[ID:8893] A woman working abroad does not have the same experiences as a man, explains a consultant who works throughout Africa:

"The most surprising treat of working abroad as a female consultant was the pure pleasure of being able to focus my attention completely on my work, relieved of my at-home roles of wife and mother. The most difficult aspect of working abroad as a woman and a consultant is the loneliness. When the work day was over, I was often trapped in my hotel, too restrained by cultural taboos and lack of familiarity with the locale to venture far alone."

Sometimes cultural rules that apply to local women will be waived for North American women, explains a private consultant working in Africa:

"As a North American woman, I was able to work effectively with men in Muslim countries as I was not expected to conform to the cultural practices of local women. As a middle-aged woman, I commanded more respect from both women and men than younger female consultants would have."