Browsing through the messages posted on the P.E.O. Overseas Members Yahoo! Group is like eavesdropping on a global P.E.O. meeting. Across countries and even continents, sisters are sharing their experiences, giving advice, extending invitations and offering loving support. Since its inception in March, the online group created exclusively for P.E.O.s living outside the United States and Canada has really taken off. Now 85 members strong, the expat P.E.O.s have exchanged over 100 messages about everything from the red tape involved in moving pets overseas to advice on finding good healthcare in a foreign country.
About half of the Yahoo! Group members live in Europe–Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Poland and Greece–the rest are scattered around the world including Egypt, Jordan, Ethiopia, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Macau, Guam, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Argentina, Brazil, St. Kitts and Cuba.
Janice Thomson, CQ, Chicago, Illinois, organizer of the group, is thrilled at the response the Yahoo! Group has received from sisters living abroad. "It has far exceeded my wildest expectations," she said. Being involved with the creation of the online group from the very beginning has given Janice, who lives in Belgium, unique insight into the various circumstances of her fellow expat sisters. She shares, "There are many different reasons for P.E.O.s to live overseas. Some have been overseas for 30 or more years. Others are only living abroad for just a few months. There are P.E.O.s who married foreigners and live in their husband's country. Some are students or academic researchers abroad for a short period of time. Many are in the military or foreign service (or have spouses who are) so regularly live abroad. Missionaries (and spouses of same) live overseas and sometimes move from one foreign country to another. There are women sent abroad for a few months or years for work (or go with spouses who are) and who plan to return home. Some wanted to completely change their lives so just decided to move overseas. Others are retired and just spend part of the year as expatriates. Some speak multiple languages and live as ‘natives' in their adopted countries while others only speak English and try to maintain an American lifestyle. Several P.E.O.s have lived in multiple foreign countries on several different continents while there are some who have only lived in one."
With such a wide array of experiences represented, the Yahoo! Group has proven to be a great resource for all those who've joined. Several members have found others living near them and have already gotten together–some even setting up regular meetings. There are many P.E.O.s making plans to meet for coffee or lunch or to travel to other countries for visits, while others just enjoy the exchange of ideas online. Members have shared practical advice about learning a foreign language, getting registered to absentee vote from abroad, shopping and cost-effective ways to communicate with friends and family back home.
Interesting conversations have been sparked on the message board about cultural differences in members' respective countries. Recently, members shared how they celebrated Independence Day in their overseas homes. Expanding cultural literacy and connecting P.E.O. members living abroad, the P.E.O. Overseas Yahoo! Group is strengthening the bonds of sisterhood across the globe.
Please note: The P.E.O. Overseas Yahoo! Group is exclusively for P.E.O.s who live overseas. Moderators of the group CAN NOT accept as members those who are just traveling abroad. There are no P.E.O. chapters overseas and no P.E.O. Bed & Breakfasts overseas. This online group is not to be used for travel advice for P.E.O.s living in the United States or Canada.
P.E.O.s Love the New Yahoo! Group "I was one of the first to join the online group and have really enjoyed all the messages. I am the only one in Ireland, but have emailed with a sister in Northern Ireland. I love this new email connection and can't wait to visit sisters in other countries. This online group is great – let's keep it up." Mary Frances Edwards, T, Siloam Springs, Arkansas "I am currently residing in Tokyo with my husband and our 5-month-old daughter. Imagine my surprise, having left my home, friends, church and P.E.O. sisters behind in March of this year, to read in The P.E.O. Record about the Yahoo! Group especially for P.E.O.s living abroad! It was lovely to connect with four other sisters here in Tokyo and they have been a terrific resource for me since they have all lived here longer than I. They have shared where to shop for organic produce, where to buy affordable baby clothes and even where to get my hair done! Living in Japan is completely different – the language barrier, customs and life in general is all so foreign. I am so grateful that my mom gave me the gift of P.E.O. Were she alive today I know she would be thrilled to learn how much P.E.O. has helped me to get settled in my new home." Catherine Clover, CX, Burlingame, California "It's exciting to see the P.E.O. Overseas Yahoo! Group take off. There seem to be lots of P.E.O.s in Europe and I'm looking forward to being able to connect with some of them. In my earlier life I spent several months posted to London and connected with a few P.E.O.s there – including one from my home chapter! Being a P.E.O. overseas has become quite different from what it was a generation ago. We tend to be heavy users of the internet, Yahoo! Groups, voiceover- internet-protocol and other ways of staying connected." Susan McFee, DE, Chicago, Illinois (Currently living in Mumbai, India)
