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TOP 10 TIPS
for a successfulexpat assignment
1. The talking cureKeep the lines of communication wide open with your spouse and
children before, during and after the assignment. Talk openly about
everything, and be there to listen and support each other.
Besides making sure that you maintain routines and stay in contact
with home, it is better to involve children as soon as possible in the
decision-making process. Let them hear your arguments and allow
them to state their opinion. They are important family members and
will feel happier if they are treated that way.
2. Beware the trailing spouseIf one partner is relocating for the sake of the other, make sure the
trailing spouse has a support network set up, even before the actual
move. Many trailing spouses leave a good career behind to accompany
their partner on the expat assignment. Going from a rewarding career
with many social contacts to becoming the housewife - or
househusband - is quite an adjustment by itself. Combine this with
setting up life in a new country with a different language and you have
quite a challenge on your hands.
3. Don’t rush choosing a schoolFind the right school for your children, and this will make settling in
much easier for all of you. Make sure to visit the available schools and
find the one that feels right, for both the adults and the kids. Take
plenty of time for a tour of the facilities and ask any questions or
concerns you may have.
Ensure that the school has a caring community and volunteer
opportunities so the parents, as well as the child, can quickly and easily
integrate. Find out as much as you can about useful resources, whether
there is a welcome group for new parents, available childcare options
and any other things that may help you settle in..
4. Expect difficultiesDon't underestimate the pressure the assignment will put on your family
and marital life. It's much better prepare to deal with these problems
rather than hoping your family will be an exception.
It is true that some locations are easier to adjust to than others. But,
regardless of the location, an expat posting inevitably affects family
relationships. The good thing: they mostly change for the better. Families
who put in the extra effort are rewarded with closeness between family
members that is stronger than ever before.
Some of the extra effort needs to be put into building excitement about
the move and being positive. There will inevitably be bad days, and you
have to find a way to go on. A good sense of humor will help.
5. Integrate yourselfMake a real attempt to learn the local language and culture. Wherever an
expat assignment may take you, it will likely be very different to what
you are used to - though an American family posted to the UK will, for
example, have an easier time adapting than one that is assigned to China
or Egypt.
The key to any posting is to have an open mind toward other cultures.
Try to learn a few words in the local language before arriving, and find
out the main habits and customs of the country or region so you are
sensitive to any differences there might be.
6. Do your homeworkProper preparation is one of the keys to a successful posting. Too many
people go into a posting without having done their homework and
jeopardize their family’s chance at a great experience. Going into a new
location without all the necessary information will lead to unpleasant
surprises that could have easily been avoided. You need to be responsible
enough to take advantage of the many resources available to you to
properly prepare the entire family for the new adventure and
significantly increase the chance of success.
7. Use your resourcesGet involved in your children's school and youll find it easier make
friends who share and understand your lifestyle. Some schools have
groups made up of parents who get assigned new families and who will
try to be of assistance before and during the move. You will find people
at international schools very hospitable as the vast majority of them
went through the same experience that you are about to go through.
8. Don’t keep going homeTravel to new and exciting places and resist the temptation to return
home at every opportunity. There are many expats who will take every
opportunity to go back to their home country. Every school vacation is
spent in the country of origin and, once the assignment is over, they
have not spent any time exploring the country of assignment or its
surrounding regions. Exploring your new country and its surrounding
areas will help you feel at ease in the new location.
9. Prepare yourself for going backPrepare for reverse culture shock upon returning home. Many
expatriates, living in far-away places, imagine how wonderful it will be
to return to the familiar comforts of the life they once had. Even those
who have adjusted well to the host culture and are happy with
expatriate life assume that repatriation will be a breeze. However, they
are in for one unpleasant surprise: reverse culture shock is the name
people give to that feeling of not fitting in to your home country, and
you’re especially at risk of it if you return home after living abroad for
an extended time.
10. Take advantage of the opportunity...of all the wonderful opportunities an expat assignment offers. Expat
life is what you make of it