GenXpat: The Young Professional's Guide To Making A Successful Life Abroad

231 Pages·1998·3.11 MB·English

by  Margaret Malewski

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GEN PAT
The Young Professional’s Guide
to Making a Successful Life Abroad
Margaret Malewski
I N T E R C U L T U R A L P R E S S
A Nicholas Brealey Publishing Company
YARMOUTH,ME • BOSTON • LONDON
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First published by Intercultural Press, a Nicholas Brealey Publishing Company,
in 2005.
Intercultural Press, Inc., a Nicholas Brealey Publishing Company
PO Box 700, Yarmouth, Maine 04096 USA
Information: 1-888-BREALEY
Orders: 207-846-5168
Fax: [phone]
www.interculturalpress.com
Nicholas Brealey Publishing
3-5 Spafield Street, London, EC1R 4QB, UK
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.nbrealey-books.com
© 2005 by Margaret Malewski
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 of America
09 08 07 06 05 1 2 3 4 5
ISBN: 1-931930-23-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Malewski, Margaret.
GenXpat : the young professional 's guide to making a successful life
abroad / Margaret Malewski.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-931930-23-6
1. Employees--Relocation. 2. Employment in foreign countries.
3. International business enterprises--Employees--Relocation.
4. Americans--Foreign countries. I. Title.
HF5549.5.R47M345 2005
650.1—dc22
2005007808
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TO CAROLINE,
for seventeen years of friendship across four continents,
and for being there at every step of the way.
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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
Chapter 1. Making the Decision to Move 9
The Importance of Making an Informed Decision
Motivations for Going Abroad
Professional Advancement
Checking the Box of International Experience
Travel Bug
Seeking a Better Future
External Circumstances to Consider
Economic Aspects
Political Aspects
Cultural Aspects
Personal Circumstances to Consider
Leaving Family and Friends
Dealing with the Unfamiliar
Romantic Relationships
When You Leave, There Is No Turning Back
Making the Decision
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viii CONTENTS
Chapter 2. Negotiating Your Contract 25
Win-Win
How Employers Think about Compensation
Compensation across Borders
Negotiability of Different Compensation Components
Demystifying Corporate Relocation Packages
Long-Term Expat Packages
Short-Term Expat Packages
Foreigners on Local Packages
The Negotiation Process: Strategy
The Negotiation Process: The Fine Print
Adapting a New-Hire Contract
Adapting a Local-to-Local Contract
Adapting a Short- or Long-term Expat Contract
Chapter 3. Juggling Work and Logistics on Arrival 49
Main Demands on Your Time upon Arrival
Setting Priorities in the First Month
Striving for Balance
Things That Can Be Done Later
Priorities for Transferees
Chapter 4. Culture and Culture Shock 63
Defining Culture
Culture as the Product of Choice
Culture as Pertaining to a Group
Culture as the Science and Art of Generalization
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x CONTENTS
Challenges Involved in Meeting People
Strategies for Meeting People
Locals or Expats?
Meeting Locals
Meeting Expats
Chapter 8. Dating across Cultures 131
Challenges of Going Abroad Single
Cultural Dating Environments
Liberal Environment
Mixed Environment
Restrictive Environment
Diagnosing the Dating Environment
Moving across Dating Environments
Interacting with People from Restrictive Environments
Mixed Men and Liberal Women
Liberal Men and Mixed Women
Is Intercultural Dating Worth It?
Chapter 9. Long-Distance Relationships 151
Can We Make This Work?
Requirements for a Successful Long-Distance Relationship
Impact of Distance on Relationships
Communication
Straddling Locations
Trust
Chapter 10. Moving with Your Partner 165
Partner versus Spouse
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CONTENTS xi
Challenges Faced by the Relocating Couple
Tips for Managing the Issues
Chapter 11. Reverse Culture Shock 179
Returning Home: The Hidden Challenge
The Professional Aspect
The Personal Aspect
Dealing with Reverse Culture Shock
Conclusion 191
APPENDIXA THELOOK-SEETRIP 195
APPENDIXB COST-OF-LIVINGCALCULATOR 199
WEBRESOURCES 207
REFERENCES 209
INDEX 211