Tuesday

Black Women Expatriates: The Series (Part IV)



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Known fondly as Black Pearl, Black Venus, Creole Goddess and La Baker, we can probably all agree that the most famous African-American female expatriate that paved the way for other African-American female expatriates is Josephine Baker, née Freda Josephine McDonald, one of my personal sheroes.

So it might come as no surprise to you to learn that this Fall I will travel by train from my rented apartment in Paris to Josephine’s beloved Château des Milandes in the Dordogne region of France on a personal journey I will likely never forget ... all in the spirit of the unforgettable Josephine and Black Women Expatriates around the world.
It probably also comes as no surprise to you to learn how much I enjoy presenting this series that so far has introduced us [via Part I, Part II and Part III] to Black Women Expatriates in China, Sweden, England, South Korea, Switzerland, Barbados, Germany, Brasil and France. In many ways, these expats are also walking in the spirit of Josephine no matter what part of the world they live in.
*Raising my glass* 
Cheers to Josephine, to travel, and to Part IV in the BlackAtlas.com series: Black Women Expatriates.

***

JAMAICA: April D. Thompson
STATS: April is a Black-American woman from Valdosta, Georgia who has been living in Kingston, Jamaica for 5 months. Single with no children, April has lived in Los Angeles, CA; Atlanta, GA; East Lansing, MI; and Angeles City, Philippines and works remotely as a Demand Generation Marketing Manager for a major U.S. corporation.
1. What you love about being an expat: Every day is an adventure and an opportunity to learn something new, meet new people and explore another corner of the island. I'm learning to find a balance between corporate hustle and island time. It's pretty difficult to be stressed here.
2. What you don’t love about being an expat: I don't care to see the poverty and exploitation of the country, its resources and people. Sometimes I miss conveniences back home like 24-hour restaurants, consistent internet connection and Trader Joe's.
3. Advice to women considering the expat life: Connect with the local expat community, locals or others who frequent your intended city to get their advice on your move. When selecting a city, find a place that fits your personality, lifestyle and goals, not just a popular destination many expats call home. If you have a chance, visit your intended new city for a week or more to get a feel for the local life away from the hotels, resorts and vacation lifestyle. Pack light! Go for it! If you don't like it, you can always go back home or to another city/country.


GERMANY: Nicole
STATS: Born in Jamaica, Nicole grew up in Newark, New Jersey and has been living in Berlin, Germany for three years. Unmarried but in a serious relationship, Nicole has no children and works as a Project Manager in the IT Sector, as well as a freelance writer and blogger. Before moving to Berlin, Nicole lived in Rochester, NY; Lexington, KY; the DC metro area, and London, UK.
1. What you love about being an expat: Being an expat in Germany is great due to the lifestyle. I am more active living here since I take public transport and I can relax outside of work because I get five weeks vacation.
2. What you don't love about being an expat: I get annoyed that even a trip to the bakery can be a social experiment. Some of the most simple things can be a big ordeal due to cultural differences. I miss "knowing" how to relate to the people that surround me.
3. Advice for women considering the expat life: Nothing can really prepare for the amount of adjustment that it will take getting used to your new country. It may take a while to feel "at home". Be prepared that things might not go instantly right. If you move for a career, be sure that other interests outside of work can be fostered, and if you move for love, make sure you can build a life of your own independent of the relationship.


LONDON: Oneika Raymond
STATS:  Oneika Raymond is from beautiful Toronto, Canada; home of the CN Tower, frigid winters, and sizzling summers. Of Jamaican descent, Oneika has lived abroad for six years in Monterrey, Mexico, Hong Kong, and both Nice and Nantes, France; and currently resides in London, UK where she has been for six months. Single but in a long-term relationship, Oneika is a high school English and French teacher.
1. What you love about being an expat: I love learning the ways of a culture that is not my own. I love foreign languages and etching out a day-to-day existence in a country that is new to me.
2. What you don't love about being an expat: I sometimes hate the bureaucracy and paperwork that comes with moving to a new country. I sometimes stumble in my attempts to integrate myself in a new culture, which can be frustrating because sometimes all I want is to belong.
3. Advice for women considering the expat life: Do it! Don't let fear or negativity from others hold you back. Inform yourself on opportunities to go abroad, and talk to others like you who have already done so: they are some of the best resources and support you could ever have. Educate yourself in the language and culture of the place you are going to so the culture shock won’t be as intense, and set a target date for leaving.


THE NETHERLANDS: Monique White Rubin
STATS: Monique is a stay-at-home African-American mom born and raised in Los Angeles, California and has lived in The Netherlands for 13 years with her husband and their two daughters, ages 10 and 8. Monique has also lived in Indiana, Washington DC, and Connecticut. In addition to her blog, Monique also does a bit of freelance writing and social media consulting.
Blog: Mo Travels
1. What you love about being an expat: I love the slower pace of life and the fact that it’s understood that there is more to life than work. I also love that there’s more of an appreciation of travel and appreciation of different cultures.
2. What you don't love about being an expat:  I also hate the slower pace of life. Sometimes I want to shop after 5 pm or on a Sunday. I don’t always love being from someplace else, and not seeing other people who look like me.
3. Advice for women considering the expat life: I am a “trailing spouse,” so my advice to women who follow their significant other is not to lose their identity. It’s easy to become his wife and/or the children’s mother when you move to a foreign country for love or your spouse’s work. Work, volunteer, learn the language... or learn to finally play the piano.


PART V: Natasha in Abu Dhabi, Margaret in Peru, Diana in Indonesia - 6/4/12
PART VI: Heather in Chile, Monique in Paris, Rachelle in Japan - 6/11/12
PART VII: Joia in Barbados, Shirley in Bordeaux, Adria in Colombia – 6/25/12
PART VIII: Carolyn in The Netherlands, Terra in Brussels, Robin in Denmark - 7/16/12
PART IX: Email Tracey@OneBrownGirl.com and join in on the celebration as Black Women Expatriates blow off stereotypes and #TravelByExample!
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