Wobbly Tales of Expat Lives – the Most Relatable Book Yet

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The life of an expat trailing spouse is amazing and frustrating at the same time. It can take you to the most amazing places around the world, where you'll get to see things and meet people that others back home have only seen on TV. But at times it can also be frustrating enough to make you want to rip out your hair. Sometimes the problem is not understanding the local language, other times it could be the sheer loneliness of not knowing anyone. But whether it's the good times or bad, you can't deny that expat life is full of adventures.

We at jingkids had the privilege of working with Pearl Kasujja-Van de Velde during her time in Beijing. The Uganda native has lived all over the world, and we're so excited to share that she and her longtime friend Julie Epenu-Robert have put their adventures into a book.

From Journeys to Words: Wobbly Tales of Expat Lives tells the tales of these expat wives that many of us can relate to, with a sense of humor that resonates through Pearl and Julie's unique way with words.

Meet the authors

Pearl Kasujja-Van de Velde:
I was born in Uganda, in a large family of ten. In my teen years and early 20s, I dabbled in modeling before I met my husband and we started our wandering expat existence. Together, we have two daughters. I have a degree in international relations and I’m involved in several social projects.

Julie Epenu-Robert:
I was born and raised in Uganda until 2004 when my then-boyfriend (now husband) whisked me into a nomadic existence abroad. Ever since, I have called seven countries “Home.” I am currently an islander living in the Comoro Islands with my husband and our two children. I have an MBA and I own and run a handmade business.

Q

How did you two meet and where did the idea for the book come from?

Pearl:
When I set off on the trailing path, I often got a barrage of questions from friends and family about the places we were relocating to – messages that I couldn’t individually answer because of the sheer magnitude of things I have to absorb when we move to a new place, and because I have way too many friends and family! (I’m not going to WhatsApp over 200 people back and forth…)

So, I reasoned, what better way to avoid the thousands of messages and emails about every one of my travel/ relocation experiences, than to put it all in a book that everyone can read and enjoy. And further still, why not include tales from others who have had similar experiences to mine. Variety is the spice condiment of life, right? So, in came my dear friend Julie, whose expat journey is very identical to mine, albeit in different locations.

Julie:
Pearl and I met in Kampala about 22 years ago when we both joined Uganda’s first modeling agency – Ziper Models. A year or so after we met, we both coincidentally met our future husbands, and – again, coincidentally – we both started this expat journey at exactly the same time. Pearl was moving to Zambia with her man and I was moving to Zimbabwe with mine.

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Q

Is there one chapter that’s your absolute favorite?

Pearl:

All chapters have taken me back to some fond memories (as well as some memories I'd rather forget) so it’s difficult to choose one. However, I loved remembering the people we met along the way (Chapter 6).

Julie:
Every chapter in the book is special, but the one that really stands out for me is the sixth chapter, which talks about the friendships we’ve created along this journey and how they have positively impacted us.

Q

What’s the most unbelievable expat life experience that you’d like to share with our readers?

Pearl:

There’s not one particular experience for me that stands out. All the collective cultural experiences we’ve experienced have been incredibly rewarding, from trying to grasp the esoteric Chinese language and navigating the incredibly rich Chinese culture, to trying to understand how the currency black market works in Beirut, Lebanon. All these life experiences have left me feeling incredibly lucky to be living this nomadic expat life.

Julie:
That would be Zimbabwe, the country that turned us into instant trillionaires! We were welcomed by hyper-inflation and an economy surviving by a thread that saw us carry bags, suitcases, and wheelbarrows of money – just enough to buy a few basic groceries like bread, sugar, and milk (if there was any available).

Q

What are the best and worst things about being an expat?

Pearl:
The best thing is the people we meet. The worst is the complete disorientation and feeling of not belonging anywhere – after a while, we don’t know where “Home” is. That’s been an unyielding challenge for me. I have learned to “occupy” my days with small writing and consultancy projects, as well as taking short courses – on top of being a full-time mum.

The whole expat experience is wonderful, sometimes frustrating and stressful, but also exciting!

Julie:
While I appreciate the opportunity to travel, discover and immerse myself in new cultures and meet interesting people across the globe, not having a stable career path can be a challenge, especially as an expat spouse.

Quitting a promising career in my hometown to follow love changed my professional trajectory even though it was all worth it because we have grown as a family in more ways than you can imagine.

I eventually learned to embrace these constant changes with several “projects” to fill my days. Apart from being a mum, I have furthered my studies, done volunteer work, and I have started a small handmade business called AFRODASH as well as an organic skincare range called MELLOWSKIN.

Q

Is there a country that you wish you could return to and live in all over again?

Pearl:

China (and no, I’m not saying this because this is a Chinese magazine). When we moved to China, the first few months were difficult because I was completely lost in translation (Mandarin is like brain surgery – gosh). After a year or so of living in Beijing, my Mandarin became pretty “ok” and I began to really enjoy this giant [metropolis]. Here, I met incredible people, saw mind-blowing development and tech advancement, traveled to some of the most beautiful cities and villages in the world, and tasted some of the best dishes.

I’d also happily return and live in China JUST for Taobao (if you know, you know – haha)!

Julie:
I have never really had the urge to return to any of the countries we have lived in. I guess this nomadic lifestyle teaches you to want to discover new places every time.

Obviously, all the countries we’ve lived in have their special qualities, but if I really had to choose, it would be Madagascar. I am fond of Madagascar not only for its warm and friendly people, its array of biodiversity, and natural beauty, but [also] for their skilled craftsmanship. In fact, it was over there that I developed a passion for handmade art.

It's the place where I was the most involved with community service and friends, and we were able to travel numerous times within the island for local tourism and discovered amazing places.

Q

Why should people be excited for your book?

Pearl & Julie:

The book is a good read for people who are struggling to find their place after relocating to an unknown country. It reveals the dynamics of life as an expat and showcases our personal experiences as expat spouses as well as our children in a third-world culture. It unveils our struggles, successes and failures while we navigate our way in strange countries and cultures, create new relationships, and the work it takes to keep a family together despite the constant changes. We see our struggles through humor and also throw in some inspirational outlooks on expat life that many could relate to.

To get your hands on a copy of the book, scan the QR code below to buy it on Amazon.

Images: Pearl Kasujja-Van de Velde

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