Book Review: Expat Life Slice by Slice

There’s a thing psychologists do called “normalising”.  We make a comment that may include something like, “many people who’ve been through this say similar things” or “often people who’ve experienced … feel that they…”  It helps clients or patients to feel that they aren’t abnormal, or responding strangely.  Instead they are comforted, knowing that others have been there and also responded in this way. 

Books written with honesty and openness can do the same thing, taking us on a journey with the author as they share the joys, challenges and pains of their experiences.  I recently read a great example of that, “Expat Life: Slice by Slice” by Apple Gidley.

Apple has lived the life of an expatriate from the age of one month to the present day.  While her original passport is British she has lived in 12 countries, on five continents and continues to live outside of Britain.  She discussed many of the labels she has been given, TCK (Third Culture Kid), trailing spouse, STARS (Spouses Travelling and Relocating Successfully) global nomad and the standard expat. 

Labels aside, Apple’s gift to the reader is to honestly share the highs and lows with well-crafted words, displaying humour and wisdom gained from experience. 

Her writing demonstrates her cultural intelligence.  She learnt from a young age that people do things differently in different locations and describes both the pain when those differences are ones that are in conflict with our own values and the joy when differences can be shared and pieces taken to enhance our own cultural experience.

I especially love her slice on careers.  The image of a career being a jungle gym rather than a ladder is a mind-set changer.  She encourages the reader to learn to swing from one thing to another as opportunities arise and tells the story of how she has done exactly that.  Careers, children, death of parents, retirement and repatriation are just some of the slices explored by Apple. 

This book is one I would highly recommend for expats, migrants or those who are working with them, but anyone with an interest in travel and other cultural experiences would also enjoy it.