Teoh’s Story
Teoh did plenty of research before moving to Dubai. She came for a “look see” visit and then followed up with plenty of Internet surfing, including of course the pages of ExpatWoman.com.
Dubai was not her first expat assignment. She had spent 8 years in Hong Kong, where her children were born and more recently 5 years in Singapore and so knew the importance of connecting with others. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help” she advises “No question is too stupid.” By the time she arrived last October she had not only found the answers to many of her questions, but had also joined a bridge group and a book club.
Bringing their two dogs from Singapore wasn’t a problem. They used the services of a local company to handle the paperwork and both her Tibetan terrier and Yorkie handled the trip well. Teoh and her husband chose an apartment in The Greens because it’s a “dog friendly” neighbourhood and they love being able to walk the dogs down to the local cafes where they can sit outside and have a coffee. Unfortunately both dogs are finding it difficult to adjust to apartment living and Teoh is trying to help them overcome separation anxiety whenever they are left alone.
Originally from the UK, Teoh has a life-long passion for learning “I’m a constant student” she laughs. Leaving behind a career in the performing arts, when she first moved overseas to Hong Kong she turned her artistic flair to learning Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and also trained in image consulting.
On her return to the UK she launched into a new career as a Colour Me Beautiful trainer and later she worked in retail management. However she still studied part-time, this time in the art of Feng Shui. During their next expat assignment in Singapore, she volunteered as a counsellor for Relate, having studied Rogerian and Gestalt therapy many years before. But again she wanted to learn something new, and was attracted to Aura Soma, a complementary therapy that uses the energies of colour to discover more about yourself and promote well being.
So what will she study while living in Dubai? “Mosaics” she answers confidently. Her artistic eye and love of colour are perhaps leading her in a new direction but she also intends to take additional courses related to Aura Soma via distance learning. “I’ve had choices and been able to follow an interest,” she says, recognizing that she has been fortunate. “Being an expatriate can give you the freedom to pursue things that may not have been open to you before.”