Synopsis
This volume provides us with ten unique stories of women from very different backgrounds, lifestyles and even continents who find themselves experiencing an expat life some due to their own professional pursuit and others because they chose to accompany their husbands on their work assignments abroad.
Our stories start with the first author from West Africa, giving us her journey as a speech therapist and what she encountered. When I finished my secondary school education back home in Nigeria in 1984, I wanted to become a renowned lawyer who would save the world from injustice and fight for the underprivileged in my community. Unknown to me God had a different plan for my life. He knew where my skills would be best suited and how those skills would impact lives, bring hope and joy and change the family dynamics of many homes for the better.
The second author from East Africa got a stack in life because of her mindset. Her story shows us how she maneuvered and where she is at the moment. My parents always stressed that the foundation for a successful life was a good education that led to a profession, and a good office job. With that, one would attain all they desired in life. The education system in my country Uganda at the time I studied, helped bring up graduates that are employable. The concept of job creation was very far from my mind. In my mind, job creation was for government bodies and influential Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with considerable financial backing from donors. I also thought that those who went into business were the unfortunate few who failed to get formal class education because of unfortunate circumstances like children losing their parents at an early age or just being born into poverty.
We are then taken to India by our next author, who, with determination and grit, was able to forge ahead in life and succeed as she did. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, my life was inspired and influenced by my parents in the early stages, when an ambition to do well in my career was instilled in me. I was fortunate to receive a well-rounded education and my ambition led me from one milestone to another. In this journey, each day has brought-in new challenges, but also new learnings, in the form of new skills, knowledge, greater resilience and will-power, focus, positivity, leadership, motivation, and a fighter’s attitude. I have pivoted and re-invested myself in self-development regularly.
We then find ourselves on the beautiful Island of Mauritius through the story of our next author sharing with us her journey of love beyond borders and how she experienced that love in the different countries she has been privileged to live. We had a decision to make: his career or mine. I was already moving on the international platform, fresh from my exciting Shanghai mission. His international career was just beginning. Destiny had me welcoming a surprise but threatening pregnancy and a painful renal calculus. I was barely recovering from a difficult phase. I also had a very active incredible five years old son. I had no choice. As a woman, I had to be in the traditional feminine mode. Look after the family and let the man go fetch the food no matter how intelligent or educated a woman can be.
These and six other stories will take you on adventures, escapades, and even escapes. These women represent women from different walks of life, and you will be able to identify yourself or your sister's story, your niece, or even your mother's story in these captivating narrations.
I hope ‘The Niche’ will be an encyclopaedia for the expatriate communities worldwide and that it will be used by international and diplomatic institutions to help create valuable and beneficial welfare packages for the spouses of their employees.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
