169: Stories of an Expat Mom - Jenna Davis: From Canada to Dusseldorf

Have you ever fantasized about relocating your family and yourself to Europe? What about Australia? Or are you the mom who is being whisked away abroad because your partner was just granted a VISA? This is for you, my fellow globetrotter!  Today, we have Jenna Davis, who relocated to Germany for a boy, got married, and now has two children. Originally from Canada, Jenna has gone from ex-pat to immigrant in Dusseldorf, Germany. In this conversation, we discuss what you can do in a foreign country (launch an online business, get a Ph.D., etc.), how ex-pats bring a unique perspective to foreign countries, and how you too can make this work assignment the perfect time to reset your own professional identity. When Jenna came to Germany, her yoga pants and her messy bun didn't quite fit in with Dusseldorf's excess of Prada shoes and Gucci bags. Moving to Düsseldorf was like that first day of Kindergarten… 24/7. She didn't know anyone and the Germans looked at her funny. This is also when she turned her career in marketing and tourism into something bigger. And what started as a small local ex-pat blog in Düsseldorf has now grown into an expert-led online relocation course, a YouTube channel with more than 40K subscribers, and multiple Facebook communities growing strong.  At the end of the day, the most important takeaway we can learn from all this is that life is too short. What if the thing you've been wanting to do is actually going to be the best decision you will ever make? Hopefully, this episode will inspire you to take a leap as well! In this episode, you will hear: Life expectations before having kids vs. being in a whole different place decades later Expat vs. being an immigrant How living in a new country can change you? European vs. North American lifestyles Living in a place where you don't know the language Giving birth in a foreign country and what that was like for Jenna German healthcare vs. Canadian maternity healthcare insurance A funny chat about pelvis floors because you need to laugh What is the unique perspective of being an ex-pat or foreigner in a new country? Marketing to travel blogger to expert of a specific area What if you go on an ex-pat assignment with your family? How can you use that time to advance or experiment with your own career? Raising kids in a different culture What if you are scared to launch your own business? Pros and cons of being a mom with a flexible business Ways to start exploring whether self-employment is right for you and your family How to launch a business in a foreign country? Does fear ever go away from being in a new country or being a business owner? What if you want to relocate to Germany? First steps for families SHARE this episode with a mom who daydreams or is packing up for a foreign country.  Similar episodes: How To Turn Life's Silliness Into Your Brand Featuring Squidinki Co-Founder Max Mendez, Episode 136 The SECRET to SUCCESS Behind Australia's Chocolatier Rebecca Knights, Episode 135 Supporting Resources: Website: www.lifeinduesseldorf.com & www.lifeingermany.com Instagram: @lifeingermany_ Twitter: @lifeindus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifeindus, https://www.facebook.com/lifeindus, https://www.facebook.com/lifeingermanyofficial Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for moms who read and want to write a nonfiction book? I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  DOWNLOAD FIVE JOURNAL PROMPTS + A WACKY TRUE STORY FROM MY UPCOMING BOOK MOM LIFE RESCRIPTED TO GET YOU STARTED ON ADDING MORE PLAYFULNESS INTO YOUR LIFE https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/  Not feeling like the mom life shoe fits quite right? The book for moms who feel like their former selves is playing hide and seek yet she can't be found. Where is she? WHAT YOU GET: In this chapter, you will SEE what bringing a sense of curiosity, playfulness, and a willingness to dream for yourself can do for both you and your family. You'll also have the opportunity to answer five key questions that will help you unlock ways you can rewrite your "mom scripts" so that you can cultivate a sense of playfulness every single day! REVIEWS: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY This chapter is about getting in touch with your creative, playful, imaginative side. The part of yourself that perhaps felt freer before you became a parent, before you chose your identity and had a lot of responsibilities weighing you down. In helping you get in touch with your more playful, creative self, it not only helps you on a path toward greater happiness and fulfillment, but it also helps you to feel more fulfilled as a parent. – Mom/PR The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. I think that the tone is so energetic and fresh that it is why I would pick it up. – Latina Mom/Positive Psychology Coach Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional "mom script"? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the "cultural glass ceiling" to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. – Aspiring Novelist, Librarian, Mom To Two Kiddos In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end of your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child. – Single Mom To A 12-Year Old Boy