Can our sense of reality get skewed when we join the Expat crowd and land in countries where we suddenly can afford domestic help (cook, chauffeur, gardener) that would be out of reach in our native or adopted land?
Alan Paul tackles these issues in Putting Privilege
Into Perspective (Expat Life, Wall Street Journal) and also its impact on children.
One of my clients has a relative who moved recently to Mauritania. He can afford some domestic help and was able to have furniture built for the whole house by local craftsmen for a meager $1000.
Alan’s column also brought back to mind a conversation I had a while back with an executive who was stationed in Cambodia in the 60’s.
Early on, he did not tell his driver to leave so the driver spent the night waiting there, sleeping in the car.
All that is a reminder that we can get spoiled and loose sense of reality.
In these first few days of the year, it calls us to be thankful for what we have.
Related: Jet Girl, Shopping by Private Jet