Diary of An Expat's Wife

My husband is a game designer. Due to the nature of his industry, we've moved to two continents in three years. It's tough moving to a new place with no friends and family members and starting over again, but as a wife, I need to support my husband in all his endeavors and be where he needs to be.

Coming from Australia, which is a good 14,000 kilometers away, we are now in Vancouver, Canada and have finally settled in after more than a year. We reconnected with our cousins who used to live in the Philippines and met new friends. We now also belong to a church community and find the environment here very family friendly.

Stanley Park. Photo from instagram by Clayton Perry

Married life in North America is not entirely a breeze. I have to manage a household and take care of both of us on my own. Although not single-handed all the time because my husband helps with some chores, keeping everything in order without the usual help we were accustomed to in the Philippines is a bit of a challenge sometimes. I often run out of ideas on what to cook, and I sometimes wish there's someone else to pick up after my mess!

Yet, married life fills me with so much joy and makes my life simpler. I love serving my husband and making him happy. I also find satisfaction whenever I whip up a good dish and come home to a clean house. =)

Homemade cheese burger with massive lettuce :D

I never understood how marriage could change you until I entered into one. I found myself letting go of my self-centeredness and praying for more patience and understanding. One year of living under one roof with someone completely different from me was not a walk in the park. We began to notice each other's rough edges, the small things that constantly annoy us, and how our opinions about a lot of things would often clash. Maybe I should be grateful that we live in a small apartment so every time we argue, there's nowhere to hide; we are forced to kiss and make up before the day ends.

Morning ritual: annoying my hubby

Marital struggles, on top of the unavoidable task of packing and unpacking, are not the only concern an expat's wife like me faces. Being uprooted yet another time has affected my career. I was unhappy for a while and entertained negative thoughts and self doubt. I had felt then that all my work experience were wasted and I was nothing but a shadow of my husband. I needed to snap out of that depressing state, and I thank God for a supportive husband who never pressured me but instead would encourage me by telling me that I was a big help to him, maybe not financially, but in all other aspects. He also gave me the freedom to do what I wanted to do.

I wanted to fill up my time being productive so I studied a few things - Mandarin, calligraphy and digital marketing, not knowing how I would be able to put them to good use in the future. For months I was praying for an open door. Then I was led to start my own small business. I never dreamt of being an entrepreneur until the opportunity presented itself. It was really difficult to start from scratch but I accepted the challenge, and I can say that it was the best decision I made this year. =)

Writing on gift tags in my small work space at home

I learned that life takes you to places you may not want to go, or sometimes the outcome is not what we were expecting. Let 1 Corinthians 7 be our guide and encouragement -

"However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you."

 In other words, it doesn't matter where you are planted, just bloom anyway! ;-)

Gorgeous tulips by the sidewalk of Downtown Vancouver