Hellobee Boards

So interesting! I'd love to read the series, too.

I loved this series the first time and was so excited it started back up today. So interesting!

Interesting. Although I think her idea of how Americans act is regional (probably from the northeast?). We have "negative politeness" here in Seattle, too.

I really liked this, and I'll definitely look at the past posts. The only thing I'll say is that the series title seems to be a misnomer. Being an (American) expat in a country is a touch different than being a local. It has its own challenges. I'm glad she's doing this though, as I am fascinated by expat life.

Just read the UK one - wow, I can't wait to read the rest of the series. This is fascinating... thank you for sharing!

Thanks for sharing - very interesting! I live in New Zealand and we are very similar to the UK.

I worked at a summer camp in North Carolina for 3 years back in the early 2000's and have to say that language was the biggest barrier!

I remember telling someone I was knackered once and they gave me a funny look and said you are not naked! Haha we use that word a lot as well!

I don't think parenting in NZ is that different to other western countries, from what I can tell from talking to people, reading blogs etc I can't use the time I lived and worked in NC as a guide as I was in my late teens and didn't have children so cant compare that.

I was a bit surprised at the lack of parent friendly facilities in Hawaii, im not sure if the rest of the states are the same. I asked in a store where I could breastfeed as I couldn't find the parent room in the mall and got told to feed in the toilet! In NZ all the malls I have been to have parent rooms with armchairs, TV's, microwaves, cubicles with armchairs for breastfeeding, change facilities etc everything you need to feed or change a baby or small toddler.

Also we couldn't find any parent parks in Hawaii whereas in NZ they are everywhere at malls, supermakets etc parks reserved for parents close to the doors.

Awesome read(s)!

@BIRDOFAFEATHER Don't encourage me, I could write all day about the differences here in the ME. I am really struggling with the helath care service. I Natively thought that having access to private health care for the first time in my life would mean that the service that I received would be far superior to the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK but in my experience it has been far worse. The first Doctor I visited even suggested that I returned to the UK.

Some differences include;

Appointment bookings: waiting times are 3.5 hours per visit on average and include standing outside the Dr's door the entire time to prevent locals from skipping the line. Surely this does not count as an appointment?

Lack of good facilities : The hospitals in the city are full so I need to drive 80 minutes into the desert per visit. I live in Qatar which has been quoted as the richest country in the world.

Strange advice and practices: don’t take prenatal vitamins, don’t walk other than short distances, if I MUST exercise gentle swimming only, a GD test at 20 weeks but no results until 28 weeks, avoid all spicy foods, my husband is permitted to attend ultrasounds etc but they get really antsy and uncomfortable the whole time he is in the room, I could go on.. (FYI, my pregnancy is not high risk and I have no health issues).

Language barrier: This is not a fair gripe as I am living in an Arabic country and I do not speak Arabic but I have yet to speak to a doctor that has a good grasp of English and so my care has been far from helpful or insightful. I have not been able to ask any questions about my pregnancy so far that have resulted in coherent answers. When I asked about the birth process and options (I was thinking can I have a natural birth, do you recommend skin to skin contact, breastfeeding support etc) I was told that they provide VIP treatment, I will have my own room, room service food menu & baby will be accommodated in the hospitals nursery where she will be bottlefed and mum can have a good rest. This may sound like heaven to some but as an anxious FTM this sounds like hell to me.

There have been some very, very upsetting experiences. At my 12 week NT ultrasound the Doctor told me that sadly there was no baby showing on the scan, I then endured 2 transvaginal scans and a further two more high ultrasounds before she admitted that she had no experience in using the machine. finally anotehr Dr was able to assist and I was told ‘baby is alive, you have pregnancy’.

Sorry for the negativity but like I said, I'm struggling!

@Cherrybee I would do very very bad things to get my hands on a custard cream right now oh and I appreciate the love!

@lolo, that sounds absolutely horrific and scary The Middle East is....not where I would want to be for health care. I can't believe some english speaking doc hasn't set up a solid practice for ex pats.

@Lolo: Hugs! Just hugs!

I've read a couple of the articles, @SugarplumsMom: I think Switzerland is very much like the Nordic countries in the "being part of the group" and "lacking ambition." It is very much a culture of sameness.

There are times I wish we could be back, but then there are other times I am glad to be in a diverse place. It's hard, there's no perfect location, that's for sure!