Life as an Expat. Forty-Five Year Journal (B&W): Forty-Five Year Journal - Donald Shockley

This book offers an authentic depiction of the lives led by expatriate individuals who dedicate the majority of their professional lives to working in countries other than their own. For many, this means building careers and facing unique challenges far from the place of their birth. According to the Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), at least 5.4 million Americans were living abroad in 2023, a figure that does not include U.S. military personnel. Among these expatriates, thousands of Americans are employed in the gas and oil industries, much like the author of this book. However, the landscape was quite different in 1978. It was rare for someone from the Ozarks to embark on a journey abroad as an expatriate working in the gas and oil industry. The decision to leave home and country for such a career was unusual for an Ozarks native at that time.

In many ways, the purpose of this book is deeply personal. It serves as an appeal for understanding and forgiveness from my family for my absence during times when they likely needed me most. I am especially mindful of the hardship this caused for my wife, Christina. This stands as my greatest regret in life. Ultimately, this book is dedicated to my family.