The Real Expat Wives of Arabia

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

Join me as I chat with the infamous Sae Jackson! Korean born, half-Hawaiian, small-town Virginia-raised, University of Florida graduate turned Houstonian; Sae shares her experience moving to Saudi Arabia with 2 middle school-aged kids. From working as an RN while hubby wasn't traveling, being a full hands on mom with PTA involvement, she shares it's in those "volunteer, stay at home mom" days that led to having such strong friendships that are still just as strong today. Boarding school for her two middle schoolers soon came into her horizon and she shares more about having them attend a boarding school in England and how when COVID hit, it was quite an eye-opener, especially for her youngest, Regan. A decision was made for her to transfer to a boarding school in Hawaii and although this was stressful, it has been a huge turnaround for Regan's benefit. Lastly, Sae shares her experience of being diagnosed exactly one year ago here in Saudi with breast cancer, her new appreciation for the specialist here, and that although she is already cancer free, she is still not out of the woods with post-mastectomy complications. Her main message here is "EARLY DETECTION!" Be sure to keep up with the annual women's well visit, self-breast exams, and yearly mammograms. To follow more of her journey please follow her on IG@sunnysae and fb@Sae Jackson

WOW WOW WOW!!! What a summer for our family! Change is a constant part of the ex-pat's life. Adapt or perish is a concept that remains at the forefront of this lifestyle. Was yalls summer as crazy as mine!!!??? Quick listen of my summer summary and intro of my next fabulous guest!

From the lands of Morroco, Malaysia, Sudan and now Arabia, Mrs. Audrey Paar shares her journey of going from full time physical education teacher to now full time yoga instructor. No longer just a side hustle, Audrey brings to center stage her practice of yoga including not only her in person classes, but a youtube channel as well as local yoga retreats that can be shared amongst the community here in Arabia! Listen as we discuss all things yoga, vibrational alignment, breathwork and more!!!She can be reached at: Website: audreysyoga.com Instagram: audreysyoga Enjoy!

Representing the Egbo tribe with excellency and strength, join us as we chat about Nnene's unique upbringing and her journey to Arabia. She doesn't hesitate to articulate all the wonderful things she has encountered even through the hard times of COVID! Nnene leaves a word of encouragement for any expat wanting to move her to Arabia and make the most of life while navigating this beautiful, but challenging at times, country. Nnene is a gifted speaker and communicator with a masters degree in media and communications with a fantastic platform where she is always looking for potential people to interview. You can find her on facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/Diskusser1/ She also has a facebook page capturing all her discoveries and adventures while traveling within the kingdom of Saudi Arabia @ https://www.facebook.com/lifeinsaudiaa/

Mental Health. A "not so spoken about" topic here in the middle east. Join me as I dig a little deeper into this topic with the amazing Maggie Pulido, a clinical psychologist from Bogota Colombia. Maggie has extensive experience not only helping the latin community navigate these mental health waters but also other expats; both children and adults. The expat community here has benefited from her services as well as local Saudi nationals. She juggles being a mom of 2, wife, and meeting with clients online. She is a true inspiration to all women that come as a trailing spouse wondering if they can continue in their soul purpose endeavors like they did back in their home country. To contact Maggie further or to benefit from her content follow her @: www.maggiepulido.com On Instagram @maggiepulido.ink On YouTube @https://youtube.com/c/MaggiePulido Other Resources: If in the Houston area and need help with drug addiction please visit @positiverecovery.com Also listen daily to the Positive Recovery MD podcast If suicidal please call +1-516-612-3922

From full time lawyer with 2 little girls and a husband abroad, to being all under one roof for the first time in ARABIA! Heidi explains the best of both worlds as she claims her power and place both while here in Arabia AND while back in the UK where agency work allows her lawyer self to still be expressed. Wisdom, grace and elegance in FULL EFFECT! Hope you enjoy listening to this British staple of a woman as much as I did!

Ever feel Like you in a "holding pattern"??? That is the only way I can sum up the feeling here on our little compound in Saudi Arabia. Anticipation of so many things coming to an end, but the beginning of also the NEWNESS coming with the summer season! As many gear up to disperse for the summer months yet still celebrating some momentous events to still keep us all present is presenting all the feels and emotions!

Fires, Family, and Friendships!! Megan shares her experience of heading here to the Middle East from Scotland at the wee age of 25! With a heart full of willingness to find friends she soon found that its was the loss of friendships that led her to a new found respect for being who she is today! Besides being a wife to her amazing hubby Straun, and amazing mum to her two gorgeous daughters Olivia and Penelope she is now well on her way to earning her degree in Forensic Psychology as well as a newly established lash technician! Check out her Instagram account @luxlashes_megantait and hit her up for your lash glow up!

Spring Break trip to Egypt and whats the going ons of international travel post pandemic. A sneak peek at my next guest.

From "going through the motions" of what felt like being a single mom, to facing her demons identifying and conquering her fears, to pushing through some dark days of a cocoon, only to emerge as a beautiful butterfly. Now flying high, Norma shares her story, struggles, and victories of moving to (and away from) Arabia. Forging forward in maintaining a top producer and contender status with her supplement company, she strives to share and witness change for the better in others lives through the product. For more information on this product check her out at: http://Firststep2better.challenge.com/start To find Norma on instagram: my_story_isn't_finished_ To find Norma on TikTok: i_eat_carbs

A little more about my personal story of moving here to the Middle East. If anyone is interested in following me on my IG its @travels_with_kim. For the PalFish company I discuss, if interested, it is an app you download and once cleared you can tutor children in China (I believe you need to upload a TESOL cert and prove you have a bachelors degree). You can make you on schedule, I was making 400-600 USD a month and was not teaching all that much at all. Its a great way to pull in some extra income if overseas or have the digital nomad lifestyle.

Moving to the Middle East.. as women, what were we thinking? What will we do if we no longer work? Am I willing to give up certain freedoms to gain others?