Tag Archives: isolation

What my dog taught me about surviving repatriation

Posted on April 30, 2012 by

I was reading my friend Linda’s recent post about the expat life lessons she learned from her cat Charley, when I realized that I, too, have a pet who possesses a certain Yoda-like wisdom. That beautiful animal in the photo … Continue reading →

Posted in Repatriation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

How effective is intercultural training?

Posted on March 5, 2012 by

Cross-cultural training improves skills that lead to expatriate satisfaction, including intercultural competence and effective interpersonal communication. Intercultural training is a multidisciplinary field that emerged after the end of WWII. From the pioneering work of organizations such as the US Foreign … Continue reading →

Posted in Predeparture | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Families adjust better to expatriate life with support from HR

Posted on March 1, 2012 by

HR’s obligations to expatriates don’t end once they relocate abroad. Ongoing effort is required to support the family throughout the overseas assignment. Trailing spouses constantly strive for emotional homeostasis: a delicate balancing act between appreciating what they’ve gained through expat … Continue reading →

Posted in Adjustment, Culture Shock | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Repatriating TCKs: It’s not all sunshine and lollipops

Posted on February 6, 2012 by

When it became apparent that our family would be moving back to Canada after five years abroad, I set out to prepare my daughters for yet another big change in their lives. I encouraged them to talk about their feelings, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adjustment, Identity, Third Culture Kids | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Repatriation: 5 mistakes I wish I hadn’t made

Posted on January 16, 2012 by

Last week’s post was fun; I got to pat myself on the back for doing 5 things right when I repatriated. I’d love to leave you with the impression that I handled it all like a pro, but I made … Continue reading →

Posted in Adjustment, Repatriation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Become an Ugly Expat in 12 easy steps

Posted on February 27, 2011 by

You’re probably familiar with the expression “Ugly American,” a pejorative and stereotypical term for US expatriates who alienate the locals with their loud and disrespectful behaviour. It comes from the 1958 book The Ugly American, a cautionary tale that tells … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture Shock, Identity | Tagged , , , , , , | 82 Comments

Expat Otherness: Does it exist?

Posted on November 21, 2010 by

I’m a bit of a word geek, and now that I’ve subscribed to Word of the Day, the lovely folks at Merriam-Webster send me a new word  to tickle my cerebral cortex every single day. Wordie heaven! Yesterday they sent … Continue reading →

Posted in Identity | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

My life as an au pair. Chapter 2: In which I grow a pair

Posted on July 7, 2010 by

When I arrived in France to start my au pair adventure, fresh-faced and all of 19 years old, I thought I would easily integrate into French life. Instead, culture shock and isolation – as well as an introverted personality that … Continue reading →

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My life as an au pair. Chapter 1: In which I make adjustments

Posted on July 6, 2010 by

Starting up this blog has got me thinking about beginnings; in particular, my very first foray into expat life. When I was 19, I registered with an au pair agency in Paris. On a whim. When I got the letter … Continue reading →

Posted in Adjustment, Culture Shock, France | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment