Who are you?

My name is Naomi, I'm from a small mountain village in British Columbia, Canada. I've lived in Slovakia for 10 years with my husband and (now) four children.

Where, when and why did you move abroad?

My husband and I met going to college in the USA. I finished my last semester of college in Austria on a study abroad program and then came to Slovakia in 2004.

We were engaged at the time and he wanted me to experience Slovakia before we got married, to have a better understanding of where he was coming from.

What challenges did you face during the move?

I think one of the hardest things was loneliness. My then-fiance was working in Austria and I was alone in Bratislava, teaching English. When teaching I would go out to businesses so it's not like I had a place of work where everyone convened. The owner of the company did a good job of trying to create a community for the teachers, but I was often gone on the weekends and so didn't really get to know many people.

Are there many other expats in your area?

There are quite a few in Bratislava, but now that I live in a small town an hour away, there are only a few.

What do you like about life where you are?

As a parent, I appreciate that there is still some freedom for kids - people aren't expecting a predator around every corner (or in a friend, for that matter). A friend was visiting from DC and was floored that so many kids were playing outside unsupervised, though we are in a small town.

What do you dislike about your expat life?

It's really hard to get to know people. Slovaks, at least in the West where I live, are quite reserved although they will do anything for you once you get to know them.

What is the biggest cultural difference you have experienced between your new country and life back home?

Coming from Canada and an international family (my father is Japanese), I found the lack of international foods hard to get used to.

What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?

Don't be afraid to approach a stranger and introduce yourself, even if you feel like an idiot, because nobody will approach you. I'm terrible at following my own advice, by the way.

Also, keep an open mind that sometimes things are done differently or thought about differently, and that's ok.

What are your plans for the future?

The future is an open door

You can keep up to date with Naomi's adventures on her blog, Almost Bananas.