| What is life like for a trailing spouse? French-born Veronique gives her version here. She has lived in Norway and Sri Lanka, and now lives with her family in the American city of Chicago in Illinois. Read on to find out what she thinks about things like the cost of living there, their favorite pastimes, and some tips she has for getting around in the Windy City. |
 Veronique |
-Where were you born?
-In which country and city are you living now?
-Are you living alone or with your family?
-How long have you been living in the USA?
I have been living in Chicago for two years.-What is your age?
I am 38 years old.
-When did you come up with the idea of living in the USA?
-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?
Well, I got my visa because my husband was sent here to work. So it was not a problem. Moreover my visa allows me to work. So it was rather easy. Prospective expats and their spouse must be aware of a very important point: being allowed to work in the US depends on your visa. So if you move with your spouse and s/he is willing to work, double check that your visa allows her/him to do so. According to visas, dependants of expats are not all the times allowed to work.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
My case is a little bit special because I am a diplomat's spouse. But it took me some time to understand the American health system, the fact that you have to check by yourself if the doctor you choose is part of your network and so on. My advice to future expats in the US is to dive into the system as soon as possible, especially young moms. Do not wait that your child becomes sick to get an appointment. Do your homework, do your research, because each practice has its own rules.
-How do you make your living in Chicago? Do you have any type of income generated?As I said previously, I moved because of my husband's job. It is not the first time we have lived abroad. I have already been relocated three times abroad and I have experienced one move back "home". As you can understand, I am the trailing spouse, who follows from a country to another. As I was very tired to find a job and then being dismissed every three years (when I was lucky enough to find one or simply allowed to work), I have created my own portable business. I am a writer and editor. I mostly work freelance, which gives me a lot of flexibility and allows me to keep my job when we are on the move. It is still challenging but less than to have to look for a new job and then restart each time from the bottom!
-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?Yes, I speak English, and it is very useful to speak the language of the country where you are moving. It is the most important thing to do: learn the local language. I learnt Norwegian when we moved to Norway and it really saved my life. It kept me sane. In Sri Lanka, I did the choice not to learn Cingalaise and it was a mistake. But after three years learning Norwegian, it was hard to jump to this one!
The fact I speak rather well English has made my settlement in the US extremely easy, not only for me but also for my children who did not know a word of English!
-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.
Yes, of course, but in a way, I am now used to this way of life.
Well, there are a lot of things to do in Chicago. What I enjoy the most (especially in the summer) is the lakefront, Lincoln Park and the numerous playgrounds and parks that are scattered all around the city. It is very nice to live in a city such as Chicago with children. There are a lot of music and food festivals as soon as the summer is there. In the winter, most of the activities are indoors because of the cold weather but there is still a lot to do.
-Do you have other plans for the future?
My plan is to enjoy Chicago until my next move abroad and develop my portfolio of customers for my writing business.-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We rent and this is rather expensive in comparison to the European rates. Be prepared! But the standard of accommodation is excellent. For a three bedrooms, the rent is between $2500 and $3500 per month. It really depends on the neighborhood.-What is the cost of living in the USA?
When I said I was going to move to the US, everybody told me: "Don’t buy anything before leaving; it is so cheap in the US". Actually Chicago is not that cheap! Accommodations for instance are extremely expensive in comparison to Europe. The healthcare is expensive and all the things in relationships with children are expensive too: daycare, afterschool programs, schools … What is cheap are: fuel, electronics items …
-What do you think about the locals?
Locals are very nice. Personally I mix with locals and expats. Americans are very open to foreigners. After all, foreigners made this country.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in the USA?
The main negative aspect is that the winter is a bit long and cold. But I knew it before coming. From time to time I also miss the French food and specialties from my home city, Lyon, which is famous for its gastronomy!
The positive aspect is that the transportation network in Chicago is very developed. In this, Chicago is very European. If you are single or a couple with no children, there is really no need to buy a car. Trains, buses, subway, cabs are very easy to use. There are also a lot of biking trails and the city has recently developed a bike sharing system downtown. Even cars can be shared thanks to two companies: I-GO and Zipcar.
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in the USA?
I advise to subscribe to a local newspaper such as the Chicago Tribune for instance (but there are others). So you will know what is going on in the city from different angles (politics, economy, arts) but also where to go to shop as there are a lot of ads coming with the newspaper (especially on Sundays).
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about the USA?
My blog: http://expatforever.blogspot.com
My website: http://www.writerforever.com
This is the home page of the US Government's Official Web Portal for all government transactions, services, and information. We particularly advise to check the “For visitors to the US” section.
Website of the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau (CCTB), whose main goal is to promote the city of Chicago.
This website is the official mayor's guide to the city of Chicago. It will provide you with information relating to libraries, parks, tourism, city departments and news.
