FIGT17NL – The Other Trail

Are you a writer? Do you aspire to be a writer? Follow me, walk through that open door.

September 5, 2017

Five years ago, I lived on Borneo, with three kids under 6. I was The Parent of my household. I can’t really say how it happened – I certainly never intended to be The Parent. If you were to ask The Wage-earning Partner in my marriage, I suspect you may hear a distant cough sounding like … More Are you a writer? Do you aspire to be a writer? Follow me, walk through that open door.

Damascus – forever in my heart

May 26, 2017

Damascus in my heart In the early days of December 2007, I stood on Mount Qasioun with my husband and my daughter and looked out over the sprawling city of Damascus, hoping that we could make a happy home there. Three years later, we left this amazing country where we had made our home. … More Damascus – forever in my heart

When diversity is the only reality you know

April 27, 2017

The other day, the oldest one had a classmate over to the house. The friend’s mum and I shared a cup of tea in the garden. We don’t know each other well, so we talked about ‘safe’ topics, like, what are your plans for the summer holiday? And then it turned interesting. She wanted to … More When diversity is the only reality you know

Reflections on transitions

April 11, 2017

‘Moving season’ has started. I see it in my inbox: ‘Hi, I have a friend who is moving to Muscat. Would you mind if I introduced you, she has tons of questions?’ It pops up on my social calendar: ‘Please join us for a farewell brunch before we head off.’ I feel it in my … More Reflections on transitions

Do you allow fear to live in your mind?

April 6, 2017

Today, I took my kids to Happyland, an indoor play center here in Muscat. Surprisingly, they love it. Unsurprisingly, I don’t. Watching my two daughters zooming around on a carousel full of blinking lights that is supposed to be the galaxy, I feel it. The fear, creeping up on me. Has the machine been maintained … More Do you allow fear to live in your mind?

‘Online tribing’ – connecting through blogging

April 2, 2017

As some of you already know, I recently attended the Families in Global Transitions (FIGT) conference in The Hague. In September last year, I didn’t know that there was an organization called FIGT, never mind that they hosted an annual conference discussing topics relevant to families in transition. I had all these questions and ideas, but … More ‘Online tribing’ – connecting through blogging

Reflections from a conference; can expats use their skills to influence the world?

March 28, 2017

I am not a third culture kid. I grew up in the house my parents bought before I was born, where they still live today. My dad prefers to travel to places where he has been before – I’m sure you can all imagine how that influenced my childhood holiday pattern. Still, I knew early … More Reflections from a conference; can expats use their skills to influence the world?

‘Go out there and give it a try. It might be the best decision you ever made’ – The Duncan Adventures

March 12, 2017

Heather Duncan is founder of the popular blog The Duncan Adventures. Her blog has gone from being a way to process her experiences and share them with others, to a site that is widely read in the Sultanate. Her writing can also be found in Oman’s weekly Y magazine. Heather lives in Muscat with her husband, … More ‘Go out there and give it a try. It might be the best decision you ever made’ – The Duncan Adventures

Trails in Oman

March 12, 2017

I have spent a lot of time talking to expat partners, about the decisions they have made and the paths they walk. We have discussed challenges – dependence and independence, the importance of making informed decisions, negotiating an identity on the move and dealing with local labor laws, visa regulations and the cursed ‘not allowed … More Trails in Oman