Customer Reviews

The Expat Arc: An Expat's Journey Over Culture Shock

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book didn't make me want to live abroad, but it certainly made me appreciate how much effort it takes to maintain a family life in a very different environment. Danie chronicles the move and the adjustments to living in Chennai, India where her husband's job takes them. Her humor and frank candidness give a fresh perspective to her family's travails, from dealing with unwanted slithering guests to navigating the local markets. Her pictures beautifully illustrate her stories and we really get to travel along on her 'journey' over culture shock.

This is a very delightful, wise and entertaining book. The author takes us along on a journey to Chennai, India and gives us an honest and insightful account about the challenges and the beauty of living there.
The author writes in a lighthearted way, but conveys deeper meaning. The stories are awesome and contain a lot of humor. Sprinkled in is interesting information about the country which I enjoyed very much reading.
The author has a positive outlook on the adventure that she, her spouse and her young son had the opportunity to have enjoyed.
I can recommend this very inspirational book to anyone.

I met the author on a recent visit to Chennai, India, where she lives and writes about in Expat Arc. She's right when she says herself that she's not offering a travelogue of India nor deep insights into its culture. What she does offer, and what I believe everyone expat spouse will relate it, is the rollercoaster of emotions which a family, and especially an accompanying, supportive spouse, rides when they find themselves transplanted from a place like Chicago to southern India. The culture shock wave hits Danie straight in the face over and and over again..and she keeps coming up for air with her sense of humour in tact and a positive outlook on the experience which she, her husband, and her young son are privileged to be enjoying. A lot of fun to read!

I absolutely loved reading this book! When I first heard about this book, it caught my interest because I had lived in the Middle East as a child, but I don't remember anything about my time there. What a wonderful gift Danielle has given to her family, friends and readers by sharing her personal experiences.

Her writing is refreshingly honest, thought provoking and sprinkled with "laugh out loud humor". I will probably never have the opportunity to visit India, but I feel as though I have been there. Danielle brought to life, the smells, the texture, the beauty, the frustrations and wove them all together in a beautiful tapestry.

In reading "The Expat Arc" you will feel as though you have shared her experience. You will feel like a friend of the family and that Danielle is one of those special women with whom you want to chat and share all your secrets with. This is one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time.

This is a very wise and entertaining book. The author takes us along on a journey to India and gives us an honest and insightful account about the challenges and the beauty of living there.
The author writes in a cheerful way, but brings deeper meaning.

Danielle Barkhouse takes readers along on her journey of relocation from Canada with her family, JP, Conner and Kramer (the dog) to India. It's not a boring travel journey, but an entertaining view into the lives of an interesting family who immersed themselves into culturally unfamilar realms of a fascinating country and its intriguing people.


I found myself, along the journey, thankful that it wasn't expected of me and I hope it never is. For one thing, I would hate not being able to get my favorite food, bacon, whenever I wish.

This book deals with a westerner grappling with the culture shock of living in India. It does it in an engaging and entertaining manner. It is a fun and amazing read.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started reading this book. But let me tell you, it was a great, entertaining and educational read. It is wonderfully insightful with awesome stories about the challenges when visiting/living in a new country. Culture shock is probably an understatement. Here in the USA I can't image having "cows tied up on the sidewalk right outside the mall" as the author points out. There's nothing wrong with that but its just one of those things that you wouldn't even know to think about until you're there. The author does a fantastic job bringing here experiences to my life. In fact, the whole "14 snakes in 4 months" is still freaking me out!

As you can tell by the title of my review, travel to India is not at the top of my "to do" list. Having said that, let me also say that Danie's book is absolutely delightful! I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures, the cheerful, positive comments, and the candidness of her observations. India may not be for me, but "The Expat Arc" is a real winner. Good book for teenagers thinking of traveling abroad. I enjoyed it immensely.

Reading this book reminds of "Anthony Bourdane's No Reservations" except that this narrator has better manners and better lifestyle. This book is an exciting adventure of a global traveler that still maintains the sense of family and a normal life. Cultural shock can be very un-nerving, but this author takes it in stride and survives. Great book with great writing that will keep you engaged from cover to cover.