25 December 2008
12 December 2008
Going away
Dear Readers
I will be away for the next 3 weeks on holiday, traveling in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. I will occasionally go online to blog, but it will be rather sporadical. For all those of you who are on holiday, have a lovely one, and see you next year!
I will be away for the next 3 weeks on holiday, traveling in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. I will occasionally go online to blog, but it will be rather sporadical. For all those of you who are on holiday, have a lovely one, and see you next year!
11 December 2008
Czech wonder
Most people who go to the Czech Republic visit Prague only. However, the rest of the country is extremelly beautiful and rich in history. Here is another inspiration board of sights accross the Czech Republic in preparation for my travels there next week.
09 December 2008
Prague Inspiration
We will be visiting beautiful Prague in a few days time. I made this inspiration board of the city in anticipation.
08 December 2008
Holiday travel to Germany
This holiday season my husband and I will be paying my family in Germany a visit. They have been living there for over four years now, and it’s lovely to see how they’ve settled and feel at home in their new locality. They really do live in a beautiful part of the country, amid apple orchards with beautiful views of mountains. In some ways their adaptation is strange to me – although I still recognise many aspects of the ‘home’ I grew up in, there are many new additions. My mom’s style of cooking has changed considerably – nut cakes and spätzle are now served at the table, candles are lit at breakfast times, shoes are left at the front door, and when the phone rings my sister will warble off in the local German dialect. While I feel at home there, I’m very aware that I am in a different country with a different culture to my own.
It will be the first time that my mister has been to Europe – I am so excited about him going! While we are there we will be travelling to the Czech Republic, to visit Prague and Česky Krumlov. Photos and travel journal to follow!
It will be the first time that my mister has been to Europe – I am so excited about him going! While we are there we will be travelling to the Czech Republic, to visit Prague and Česky Krumlov. Photos and travel journal to follow!
05 December 2008
04 December 2008
Losses for the accompaying partner
An often overlooked aspect of expatriation abroad is the impact of the move on the accompanying spouse’s goals and desires. As an accompanying partner, have you considered how you will adjust to the result of this move on your life?
Often the spouse is not able to work in the host country, and this means sacrificing career and job. Accompanied by a loss of friends, social networks, activities and community involvement, this can take a heavy toll on one’s sense of identity, purpose, and direction. These aspects of our lives take time, hard work, and commitment to develop. Suddenly having to let them all go can be a frightening and devastating experience. If these issues are not dealt with, resentment, bitterness and anger can build up, especially if it feels as though one partner is suffering for the other’s gain.
Here are some strategies for meeting this challenge:
Discuss these issues together
Is taking an overseas position something both of you want? Does one partner feel forced into going? What are your fears? How realistic are your expectations about life abroad? To what extent are you prepared to stick by this decision? Are there any situations that would result in either of you desiring to return home? It is important for both parties to be involved in and committed to the decision to go. A decision that so deeply affects every aspect of your lives must be shared, or a situation can be created where it is easy to blame one another for difficulties; “You are the one who wanted to come here in the first place, this is your fault!”. It is important to be honest in discussing this – a move abroad is not an easy thing, and if not treated as a shared goal it can drive a wedge between you.
Develop shared goals
Why are you moving? What are you planning to achieve during your expatriation? Is to it travel? Save money? Experience living in a different culture? Build a career? Enjoy a better lifestyle? Decide on these together, and work toward them. Decide on how you will achieve them. For example, you will go on a two week holiday to a different region every 6 months. Have this discussion with your children as well. What goals can they set for themselves and for you as a family during this time? Write them down. Reminding yourself of them will keep you positive when things get difficult.
What can you do to offset losses?
If you feel that you will be losing a career, consider whether there are any options available for you to carve out a new career, for example in entering a field that you are interested in, or developing a hobby into a job. One person completed a short course and began to give English lessons to adults, which she found she enjoyed more than her previous occupation. You could use this as an opportunity to study, or to focus on your children’s development. Plan strategies for getting involved in your host community.
Invest in a mentor
Finding a mentor, counsellor or coach to debrief to can be a very effective way to come to terms with and overcome a sense of loss, and a good guide in developing a new career or direction. A counsellor can provide safe environment to express frustrations and concerns.
Often the spouse is not able to work in the host country, and this means sacrificing career and job. Accompanied by a loss of friends, social networks, activities and community involvement, this can take a heavy toll on one’s sense of identity, purpose, and direction. These aspects of our lives take time, hard work, and commitment to develop. Suddenly having to let them all go can be a frightening and devastating experience. If these issues are not dealt with, resentment, bitterness and anger can build up, especially if it feels as though one partner is suffering for the other’s gain.
Here are some strategies for meeting this challenge:
Discuss these issues together
Is taking an overseas position something both of you want? Does one partner feel forced into going? What are your fears? How realistic are your expectations about life abroad? To what extent are you prepared to stick by this decision? Are there any situations that would result in either of you desiring to return home? It is important for both parties to be involved in and committed to the decision to go. A decision that so deeply affects every aspect of your lives must be shared, or a situation can be created where it is easy to blame one another for difficulties; “You are the one who wanted to come here in the first place, this is your fault!”. It is important to be honest in discussing this – a move abroad is not an easy thing, and if not treated as a shared goal it can drive a wedge between you.
Develop shared goals
Why are you moving? What are you planning to achieve during your expatriation? Is to it travel? Save money? Experience living in a different culture? Build a career? Enjoy a better lifestyle? Decide on these together, and work toward them. Decide on how you will achieve them. For example, you will go on a two week holiday to a different region every 6 months. Have this discussion with your children as well. What goals can they set for themselves and for you as a family during this time? Write them down. Reminding yourself of them will keep you positive when things get difficult.
What can you do to offset losses?
If you feel that you will be losing a career, consider whether there are any options available for you to carve out a new career, for example in entering a field that you are interested in, or developing a hobby into a job. One person completed a short course and began to give English lessons to adults, which she found she enjoyed more than her previous occupation. You could use this as an opportunity to study, or to focus on your children’s development. Plan strategies for getting involved in your host community.
Invest in a mentor
Finding a mentor, counsellor or coach to debrief to can be a very effective way to come to terms with and overcome a sense of loss, and a good guide in developing a new career or direction. A counsellor can provide safe environment to express frustrations and concerns.
03 December 2008
Taking Risks
Calvin & Hobbes is a favourite cartoon of mine. Moving to a different country seems a hugely risky and uncertain choice, but some people, like Calvin, would rather accept this and leap into an adventure than choose to stay in the security of what is known.
Are you ready to take your sled whizzing through unexplored terrain?
02 December 2008
When in Rome... Driving Styles
It’s fascinating how the culture of a place can have such a significant influence on my behaviour. Today I allowed a taxi to overtake me on the wrong side of the road, and then push in front of me without even the slightest raise in my blood pressure. What a change to when I first came here! I’ve discovered that while driving in Germany, I was a model of restraint and order and followed the rules of the road to the letter. However, behind the driver’s wheel in Spain I shook my fist out the window, shouting at fellow drivers and taking crazy chances crossing lanes and squeezing between cars. In France I closed my eyes as we went round corners with trucks hurtling past us on narrow country roads with no shoulders. I drew the line in Italy and decided I’d rather walk.
How are you influenced by the behaviour of people in different countries?
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