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Expat Interview With Sam - British Expat In Luxembourg
| Published: | 23 Oct at 9 AM |
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Filed: Interviews,Luxembourg
Sam Lancaster could barely place Luxembourg on a map a year ago, but after seven years in China and Hong Kong, she has been very pleasantly surprised by what she has found following a move to the tiny, landlocked Grand Duchy with her husband and two young boys. Hailing from a fashion and media background, she has long been itching to find a creative outlet and has recently begun chronicling her experiences in her blog 'A Bit Of Lux' (see listing here).
Where are you originally from?
Coventry, UK, but please don't hold that against me.
In which country and city are you living now?
Just outside Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
Since beginning August 2012. I'd like this to be for the forseeable future (but i've learned to never say 'never').
Why did you move and what do you do?
I am a stay-at-home Mum and blogger! We moved primarily because the schooling provision in Hong Kong was simply not adequate - oversubscribed and with poor outdoor facilities - and to give the kids a better quality of life away from the pollution and concrete! Luckily my husband's company were able to accommodate this with a position in the European office. We have had to organise everything ourselves though, which is a mixed blessing, but it does force you to get 'out there' and get acquainted with your new surroundings and relevant bureaucratic institutions.
Did you bring family with you?
Yes. I tried to leave them at the airport, but they followed me ; )
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
After Asia, Luxembourg has been very easy, though it really does help to speak some French here (mine is very basic but I get by - but people will generally always try to help you out in English if you really struggle). It was a different story moving from UK to Shanghai back in 2005 -that was a huge culture shock, and English was rarely spoken anywhere.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
In Shanghai - without kids and being slighter younger than the average expat wife - I found it very difficult. Hong Kong was almost too easy, and I found it a little claustrophobic at times, but that's because you do ultimately tend to end up gravitating to expat enclaves, and yes, that includes mostly socialising with other expats. I think that's natural, particularly if you aren't fluent in the native language. I'm deliberately not forcing the issue here as we've only been here a few months, i'm very happy getting to know the country first and I know the friends will follow organically from that, but I am friends with a couple of women here. I have found Luxembourgish people to be really lovely, they remind me of us Brits in terms of there is a natural polite reserve, but they are incredibly helpful and strangers constantly say hello in the street. Our new neighbours have all been very welcoming.
What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
It's a tiny country but has lots of historical places to visit, lovely countryside, a gorgeous capital city with lots of restaurants and good shopping. It's very easy to get around and is brilliantly situated for exploring the rest of Europe, often within driving distance. Oh and there are more fantastic kids' playgrounds here than i've ever seen in my life!
What do you enjoy most about living here?
The clean air and countryside and the overall quality of life is just very good. People are generally very content and happy and there is just a lovely, pleasant vibe to the place which is ideal for families.
How does the cost of living compare to home?
I can only really compare to Hong Kong now which was crazy expensive in most areas and so this tends to work out cheaper in most respects though eating out is ridiculously expensive here at times, and you could always find good grub in Hong Kong at every price point.
What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
I need to drive! I learned in Hong Kong but never got out of 3rd gear whilst learning, and then only ever drove a golf buggy once i'd passed! Public transport here is absolutely great but ultimately you will need to drive, particularly if you have kids and need to ferry them around. I'm guessing the winter will be a shock to the system too after Hong Kong, so ask me in 6 months and that'll probably be my answer.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?
Learn some French.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
In Shanghai it was adjusting to what was essentially a developing country which after leafy Dulwich, could feel pretty grim at times, and being communist, with all the rules that entails. In Hong Kong it was a great city for nightlife and shopping but I ended up feeling bored with the 'expat bubble' and lack of stuff to do for the children culturally, here it's just been adjusting to life without domestic help (I had a full-time helper in Hong Kong) and entertaining the kids in a new country over the school holidays using only public transport. No easy task!
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
Hopefully by walking up the drive of my large Georgian pile in the Cotswolds and thinking 'it was all worth it' ; ) We can but dream!
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
1 - Read expat blogs and join online forums. Ask questions. They are the best way to get advice and tips which the more formal sites and guidebooks simply can't provide.
2 - Work out the finances. Can you live adequately on the proposed package? What happens to your pensions from your home country. How will inheritance laws affect you and your loved ones? Do a salary calculator if you can find one online. Be realistic about the cost of living, what you can expect to save and gain from the experience. It seems mercenary but it's best to be realistic because having financial worries at home can be distressing, having them when you are removed from family and a potential support network, not to mention the potentially tricky task of finding a new job 'back home' if it doesn't work out, can prove to be overwhelming if things don't work out abroad. It's rare, but these things do happen and it's best to consider all the variables upfront.
3 - Don't expect to replicate the life and types of friends you have from back home in your adopted country. Be flexible and open about getting to know different types of people. Try not to constantly compare too much, your life will not necessarily be 'better', just 'different'. Be realistic about it, take it 'as it comes' and you will find the transition easier.
4 - Be proactive. Sitting at home expecting life, and friends, to find you may result in disappointment. Push yourself a little bit, join a club, strike up conversations at the school gate, explore. Many of the people you meet will have been in your shoes and are happy to - at the very least -disseminate information, at best you will make friends for life.
5 - After all that is said and done, my best advice is to just 'do it'. You can find thousands of reasons not to take the plunge, and thousands more why you feel it will enrich your lives by going. You won't know until you try it, and if it doesn't work out, you should be patting yourselves on the back that you gave it a go (and if you are like several people I know, you may even end up back again in a few years!) Almost all expats will agree, there are ups and downs to moving abroad, but overall the experience is a positive one in ways that often can't be quantified simply by salary or career progression, and it's one which the whole family takes with them forever.
Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.
It's about my take on moving to Luxembourg as a Wife and Mother of two young boys, and with the benefit of a few years as an expat already under my belt in Asia. I try not to take myself too seriously, and I like to approach the blog with a sense of humour, but I do take the blog seriously because I can place myself in the shoes of the reader and I referred to blogs quite a lot in my own research. I often find many blogs are great but often tantalisingly fail to provide the nitty gritty, with links or phone numbers and information relating to the subject matter, which is often what readers are most likely to want to know. I try to provide as much practical information and links as possible in my posts and i'm working on a Directory of sorts. It's early days but I'm enjoying the promotional side of it too which is a new 'science' for me.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
I'm still pretty new myself around these parts, but you can email me with genuine questions relating to my expat experiences at admin{at}abitoflux-dot-com and i'll do my best to help.
Sam writes her own expat blog called A Bit Of Lux http://www.abitoflux.com/, which is very worthy of a visit! She can be found on Twitter @abitoflux. If you like Sam's writing style, why not leave her a nice comment over at her listing here at ExpatsBlog.com. If you liked her interview, please also leave a comment below too.
Here's the interview with Sam...
Where are you originally from?
Coventry, UK, but please don't hold that against me.
In which country and city are you living now?
Just outside Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
Since beginning August 2012. I'd like this to be for the forseeable future (but i've learned to never say 'never').
Why did you move and what do you do?
I am a stay-at-home Mum and blogger! We moved primarily because the schooling provision in Hong Kong was simply not adequate - oversubscribed and with poor outdoor facilities - and to give the kids a better quality of life away from the pollution and concrete! Luckily my husband's company were able to accommodate this with a position in the European office. We have had to organise everything ourselves though, which is a mixed blessing, but it does force you to get 'out there' and get acquainted with your new surroundings and relevant bureaucratic institutions.
Did you bring family with you?Yes. I tried to leave them at the airport, but they followed me ; )
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
After Asia, Luxembourg has been very easy, though it really does help to speak some French here (mine is very basic but I get by - but people will generally always try to help you out in English if you really struggle). It was a different story moving from UK to Shanghai back in 2005 -that was a huge culture shock, and English was rarely spoken anywhere.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
In Shanghai - without kids and being slighter younger than the average expat wife - I found it very difficult. Hong Kong was almost too easy, and I found it a little claustrophobic at times, but that's because you do ultimately tend to end up gravitating to expat enclaves, and yes, that includes mostly socialising with other expats. I think that's natural, particularly if you aren't fluent in the native language. I'm deliberately not forcing the issue here as we've only been here a few months, i'm very happy getting to know the country first and I know the friends will follow organically from that, but I am friends with a couple of women here. I have found Luxembourgish people to be really lovely, they remind me of us Brits in terms of there is a natural polite reserve, but they are incredibly helpful and strangers constantly say hello in the street. Our new neighbours have all been very welcoming.
What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?It's a tiny country but has lots of historical places to visit, lovely countryside, a gorgeous capital city with lots of restaurants and good shopping. It's very easy to get around and is brilliantly situated for exploring the rest of Europe, often within driving distance. Oh and there are more fantastic kids' playgrounds here than i've ever seen in my life!
What do you enjoy most about living here?
The clean air and countryside and the overall quality of life is just very good. People are generally very content and happy and there is just a lovely, pleasant vibe to the place which is ideal for families.
How does the cost of living compare to home?
I can only really compare to Hong Kong now which was crazy expensive in most areas and so this tends to work out cheaper in most respects though eating out is ridiculously expensive here at times, and you could always find good grub in Hong Kong at every price point.
What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
I need to drive! I learned in Hong Kong but never got out of 3rd gear whilst learning, and then only ever drove a golf buggy once i'd passed! Public transport here is absolutely great but ultimately you will need to drive, particularly if you have kids and need to ferry them around. I'm guessing the winter will be a shock to the system too after Hong Kong, so ask me in 6 months and that'll probably be my answer.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?Learn some French.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
In Shanghai it was adjusting to what was essentially a developing country which after leafy Dulwich, could feel pretty grim at times, and being communist, with all the rules that entails. In Hong Kong it was a great city for nightlife and shopping but I ended up feeling bored with the 'expat bubble' and lack of stuff to do for the children culturally, here it's just been adjusting to life without domestic help (I had a full-time helper in Hong Kong) and entertaining the kids in a new country over the school holidays using only public transport. No easy task!
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
Hopefully by walking up the drive of my large Georgian pile in the Cotswolds and thinking 'it was all worth it' ; ) We can but dream!
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
1 - Read expat blogs and join online forums. Ask questions. They are the best way to get advice and tips which the more formal sites and guidebooks simply can't provide.
2 - Work out the finances. Can you live adequately on the proposed package? What happens to your pensions from your home country. How will inheritance laws affect you and your loved ones? Do a salary calculator if you can find one online. Be realistic about the cost of living, what you can expect to save and gain from the experience. It seems mercenary but it's best to be realistic because having financial worries at home can be distressing, having them when you are removed from family and a potential support network, not to mention the potentially tricky task of finding a new job 'back home' if it doesn't work out, can prove to be overwhelming if things don't work out abroad. It's rare, but these things do happen and it's best to consider all the variables upfront.
3 - Don't expect to replicate the life and types of friends you have from back home in your adopted country. Be flexible and open about getting to know different types of people. Try not to constantly compare too much, your life will not necessarily be 'better', just 'different'. Be realistic about it, take it 'as it comes' and you will find the transition easier.
4 - Be proactive. Sitting at home expecting life, and friends, to find you may result in disappointment. Push yourself a little bit, join a club, strike up conversations at the school gate, explore. Many of the people you meet will have been in your shoes and are happy to - at the very least -disseminate information, at best you will make friends for life.
5 - After all that is said and done, my best advice is to just 'do it'. You can find thousands of reasons not to take the plunge, and thousands more why you feel it will enrich your lives by going. You won't know until you try it, and if it doesn't work out, you should be patting yourselves on the back that you gave it a go (and if you are like several people I know, you may even end up back again in a few years!) Almost all expats will agree, there are ups and downs to moving abroad, but overall the experience is a positive one in ways that often can't be quantified simply by salary or career progression, and it's one which the whole family takes with them forever.
Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.It's about my take on moving to Luxembourg as a Wife and Mother of two young boys, and with the benefit of a few years as an expat already under my belt in Asia. I try not to take myself too seriously, and I like to approach the blog with a sense of humour, but I do take the blog seriously because I can place myself in the shoes of the reader and I referred to blogs quite a lot in my own research. I often find many blogs are great but often tantalisingly fail to provide the nitty gritty, with links or phone numbers and information relating to the subject matter, which is often what readers are most likely to want to know. I try to provide as much practical information and links as possible in my posts and i'm working on a Directory of sorts. It's early days but I'm enjoying the promotional side of it too which is a new 'science' for me.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
I'm still pretty new myself around these parts, but you can email me with genuine questions relating to my expat experiences at admin{at}abitoflux-dot-com and i'll do my best to help.
Sam writes her own expat blog called A Bit Of Lux http://www.abitoflux.com/, which is very worthy of a visit! She can be found on Twitter @abitoflux. If you like Sam's writing style, why not leave her a nice comment over at her listing here at ExpatsBlog.com. If you liked her interview, please also leave a comment below too.
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