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MY EXPATRIATIONS
LEAVING HELPS YOU DISCOVER YOURSELF...
Each of my expatriations brought me something unique and have a common gift: they all allowed me to discover more about myself...
The immersion in different cultures, languages, ways of living and thinking, gave me an opportunity to take a step back from the way that I had been conditioned by own culture and upbringing.
It hasn't always been easy but I realize that it helped me getting closer to who I am.
Conditioning is inevitable and structuring for a child, but upon reaching adulthood, it often becomes an obstacle to being oneself. Relocating helps you decondition and open yourself up to your True Nature.
Here is a brief overview of my expatriations and what each of them brought me…
DUBAI / 2000 - 2009
My “travel companions”
Stan, my “boyfriend”… then marriage in 2002
Uno (Dog) in 2004
Birth of Mahaut in 2005 (1st daughter)
Birth of Ines in 2008 (2nd daughter)
From 8am to 8pm
Monday to Friday
6 months - End-of-studies internship at Ralph Lauren
2 years- Swatch “Brand manager”
- Sales and Operations in UAE, Oman, Qatar (11 stores)
- Marketing, Communication and Merchandising
- Management and training of staff
- Business development (opening of stores)
6 months - Daily's Sandwiches (Entrepreneur)
Delivery of sandwiches and salads to offices
6 years - Daily's Relocation (Entrepreneur)
Settling-down services for expatriates and their families
- 10 employees
- 100 families relocated per year (average)
- Clients: Barclays, Merrill Lynch, Société Générale, Airbus, Bentley, Ferrari, L'Oréal, Vuitton, Dior, KPMG, Linklaters, Johnson & Johnson, Chevron...
DISCOVERIES
Life abroad
Life as a couple...
... Then as a family
Extreme temperatures
Entrepreneurship
Parental responsibilities
Currency: the Dirham
Local culture: Mix between the Middle East and Europe, between a developed country under certain aspects and still developing in others.
Only 10% of residents are Emiratis.
A country where much was still to be done.
Sentence to remember: Inshallah - “God willing”
LIFE TRANSITION
From marketing to entrepreneurship
A TEACHING
Going into an "expert" business (catering) when you are not an expert is risky
(Daily's Sandwiches)
A SUCCESS
Having the courage to start a business in a field in which I had no experience and make it a successful business.
(Daily's Relocation)
AMSTERDAM / 2009 - 2011
My “travel companions”
Stan - 7 years of marriage upon our arrival
Mahaut - 4 years old on arrival, 6 years old at departure
Ines - 1 year old on arrival, 3 years old at departure
From 8am to 8pm
Monday to Friday
Taking care of my children. New status of “stay-at-home mother”, not always easy to assume...
Dutch lessons 3 times a week with Otto.
Skills assessment coaching program - The beginning of my questioning...
DISCOVERIES
Life on a bike in all weather conditions!
Life as a stay-at-home mom
The Sinterklaas Feast (St Nicholas)
Currency: the Euro
Local culture: Frank and direct people. The window curtains are always open, the Dutchman has nothing to hide!
Dinner is at 6 p.m., family time is important to the Dutch.
Phrase to remember: Alstublieft - "you're welcome after thank you"
LIFE TRANSITION
From entrepreneurship to stay-at-home mom
A TEACHING
I am not what I do!
Not working made me realize that our job often gives us a false sense of self-worth.
When our job stops, it is very common to feel a void and the difficulty of appreciating ourselves as we are.
A SUCCESS
Not working allowed me to have a new connection with my daughters and get to know them better.
LONDON / 2011 - 2014
My “travel companions”
Stan - 9 years of marriage upon our arrival & Celebrating our half life together!
Mahaut - 6 years old on arrival, 9 years old at departure
Ines - 3 years old on arrival, 6 years old at departure.
Louise - Birth in August 2012, 2 years old when we left
From 8am to 8pm
Monday to Friday
A good mix of professional and personal life
2 years- Setting up the Relocation department of a real estate agency then helping with the restructuring of resources.
1 year- Parenting Trainer Trainings: Faber and Mazlish approach and Thomas Gordon approach.
6 months -Facilitating parenting workshops intended for parents wanting to unravel the relational knots with their children.
DISCOVERIES
An energizing city.
Life with 3 children.
Musicals.
The importance of being mindful to the way we talk to each other.
My first step into self development
Currency: the British Pound
Local culture: Driving on the left of the road. The vibe of the pubs on match nights. You pay your rent every week. The more polite an Englishman is, the more angry he is!
Sentence to remember: ""God Save the Queen".
LIFE TRANSITION
From “Doing” to “Being”
From “Business” to People
From Real Estate to Parenthood
A TEACHING
Kindness is a strength and not a weakness!
A SUCCESS
a good work-life balance
SAN FRANCISCO / Since 2014
My “travel companions”
Stan - 12 years of marriage upon arrival.
Mahaut - 9 years old upon arrival, turned 18 in 2023
Ines - 6 years old upon arrival, she will be 18 in 2026
Louise - 2 years old upon arrival, she will be 18 years old in 2030...
Arrival of Nesquik (dog) in January 2017 - died in 2021
Arrival of Lilo and Stitch (2 cats) in 2021
From 8am to 8pm
Monday to Friday
2014-2017 - Facilitating parenting workshops (continuation of what I did in London) & got certified from Gordon Training International (to facilitate P.E.T workshops).
2017-2018- 1 year to reflect with a Life Coach. Some of my inquiries:
“How do I want to live this nomadic life as an ongoing Outsider?”
“What professional life would really fulfill me in that context?”
2018-2019 - Professional Coaching Course at New Ventures West - San Francisco).
June 2019 - Certified as a Coach
Since Oct 2020: Ongoing training at Aletheia Academy
DISCOVERIES
Amazing nature landscape
Living in an environment where you don't feel judged.
Nature is necessary in my life.
The truth is inside each of us.
Inclusion: She / Her / Hers
Currency: the Dollar
Local culture: Positivism. Kindness at first glance. The feeling that anything is possible. The growth mindset. An education system that encourages effort rather than results.
There is a Vegan option on all menus. We take our leftovers after eating in a restaurant.
Sentence to remember: “Great Job!”
LIFE TRANSITION
From “Parenting” to Coaching
A TEACHING
It is not the circumstances of our life that shape its perspectives, but our interpretation of these circumstances.
A SUCCESS
Find my place