Expert Expatriate: Your Guide to Successful Relocation Abroad-Moving, Living, Thriving

293 Pages·2002·2.7 MB·English

The authors will donate a portion of their proceeds from the sale of
The Expert Expatriate: Your Guide to Successful Relocation Abroad to the Senior
Living Foundation, Washington, D.C., an organization that assists eld-
erly members of the American Foreign Service and their spouses.
Visit the authors’ website dedicated to this book, www.expatguide.info,
for updates, links, contact information and much more.
This edition first published by Nicholas Brealey in association
with Intercultural Press in 2002.
Intercultural Press, Inc. Nicholas Brealey Publishing
PO Box 700 3-5 Spafield Street
Yarmouth, Maine USA 04096 London EC1R 4QB
Tel: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Fax: [phone]
www.interculturalpress.com www.nbrealey-books.com
© 2002 by Melissa Brayer Hess and Patricia Linderman
Design and production: Patty J. Topel
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in
any manner whatsoever without written permission from the publisher,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or
reviews.
Printed in the United States
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hess, Melissa Brayer.
The expert expatriate: your guide to successful relocation abroad: mov-
ing, living, thriving/Melissa Brayer Hess and Patricia Linderman.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-85788-320-0
1. Moving, Household I. Linderman, Patricia. II. Title
TX307.H47 2002
648'.9—dc21
20011051950
Substantial discounts on bulk quantities are available. For details,
discount information, or to request a free catalogue, please con-
tact the publishers at the addresses given above.
Dedication
To David, who made the international experiences possible, and
to John and Elizabeth, who were always there for me.
—M. B. H.
To my writers’ group, the SUNwriters, with undying gratitude
and a deluxe fruit basket!
—P. L.
Table of Contents
Foreword .................................................................................. xi
Acknowledgments .................................................................. xiii
Introduction ............................................................................ xv
Chapter 1: Getting the Information and Support You Need ... 1
Getting Started: The Basics .......................................... 2
Other Sources of Information and Support ................. 4
Living Conditions in Your New Country ..................... 5
An Exploratory Trip ..................................................... 7
The Importance of a Sponsor ...................................... 8
Thoughts to Remember.............................................. 10
Chapter 2: Learning the Local Language .............................. 13
Convincing Your Organization to
Support Language Training ................................... 15
How Much Training Do You Need? .......................... 17
Training Options ........................................................ 19
Taking Advantage of Your Learning Style ................. 22
Tips to Maximize Your Success .................................. 24
If You’re Still Not Making Progress ........................... 27
If You Arrive without Language Skills ....................... 28
vii
viii The Expert Expatriate
Chapter 3: Managing Your Move .......................................... 31
Planning Ahead .......................................................... 32
Timing Your Packout .................................................. 33
Organizing Your Finances and Paperwork ................. 34
Pack the Piano? Store the Skis? .................................. 37
“Honey, They Packed the Passports!”
Preparing for Packout Day ..................................... 52
Don’t Forget to Say Goodbye ..................................... 54
Chapter 4: Confronting a New Culture ................................. 57
Cross-Cultural Communication:
Bridging the Gap .................................................... 58
Building Cross-Cultural Skills ..................................... 59
Common Cultural Differences ................................... 64
Attitudes and Values ................................................... 69
The Rewards of Confronting a New Culture ............ 78
Chapter 5: Moving Children Overseas .................................. 81
Informing Children about the Move .......................... 83
Schooling Options ...................................................... 87
Helping Children Learn the Language ...................... 92
Preparing for the Move ............................................... 94
Moving with Children of Various Ages ...................... 98
Last Days, First Days ................................................ 108
Making a Success of It .............................................. 114
Coming Home .......................................................... 125
Chapter 6: Moving Pets Overseas ........................................ 129
Proper Preplanning Prevents Perturbed Pets ............ 129
Pet Entry Requirements and
Quarantine Restrictions ........................................ 131
Prior to Air Travel .................................................... 137
Concerns about Older Pets ....................................... 139
Pets in Hotels ............................................................ 140
Living in the Third World with Pets ......................... 142