As a child, with an internationally commuting father, Nicola didn’t understand why her Irish mother didn’t move the family to live abroad with him, but managed "home alone".  She began to understand in 2002 when she became a mum.  Whether at home or overseas, an expatriate employee's spouse may have to weigh up the best option for her children and herself, versus the success of her partner's career.  Sadly, this too often can be at the cost to the relationship.

In 1990 Nicola married whilst working abroad and latterly helped her husband adapt to life in the UK and gained further understanding and knowledge of culture shock, identity crisis and immigration issues.   

In 2002 she left a fulfilling Human Resources career in London, moving with her partner to his expatriate assignment.  Neither of them  anticipating nor prepared for the change in life they were undertaking.

 "It was Dublin, not Mongolia, what would be different?"

Now, 6 years (3 countries, 5 houses) and much learning and experience later, she is based between the Netherlands and the UK running Live Life Now Coaching.  She has been a Board Member of an Expatriate women’s group, International Womens’ Contact Utrecht, and a Mentor on www.expatwomen.com.

She is the mother of an Irish born, Dutch speaking English boy who gets on planes like buses.  He attends an international school, where she has learnt even more about expatriate lives.  Her partner travels, so she understands the difficulties of managing a relationship, family life and maintaining an personal identity whilst juggling the demands of living abroad, being a lone parent, building a small business and remembering to find the time to enjoy the experiences being an expat gives her!    

She loves the shorthand that the expatriate community has, that allows instant rapport with someone else going through similar circumstances than yourself and the willingness to be open and share information, resources and support to complete strangers.  Nicola has made friends, from a richness of backgrounds, in the strangest of ways - internet, train rides - good friends who have given her a rich variety and knowledge of the world.

 "If I'd stayed home I'd never have met the extraordinary individuals I have nor had the experiences I've had."