Expat Partner Role Model Story
Why I chose not to work and what I do instead
Many expat partners ask themselves what to do with their life after moving abroad – especially when the „socially-approved“, traditional corporate job or raising children is not a scenario. We often forget that there is a different path we can go: Not working, investing all the time and energy into ourselves, and be happy as hell. I am thrilled that Simone, who is actually also one of my coaching clients, is open to sharing her story and her personal approach in a blog post with us. Simone is a huge inspiration for me, and I bet you will be inspired after reading her reasoning behind her choice as well. Enjoy getting to know Simone and her creative, bold, confident, and clever approach to spending her time abroad. If you want to know more about her, check out her very own blog on www.windycitymoments.com.
Meet Simone
Simone Podgorny is a Senior HR Professional with more than 12 years of experience in the field of Human Resources. Born and raised in Germany, Simone holds a Master of Science in Economics from Copenhagen Business School and has most recently worked as a Global HR Business Partner for Bayer at its German Headquarters. Simone quit her job at the end of last year to join her husband on an international assignment to Chicago where she has consciously decided to take time off from the workforce to pursue some of her dreams, explore the city, and enjoy life. Playing guitar, starting her journey as a Coach, and volunteering as a Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line are some of Simone’s newly discovered passions.
Why I chose not to work and what I do instead
When the offer came on the table to join my husband on an international assignment to Chicago – this was in July 2018 while we were vacationing in a little hut high up in the Alps and over dinner a text came in from my husband’s manager – my immediate reaction was that of course, that is what we will do. We would pack our things, move to the US, figure things out, done deal. I did not have a single doubt that this was the decision to be made. I was in full support of my husband’s career and the opportunities this created for him. And I saw some possibilities for me as well.
In need for a plan B
Soon after we officially made the decision to relocate, it became apparent that it is not as easy as I anticipated to find meaningful work. I did not have a work visa yet, the time that was planned for us to be in the US did not feel long enough for any decent type of employment and the company that I was with at the time did not have an office big enough for me to just change location. My nicely laid out plan just plopped right in front of my eyes, and I was forced to aim for a plan B. I was forced to move out of my comfort zone.
This plan B developed with a very simple question to start with: If I was given a year or so of time off and there are enough savings to cover for that period, what would I want to do? Did you ever ask yourself that question? What would your response be? Would you decide to spend more time with your family, climb the highest mountains on the planet, become a Yoga teacher in India, open a diving school on Bali, start your own business, join the Peace Corps, write a book or sell your house and all your belongings and just see where life takes you?
My mental list of things to do was very short at first. Knowing that I would certainly live in Chicago, I was a bit clueless and went for some of the more obvious ideas: do an MBA, train for a marathon and find exciting US vacation spots which we would travel to. Hmm, not bad, but nothing that would really sweep me off my feet in a moment of excitement. Thankfully, I had several months to think this through, great conversations with family, friends, and colleagues and yes, I also did a ton of research to find out if what I made up in my mind was at all possible and affordable.
Seeing a whole new set of opportunities
With every week that passed, my plans grew more and more concrete, and at the same time, my enthusiasm rose so much, it gave me sleepless nights. I was dying to finally get on that plane and start my adventure – my sabbatical. All the thinking and talking and researching and calculating eventually led to four areas that I wanted to dedicate my time and money too. Those would be areas I might have neglected for some time and wanted to give more weight in my life, areas that would help me plant seeds for potential future possibilities, areas I enjoy and thrive in, and new areas I want to discover.
The first one is learning and personal growth. I love learning new things, from typing with ten fingers instead of just three (looks much more elegant), to becoming a Certified Professional Coach (certainly more demanding than learning how to type), and a few other topics I had always wanted to dig my head into. Learning is what is at the top of my list and will consume probably most of my time.
The second item is improving my fitness level. Over the past several years, I went from holding a gym membership but never entering one, to exercising for at least 3-4 hours every week. I feel there is still potential for more, and since Chicago offers so many possibilities for working out, I can almost try out a new type of sport every week. Doing a few official 5-10k runs is at the top of my work-out agenda and something I will start training for immediately.
The third item on my list is giving back to those in need. I consider myself as very fortunate when it comes to the status of my health, educational background, and financial situation, but I know that there are millions of people around the world – and thousands of them in Chicago – who are not that lucky. Now that I have the time, I want to help where my resource and energy can make a difference. I worked through Chicago Cares to find a few very meaningful volunteer activities of things that are close to my heart and which I feel I want to commit to for a longer period.
The fourth and last item on my list is doing lots of fun things. This involves starting my own blog, exploring everything Chicago has to offer, traveling the country, learning to play an instrument (yep, you heard right, that is on my bucket list as well, and I am in the process of finding my best-fit music school), networking with the locals (easier than I thought) and sometimes just reading a book or simply doing nothing. There is a wealth of things to experience, and already now I feel that I do not have enough hours in the day.
Embracing those moments of doubt
While this sounds super exciting, there are moments of doubt. Society expects us all to work and earn our living. This is how we identify ourselves as human beings unless we are enjoying our retirement after decades of contributing. I do experience moments in which I wonder if this is where I should be devoting my time. There are moments of guilt for just spending and not earning any money (this is an especially tough one for me, I must admit). There are moments of fear for what the future might bring, and there are moments of exhaustion from all the change happening at once. Luckily these moments are rare, and I decided to embrace rather than reject them as my healthy check-in points, which allow me to every now and then calibrate where I stand.
There is something precious I have been noticing over the past few months – about myself and life in general. Work might give us purpose and identity, but a lot of other things do too, we just need to find them and make room for them in our lives. Do I plan to or can I even afford to always live like that? Certainly not. I expect to be wanting to return into the paid employment sector at some point. But until then – and I leave this moment in time completely open for now – I will enjoy my little sabbatical break and, if you want to hear more, let you take a part in it at www.windycitymoments.com.
Thanks for sharing the love and stopping by
MORE BLOG POSTS
26 Antworten
Hi Kate, I just wanted to reach out and say thank you for this post. I have just moved to South Korea from Australia as my husband has taken a job and find myself relating to everything you have written. It is comforting to know someone else has gone through something similar and your perspective has really helped.
Thanks for sharing Caitlan! I wish you a great start in South Korea. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have doubts or questions about your personal next steps (info@sharethelove.blog)
Such a beautiful story and I love her outlook o things! Such a special time in life 🌟
I am out here to speed this good news to the entire world on how I got help from Dr UYI a great lottery spell caster that will help you cast a lottery spell and give you the rightful numbers to win the lottery, I didn’t believe lottery spell at first but as life got harder i decided to give a try, I spend so much money on tickets just to make sure I win. until the day I met Dr UYI online, which so many people have talked good about, that he is very great when it comes to casting lottery spell, he told me the necessary things to do and behold it was like a magic, i won $220 Million Dollars Mega Million with the numbers Dr UYI gave to me. his a really trustful person worthy and reliable, i am sharing this to you who have been finding it so hard to win the lottery, Thanks you Dr UYI who helped me Contact him via email: drzukalottospelltemple@gmail.com OR WhatsApp on +17174154115
Before I became a lottery winner, I wondered how other lottery winners has done it because I thought it was impossible then, until Chief Ade helped me with his spiritual prayer that works urgently. I was scared to try spell because of what I heard about spell, but I still gave it a try and let Chief Ade do what he knows how to do best. Chief Ade put in work after I provided all the necessary materials needed for the work, he gave me the lottery numbers the next day and instructed me on how to play which I did, I won the 65 MILLION LOTTO MAX jackpot the next day and I was so happy to announce to my wife and children about my wins, I’m Mark Hanley of Newmarket, Ontario. I’m sharing my great experience to you all who are finding it difficult to win the lottery, reach out to Chief Ade on chiefadespellhome@gmail.com OR WhatsApp +234 901 380 6328 you will never regret contacting Chief Ade
DR UYI has done it for me, His predictions are 100% correct, He is real and can perform miracles with his spell. I am overwhelmed because I just won 336,000, 000 million Euro from a lottery jackpot game with the lottery number DR UYI gave me. I contacted DR UYI for help to win a lottery via Facebook Page DR UYI, he told me that a spell was required to be casted so that he can predict my winning, I provided his requirements for casting the spell and after casting the spell he gave the lottery numbers, I played and won 336,000,00 euros. How can I thank this man enough? His spell is real and like a God on Earth. Thank you for changing my life with your lottery winning numbers. Do you need help to win a lottery too? contact Dr UYI via drzukalottospelltemple@gmail.com OR WhatsApp on +17174154115
AT 53 YEARS I WON THE LOTTERY: I am a 53 years old farmer who struggled hard to keep food on the table, When Crops failed my debts grew and hope slowly died. One night, desperate and broken, I came across testimonies online about a spell caster named Dr Ogbo who reveals lottery winning numbers. I contacted him for help and I provided him with the requirement to cast the lottery spell, 3 hours after the lottery spell was casted, he gave me specific numbers to play. I rushed to the nearby lotto store and bought a ticket using those numbers, 2 days later I got a notification that I won $5,123,000. I stood in disbelief, shaking, crying, staring at the numbers on the screen. From barely surviving to becoming a millionaire, it felt unreal. Dr Ogbo didn’t just reveal numbers, he gave me a second chance at life. I’ve paid off my debts, bought new land, and my kids will never suffer like I did. Thank you, Dr Ogbo. You are truly the miracle I prayed for. Join me and thank this great spell caster called DR Ogbo via email: Psychicogboreading@mail.com or WhatsApp at +2348110968476
I’m posting this review to warn others about cryptO investment scams that are becoming more common online. Scammers often create professional-looking websites and pretend to be financial experts to gain your trust.They will show you fake profits to encourage you to invest more m0ney, but when you try to withdraw your funds they demand additional payments such as taxes, verification fees, or withdrawal charges. If you encounter something like this, stop immediately and do not send more money. Always verify the legitimacy of any investment platform and report suspicious activities to the proper authorities. Good to see a review about this great Hacker Brunoe Quick Hack, If you have been scammed by crypt0 investment, Don’t panic—you’re not alone. Brunoe Quick Hack Thanks to their skills and persistence, I finally recovered my stolen Crypt0 Contact: BrunoeQuickHack (@) GMAIL.COM
WhatsApp +1705-(7842-635)
Stay safe and always do your research before investing online.
Thank you DOCTOR ODUNGA for making me fertile after 22 years of marriage. I am a barren woman, in fact now it is, I was a barren woman. I say this testimony in regards to Doctor Odunga who granted my wish after 22 years of marriage. No one in my people and friends or family believed I would ever get pregnant, not to talk of giving birth. Now I am a mother of twins? I am indeed the happiest woman to say this testimony for everyone to read. I am Eunice Stein. I am 54 years of age. This is my first writing on the net about anything this serious, especially as for 22 years I have not been pregnant once since I got married to my husband. Please, do you need help with your fertility problem? CONTACT DOCTOR ODUNGA. Do you need your problem solved such as getting your ex back? CONTACT DOCTOR ODUNGA. He is the solution to all your problems. His online email is odungaspelltemple@gmail.com he will solve all your problems OR Whats-App/Call +2348167159012
AI has caused me more problems than it has solved. I was connected to a cryptocurrency trader through Google AI and lost my hard-earned money to a scam. If it weren’t for the assistance of Lord Meduza, whom my sister-in-law recommended to me, I wouldn’t have been able to win the $435 MILLION Mega Millions Lottery. My life could have taken a drastic turn due to the overwhelming bills I faced after being cheated by the crypto traders. Lord Meduza utilized his extraordinary spell powers to determine the perfect six numbers I needed to win the Mega Millions Lottery, and I followed his instructions to play those numbers. I am incredibly thankful for the support, love, and kindness he has shown, which is beyond measure. For further info about his services, please visit his website: lordmeduzatemple.com or If you need an immediate response, you can Whats – App the number on his website or email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com
I want to use this opportunity to tell the whole world on how I become rich and famous. I’m 93 years old. I was passing through difficulty in business and there was no hope of me coming out of my debt. I borrow money in my bank to do my business and I run at lost on the business I got frustrated and decided to be playing lottery to see if I can win and make my business grow and I have played for years now nothing good is coming my way on till I meet someone online talking about Dr UYI on the internet. He was taking about how this Dr UYI help him to win mega million lottery game. I said to myself if this is true and decide to contact him and told him to help me as well I later read more about this man and see how he has been helping people all over the world. I have faith in him and choose to work with him. After working with him he told me what I need to do for the number to be given to me which I did after he finish working he said I will have a dream and the number will be review to me in the dream. That night has I was sleeping I dream a number immediately he call me and gave me the same number I dream of and ask me to go and play the number. Today I’m here testifying of the good work he did for me I played the number and I won the sum of 340, 000,000 million dollars in a mega million lottery. You can contact Dr UYI for help if you want to win big in lottery game he has the gift of giving right number contact him today and thank me email him today Via email: drzukalottospelltemple@gmail.com OR WhatsApp on +17174154115
Good day viewers, I wish to share my testimony with all of you. I have daily 9 to 5 jobs, but while I work, I try my luck at playing instant Lotto. On this particular day, I decided to seek help online regarding tips for winning the lottery and I saw many individuals testifying about OGBO spells. I reached out to him and informed him that I needed help to win the lottery, and he clarified the process to me stating that after he casts the spell, it will take 48 hours for him to provide me the winning numbers which I accepted. I followed all his instructions and he provided me with the numbers to enter the Lottery. After the draw the following morning I received a notification on the Lottery app on my phone indicating that I was the lucky winner of $273 million on the New Jersey Lottery and I’m here to extend my heartfelt gratitude to OGBO Spell If you seek help in your life, WhatsApp +2348110968476 or Email: Psychicogboreading@gmail.com
My girlfriend ended our relationship for seemingly no reason and I came to understand that my financial struggles may have contributed to this, as a healthy relationship is difficult without money and having more money is often seen as a vital tool of life. I’m Jeffery Vargas and for spell expertise, Lord Meduza is the right person to turn to. My girlfriend left me for another man due to my financial situation but after connecting with Lord Meduza he created a spell that not only brought my girlfriend back but also made me a lottery winner of €116 MILLION by providing me with the 6 lucky numbers to play the lottery. Everything feels almost unreal but I assure you this is genuine and it’s occurring. My life is incredibly beautiful and I owe my deepest appreciation to Lord Meduza as his efforts are the epitome of excellence. For enquiry, visit: lordmeduzatemple.com or email: lordmeduzatemple@hotmail.com or Whats _ App +1 (807) 798-3042.
God bless Dr. Uyi for his marvelous work, I was diagnosed of herpes for few years and I was taking my medications, I wasn’t satisfied i needed to be cured completely from herpes, I searched about some possible cure for herpes i saw a comment about Dr. Uyi, how he cured HERPES VIRUS and HPV with his herbal medicine, I contacted him and explain to him, he guide me I asked for solutions, after a few discussion and i have done what i was required to do, he sent me the medicine. I took the medicine as prescribed by him, few days later I went to the hospital for a test when the test was negative, i am now perfectly ok. Dr. Uyi truly you are great, If u need his help? contact him via email: uyiherbalmedicationcenter@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +2348160813984
Dr. Uyi Also Cures:
1. HIV/AIDS
2. HPV
3. HERPES 1/2
4. CANCER
5. ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
6. Hepatitis B
7. chronic pancreatic
8. Emphysema
9. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
10. LOW SPERM COUNT
11. SICKLE CELL
Contact him and be free from any virus you think that cannot be cured, he will cure you.
HOW I RECOVERED MY LOST CRYPTOS FROM FAKE BROKER ONLINE
I had lost over $152,000 by someone I met online on a fake investment project. After the loss, I had a long research on how to recover the lost funds. I came across a lot of Testimonies about, GEO COORDINATES HACKER. I contacted them providing the necessary information and it took the experts about 27hours to locate and help recover my stolen money. To anyone looking for a Recovery firm to Recover your lost Crypto. You can contact GEO COORDINATES HACKER. I hope this helps as many out there who are victims and have lost to these fake online investment scammers. You can contact GEO COORDINATES HACKER. By using
Email; (geovcoordinateshacker@gmail.com
Website; https://https://geovcoordinateshac.wixsite.com/geo-coordinates-hack
I have hard read many testimonies about Dr Jato spell caster how he has help many people of relationships issues, power-ball, Mega millions and I contacted him and it doesn’t take much time that he help me cast his spell and gave me the winning numbers to play and assure me that I will win the powerball jackpot and all that he said came to pass and today I’m rich through his spell he used to help me win the jackpot. If you have ever spent money on any spell caster and couldn’t see any results…. this is the only way to win the lottery and the best way!!via his Email jatolovespell@gmail.com or whatsapp/call +2348140073965
FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D5myk4Bxb/
Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@JatoLoveSpell
..
I’m still in shock that I won the $18.9 million New York Lotto jackpot and I have to give all the praise to Chief Ade. His powerful prayers and positive vibes worked like magic, I played the lottery game for more than 5 years and I never won a reasonable amount, but after I met Chief Ade He helped me pick the right numbers and guided me through the whole process. If you’re looking for a way to change your life, Chief Ade is the man. Thank you Chief Ade for helping me live my dream Email: chiefadespellhome@gmail. com OR WhatsApp +234 901 380 6328
I’m still in shock that I won the $18.9 million New York Lotto jackpot and I have to give all the praise to Chief Ade. His powerful prayers and positive vibes worked like magic, I played the lottery game for more than 5 years and I never won a reasonable amount, but after I met Chief Ade He helped me pick the right numbers and guided me through the whole process. If you’re looking for a way to change your life, Chief Ade is the man. Thank you Chief Ade for helping me live my dream Email: chiefadespellhome@gmail. com OR WhatsApp +234 901 380 6328.
Hi everyone, after 10 years of playing lotto game i am finally living my dream life, all thanks to Dr Dominion i will never forget that great man never in my entire life, i am who i am today all because of him he gave me a winning numbers to play and he prepared a lotto winning spell for me that helped me won the powerball jackpot. friend and I stopped at the party store that day to buy some Lottery, I bought a couple scratch offs and decided to get one Mega Millions ticket and one Powerball ticket, too.
I was at work the next morning when my friend FaceTimed me and asked me if I had checked my ticket because the news was saying the winning ticket was bought at the Huron Plaza Liquor.
I got off the phone and went to my truck to get the ticket. After I checked it, all could do was scream. Everyone from work came running to check on me. Once I got calmed down, my boss made sure I was able to get a ride home because there was no way I would be able to drive after learning I was a multi-millionaire. thank you so much Dr Dominion for what you have done for my entire generations, i will forever be grateful. you may want to try him too here is his info bellow:
Email: dominionlottospelltemple@gmail.com
website: dominionlottospell.wixsite.com/dr-dominion
phone: +12059642462
I have been suffering from Herpes for the past 1 years and 8 months, and ever since then I have been taking series of treatment but there was no improvement until I came across testimonies of Dr. Silver on how he has been curing different people from different diseases all over the world, then I contacted him as well. After our conversation he sent me the medicine which I took according to his instructions. When I was done taking the herbal medicine I went for a medical checkup and to my greatest surprise I was cured from Herpes. My heart is so filled with joy. If you are suffering from Herpes or any other disease you can contact Dr. Silver today on this Email address: drsilverhealingtemple@gmail.com
Hi everyone, after 10 years of playing lotto game i am finally living my dream life, all thanks to Dr Dominion i will never forget that great man never in my entire life, i am who i am today all because of him he gave me a winning numbers to play and he prepared a lotto winning spell for me that helped me won the powerball jackpot. friend and I stopped at the party store that day to buy some Lottery, I bought a couple scratch offs and decided to get one Mega Millions ticket and one Powerball ticket, too.
I was at work the next morning when my friend FaceTimed me and asked me if I had checked my ticket because the news was saying the winning ticket was bought at the Huron Plaza Liquor.
I got off the phone and went to my truck to get the ticket. After I checked it, all could do was scream. Everyone from work came running to check on me. Once I got calmed down, my boss made sure I was able to get a ride home because there was no way I would be able to drive after learning I was a multi-millionaire. thank you so much Dr Dominion for what you have done for my entire generations, i will forever be grateful. you may want to try him too here is his info bellow:
Email: dominionlottospelltemple@gmail.com
website: dominionlottospell.wixsite.com/dr-dominion
phone: +12059642462
]
WE WON $70,000,000 ON LOTTO MAX: We have been married for 51 years and we have tried everything we could to win the Lotto Max lottery. I went online for help then I saw Testimonies of people thanking lord Bubuza for helping them win the lottery by casting a spell and revealing the lottery numbers to them. I immediately contacted him for help and he responded saying “I will cast a lottery spell and reveal the lottery winning numbers to you” I provided the requirements to cast the spell and after which he gave us the number so we purchased the Quick Pick Lotto Max ticket at a grocery store while on our way to camp and behold we won 70 million dollars and kept it a secret for a while. Our names are Doug and Enid Hannon and we are gladly recommending lord Bubuza to everyone willing to win too. Contact him via Email: lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com or WhatsApp: +1 365 808 5313
I WON THE LOTTERY AS A RETIRED BUS DRIVER: I was going to be a retired bus driver who had no savings, the thought of it kept draining me daily, I have been playing lotto for the past years without luck. I went online for a research on life after retirement when I saw Random testimonies of people appreciating a spell caster called Lord Bubuza for giving them the right LOTTO winning numbers so I immediately contacted Lord Bubuza for help to win the LOTTO 6/49 JACKPOT via Text/Call: +1 505 569 0396, he said I can only win with the right numbers which will be revealed to him by his gods after casting a spell. I did as he instructed and the spell was cast, he gave me the numbers and said I should go and play without fear. I bought the ticket and played. It was very shocking and surprising when I discovered that all the numbers Lord Bubuza gave me matched all six winning numbers in the April 6 draw. I became winner of $18.7 million with the help of Lord Bubuza numbers. I will continue to appreciate him, Join me thank him via email: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com or WhatsApp: +1 365 808 5313
MY LOTTERY WINNING SAVED ME FROM POLVATY: I am a 53 years old farmer who struggled hard to keep food on the table, When Crops failed my debts grew and hope slowly died. One night, desperate and broken, I came across testimonies online about a spell caster named Lord Bubuza who reveals lottery winning numbers. I contacted him for help and I provided him with the requirement to cast the lottery spell, 3 hours after the lottery spell was casted, he gave me specific numbers to play. I rushed to the nearby lotto store and bought a ticket using those numbers, 2 days later i got a notification that I won $5,123,000. I stood in disbelief, shaking, crying, staring at the numbers on the screen. From barely surviving to becoming a millionaire, it felt unreal. Lord Bubuza didn’t just reveal numbers, he gave me a second chance at life. I’ve paid off my debts, bought new land, and my kids will never suffer like I did. Thank you, Lord Bubuza. You are truly the miracle I prayed for. Join me and thank this great spell caster called lord Bubuza via email: lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com or WhatsApp: +1 365 808 5313 ..
LOTTERY WINNING THAT CHANGE MY LIFE: I’m a 26 year-old man from Toronto and I just won a $60 million lottery jackpot, Life was tough before and I could barely pay the bills. One day, while searching online for ways to improve my life, I came across people sharing how a spell caster named Lord Bubuza helped them win the lottery. I was curious and decided to contact him. He responded quickly and told me what was needed to cast a lottery spell. After the casting of the lottery spell, he gave me some numbers to play. I bought a ticket online using OLG’s “Never Miss a Draw” subscription. A few days later, I got a call from OLG saying I had won $60 million! I was so shocked that I couldn’t speak, my hands and feet went numb and tears of joy rolled down my face. I never thought this could happen to me. I’m forever grateful to Lord Bubuza for changing my life. If you want to reach out to him, you can contact him via WhatsApp: +1 365 808 5313 or by email: lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com
My name is Charles Coffey, I’m 81 years old and proud to be an Officer of the Order of Canada. I’ve always stood for good causes, but nothing prepared me for the sadness I felt after playing Lotto Max for years with no win. My wife begged me to stop wasting money it broke my heart. One day, while browsing online, I found stories about Lord Bubuza helping people win the lottery. I contacted him on WhatsApp, and he kindly told me what to do. Two hours after he cast his spell, he gave me 7 numbers and a bonus. I played them and I won $1,000,000. I was in shock. Lord Bubuza gave me joy and hope when I needed it most. I’ll be forever thankful. You can reach him via email: Lordbubuzamiraclework@hotmail.com or WhatsApp: +1 (365) 808 5313