Expatriate Women in Asia: Getting a Life

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

• Sing in a choir
  http://www.choralgroups.com/
• Master a new sport
• Learn a new skill

Help The Less Fortunate

• Organize charity events for your children's school
• Become a volunteer

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.