:About

Hi, my name is Danie Barkhouse. I’ve been inspired by creative friends to create Global Girl™ Online as a way to help expat authors, photographers, artists and business women promote themselves and one another, as well as their products and services to the global market.

Originally from Canada, I began my first website when my family moved to England (long before the days of the blog). I kept my friends and family up-to-date on the touristy life we were living abroad. I began an official blog, Earth to Danie, when we learned we were moving to India in 2007. That blog followed us from our move through our return, and was published from blog to book, entitled The Expat Arc: and expat’s journey over culture shock, in March 2008.

Although I never had any aspirations—and I mean, ever—of becoming a writer, I found it to be a very therapeutic way of processing the culture shock I experienced while living in India. While it’s a privilege to be able to experience life submerged in another culture, it’s also a jarring transition to leave behind friends, family, and even a career. Many expats find their hidden creative talents of writing, photography and art, either as a coping mechanism or by being inspired by their host country. We use our skills to find our niche; publish our stories, show our photographs, sell our art and offer our services. Essentially, we become expatpreneurs.

Unlike traditional entrepreneurs, an expat’s market is rarely a local one. When I published my own book, I had to come up with creative ways to market it online to my readers–which were expats. I have learned much and have since helped other authors with their marketing efforts through book trailers and social media marketing. Global Girl™ Online gives women a global platform to connect with other expats, shine a spotlight on their products and promote their businesses. It’s a central online meeting place for networking, sharing ideas, promoting expatpreneurs and supporting our global community.