Home is where I understand and where I am understood.
How do know when you are at home?
Where is home?
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Monthly Archives: July 2012
How do you manage the gap? Expat training isn’t the solution.
How to Manage the Gap.
Over the years, I have realized that expatriate training doesn’t manage the gap in between most assignments. Often times, you have your expatriate training, go on assignment, and if you are lucky, you get repatriation training to manage coming back ‘home’.
But what about the time in between? When all of the STUFF actually happens and you need support? It’s been a long time coming, but I am so excited to share with you our new online coaching product to Manage the Gap. Here’s a snapshot of the program below. Learn more on our website.
Our unique online intercultural coaching programs offer you the support, information and resources you need, when you need them the most, where ever you are in the world.
Traditional expatriate training doesn’t always support you throughout the entire life of your assignment abroad. Often times, support is only in the beginning and if you’re lucky, in the end.
But what about the time in between, the most critical time, when assignments are most likely to fail, work productivity drops and satisfaction decreases?
We manage this gap and provide you with support before, during and after your time living and working abroad.
No travel necessary, no scheduling conflicts – ask your questions, voice your concerns, get support and learn about intercultural competence and adjustment at your own pace, knowing you have a coach who is there to support and help you throughout the program.
It’s easy. Select the coaching program that is right for you, sign-up and get started today. Click here to learn more.
Can you stretch even more?
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. – Neale Donald Walsch
How can you step out of your comfort zone today?
But where do I start?
Learning the host language can change your entire experience abroad. So can not learning the language.
That being said, it can still be overwhelming. Where should I start when learning a new language?
Unsure where to start?
Start exactly where you are at this moment. There is no other place.
Packing (and Un-Packing) Your House and Home
Moving house and home? Here are my tips for you to help you manage this move, the physical (see #2) as well as the mental move.
1. Bring the Kitchen Table. Or something tangible which reminds you of home, provides some comfort as well as stability in those moments when you’re feeling unsure and not at ‘home’.
2. Turn knobs inside out. If you are having professional movers, they should know to do this. If not, to be sure knobs are not scratched, unscrew them from the outside and re-screw them on the inside of the drawer. No lost screws and no scratched knobs. This inside out rule applies for other items as well, for example your sugar bowl lid.
3. What to put in your luggage. Your air shipment and/or container will take some time to arrive in your new home. Therefore, pack not only essential items (medicine) in your checked luggage, but also a few items that are also very useful to have (though perhaps not essential) but will provide some comfort in the first weeks.
4. Unpack as quickly as you can. Even if it is just one box at a time, unpack as quickly as you can so that the walls become filled with color and the tables filled with photos. Not only do you need to get used to your home, but your possessions need to find their place too!
5. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Yes, I know what I just said in point 4. However, keep in mind, you have just arrived in a new country and are perhaps overwhelmed with many things. Remember, unpacking doesn’t have to be done in a day or within a week. Balance your time and listen to your body. If you need a break, take a break.
6. Labels. Use them as often as you can. Use colored labels. Use room named labels. Use home level labels. Fragile. This End UP. Load last. Unload first. Whatever kind of labeling system works for your and your items is best. Just remember to label and mark the boxes.
7. Legal. Be sure you know what you are allowed and not allowed to ship and bring with. Check with the moving company as government regulations and the specific rules of the moving company may differ.
8. Mental Move. Keep in mind, while you are labeling your possessions, about your mental move as well. What goes in your air shipment (need immediately)? What goes in your SEA shipment (need, but not right away)? What goes in STORAGE (needed, but not in the new country)? What stays (things to let go of and are no longer of use for you)?
9. A picture is worth 1000 words. Use a camera to take pictures of how complicated wiring is hooked up. Label wires. Keep plastic bags handy for screws and small pieces essential to rebuilding furniture and electronics.
10. Get a massage. Remember moving day is moving day. This is no longer a packing day! This is the day the movers come and fill the container. Most often, they don’t need everyone to be around all the time for this. Take this time for yourself, relax and know that things are moving along.
What Expatriation Can Give You – Life Lessons
1. You learned about yourself. Perhaps too much at times – your limits, your strengths, your weaknesses.
2. You learned about your own culture. Probably first and then learned about the other cultures after trying to figure out #1.
3. You developed important life skills. As well as some other skills you didn’t even know were skills!
4. You learned about another culture and another part of the world.
5. You may now speak another language. And realize your mother tongue has changed in the process.
6. You made some wonderful friends. Some who turned into family.
7. You are less ethnocentric – you see yourself and the world more clearly.
8. You are more independent, self-reliant and self-confident.
9. You are more flexible and may be slower to pass judgment.
10. You know your own culture better than those who never left.
I have a friend who once said;’ Sometimes I wish I had never left. Then I would never know. But I did leave. And now I know.’
My thoughts exactly.
What has expatriation given you?
Caterpillar Spirit Bookstore Open for Business!
We are excited to share with you that we have created an online bookstore with the right books and tools you need to live and work effectively across cultures.
Caterpillar Spirit BookstoreWhat are you doing abroad?
If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else. – Yogi Berra
- What are you doing abroad?
- What are your personal, professional and family goals?
- How will you do this?
