The Invisible Suitcase: 5 Truths About Relocation Anxiety No One Tells You
Yes, I teach French. But today, I’m unpacking something much heavier than grammar: the emotional baggage of moving abroad as a partner.
What is Relocation Anxiety, Really?
Let me tell you a story.
When Sarah, the partner of an executive relocating to Paris, learned about the big move, she did what many do: she smiled, nodded, and got to work.
📍 School for the kids.
📦 Apartment to rent out.
💉 Vaccinations.
📑 Certified translations.
🔌 Universal adapters (which everyone forgets, by the way).
But in the middle of all that… she packed a suitcase.
Not a visible one.
An invisible suitcase — one I see too often.
Inside?
❓What will I do there?
🫣What if I can’t find a job?
💬What if I don’t speak to anyone for weeks?
This, my friends, is Relocation Anxiety.
The Silent Weight of Expat Partners to understand them better
Relocation Anxiety doesn’t show up in suitcases or spreadsheets. It hides in our thoughts.
And if you’re the expat partner, you often feel like you’re not allowed to have it.
After all, you’re the “lucky one.” You’re not the one taking the job abroad.
But you are the one…
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Leaving behind a career, a network, a purpose
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Becoming “the spouse of” (can we talk about that term?)
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Navigating a new culture, possibly a new language
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Supporting everyone else’s transition — but who’s supporting yours?
When I moved to Paris years ago, I wasn’t the “trailing spouse,” but I definitely trailed a thousand doubts.
And I wasn’t carrying a suitcase.
I was dragging a whole cargo of invisible expectations.
5 Signs You’re Experiencing Relocation Anxiety
Let’s name it — because naming things makes them lighter:
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😬 You feel excitement… and guilt for not feeling only excitement
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🧭 You’ve lost your professional compass
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💬 You’re googling “how to make friends in a new country” at 2AM
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😶 You say “I’m fine” a little too often
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🧳 You carry a suitcase no one else sees — but it’s getting heavier by the day
How to Unpack That Suitcase (Without Crying in the Embassy Waiting Room)
The first step? Talk about it.
That’s what Sarah did. Three months after arriving, she joined one of our “Café Découverte” meetups at Absolutely French.
She said it out loud.
And guess what?
Half the room nodded with tears in their eyes.
The other half handed her chocolate. 🍫
Together, we unpacked that suitcase.
Not with a magic wand, but with empathy, tools, community, and yes — a bit of humor.
(Side note: humor is a French survival skill. I promise.)
That’s why I created Absolutely Ahead – The AI Mobility Academy for Expat Partners:
To make that invisible suitcase visible — and manageable.
Because Relocation Anxiety is real. But it’s not forever.
Special Offer: Bring a Friend, Share the Load
👯♀️ If you’re an HR professional supporting expat families:
Enroll 2 partners before April 20 and the third training is on us.
Or if you’re an expat partner:
Bring a friend — you both get 50% off.
Let’s turn Relocation Anxiety into Relocation Clarity.
Because no one should have to unpack alone.
📩 Message me to reserve your spot (no suitcase required 😉)
Or join us for a free discovery chat
Just a little word of who we are: an amazing team of 14 people taking care of expat partners in Paris and all over the world.
Absolutely French is the leading French language school uniquely tailored for expatriates. Through our engaging, friendly, and innovative French courses, we not only promise a seamless integration into French society but also an immersive cultural experience.
Are you an expatriate looking to master the French language and embrace the local culture?
Become Absolutely French!
Contact us!
Email: contact@absolutely-french.eu
Tel: 01 83 73 98 49
Address: 15 rue du Colonel Moll, 75017, Paris.