Blog

We finally have recovered from the FIGT Annual Conference and hope everyone got home - safe and sound! What a blast!

Thank you to all our sponsors, FIGT Staff and volunteers, and FIGT members. The Annual Conference would not be possible without all the hard work and contributions from each and every one of you. 

Starting next week stay tuned for member re-caps and reflections on the conference!

The FIGT Conference kicks off its final day in Den Hague. What a whirlwind! Here is how we spent the final day. 

FIGT Day 3 - Saturday, March 25, 2017

Early Bird SPAN Forum: 

Keynote Session: Sebastien Bellin - I should fear but I don't. Why do you? 

Raffle:

Concurrent Session III: Raising Global and Mobile Children: Challenges and Solutions for International Families using the MERCI model -  Kristin Duncombe   

               

Concurrent Session IV: Third Culture Families (TCFs): Redefining the traditional concept of home, family and friendship - Marielle de Spa

Panel Discussion - Finding Your Niche: Connecting a Multicultural Past to a Meaningful Present

Closing Ceremony:

That's a wrap folks! Many thanks to all who made the conference possible. Safe travels home. 

We look forward to reconnecting after the conference and sharing more great stories, pictures, and ideas in the weeks and months to come. 

See you next year!

(Pictures collected from participants and contributors to FIGTNL17 Twitter) 

The second day of the FIGT Conference featured a keynote session, fast-paced Ignite sessions, and twice the fun! Catch up on today’s events and make sure to follow twitter and the blog to learn more about the third and final day. 

Early Bird Writers Forum:  During our Early Bird Writers Forum, you will have the opportunity to attend one of four different sessions led by accomplished and talented authors and online experts.

Keynote Session: Do TCKs Have Unique Skills? The Childhood Experience of Being Different and Its Impact on Expatriate Living - Anne Copeland 

Ignite Sessions:

Raffle Draw - Some of the prizes! 

Concurrent Sessions  - Globally Mobile Children - One Tribe or Many - Ann Baker Cottrell 

Kitchen Table Conversations - Who I am Inside; An In-Depth Look at the TCK Identity - Kenady Chisholm 

More Sessions:

More Networking: 

Thanks to everyone who made day 2 invigorating, informative, and inspirational! Make sure to follow the action on Twitter: #FIGTNL17 or on the blog for day 3.

(Pictures collected from participants and contributors to #FIGTNL17)

The 2017 Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Annual Conference has started in Den Hague, kicking off with day 1! Couldn’t make it? Here’s a recap of the first of three days filled with connection, community, and inspiration. We will post a recap on day 2 as well. You can also stay connected by following the conference hashtag on Twitter: #FIGT17NL

Day 1 featured: 

Early Bird Forums: Empty Nest and Parenting Adult Kids - Tough Love, Tough Choices: How to Cope with an Empty Nest 

Keynote Presentation: Naomi Hathaway Me Too! Lighting the Triangle Beacon – Why Finding Your Tribe Matters

Concurrent session: You Couldn't Make It Up: The Latest Findings on Decades of ATCKs - Lesley Lewis

Lunch: 

Panel Discussion: Find Your Language on the Move - Ruth Van Reken, Ute Limacher-Riebold, and Rita Rosenback 

Kitchen Table Conversations - Expanding our Tribe with Dr. Cate Brubaker

Author Signing at the Bookstore 

Social Networking Event 

Raffle 

And lots of Networking!!!

Overall, it was a historic first day with FIGT. 

Want to stay connected? Follow along on Twitter: #FIGT17NL or stay tuned for Day 2 on the blog!

(Pictures collected from #FIGT hashtag contributors and participants).

When you grow up in different places around the world, unfortunately, one is not sheltered from violent situations and terrorist events near and far. They tend to prick our hearts deeply because of knowing so many different people, countries, and places that we call home. These situations feel so much closer to “home” even though they could be miles away. 

We know many of us have similar stories. Waking up and hearing about the World Trade Center towers falling and being worried for family and friends in the area. Learning about a colleague's loss in the Kenya Mall shooting - a place where many of us have been and colleagues visit all the time. Or finding out about a friend who walked through the Brussels airport but stopped at the restroom and checked his email 5 minutes before the Brussels bomb went off, and so missed it. The very same bomb that exploded near Sebastien Bellin, our Saturday Keynote Speaker at the Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Annual Conference 2017. In an instant though, Sebastien’s story changed to survival.  

Sebastien is an ATCK whose life followed various paths including being a professional basketball player, entrepreneur, and father. Just like so many of us who frequently visit airports, this was another trip. He didn’t expect to be lying injured on the floor wondering what happened or what would come next. But what does come next and how do you move forward from such an incident? 

Sebastien has recovered as best one can and now gives talks that can help the rest of us learn from his lessons and insight. Instead of feeling suffocated with hate and fear, Sebastien has a message of love, forgiveness, and empathy. Specifically, Sebastien helps us to understand how we can “face our fears, reach down deep inside, and unleash profound change and personal power” (Wolfman Productions Website, 2017). Lots to take in, we know - but an important message to hear nonetheless. 

Make sure to join Sebastien’s moving keynote on Saturday, March 25th. To help you better prepare for the conference, you will find 1) information regarding Sebastien’s Keynote on Saturday, 2) more about Sebastien, 3) and a chance to preview his story. 

1. SATURDAY KEYNOTE PRESENTATION - March 25th, 2017 at 10:00 AM

"I should fear, but I don't. Why do you?" - Sebastien Bellin

The FIGT Program Committee is excited to share Sebastien Bellin's remarkable story of recovery and his refusal to let the Brussels terrorists win. On March 22nd 2016, Sebastien was standing 20 meters away from a bomb which exploded in Brussels Zaventem airport. Since the event, Sebastien has developed a uniquely qualified perspective about the times in which we live, and the things that kept him going while badly injured and fighting for his life. His remarkable journey is inspiring, in times when an event like this can bring fear and hate to the world, he will be with us to share just the opposite, bringing hope to the cross culture world we are living in.

2) GET TO KNOW SEBASTIEN: 

Sebastien is a Brazilian-born ATCK. He had lived in 5 countries before he graduated from the International School of Brussels. He is a multi-linguist. He received a scholarship to play NCAA Division One college basketball in the U.S. at Marist College in NY and later Oakland University in Michigan. He studied international business. Sebastien is the father of two TCKs, married to Sarah, a teacher with 12 years of experience in international education.

Bellin has had a 15-year professional basketball career in Italy and Belgium. He's one of the "original gang" who created Keemotion (May 2012), an automated sports video production system that is currently installed in 12 countries. Keemotion was recently sold to a group of NY investors which is why Sebastien travels extensively between NYC and Brussels. He is heavily involved in the start-up consulting world.

3) ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: 

Information about Sebastien and other change makers. 

Website: http://wolfmanproductions.com/sebastien-bellin/

Listen to his Ted Talk: 

Thank you, Sebastien, for all your contributions to the community and sharing your powerful story. We look forward to meeting you and hearing your presentation this week!

----

The 2017 #FIGT17NL Annual Conference is quickly approaching! Whether you are looking for new connections, reconnecting with old friends, or looking for new resources, we have one tip that will help amplify your experience: Twitter.

Here are nine easy ways to incorporate tweeting into your conference experience (btw, make sure you’re registered for #FIGT17NL). 

----

1. Follow the FIGT Twitter account 

Make sure to follow our FIGT Twitter account (@crossingculture) to stay on top of conference news and to share comments directly with the FIGT community.

2. Identify the conference hashtags you can use

It’s never too early to start the conversation so begin following the conference hashtags now. We have: #FIGT17NL 

3. Find the speakers you are most passionate about…

Find out speakers and attendees easier with FIGT’s Twitter list. And you guessed it, follow them on Twitter!

4. Start tweeting before the conference

What sessions are you excited for? Tell the world! 

A sample tweet could be…”I’m looking forward to the Me Too! Lighting the Triangle Beacon – Why Finding Your Tribe Matters keynote with @Naomi_Hattaway at #FIGT17NL”.

5. Plan ahead on how often you want to tweet

Planning ahead will help you not feel overwhelmed during the conference. If you are going to a panel, for example, you could tweet one point each panelist makes, and have their Twitter handle on hand so you can include them in your tweet.

6. Always put the conference hashtag in your tweets

#FIGT17NL #FIGT17NL  #FIGT17NL 

7. Share your experiences through Twitter

You can generate conversations and inspire others through your participation.

8. Thank each speaker and organization you interact with

Conferences are the best place to network with like-minded leaders in the fields you care most about. 

9. Continue communication after the conference

You want to keep your connections engaged with you (especially if you are or will be job searching)!

----

Are you as excited for #FIGT17NL as we are? Tell us on TWITTER (@crossingculture).

In Part 2 of a series, three new and existing FIGT members share why they go to the FIGT conference and 2-3 tips/suggestions on what to do there.

The 2017 FIGT Conference - Building on the Basics: Creating Your Tribe on the Move is a week away! Have you started your mental packing list already? Are you ready? 

Get inspired with Part Two: The People Who Make up our Tribe or Why I Go to the Families in Global Transition Conference of our series from three new and existing FIGT members as they share “Why I go to the FIGT conference” and 2-3 tips/suggestions on what to do while there.

Name: Claudia Landini

Conferences Attended: 2016 - Amsterdam

1. Why I am going to the FIGT conference?

I have been living abroad for almost 28 years, and transitioning has become a constant in my life. However, it is not so easy to talk about the feelings involved in this kind of mobile existence, both because they are complex, fascinating, deep and difficult to convey to those who have not gone through the same experiences, and because they keep on changing while mobility increases. 

FIGT is a privileged space where we can talk about the deepest feelings linked to mobile life because we know that we’ll be understood. It is a stimulating space where we get together to develop ideas and practices to make mobile life more and more meaningful and rich. 

For three days, we belong to a space where fresh and exciting approaches to mobile life are presented, discussed, analysed and integrated. It is also a place where everybody can feel in tune with the rest of the crowd. We are all linked by the common enthusiasm for a life in contact with diverse cultures, and by the intoxicating feeling of being part of the world in its truest sense.

And if these reasons were not enough for me to attend the FIGT conference, I can certainly add that last year I came away with loads of interesting contacts and touched by the magic of a unique human experience. 

2. 2-3 Tips or suggestions on what to do at the conference? 

• Study the program well and decide beforehand what sessions to attend. 
• Participate in as many activities, sessions and presentations as possible, and try to do something even after the conference. Bonding with other participants is easier at a restaurant, when there is no rush to go and take a place for the next session.
• Do not be shy or scared, and talk to people, because everyone is at the conference to enjoy such a privileged moment of sharing. They will be happy to know you and tell you about themselves, and you might discover and learn things you were not anticipating at all

----

Name: Dana Nelson

Conferences Attended: First conference this March! 

1. Why I am going to the FIGT conference?

In terms of why I'm coming to the conference, I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet other people living abroad and working with the international community. 

As a therapist who works with those living abroad, it's not always easy to build a network or meet others doing this type of work -- so I hope to make connections with other professionals and also just learn from everyone else's experiences so I can use this knowledge to better help my clients. 

I had also just heard great things about the conference from several different people, so I thought it would be a fun experience! 

2. What I'm planning to do at the conference for my first time?  

I guess my tip (or my goal for myself!) is just to try to talk to as many people as possible. There are actually a number of people whose work I've been following from afar or whom I've "met" only remotely and who I know will be at the conference, so I've been trying to make plans to meet some of them in person while we're there. Otherwise, I'm just going in with an open mind and not exactly sure what to expect. 

----

Name: Linda Janssen

Conferences Attended: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

1. Why I go to the FIGT conference?

I attended my first FIGT conference as an Ignite Speaker in 2013, and I’ve attended and served as a volunteer (including two years as a recent Board Member) ever since. I wouldn’t miss the FIGT conference because of the camaraderie, connections and to stay current on developments in cross-cultural life. While I’m currently repatriated − at least for now − a good share of my career remains globally-focused as an intercultural communications trainer and resilience coach helping international businesses, employees and expats. Like many, I’m also parenting from afar as my son is now teaching English on the other side of the world.

2. 2-3 Tips or suggestions on what to do at the conference?

I can’t emphasize enough how welcoming FIGT conferences are. The particular details may differ from one person to the next, but we are all bound by the shared experience of what it means to live, work, study, nurture our families, or simply find our way in different countries and cultures. Suddenly everyone understands the challenges, opportunities, decisions and trade-offs we all make in living a globally mobile, cross-cultural life. Its like a huge family reunion: we have found our tribe, we are accepted, and we belong. 

From there it just keeps getting better, as we gain information, learn new approaches, and are stretched by the insights offered by the speakers, panels, and forums. And the best part? To me, it’s the one-to-one connections made through sharing quiet conversations, group discussions, activities, meals. You may arrive not knowing anyone, but I guarantee you, that won’t last long, and you will leave energized and appreciative of all the wonderful people you’ve come to know. 

As you can see, there are many different reasons on why we go to the FIGT annual conference but first and foremost, it is to connect with one another! (If you haven't yet, don't forget to take a look at Part I of this series.)

Thanks to Claudia, Dana, and Linda and the rest of our contributors for sharing your stories and preparing us for the conference. We look forward to meeting you or reconnecting with you again next week! 

FIGT’s Pay it Forward Raffle will take place each day throughout the #FIGT17NL Annual Conference.

Don’t miss this once a year wonderful opportunity to contribute to the David C. Pollock Scholarship Fund. Make sure to congratulate the 2017 Scholar recipients at the conference as well (learn more about the fund and recipients below)!

Bring your open hearts and wallets, look out for the raffle tickets to win cool prizes, and help fund smart, hard-working and deserving people who contribute to the topics of TCKs, global families and the international life from all over the globe. How?

1. Buy tickets on site at the exciting conference – buy in packs of 5, as many as you want, all day, each day for one drawing with multiple chances to win prizes. Books, food, free intercultural assessments, a unique Scholarship gift basket, electronics and more.
   
2. If you can’t come to the conference but feel passionate about helping spread the scholarship word and opportunities, please go online and contribute today! Select Conference Raffle Donation (where we’ll use the funds to buy any prize you suggest and get your professional or personal name visible) or the Pollock Scholarship selection at the bottom of the page.

What is the David C. Pollock Scholarship Fund? 

The David C. Pollock Scholarship Fund pays tribute to international educator, minister, sociologist, and co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing up Among Worlds, David C. Pollock, whose tireless support, vision and dedication to families in global transition impacted countless people in every corner of the globe. Building on Pollock’s legacy, FIGT aims to attract, involve and educate emerging, global-minded, intercultural leaders.

The David C. Pollock Scholarship provides highly motivated individuals working or studying in the intercultural and transnational mobility field the opportunity to attend the FIGT conference. 

Our guiding question is, "Who is missing at the FIGT table?" We are looking for a diverse field of applicants from each of our traditional sectors, (corporate, diplomatic, academic, military, mission, arts and entrepreneurial) plus voices not well represented, such as those involved in immigration and refugee work, an increase in male voices, and participants from all parts of the globe.

Applications for our 2017 recipients closed in September 2016. Learn about this year’s four 2017 Scholar recipients below! 

Don’t forget to purchase raffle tickets to support the David C. Pollock Scholarship Fund for next year at the conference. 

Introducing the David C. Pollock Scholars 2017

JOHN BARCLAY 

John Barclay was born in India on the border of Nepal, to Australian missionary parents, on the 26th January 1954 – India’s Republic Day and Australia Day! He grew up in a remote village five days walk from Kathmandu and attended boarding school in south India from Grade 1 to 10. 

Learn more about John.

GULERAANA MIR

Guleraana Mir is a writer and creative facilitator. She holds an MA in Educational Theatre from New York University. Guleraana works in community settings and schools using theatre, storytelling and movement to explore diversity and creativity, to build communication skills, and explore PSHE topics. 

Learn more about Guleraana.

ERIN SINGOGBA

Erin Sinogba is an anthropologist, development worker, communications specialist, and passionate advocate of the environment and transnational communities. She has been an active volunteer with TCKid since 2009, where she has since taken on the position of Executive Assistant in 2010 and the Local Chapter Leader of TCKid Philippines since 2012. Learn more about Erin.  

LUCINDA WILLSHIRE

Lucinda Willshire is an Australian-born social worker, who has lived most of her adult life as an expat. She cobbled together a career as a consultant on family violence issues and worked often as a lone expat family counsellor. As well, Lucinda was a devoted trailing spouse and raised 4 TCKs in Malawi, U.S.A., Vietnam, Indonesia, China and Australia for over 25 years. 

Learn more about Lucinda. 

-----

Congratulations again to the recipients and we look forward to seeing you at the conference! 

Erin Long is the President and founder of Worldwide Speech. She developed the idea for the company after opening independent practices for expatriate children in both Mexico and Brazil. Through her experience with these practices Erin became aware of the large, but dispersed demand for native English-speaking speech pathologists among the expatriate community and realized that the key to meeting this demand was teletherapy. Erin is certified by the American Telemedicine Association in telepractice and for the last five years, she has been a leader in teletherapy within the speech-pathology community. Erin is an active member of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association's (ASHA) steering group for the development of teletherapy policy and training. Because of her experience and expertise in telepractice, Erin has also been asked to present at seminars on special education at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute.

For Erin, finding a way to provide speech therapy and other special education services to children abroad is not only a business opportunity; it is a personal passion. As a member of the U.S. Foreign Service community, Erin has a unique understanding of the challenges that expatriate families have when trying to find appropriate educational support for their children outside the United States. This is why Worldwide Speech's primary focus has always been on expatriate children, and what drove Erin to eventually expand the company to include occupational therapy and reading intervention.

Erin is currently licensed to practice speech-language therapy in California, Virginia and Maryland. She is the recipient of the ASHA’s prestigious Continuing Education Award for her dedication to training above and beyond the requirements for maintaining her credential. Erin also has experience working in U.S. school districts in multiple states as well as in private clinical settings. Erin is a graduate of UCLA and California State University of Los Angeles.

“As part of our continued dedication to helping children everywhere, Worldwide Speech is reaching out to expat families to make our services known and available to them. Like FIGT, Worldwide Speech grew from recognizing the needs of families living outside their own countries. We began offering online therapy in response to the needs of children living abroad and away from the education services they needed. It has been our great privilege to provide online speech therapy, OT, PT, Reading Support and special education services to children around the world.”

The #FIGTN17NL Annual Conference is quickly approaching. Do you have your tickets? Are you ready to go? We are counting down the days when FIGT members and supporters journey from around the world to come together for our annual gathering. Over three days we celebrate, network, and educate one another on ways to continue to support our multicultural community. 

Get inspired by six new and existing FIGT members as they share, “Why I go to the FIGT Conference” and “2-3 Tips/Suggestions on what to do while at the FIGT conference." Read about the first three members in our Part One series and stay tuned next week for Part Two!  

---

Name: Katia Vlachos 

Conferences attended: 4 FIGT Conferences 

1.    Why I go to the FIGT conference? 

Because it feeds my soul. FIGT is not a regular conference. It’s a meeting of like minds, hearts, and souls. It’s the one time a year that I find myself surrounded by dozens of people who come from vastly different backgrounds yet share a very deep, instinctive connection and understanding of each other. FIGT is my annual meeting with my tribe.

2.    2-3 Tips or suggestions on what to do at the conference?

a. Do not make any other plans besides the conference, not even dinner! FIGT is a very rich and intense — both in terms of the conference program and social connections. You get the most out of it by immersing yourself completely.

b. Come with curiosity and an open mind. Ask questions, listen, share. Some of the stories you will hear will blow your mind. Some will seem incredibly familiar.

c. Become part of it. FIGT is run almost entirely by volunteers, and it is an extremely welcoming organization and community. You can make a difference!

---

Name: Joy O’Neill

Conferences attended: First conference this March!

1. Why I go to the FIGT conference? 

I've been planning to attend for the last couple of years and circumstances have meant that I haven't made it. This year I wanted to make it a priority.

2. What am I planning to do at the conference? 

I am looking forward to meeting as many people as possible and finding out new ideas to help children in transition.

---

Name: Lisa Ferland

Conferences attended: 2016 - Amsterdam

1. Why I go to the FIGT conference? 

This year I am the Bookstore Coordinator, Ignite presenter mentor and Early Bird writing session coach. The possibilities for getting involved in the conference are really great.

People who live abroad are very adept at diving right into the heart of personal issues. The hallways of the FIGT conference are lined with people meeting one another for the first time. In other cases, you will finally meet someone you have only known on Facebook in-person for the first time.   

It felt like I had stumbled into this exclusive club where everyone instantly understood my situation and the struggles I've experienced while living abroad without having to explain myself. Starting with that in common allowed for deep connections to be made very quickly. 

I love the FIGT conference for allowing those connections to be made and reinforced throughout the sessions. Learning that you are not alone and expanding your supportive network is worth the cost of registration itself.

2. 2-3 Tips or suggestions on what to do at the conference? 

a. Learn how to exit a conversation properly. I spoke with so many people who were unexpectedly pulled away by other friends, or they didn't know how to finish a conversation. I think all networking interactions should end with the handing over of a business/contact card and the phrase, "It was a pleasure to meet you, and I'd love to continue this conversation another time. Here is my contact information. Talk with you soon."  The conference is so busy and fast-paced that it is easy to walk away from an unfinished conversation.

b. Make hallway connections. Attending the sessions is always valuable, but many of the deep connections that I made were done in the hallways. I learned so much about people in between the sessions over coffee breaks. Those conversations are equally as valuable as the sessions themselves.

c. Prepare for long days. If you want to attend the early bird sessions and the evening dinners or networking sessions after the conference, your day may start at 6 am and end at 9 pm. Coupled with time zone differences and inevitable jet/travel lag, prepare yourself to get some good sleep each night and properly caffeinate yourself throughout the day. The conference is short in length but dense in content. They pack a lot into only a few days. 

-----

As you can see, there are many different reasons on why we go to the FIGT Annual conference but first and foremost, it is to connect with one another! Thanks to Katia, Joy, and Lisa for sharing your stories and preparing us for the conference. We look forward to meeting you and reconnecting with you again in March! 

Stay tuned for Part Two: The People who Make Up our Tribe or Why I go to the Families in Global Transition Conference next week!