones International
http://www.jonesinternational.edu/
St. George's University
http://www.sgu.edu
Kaplan Financial
http://www.kaplanfinancial.com
Get Educated
http://www.geteducated.com
E-Learners
http://www.elearners.com
European Languages Online
http://www.transparent.com
http://www.study.com/index.html
Japanese Online
http://www.japanese-online.com
Chinese Online / California State University
http://www.csulb.edu/~txie/online.htm
Cartoon and Design Online Larkford Community Center Canberra
http://www.larkford.com.au
Art Online / University of Pittsburg
http://www.aio.artinstitutes.edu
German Online EducationTeleakademie Furtwangen
http://www.tele-ak.de
AKAD Hochschulen fuer Berufstaetige
http://www.akad.de
Staatliche Fernuniversitaet Hagen
http://www.fernuni-hagen.de
Virtuelle Fachhochschule
http://www.on-campus.de/oncampus_fl.html
http://www.studieren-im-Netz.de
http://www.globallearning.de
Klett (German)
http://fernakademie-klett.de
Staatliche Zentralstelle fuer Fernunterricht (ZFU)
http://www.zfu.de
Global Center for Women's Studies and Politics
http://www.glow-boell.de
Take Up A New Hobby
Help The Less Fortunate
- Organize charity events for your children's school
- Become a volunteer
Web Sites:
VIA Programs
http://www.volasia.org/
Overseas Jobs - Volunteer International
http://www.escapeartist.com/jobs35/jobs35.htm
Engage in Clubs and Schools
- Join the Parent Teacher Association
- Organize a local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
- Become active in women's/business club
- Give talks about your hobby or job or home country
Teach a Special Skill
What you may have taken up once by yourself in your country to enjoy can turn into a much asked for skill to teach other either locals or expatriates.
Websites:
Overseas Teacher's Digest
http://overseasdigest.com/
http://www.lib.utk.edu/refs/career.html
http://www.iastate.edu/
Set Up Your Own Business
- Become a freelance writer
- Write a book
- Create your own web site
- Become a web master
- Learn the local language and culture and become a tour guide
Websites:
List of freelance jobs
http://www.freelancecentre.com/
Legal Help for Freelancers
http://www.freelancehelp.com/
Jacqueline Reischel has set up her own company enterAsia Information Services Pte Ltd in Singapore and invented the worlds only online relocation step-by-step guide to Asia specialized for Singapore and Shanghai. She now manages her company from the UK - a truly virtual career in a suitcase.
