News From Our Members

Career opportunities take individuals and their families away from their home country. Their focus is on the new job and adjusting to life in another country. In most cases parents have encouraged their child to take advantage of the unique opportunity to work and live in a foreign land. Expats quickly learn that life in another country is exciting but more complicated. They have a new life to build and challenges to handle, so less thought is given to their relatives back home. It isn’t that they don’t care; it is simply a matter of human nature that if someone is absent the person may be overlooked.

Today most pensioners are leading active lives so we don’t have to worry about them. However, a relative’s health status can change suddenly and dramatically. When we live on the other side of the world we feel helpless. When our in-laws are from another culture, expectations and approaches to end of life may conflict with our own values. Caring for your loved ones from a distance or where cultural variations exist is a multi-faceted issue and there isn’t one right answer. 

Expats and immigrants dealing with a frail or ill loved ones around the world have commented that they were managing but there are challenges. These individuals living abroad described unexpected challenges, frustrations and a desire to have known more about what to expect and options in advance.  

Very little has been researched and written on the topic of caring for aging loved ones from another country or culture. Consequently, a survey has been developed and is being distributed around the world. This questionnaire examines a number of areas including: grasp of situation, communication, family dynamics, finances, and more.

Please contribute to this important research by completing this anonymous online survey.

Elizabeth Vennekens-Kelly
Director
Cross Cultural Consulting
www.crossculture-training.be

From: The Interchange Institute, March 31, 2016

How does childhood experience with being different affect our later lives as expatriates?  This is the topic of the recently-launched study by The Interchange Institute.

In exploratory work on this topic, we have heard thoughtful examples of how childhood experiences of difference, while maybe difficult at the time, have given strengths and options that wouldn’t have been had otherwise. Differences in religion, race, nationality, economic status, physical or mental health, family constellation and more - people were inclusive in their reflections about their childhoods.

At the same time, participants without such childhood experiences also enumerated strengths and options that they felt came from having been raised as a majority member, with a sense of belonging and acceptance that they could leverage for good.

Both can be true, of course, and that’s the focus of this new study. How do early/childhood experiences affect expatriates’ adults lives?

Please consider taking the on-line survey if you meet the criteria below. And share it as broadly as you can - Facebook, LinkedIn groups, listservs – any way you know to reach this group.

Participation criteria:

- you are 18 years old or older
- you are now living, or have ever lived as an adult, in a country other than your childhood passport country
- have spent a total of at least six months outside your passport as an adult

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. Many people have reported they found it a reflective and useful exercise. Here’s the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KYF2PT9

The Interchange Institute hopes this study will contribute to our broader societal understanding of how we can live effectively and meaningfully with those who are different from us. Thanks for your help.

Anne P. Copeland, PhD

Executive Director, The Interchange Institute

copeland@interchangeinstitute.org

617-566-2227

PS If you’re interested in such transitions, please consider joining us for an upcoming Crossing Cultures with Competence training of trainers workshop. Discount available for FIGT members in 2016.

What is a Lovepat? 

Lovepats are those who choose to live long-term in their partner’s homeland. This includes those who have since separated, but have children or another anchor to their ex-partner’s country.

Lovepats are close cousins with expatriates and accompanying spouses. Like them, lovepats know what it is like to live abroad.  But, lovepats live a different kind of global lifestyle.  Whereas expats and accompanying spouses eventually move on or return to their homeland, lovepats continue to build their life on foreign soil. Lovepats are busy nurturing their bi-national relationship, possibly raising bi-cultural children and finding ways to adapt, belong and do fulfilling work in their adopted country.    

This choice can add incredible joy and enrichment to their relationships and lives, as well as complexity and challenges. Lovepats are exposed to new values and traditions. They must decide how to blend two cultures; for themselves, their partner and their extended family. Ideally, lovepats are a courageous and resilient folk, who, whether they intend to or not, contribute to cross-cultural understanding and acceptance.  

Are you a Lovepat?

We are. We are Oshikan Sjodin-Bunse and Anna Maria Moore from Lovepat Living. Having chosen to become lovepats ourselves, we have a keen interest in understanding the experiences and needs of lovepats. We have created a survey so that lovepats can give voice to their unique situation.

If you are a lovepat, please take 15 minutes to have your say by filling out our survey. It will give you a chance to reflect on your life-changing decision and how it has affected you, your relationships and many other aspects of your life.  Over 400 lovepats have already given us their thought-provoking answers.

Results from this survey will allow us to raise awareness about this understudied group, and better support lovepats in building their best life. If you are interested in our research findings or would like to learn more about lovepats, please visit our Facebook group, “lovepats”, or send us an email atcontact@lovepatliving.com

If you have already filled out our survey and know other lovepats, please pass this on.

Thank you,

Oshikan & Anna Maria

To fill out the survey, click on the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JKW589K  

Magdalena Zilveti Chaland, FIGT Member, is announcing the release of her new book, published in France but available on-line and in kindle format. This book is about the psychological impact of expatriation and how living in another country deeply mark identity, family connections and social relationships. Magdalena is a psychologist and a coach specialized in working with French speaking expatriates communities all around the world. Born in France from a Chilean dad and a Bolivian dad, she is leaving now for 11 years in California.

If you want to know more about this book, you can check : http://www.intelligence-nomade.com/produit/ 

Paula Vexlir, FIGT Member, is announcing a new edition of the Online Course for Expat Parents starting October 8th (registration opens Sept. 15th).

Paula is a clinical psychologist specialized in working with expatriates communities and after listening to parent's and children's issues for years she decided to create this course to help prevent and solve the most typical problems. 

The content addresses most of the challenges of being an expat parent and provides tools and tips on how to help children make the most of their international experience.

This time the course is in Spanish, you can find more information @ http://www.expatpsi.com/curso-para-padres-expatriados/

If you would like to receive information about it in English please feel free to contact her @ contacto@expatpsi.com

This week's webinar promises to be a brilliant one for those of parenting and supporting children when you are relocating and repatriating. 

I'm joined by Julia Simens who (in case you haven't already come across her) is the author and expert on Emotional Resilience and the Expat Child. Which would be intimidating, if you didn't know that her advice is real world (she has raised two kids of her own overseas), wise and very, very insightful. And hilariously accurate.

We'll be talking live on Weds 22nd July at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST, and all registrants get access to a 72 hour replay.

FREE REGISTRATION HERE >>> http://bit.ly/1JriRJ7

Do you have (or work with) children, and need to know who to support a successful transition to a new location?

Curious about how to help them get the most out of their international adventure?

Worried that you don’t know what warning signs to look for?

Join me as I welcome Julia Simens, expert on – and author of – Emotional Resilience and the Expat Child to discover the real story about parenting or supporting children in global transition. 

We’ll be covering:

• the benefits and challenges of expat life for kids
• key strategies for supporting kids when they move
  
• how to spot when things are going wrong (and what to do about it)
  
• how to access the help you need, when you need it.

The Journal of Cross-Cultural Family Studies (JCCFS) is a new electronic, open-access, peer-reviewed academic journal seeking to promote and publish research on the internal dynamics of the family and its relationship to society as affected by its cross-cultural interactions. link: 

digitalcommons.acu.edu/jccfs/

The research is multidisciplinary in nature, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, education, and communication. The population studied includes mobile families raising Third Culture Kids (TCKs), expatriates/repatriates in diplomatic service, military, missions, education and corporate sectors, as well as families of immigrants and refugees.

Author Guidelines: Authors will submit their proposed article, including a title page with contact information, an abstract, complete references and any tables or figures. For all matters of style, manuscript submissions should follow the Publication Manual of the APA, 6th edition, 2010.

-- Articles are limited to 20 to 25 page submissions, including abstract and references.

-- Book Reviews should be 2,000 words or less, and full bibliographic information should be provided.

 Spring has definitely sprung here at Summertime Publishing and we have lots to celebrate.

Watch our It’s Time video on YouTube.

Expat Jo Parfitt created Summertime in 1997 to publish her own books. Since then it has grown to offer a complete bespoke service that includes mentoring, editing, design, publishing and promotion. In 2008 she began to publish titles by other authors and hire a growing number of freelancers, who, like her, are also based abroad. Summertime has now worked with hundreds of authors and published more than 90 books.

There is no more perfect time for a change than in spring. Not only have two familiar faces joined the management team, but a new all-inclusive program has been created too. 

"It is hard to believe that just three years ago I handled all aspects of the business alone," says Jo, who is the company director. "Today, we are truly global, with our team stretching from South Africa to the USA, Malaysia, the Netherlands and England." 

Jack and Jane Join the Management Team and it's Springtime
Jack Scott, author of Perking the Pansies and the soon-to-be-published sequel, Turkey Street, has jumped in to manage a brand new imprint – Springtime Books. While Summertime will now focus on publishing expatriate family titles, Springtime will handle other genres. Not only has Springtime just published its first new book, Passage of the Stork, by Madeleine Lenagh, but has also taken thirteen Summertime favourites under its wing.

“I'm delighted to be part of an exciting new venture that enables writers to find their voice and to get the word out online,” says Norwich-based Jack, who now offers a comprehensive service to help authors develop a dynamic online presence, which includes virtual book tours and book trailers for that Hollywood moment.

Jane Dean, for a long time Production Manager and Editor, has moved up to assist Jo in all aspects of running Summertime Publishing.

“I’m looking forward to the launch of this new venture and thrilled to be working more closely with Jo and Jack, who have so much to offer existing and aspiring writers. Being involved in the start-up of Springtime – and the refocus of Summertime – has been an exciting and hugely rewarding time,” comments Jane, who is based in The Hague.

Springtime will work closely with Summertime, publishing Springtime authors and handling digital editions. Meanwhile Jo and Jane will continue to provide their by-your-side service from 'brainwave to bookshelf'. 

A Brand New Service
Authors can be picky and demanding (and rightly so). This is why we have produced a new All-inclusive Program that includes a complete service from final manuscript to publication of print and digital editions. For those needing a little more we are offering a menu of Add-ons too. 

The Great Spring Giveaway
To celebrate, both Springtime and Summertime are holding a GRAND SPRING GIVEAWAY.

Ten Springtime and Summertime authors are giving away copies of their books between 18th April and 17th May on Goodreads. Books include Passage of the Stork, Career in Your Suitcase and Safe Passage. Click here for details.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

publisher@springtimebooks.com 
jo@summertimepublishing.com

or visit:

Summertime Publishing
Springtime Books

In two jam-packed days of activities, discussion, exploration and training practice, attendees will learn the fundamentals of how to put together an effective agenda and how to deliver cultural awareness training in a participatory, interactive, fun while thoughtful and sophisticated way. An optional third day (Level Two) gives participants more activities, more concepts, and more practice.

Those who attend this training workshop will leave with all the kit they will need to start offering their own orientations, plus a site license to reproduce materials for their trainees. The training is designed for people who already have significant intercultural backgrounds of some nature, and who are:

• interculturalists wanting a ready-to-go kit to offer cultural orientations
• trainers and coaches wanting to add new cross-cultural skills to their toolbox
• international school counselors and teachers wanting new ways to help families make a smooth transition to a new country
• relocation professionals wanting to offer additional services
• mental health professionals wanting to supplement their skills and tools 
• human resource managers wanting to ease global employees’ transitions while keeping training in house
• others in professions related to crossing cultures who want the skills and materials to expand their services

Upcoming dates and locations:

May 13-14, 2015: New York City (co-sponsored by Girl Scouts USA)

Level Two offered May 15

July 29-30, 2015: Boston, MA

Level Two offered July 31

September 30-October 1, 2015: London, UK (co-sponsored by TASIS)

Level Two offered October 2

November 4-5, 2015: Washington, DC

Level Two offered November 6

About the Trainer: 

Dr. Anne Copeland, Executive Director of The Interchange Institute, has trained hundreds of people, including many FIGT members, in this Crossing Cultures with Competence workshop. She is a psychologist, with expertise in families in global transition. For over 20 years she was a university professor, teaching and doing research on intercultural transition, then founded The Interchange Institute to further her interests outside the academic world. She served on the FIGT board and as FIGT’s Program Director from 2006-2012.

Fee: $1295 for two day workshop (Early Registration rate; deadline one month prior to workshop)

$ 650 for Level Two (Early Registration rate; deadline one month prior to workshop)

Fee includes full kit of ready-to-use materials; site license to use materials in future; completion certificate; lunch and snacks; membership in LinkedIn community of workshop alumni.

References from other FIGT members available upon request.

For more details: http://www.interchangeinstitute.org/html/CCC.htm

Please contact info@interchangeinstitute.org with questions or to express your interest in attending now or in the future.