Charmin-Ultra: Don't Squeeze Me

Among people who are against globalization, expatriate wives are most eligible.

These days, you don't get a job in your town, but in another country. It is very likely that one day your husband comes home and says, "I am home, honey. Oh, by the way, I got transferred to Brussels and company wants me to get ready by next month." Next day, you will be packing and next month, you will be in a totally different country where you don't even know a soul, not to mention to speak the language. There is never a course or any manual of "how to be an expat wife" and I bet many just never think about it.

It was a cold and wet Februry morning. Drizzling. She just finished her meeting in downtown Evanston. Tired and cold. She walked into the Starbucks and hoped a cup of hot latte would warm her up. Preoccupied with what was discussed in the meeting, she was not aware of the man who was coming out from the Starbucks with a hot drink in his hand. He opened the door and she ran into him. Coffee spilled onto her. Damn it, she thought, it was my favorite cream color coat that I was going to wear for the upcoming party. The man was apologetic but "really it was not my fault", he thought, "and there went my latte." They went into the Starbucks looking for napkins to clean her coat. "I am sorry, I didn't see you", the man apologized. "Oh, it is not your fault. I was not looking myself", she explained. The man helped her clean her coat but a big stain stayed on the front of the coat. She was mad but also understood that it was her fault and this man actually was very nice helping her. She tried to find something to say to hide her frustration. She spotted that man was carrying some brochures from Northwestern University. It was about non-credit courses that school of continuing studies offers. "Are you taking classes at Norhtwestern?", she asked. "Oh, not yet. I am here for an Info session and I am thinking of taking a couple of classes but can't decide yet." "Oh, I am working for Northwestern and taking classes at the same time and maybe I can give you some suggestions", she replied but in fact she was thinking "what am I doing? He must think I am crazy." To her surprise, the mad accepted her offer and asked her to have coffee together. He got his new latte and one for her. "He likes latte, good choice", she thought. They talked and talked until she had to return to the office. He gave her his email and asked hers.

2004 June

ME!

很多人在到美國之前都會取個英文名字