What do you think?
Bloom Where You're Planted; Life the Expat Way
Are you contemplating a move abroad? Don’t panic!
From culture shock to capable, from language barriers to lifelong friends, and from foreign land to the familiar. Being hurled into life in a strange new place can be daunting and overwhelming, but it can also be exciting and enjoyable. Rich with tips on how to expat like a boss, Lasairiona McMaster’s “Bloom where you're planted”, takes you on a journey from packing up her life in Northern Ireland to jumping in at the deep-end as an expat in two countries.
An experienced expat from a decade of living abroad, her honest and uncensored tales of what to expect when you’re expatriating, are as funny as they are poignant, and as practical as they are heartfelt. If you’ve lived abroad, or you’re considering the move from local to expat. If you’re looking to rediscover yourself, or simply wondering how on earth to help your children develop into adaptable, resilient, and well-rounded people, this book has something for you.
•Get yourself - and your house - ready for the big move.
•Travel with kids, like a boss.
•Make life-long friends, super-fast.
•Dealing with distance.
•It takes a village.
From culture shock to capable, from language barriers to lifelong friends, and from foreign land to the familiar. Being hurled into life in a strange new place can be daunting and overwhelming, but it can also be exciting and enjoyable. Rich with tips on how to expat like a boss, Lasairiona McMaster’s “Bloom where you're planted”, takes you on a journey from packing up her life in Northern Ireland to jumping in at the deep-end as an expat in two countries.
An experienced expat from a decade of living abroad, her honest and uncensored tales of what to expect when you’re expatriating, are as funny as they are poignant, and as practical as they are heartfelt. If you’ve lived abroad, or you’re considering the move from local to expat. If you’re looking to rediscover yourself, or simply wondering how on earth to help your children develop into adaptable, resilient, and well-rounded people, this book has something for you.
•Get yourself - and your house - ready for the big move.
•Travel with kids, like a boss.
•Make life-long friends, super-fast.
•Dealing with distance.
•It takes a village.
319 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2019
About the author
Lasairiona E. McMaster
55 books858 followersLasairiona McMaster writes sassy, classy and badassy women and strong, yet vulnerable men.
She challenges reader’s expectations by openly dealing with mental health issues, often exploring tough-to-handle topics and ‘taboos’ and books with a whole lotta heart.
She can either be found enjoying a gin and lemonade by the Irish sea, or baking sweet treats in her kitchen while singing at the top of her lungs.
When she’s ‘home’ in Texas, and isn’t eating fresh-popped popcorn while buying things she has absolutely no need for in Target, she can be found at Chuys eating her body weight in chips and queso and washing it down with a margarita swirl.
She challenges reader’s expectations by openly dealing with mental health issues, often exploring tough-to-handle topics and ‘taboos’ and books with a whole lotta heart.
She can either be found enjoying a gin and lemonade by the Irish sea, or baking sweet treats in her kitchen while singing at the top of her lungs.
When she’s ‘home’ in Texas, and isn’t eating fresh-popped popcorn while buying things she has absolutely no need for in Target, she can be found at Chuys eating her body weight in chips and queso and washing it down with a margarita swirl.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 25, 2019
Even if you’re never planning on re-locating from your comfortable current abode – read this book! Just because it’s so worth reading!
And if you are considering a move, to a different country, continent, planet or wherever, then I would insist that this book is compulsory reading! You won’t find a more honest, practical, down-to-earth, all-you-need-to-know hand-book than this one.
Las does not know the meaning of the expression ‘to sugar-coat’. She lays out every detail in all its painful, messy, confusing glory. But she does start off by telling you that at all times must you be kind to yourself … before going on to detail practicalities like financials, health care, job security, packing, priorities, preparation, language, food, support, adjustment and just about every single other detail you haven’t even imagined you’d ever think of or ever need to know regarding emigration – including whether there is a Target nearby, how far is it to the nearest Target, or why isn’t there a Target. I could SO relate to that – I have a 16-year-old daughter who would add the question: “Is it a large branch of Target?” because as we all know, size does count – sadly she lives in a country where there is … gasp! … no Target at all!!!
I adored this book! I have lived through a continental shift – having moved from the UK to South Africa with my parents when I was just 7-years-old, and then having to deal with my parents moving back to the UK many years later when I was already married with my own children. Living in SA though, emigration is a way of life, and we have had to get used to friends moving all over the world. We share their ups, their downs (there are many, and I suspect many more than they actually reveal to us). But I am beginning to see a huge global shift as life becomes less static for many people in many countries and they, or their adult children pick themselves up and re-plant themselves in different places, often with a view to upping and moving again in a not too distant future. There definitely seems to be more flexibility than in previous years.
I laughed every single time Las mentioned ‘The Google’ (really, every single time!), and as much as she apologised for all the swearing, this is what makes this book that much more authentic, as you hear her authentic voice all the way through.
This is a 5-star read, highly recommended to anyone who’s interested in learning about how to handle anything that life throws at you.
And if you are considering a move, to a different country, continent, planet or wherever, then I would insist that this book is compulsory reading! You won’t find a more honest, practical, down-to-earth, all-you-need-to-know hand-book than this one.
Las does not know the meaning of the expression ‘to sugar-coat’. She lays out every detail in all its painful, messy, confusing glory. But she does start off by telling you that at all times must you be kind to yourself … before going on to detail practicalities like financials, health care, job security, packing, priorities, preparation, language, food, support, adjustment and just about every single other detail you haven’t even imagined you’d ever think of or ever need to know regarding emigration – including whether there is a Target nearby, how far is it to the nearest Target, or why isn’t there a Target. I could SO relate to that – I have a 16-year-old daughter who would add the question: “Is it a large branch of Target?” because as we all know, size does count – sadly she lives in a country where there is … gasp! … no Target at all!!!
I adored this book! I have lived through a continental shift – having moved from the UK to South Africa with my parents when I was just 7-years-old, and then having to deal with my parents moving back to the UK many years later when I was already married with my own children. Living in SA though, emigration is a way of life, and we have had to get used to friends moving all over the world. We share their ups, their downs (there are many, and I suspect many more than they actually reveal to us). But I am beginning to see a huge global shift as life becomes less static for many people in many countries and they, or their adult children pick themselves up and re-plant themselves in different places, often with a view to upping and moving again in a not too distant future. There definitely seems to be more flexibility than in previous years.
I laughed every single time Las mentioned ‘The Google’ (really, every single time!), and as much as she apologised for all the swearing, this is what makes this book that much more authentic, as you hear her authentic voice all the way through.
This is a 5-star read, highly recommended to anyone who’s interested in learning about how to handle anything that life throws at you.
May 23, 2019
I’m sure some folks are wondering why I would even bother to read a book about being an expat! Are the Navins considering relocating somewhere else in the world for work? For fun? I’ll be honest…when I was asked to review this book, I skimmed the book blurb and said ‘yes!’ When I started reading the book and realized it was a ‘guide to being an expat,’ I wondered why I was reading it myself! I have to tell you though: this book is more than that…it’s a delightful memoir from a woman who you will want to be your friend!
McMaster is from Ireland and her book is peppered lots of British phrases and words. However, she now considers Houston, TX her home and you can imagine the hilarious stories that go along with that transition. While, as I said, I’m not an expat and not looking to become one…McMaster’s personality and love for the topic shined through in this book, making it an enjoyable (and informational read) throughout.
The book is written in a very informal style…if author asides to the reader bother you, this book will be a hard pass for you! It’s the style, however, that I found most engaging. McMaster describes her life leading up to becoming an expat, explains her desire to live abroad and the catalogs her amazing and harrowing experiences as a expat both before and after becoming a mom.
If you have any inclination toward becoming an expat, it’s all here in this book: how to decide, what to take, who to talk to and how, what pitfalls to avoid! McMaster also pays specific homage to the myriad expat friends she has made throughout her journey. These stories of women truly being there for other women are a big part of what made this book so endearing regardless of the fact that I don’t relate to being an expat myself.
My brother-in-law and sister-in-law were expats for years and I found myself looking at their experiences in a different light because of this book: McMaster points out many of the biases that exist toward expats amongst non-expats and, I must admit, I was guilty of many of them!
I must disclose: I was reading an ARC of this book so I experienced some disorganization in the copy of the book I read. I found that a bit offputting (chapters weren’t clearly defined, topics bled from one chapter to the next) but hope that it is resolved in the final copy of the book!
Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone involved in the expat life in any way and definitely recommend for everyone else, as well. It’s funny (read it if only for the multiple international dildo stories! 🙂 ) heartwarming and real. I saw my struggles as a woman and a mother in many of McMaster’s stories…and I loved her and her book for putting them out there in such a genuine way!
McMaster is from Ireland and her book is peppered lots of British phrases and words. However, she now considers Houston, TX her home and you can imagine the hilarious stories that go along with that transition. While, as I said, I’m not an expat and not looking to become one…McMaster’s personality and love for the topic shined through in this book, making it an enjoyable (and informational read) throughout.
The book is written in a very informal style…if author asides to the reader bother you, this book will be a hard pass for you! It’s the style, however, that I found most engaging. McMaster describes her life leading up to becoming an expat, explains her desire to live abroad and the catalogs her amazing and harrowing experiences as a expat both before and after becoming a mom.
If you have any inclination toward becoming an expat, it’s all here in this book: how to decide, what to take, who to talk to and how, what pitfalls to avoid! McMaster also pays specific homage to the myriad expat friends she has made throughout her journey. These stories of women truly being there for other women are a big part of what made this book so endearing regardless of the fact that I don’t relate to being an expat myself.
My brother-in-law and sister-in-law were expats for years and I found myself looking at their experiences in a different light because of this book: McMaster points out many of the biases that exist toward expats amongst non-expats and, I must admit, I was guilty of many of them!
I must disclose: I was reading an ARC of this book so I experienced some disorganization in the copy of the book I read. I found that a bit offputting (chapters weren’t clearly defined, topics bled from one chapter to the next) but hope that it is resolved in the final copy of the book!
Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone involved in the expat life in any way and definitely recommend for everyone else, as well. It’s funny (read it if only for the multiple international dildo stories! 🙂 ) heartwarming and real. I saw my struggles as a woman and a mother in many of McMaster’s stories…and I loved her and her book for putting them out there in such a genuine way!
May 20, 2019
3.5 stars
Wanting a change of scenery and dream about living in another country? This book is a useful tool and source of practical information especially if the US and India are on your radar.
I picked up this book purely because I'm a foreign implant in the country where I now live. The author's experiences differ to mine due to our geographical locations, however, wherever you are, there will always be common occurring matters to address, therefore her insightful knowledge should be of interest for anyone thinking of upping sticks and flitting overseas either temporarily or permanently.
'If I knew then what I know now' resonates with me when I look back on the time I move across the sea to a new life and a whole new culture to get used to. Gaining as much information as possible about your chosen place to reside, of course, makes sense. Yet, there will still be issues cropping up which you are unprepared for even if you're the most researched and informed person. Helpfully, this book covers lots of practical advice matched to likely scenarios. They may not be specific to where you are heading, but highlights situations you may encounter anywhere and with advice on how to tackle them.
More than a fact book, Bloom Where You're Planted is full of the author's own anecdotes and wisdom giving a first-hand account of how she and her loved ones navigated there way through red-tape and hiccups along their ex-pat journey.
Overall, not everyone's journey to a new life will be the same, but there will always be a common set of 'need to know' advice wherever you land and this book is concise and thorough and should cover any incident you encounter.
Wanting a change of scenery and dream about living in another country? This book is a useful tool and source of practical information especially if the US and India are on your radar.
I picked up this book purely because I'm a foreign implant in the country where I now live. The author's experiences differ to mine due to our geographical locations, however, wherever you are, there will always be common occurring matters to address, therefore her insightful knowledge should be of interest for anyone thinking of upping sticks and flitting overseas either temporarily or permanently.
'If I knew then what I know now' resonates with me when I look back on the time I move across the sea to a new life and a whole new culture to get used to. Gaining as much information as possible about your chosen place to reside, of course, makes sense. Yet, there will still be issues cropping up which you are unprepared for even if you're the most researched and informed person. Helpfully, this book covers lots of practical advice matched to likely scenarios. They may not be specific to where you are heading, but highlights situations you may encounter anywhere and with advice on how to tackle them.
More than a fact book, Bloom Where You're Planted is full of the author's own anecdotes and wisdom giving a first-hand account of how she and her loved ones navigated there way through red-tape and hiccups along their ex-pat journey.
Overall, not everyone's journey to a new life will be the same, but there will always be a common set of 'need to know' advice wherever you land and this book is concise and thorough and should cover any incident you encounter.
May 29, 2019
This book is a great read. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and sometimes cringe at Las’ adventures through expat life... and most importantly, you’ll recognize yourself at every turn of the page (or is it just me?).
While Lasairiona McMaster writes about life as an expat, and gives tips that helped her and the numerous expats she knows, she mostly writes about life, motherhood, womanhood, and all those things everyone can relate too. So, whether you're an expat or not, you will enjoy reading 'Bloom Where You're Planted'.
She’s also got a brilliant sense of self-derision, humour and writes from the heart. (brilliant is probably not the adjective she would have used, her language is a bit more... flowery? Well, she’s from Norn Iron after all!)
While Lasairiona McMaster writes about life as an expat, and gives tips that helped her and the numerous expats she knows, she mostly writes about life, motherhood, womanhood, and all those things everyone can relate too. So, whether you're an expat or not, you will enjoy reading 'Bloom Where You're Planted'.
She’s also got a brilliant sense of self-derision, humour and writes from the heart. (brilliant is probably not the adjective she would have used, her language is a bit more... flowery? Well, she’s from Norn Iron after all!)
June 22, 2019
This is a fascinating book, crammed full of knowledge and expertise if you moving to another country to become an ex-pat.
There are over ten chapters full of information on the best strategies to take to make sure your transition goes as well as it can. From money, and healthcare, loneliness and isolation, the author uses her own experiences to try and smooth your journey. she also looks at how to make it easier for your children to cope with the upheaval.
I think her main message throughout the book is, it’s not going to be easy but if you are forewarned and forearmed you can tackle anything that comes your way.
A very informative read.
There are over ten chapters full of information on the best strategies to take to make sure your transition goes as well as it can. From money, and healthcare, loneliness and isolation, the author uses her own experiences to try and smooth your journey. she also looks at how to make it easier for your children to cope with the upheaval.
I think her main message throughout the book is, it’s not going to be easy but if you are forewarned and forearmed you can tackle anything that comes your way.
A very informative read.
July 31, 2019
Like sitting down with an old friend over coffee and cake, listening to all the advice you never knew you needed if you're thinking about chucking it all in and moving abroad. Full of personal experiences, things that went wrong as well as things that went right, I can't think of anything not covered.
February 28, 2020
Full review: https://swiftcoffee.blog/2019/08/14/b...
This is a fun and easy-to-read book with many funny stories, but it doesn’t lack depth when it comes to the hard part of living in a foreign country. There were many things that I could relate to, though, to be honest, much less than I expected to.
This is a fun and easy-to-read book with many funny stories, but it doesn’t lack depth when it comes to the hard part of living in a foreign country. There were many things that I could relate to, though, to be honest, much less than I expected to.
August 24, 2023
Hunour, insight, experience... this book is everything an expat would want to know!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews