While recently talking to an Italian friend about summer, she recalled how as a child she loved playing in the fountains to celebrate the end of the school year, and the long family holidays in August. I shared my own memories: the crowded community pool and day camps, as my American parents didn’t get weeks […] Continue reading… from Making Summer Memories
We’re all aware that the initial move to a new country is likely to come with lots of anxiety. We may have already planned how we will get around our new city, checked the bus route, parking areas, or train schedules. Once settled in a new international home, we aren’t going to stay inside for […] Continue reading… from From Here to There and Everywhere
When an assignee arrives in their host country, it can be hard to find community outside of work or children’s school friends. Many expatriates report a desire to make local friends and experience more in their host location, but don’t have a clear idea of how they can, particularly when a language barrier is in […] Continue reading… from Lending a Helping Hand
We have been seeing an unprecedented rise in historic climate events around the world, and this isn’t predicted to change any time soon. While traveling or living overseas, we may suddenly have to contend with heat waves, floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. When in an unfamiliar area, one in which you may not speak […] Continue reading… from When Disaster Strikes
What do you do if you are an assignee in Paris, and your child comes home telling you about having a paper fish stuck to them at lunch? Or if you are new to the U.S., and suddenly see the news that you can legally print your own money? If something seems strange, check the […] Continue reading… from Fool me once…
One of the benefits of being a global assignee and not just a tourist is the time to discover attractions not always on the tourist’s itinerary. Most people will visit the Louvre or the Met on their trips to Paris or New York, but how many will get to Germany’s Museum of Bread, or the […] Continue reading… from The museum of…what?
Approximately 62% of our waking time is spent at home, more if home is also our office. When moving abroad, the question of what “home” will look like is one of the big ones: how spacious will it be, what features will it have, how much will it cost? And how will it compare to […] Continue reading… from Is there no place like home?
A lot goes into planning for an assignment abroad. Most people are aware of potential culture shock, research possible pitfalls, and are eager to gather information about their new home. Often, the other side of the coin – repatriation – comes up with much less fanfare. When an assignee is returning to their home country, […] Continue reading… from What to Expect When Returning Home
When living in Japan, one of my favorite end of year customs was “oosouji,” the “big cleaning” that takes place between mid-December and the New Year’s holiday. Rooted in Shinto concepts of purification and the belief that gods of fortune won’t visit dirty houses, it’s also practical: New Year’s is when the family gathers, and […] Continue reading… from How to Ring in the New Year – Japanese Style
