Name: Tania G Nationality: New Zealander Current Location: Myanmar Yangon Date Moved to this Location: August 2005 Other Countries Lived In: New Zealand Papua New Guinea United States Indonesia Malaysia Russia Type of Expat Woman: Professional Mother Volunteer

I am a graduate in French and German language and literature from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. My professional background includes many years working for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where I held responsibility for a range of political and trade/economic issues. I began my career in the area of public affairs and media relations. In addition to public sector experience, I also spent three years as an administrator for Common Cause, a public interest lobby group (NGO), based in Washington D.C. and was general manager for two years of a small for-profit grocery business in Jakarta.

My husband, Karl, is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy and we expect to live in Yangon until mid-2008. We have one son, born in Singapore who is in first grade at the International School of Yangon.

Although I am unable to work in Myanmar, I do keep very busy with helping out at my son’s school, representing the US Embassy on the International School’s Board of Directors and heading a voluntary welfare group of expatriate and Myanmar women. I do the weekly Hash House Harrier walk and have joined a stitching group.

1. Expect Yangon to be both better and worse than you imagined!
   
   
2. Don’t expect to work in Yangon but there are volunteer opportunities.
   
   
3. Bring some hobbies, interests or crafts with you and be prepared to be resourceful especially during the long wet (monsoon) season from May to October.
    
4. If you have children, you won’t be able to find toys so stock up before you come with toys, games, DVDs and party supplies.
   
   
5. Bring a good stock of Western clothing especially if you wear more than a US size 10 as you won’t be able to find clothes or underwear here.
   
   
6. If you are single, your likelihood of finding a partner here is pretty low!
   
   

http://www.irrawaddy.org
http://www.rangoon.usembassy.gov
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.stuff.co.nz
http://www.timezoneconverter.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/