The one thing that makes for a happy expat experience is good old fashioned advance preparation.
As true as this is for the expat, it is even more true for his/her family. As there is no such thing as a happy expat with an unhappy family.
If you are planning to live and work abroad then whether you have six months or six weeks to prepare for your expat assignment, there is a lot you can do in advance to make the transition as smooth as possible. Three humble suggestions to consider:
1. Throw away the travel guide book to your future home - Worse than useless. They usually give a tourist's view of a city/country, with no real sense for what it is like to live there.
2. Confront the facts - good, bad and ugly - and make sure any family members do the same. Some places are tough to live, and all are different from home in some difficult ways. The more you know about the negative aspects of your new home, the more you will avoid disappointment on arrival. You may even be pleasantly surprised.
3. Get professional help - With the internet touching nearly every corner of the world, there has never been an easier time for an expat to keep in touch with friends and family back home. But don't let this fool you into thinking the expat life is easy; an overseas assignment will still present you and your family with numerous challenges. Consulting a professional expat advisor before you leave is a wise move. Many employers will pay for this service, as it is helps ensure a good return on the huge investment they are making in sending you overseas.
Do you need professional help and support?
Then contact us at expatknowhow to find out how we can help you.
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You wrote: "there is no such thing as a happy expat with an unhappy family."
ReplyDeleteThis reminded me of the time my husband was interviewed for a job in Ghana, West Africa, and the agency asked me, his wife, to come along. They interviewed me too, not for the job, but to find out if I could be happy living in Ghana. It was a very friendly setting and conversation, and I appreciated them thinking my role as a trailing spouse was important.
My husband got the job. I guess I passed ;) Since then we've lived in several other countries and I love the expat life!
Miss Footloose
www.lifeintheexpatlane.com