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Laura J Stephens
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An Inconvenient Posting - An Expat Wife's Memoir of Lost Identity Paperback – September 30, 2012

by Laura J Stephens (Author)
3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
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British psychotherapist, Laura J Stephens, already had the living abroad tee-shirt, and believed that another intercontinental move, this time to a country where they spoke the same language, would be child's play. How wrong she was! This always candid and often humorous memoir demonstrates that things don't always go as expected - particularly with three kids in tow and an oft-absent husband. Setting up home in Houston placed Stephens in the eye of hurricane Ike, a frisky piano teacher and a crushing loss of identity as she came to terms with losing her hard won career. Unafraid to share the truth of the ensuing depression and her recovery, her story will offer expatriates and those who have suffered similar episodes hope and inspiration. Set against a dramatic Houston backdrop, readers will find a host of good ideas that foster resilience.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    312 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Springtime Books
  4. Publication date
    September 30, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.7 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1904881807
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1904881803
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Written with eloquence and raw honesty, Laura Stephen's insightful journey provides a rich resource for expatriates and others struggling with the challenges of a major life transition." Tina Quick, author of The Global Nomad's Guide to University Transition. "Touch, taste, and feel the incredible paradoxes inherent in an expatriate lifestyle." Ruth E. Van Reken, author of Letters Never Sent. "A treasure trove of understanding and resources." Anne P. Copeland PhD, author of Global Baby. "Stephens graciously takes us along on her downward spiral into depression, then details what helped as she makes her triumphant journey back." Linda A. Janssen, author of The Emotionally Resilient Expat.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Springtime Books (September 30, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1904881807
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1904881803
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.7 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

About the author

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Laura J Stephens

Laura J Stephens

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Laura J Stephens, British author and psychotherapist writes about expatriate life and its emotional challenges in an honest and often humorous way - see her blog for a selection of published articles and posts: http://laurajstephens.com. 'An Inconvenient Posting' offers a vivid and insightful account of a wife's struggles as she uproots herself from England to accompany her husband on a posting to Texas. The positive and fruitful aspects of cultural immersion are balanced with the darker challenges of a mobile life (something she does not hold back from revealing) as Stephens uses her therapeutic back ground to inform the reader through her storytelling.

Moving to and living in different countries with her husband and children, she has gained a perspective on expat matters in her alternate roles as employer, spouse, mother and therapist.

Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
3.6 out of 5
9 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

S. Nding
4.0 out of 5 stars Lost of identity
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2013
`An Inconvenient Posting' is an autobiographical memoir that can be read as a novel, of Laura J Stephens, a British psychotherapist, about her life as expat wife and her unexpecting depression.

For Laura and her family, a move to Houston appeared as a great adventure, an American dream. With a previous posting, followed by a stint in her home country where she trained as a psychotherapist, she believed that another move would be straightforward. She couldn't have been more wrong. She did not expect such differences between the UK and USA, she struggled with a loss of identity and confusion with her past life. She slowly sinked into depression and wanted to discover the causes of it to find a way back to herself.

This book, written with honesty, hope and humour, is for anyone lost in depression, struggling with loss - of identity, home or family and friends, and also for anyone facing a move, a posting, giving good advice for any expat.

The book contains a second-part of a comprehensive self-help section with tips on building emotional resilience while on the move, recognising depression and the `Do's and Don'ts' of a depressive episode - written by the therapist who has been there. There is also an interesting section on recommended resources.
2 people found this helpful
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Jack Scott
4.0 out of 5 stars An agonisingly candid and raw account of loss and transition
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2012
When husband, David, received the job offer of a lifetime to head up his company's office in Houston, Texas, it could not have come at a worse time for Laura. Their young children were settled and thriving in the home that she cherished, she was close to launching her own career as a counsellor and her parents had moved nearby to enable them to spend quality time with their grandchildren while they still could. To say Laura was conflicted would be a sweeping understatement. But, her love and loyalty for her high flying husband meant that she was determined to do the right thing even when her heart was screaming "no". Besides, exchanging the grey and dripping skies of England for the endless horizons of Texas had its attractions. How bad could it be? "An Inconvenient Posting" is an agonisingly candid and raw account of loss and transition. Dark and broody but revelational and comic at the same time, this book will resonate with anyone who has found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Did Laura live the American dream? You best read the book to find out.
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Top reviews from other countries

Adam Gale
5.0 out of 5 stars Takes you on a journey
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 24, 2014
Verified Purchase
While this must not have been an easy book to write, Laura Stephens makes it an easy one to read. She draws you deftly into her experiences as a “trailing spouse” and, while some of those are negative, they are authentic and honestly portrayed. Impressively, Stephens manages to maintain both narrative pace and an uplifting tone as she recreates in crisp detail the world that changed around her. As it says in the publisher’s note, it may be a book about depression but it is not a depressing book.

For anyone interested either in the experience of moving to a new country or in the struggle with depression, I recommend An Inconvenient Posting.
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Barbara Barrett
2.0 out of 5 stars Poor Me
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
This was a book written by an self centred woman - who just couldn't see any advantage in being posted to an interesting country. She spent the whole book moaning about being away from England - and just coldn;t understand that her newly acquired qualifications were not recognised in the U.S.A. This is a country that makes you take your driving test again if you move states, for goodnes sake, they are hardly going to let you practice in the medical field without at least some sort of qualification that they recognised. She really iritated me, and I was not alone in not wanting to finish the book. Save your money.
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Maria, Qatargirl
1.0 out of 5 stars So negative!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2012
Verified Purchase
I am also an expat wife and believe that every overseas posting can only be as positive as the expat makes it. This lady appears to condemn and sneer at life in the US without making much effort to participate in new experiences or to make new friends. I hope that people considering a move do not read this as they will be put off!
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