For this episode, Clare is once again joined by Katie Sharpe who first appeared on the podcast in Jan 2024 to share her journey from flight attendant to Californian artist. Katie moved to the USA for love and is back today to talk about becoming a mother while living abroad. She explains how waiting for her green card affected the decision to have a baby and how having several cultures at play is influencing the dynamic of her family and new child.

Katie also talks about doctor shopping, the experience of being pregnant in a new country, giving birth, and differences in nursing and maternity leave in the USA. She also covers the cost of daycare and early schooling.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Having to wait a long time to get her green card affected when Katie and her husband started their family.
• In America, racial identity is talked about far more than in the UK. Katie explains how this has resulted in some surprising and tricky conversations she was not expecting to have.
• Katie´s experience of being pregnant and giving birth in the USA was largely good.
• Being honest with each other and talking through things has helped Katie and her husband Andre to get through some tough situations.
• Maternity leave in the USA varies from state to state.
• Realising that your child won´t get to spend much time with one side of their family is hard. But there are ways to stay close, which Katie shares in the episode.

 BEST MOMENTS

‘My legal status was kind of up in the air. ´

‘I´ve always felt very much a part of the family.’

‘If you're looking for the positive, you end up in such a stronger relationship.’

‘I don´t necessarily feel the need for all of this stuff.’

EPISODE RESOURCES

Katie Sharp is an artist from Lincolnshire, England, who currently lives in Benicia, California, USA with her husband Andre, son Peter and dog Annabelle.

www.artbyksharp.com

Instagram @artbyksharp

Earlier episode with Katie Sharpe is episode 2

ABOUT THE HOST

Clare Kay is a seasoned global mover – with an international career in sales, customer service, personal development, and as a flight attendant. She has sold books and TV programs globally, taught English as a foreign language, and supported non-native speakers through proofreading. Her own global moves – from the UK to Zambia, China, Taiwan, Nigeria, and the USA – bring direct experience, and her global outlook has given her the growth and connections to support others in creating a life abroad. Through her podcast Moving Countries 101, she inspires listeners with the confidence and courage to make their own move – and deepens the cultural conversation in her Facebook Group – Moving Countries 101 with Clare Kay

CONTACT

https://www.facebook.com/groups/movingcountries101withclarekay/

https://www.tiktok.com/@movingcountries101

www.linkedin.com/in/clarekay 

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