Weekdays

Abstract

This chapter examines respondents’ weekday routines while separated from their families in their overseas work destinations. Some respondents experience the separations positively; they succeed both personally and professional while away. Others — most, in fact — experience the separations as more challenging. In particular, for “survivors” separated from partners and young children, numerous challenges arise — loneliness, fatigue, excessive alcohol consumption, over-work, and so on. Meantime, the chapter also show that for many “left behind” partners of Euro-commuters, weekday separation are equally onerous occasions. Similar problems arise for many “left behind”.