Emma, UK born ( Bristol and Cornwall) Having been in a remote conservative non-diverse upbringing landed herself in London as a primary teacher where she met her Pakistani husband. After converting to Islam, and having her two children they got the offer to move to Saudi Arabia. As a Muslim this was very special for her, and her perspective as a mom of two under 5 years old, is one I think many will enjoy, especially the stark contrast of quality of life between life in London and life here in Saudi.

Been a minute! Stateside brought its share of chaos, finishing up clinicals for my final rotation of MSN/FNP school, spending time with my oldest helping her, and guiding her to balance life now as an adult, school, work, friends, boyfriend, and doctor appointments. Online/ remote nursing gig has been a blessing but just adds to the plate! Maldive EID holiday trip lowdown, and an upcoming trip to Tanzania in June! Introducing my next guest Emma from Riyadh!

Allison started her overseas experience growing up as a third culture kid in Malaysia. She always knew she wanted to go back overseas one day. When, then hubby of 10 years, Andrew got the job offer to be the middle school music teacher here in Saudi Arabia, OFF THEY WENT! Allison, actually being the more qualified having worked as band director and music teacher for both public and private schools in the USA, was ready to shift her focus to growing a family. She shares the journey her and Andrew have had working with infertility specialists here in the Middle East. This new season also allowed her to rekindle her childhood passion and hobby of photography. 

Allison Redmon photography was birthed 7 years ago and she shares the joys of being a business owner while still juggling her family of 5. Be sure to give her a follow on all 3 platforms her website,

@https://www.allisonredmonphotography.com/

Her IG @allisonredmonphotography 

Her FB @Allison Redmon Photography 

Stacy and hubby Matt (Check him out on International Teacher Podcast!! ) with their 4 boys aged 6,9,9 and 11 have been in Saudi Arabia for 12 yrs. They are both school teachers and with only one kid at the time, they were faced with a decision to leave their expat life in Venezuela and either go to Hong Kong, or Saudi Arabia. They chose the Middle East for many reasons that fit into their growing family perfectly. 

Enjoy our conversation while we discuss the benefits of life on camp including the benefits vs disadvantages of having younger and elementary school-aged kids vs middle/ high school-aged kids here in Saudi, the MAJOR challenges that come with having kids so far away in boarding school but also the challenges of depriving them of such an opportunity and keeping them here or returning stateside for public schools, having children with learning challenges and possible diagnosis that may require medication, how having a nanny as 2 full-time working parents has evolved as their children have grown older, her experience of giving birth to twins and her 2 c sections her in Saudi, her panic attack when she first moved here to Saudi while in IKEA, and last but not least her story of how they were STUCK in the maldives during COVID!!!

To listen to the ITC (International Teacher Podcast) and learn more about the many resources and opportunities for overseas teaching go to:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/international-teacher-podcast/id1561461759) 

From Tbilisi Georgia to the Caribbean, to Mauritius, to India, to Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia with MANY trips up and back from Daytona ...... and a most recent trip to Austria, and Hungary!!!! Guys..... this expat lifestyle for realz be moving lightning-fast sometimes!! Have a listen, if you dare.... or care, to hear about my whirlwind of a summer. Can't look back too long, we are high-tailing it into fall and this podcast although had a long hiatus is ready for more action! Who will be my next guest?? Don't forget you can contact me at either handle:

On FB @Kimberly Fast Haughton 

OR

On IG @trvels_with_kim 

Much love 

Francesca (Frankie), wife and mum to two children aged 2 and 4, shares her experience of coming to the middle east by starting out with a bit of preparation prior to Saudi by taking a once-in-a-lifetime PR consulting job in the big city of Dubai! Although she had never been to the middle east before and had to make many adjustments, Dubai was only a segway into her current situation as an ex-pat now based in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. She shares her personal struggle of being away from family (especially through COVID), having a baby in the middle of COVID, and how the labor and delivery hospital experience compared to Dubai but also the joys of having made the choice to as she puts it, "just get on the plane!". With no turning back now and only better things to come Frankie sums up the ex-pat's life of truly having the best of both worlds. 

Find her on IG @frankiehiltonx

If interested in joining the ex-pat women fb group you can find it @ Expat women in Saudi Arabia

The first Phillipina to bless this podcast with her story, Sheryl Blanca Martinez, shares all the many blessings and challenges she has faced within her 10 years of being an ex-pat in Saudi Arabia. Upon arrival, she was a single woman working as a nurse in the hospitals of Riyadh. She has 8 years of working here in Saudi as a nurse even through the pandemic. This all changed when she met her Spaniard Hubby! Now wife of 5 years, besides seeing the world together ( her IG is a must-go follow her!) they plan to soon start a family. In the meantime, they take every opportunity to enjoy the blessings of being an expat couple here in Arabia. Sheryl's perspective of being a single Filipina nurse in the capital of such a country has me mesmerized. Her ability to see things now as a dependent is just as interesting. Seeing the reforms happen in Riyadh over the past decade has our conversation LIT! It was such an honor to be able to hear her story. She can be found on IG @ Sheryl Blanca - Martinez

If you are an ex-pat wife/ female and are interested in the FB group please find it @ Expat women in Saudi Arabia . The group has already grown to 9.5k followers! Great way to get to know others in your area and network.

Ever feel like you are going through change and transition at the speed of light and have no way to process it?? Join me as Heather Melver shares the story that has brought her to founding her own company to help people do just that, navigate change and transition. Coming from a long line of educators, Heather decided social work and being a school counselor was her call. With extensive experience in these sectors, she has now launched her own site as a certified life coach primarily focused on helping women and teens through life changes and transitions. Her unique connection to Arabia is quite the story as she grew up here as a child, knows the challenges third culture kids face, and also has firsthand knowledge of the whole boarding school experience! To book a session you can find her at :

https://minding-the-gaps.org 

On IG @mindingthegaps_coaching

On FB @minding the Gaps

Or you can reach out on WhatsApp @ +13604995735

Ever wonder what it's like to teach overseas!!??? Melissa Quinn has got you covered! Homegrown from the state of Massachusetts Mel shares her 18-year teaching journey throughout 3 different states in the USA and her transition to being a teacher overseas. Her unique experience with COVID is one you won't want to miss out on! With perseverance, commitment, and a heart of gold Mel not only teaches full-time but is also CrossFit certified along with hubby Jason who jumps out of helicopters for a living as a rescue swimmer. When not a full-time wife and teacher she helps Jason behind the scenes with his podcast which can be found on all platforms @ The Real ResQ. If interested in becoming a teacher overseas check out the: International Teachers Podcast which can also be found on all platforms. 

Cathy's story originates in an "itty bitty teeny town" in northern New York almost on the Canadian border. She was pursuing an economics/ dance major and was about to audition for several dance companies when she decided to make a major shift to a Biology/ Chemistry major with a focus in Marine life. AND MAN OH MAN, ARE WE SO GLAD SHE DID!!! She landed a measly $7.00 an hour job as an intern performing dolphin research while also doing fish research on the side with another researcher. She soon realized the fish research brought her much more joy and when a shark biologist position opened up she applied, landed the job, and soon worked her way up to being a curator. This position located in Moody Gardens, Galveston Tx allowed her to collaborate with Texas A & M and Texas Parks and Wildlife on several projects. Fast forward several years her husband Roger landed a job overseas in Saudi Arabia resulting in them living here on our tiny little compound that faces the Arabian Sea..... where turtles are washed up on the shore annually. In comes Cathy's expertise and passion to work with not only vets locally but worldwide to rehabilitate these amazing creatures back to health. She has been an invaluable asset to our community and as a result of her and the many volunteer efforts, we now have the 1st turtle Rehab Facility here in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. 

To learn more, get involved, or donate please visit the turtle house on Instagram @rt_sea_turtle_rescue 

Or on Facebook @RT Sea Turtle Rescue