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Tag Archives: loneliness
What my dog taught me about surviving repatriation
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 Canada, expat life, friends, home, isolation, Jeff, loneliness, memories, pet, repatriation
9 Comments
How effective is intercultural training?
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 adjustment, cross-cultural training, culture shock, expat, expectations, identity, intercultural training, isolation, loneliness
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Families adjust better to expatriate life with support from HR
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 adjustment, culture shock, expat life, expat wife, home leave, HR depatment, identity, isolation, language, loneliness, support groups, Trailing Spouse Survey
6 Comments
Repatriating TCKs: It’s not all sunshine and lollipops
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 adjustment, Canada, culture, expat, expat life, friends, home, identity, isolation, loneliness, outsider, repatriation, TCKs, Third Culture Kids
11 Comments
Repatriation: 5 mistakes I wish I hadn’t made
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 adjustment, brooding, catastrphizing, depression, expat, expatriation, friends, home, isolation, loneliness, re-entry shock, repatriation
13 Comments
Oh, the places you’ll go!
Today is the birthday of Theodor Geisel, that giant of children’s literature better known as Dr. Seuss. He wrote an impressive number of much-loved classics in his lifetime, including my favourite, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. (I’ve been watching the … Continue reading
Posted in Culture Shock
Tagged adjustment, culture, culture shock, Dr. Seuss, expat, expat life, loneliness
112 Comments
For expats, happiness begins at home
The results of a new study indicate that expats who are happy with their homes — both the neighbourhoods and the dwellings themselves — are happier with their lives. Well, duh. Expatriates travel far from home — sometimes so far, … Continue reading
Posted in France, Singapore
Tagged adjustment, Bordeaux, culture shock, expat, expat life, home, loneliness, Singapore
4 Comments
Meeting Judy
Becoming an expat is like gaining membership into an exclusive club. We don’t have a secret handshake (although that would be kind of cool), but certain features – such as the specialized jargon and loosely-defined set of norms – do … Continue reading
Posted in Identity, Repatriation
Tagged expat, expat community, friends, identity, loneliness, moving back home, overseas, re-entry, repatriated, trailing spouse
6 Comments
My life as an au pair. Chapter 2: In which I grow a pair
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
Posted in Culture Shock, France
Tagged adapting, au pair, Caen, Canada, culture shock, France, French, friends, home, isolation, loneliness
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