Quick Updates from Expat Women

Hi Everyone, I hope you have all been really well? Whilst our main Expat Women site is still on an indefinite "break", we wanted to share the following quick updates which might be of interest to you...

Permits Foundation International Mobility and Dual Career Survey
Dual career and partner employment concerns impact on the ability to attract employees to international assignments. That is one of the key findings of the latest International Mobility and Dual Career Survey 2012 conducted by the Permits Foundation. Two thirds of employers report that partner careers have an impact on mobility and more than half said that employees had turned down assignments. Click here to see the full survey report.

Women's International Networking (W.I.N.) Conference 2012
This year's W.I.N. conference will be in beautiful Rome, Italy, 3-5(6) October. The theme this year is "Make Space: Find Possibilities". For more details, please visit their main website.

Global Campaign To Empower Americans Abused Abroad
- South America
The Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center is headed to South America: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. If you would like to attend one of their sessions please email Brooke Galloway, brookeg@866uswomen.org for more information.
- Worldwide
In addition, they are running free webinars from September to December, for American women based all over the world. Please rachelp@866uswomen.org for further details.
(Remember, if you are concerned that someone might be tracking your emails and website searches, perhaps use a computer other than your own to enquire about these webinars.)

Families in Global Transition (F.I.G.T.) Conference 2013
Do you have a personal history to share, a work philosophy, a special expertise, research findings, or strategies for successful international relocation? If so, then think about attending and speaking at next year's F.I.G.T. conference in Silver Spring, Maryland (March 22-23). If you are interested, the deadline for speaking proposals is September 10, so hurry here to get started on your proposal.

Blog Directory
Our Expat Women Blog Directory is still very active. New blogs are added all the time. If you have not submitted your expat blog yet, please consider doing so here. We would love to see it.

Twitter
Another channel that is still actively sharing expat headlines, social media tidbits, motivational quotes and tips from writers around the world is our/my Twitter account.

Thanks and best wishes for your week, Everyone,

Andrea (Martins)

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter? (January 16 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope you are having a fabulous start to 2012! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently that might interest you...

The World's Most Walkable Cities
http://bit.ly/ypO4Po

The Highs and Lows of Expatriation
http://fb.me/sECmUFGY

Expat Liz Visits a South Korean Cat Cafe
http://bit.ly/A3VcJz

Registration Now Open for FIGT (Families in Global Transition) Conference, 29-31 March, Washington DC
http://bit.ly/xJnS7k

Is Hong Kong's Pollution Driving Expats Away?
http://tgr.ph/A17DiR

It's Easy to Break the Law in Dubai Without Realising It
http://tgr.ph/wghGT5
Note: After I tweeted this, someone wrote to tell me that a poppy seed on bread could lead to arrest! And another person advised that vanilla essence could do the same! Wow. Be careful, Everyone.

US Migration Study Results Released by United Van Lines
http://bit.ly/xaTo3E

Top 15 Girlfriend Getaways (includes a water slide in a shark tank!)
http://bit.ly/wtYF7a

Expat Author Interview: Russell Ward Talks to Jack Scott about His New Book, Perking The Pansies http://bit.ly/wS0bkk

Expat in Israel? Dr. Dani Kranz in Germany Needs Your Help for A Research Project
http://linkd.in/xkTeeL

How To Work From Home Like You Mean It
http://bit.ly/w0RkjQ

Anyone Interested in The Casting Team Contacting Them for House Hunters International (U.S. version) is Invited to Contact @BlondeinAround via Twitter

Before you clear out your old expat paperwork, send it to the Expat Archive Centre
http://www.xpatarchive.com/

And one from us...

Here is where you can see the latest self-submitted blogs on our Expat Women Blog Directory - Enjoy!
http://bit.ly/igeWXc

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To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a sensational day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (October 30-31 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope you enjoyed a wonderful fun-filled weekend! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

Registration Now Open For FIGT (Families in Global Transition) Conference, March 2012, Washington
http://www.figt.org/

Expat Entrepreneur Interview:
Expat Life Coach John Falchetto talks to Mara Vaughan (Egypt)
http://bit.ly/slgfUc

Expat Life: What’s a Nice Protestant Girl Doing in this Place?
http://bit.ly/vEYSUL

How Air Pollution Impacts Expat Kids
http://bit.ly/tTLl9i

Feeling Negative Abroad?
Read Our Expat Women October Confession
http://bit.ly/ohAty9

British Expats Refusing To Go Home:
15% Call Off Repatriation Plans
http://bit.ly/t0AUwp

Strategies for a UN Job Search (Part 2):
Research the Duty Stations (Passport Career Blog)
http://bit.ly/rVKunE

Luxury Clinic Sued After Australian Expat Left Blinded in One Eye (Moscow Times)
http://bit.ly/se8VTM

Can You Relate To This 1955 Philip Larkin Poem Title?
"The Importance of Being Elsewhere"
http://bit.ly/uim9nw

British Expat Sets Up A Theater Studio In Moscow (Video)
http://bit.ly/u8ZjfR

Plus, a quote that I liked this past week:
"If you're OK out of your comfort zone... you're not out of your comfort zone." by @lesmckeown (thanks @JohnFalchetto for sharing)

And finally, news from @LonelyPlanet's Twitter feed:
"Iceland is the top country destination as voted by Lonely Planet travellers for 2012!"

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To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a fantastic day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Missed Some Great Expat Twitter Links? (October 25-26 edition)

Hi Everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful week! Here are some expat links I have tweeted recently, that might interest you...

Excellent Article About Moving Abroad and/or Moving Back Home - on Matador Network
http://bit.ly/ods96E

"Hired in Shanghai: How I Did It"
Great Post For Expats (or Anyone) Looking for Work
http://bit.ly/noRP7P

Challenges Faced By Expat Women - via Escape From America Magazine
http://bit.ly/nYBlzu

Expat Divorce A Tricky Affair
http://bit.ly/qeIspv

Career Break Travel Myths - via Lonely Planet
http://bit.ly/qwNeZQ

Expat Coach Directory
http://bit.ly/oBXwGS

Expats: Want To Win an IPAD2? Tell The UK Telegraph Expat Your Favourite British Place Abroad
http://bit.ly/p54uCE

Digging Deep: 'Earthscraper' Building To Plunge 300m Underground In Mexico City
http://bit.ly/uyDBq9

Strategies For a UN Job Search - on Passport Career
http://bit.ly/qXsb3Y

Reminder: David Pollock Scholarship Applications for Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Conference (March 2012) Due December
http://bit.ly/pWB3N3

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To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

If you reading this blog post online and you are not already an Expat Women member, please support us and sign up here to receive our monthly, motivational newsletters.

Thanks for your support and I wish you a fantastic day/evening! Andrea @andreaexpat

Heard About The New Cross Cultural Symposium? Oct 13-14 - Indianapolis, Indiana

Hi Everyone, From one of the founders of the Families in Global Transition (FIGT) conference (Ruth Van Reken), comes a new get-together (the Cross Cultural Symposium) next month, that might just become a successful annual event like the first...

Cross Cultural Symposium:
Growing Up Cross-Culturally: 
Broadening Horizons for Academic Research
October 13 – 14, 2011
Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

"What do children of refugees, immigrants, minorities, career expatriates, mixed race, and bi-cultural families have in common? 

These young people are part of the “new normal” in today’s globalizing world. Unlike those of past generations who grew up in monocultural environments, these young people meaningfully interact with two or more different cultural worlds during their developmental years.

Sociologists, anthropologists, educators, psychologists, and other academicians often study these groups as distinct entities. Today’s changing world brings up new questions. Are there common themes researchers are finding among children who have been raised cross-culturally for any reason? What remains distinctive to each type of experience? What about those growing up in multiple cross-cultural categories at the same time? How does this growing cultural complexity factor into today’s research and practice? What are the practical implications for those, such as educators, who work with this population? How can we help today’s children maximize the potential of a cross-cultural childhood while dealing constructively with the challenges?

This interdisciplinary symposium will offer an opportunity for academicians and practitioners to explore the question of whether it is possible to identify common themes that develop for those who are, or were, raised cross-culturally for any reason - even when the reasons differ greatly. As we compare the experience of those growing up cross-culturally with those raised in the more traditional mono-cultural communities and families of the past, we will consider potential research needed to further identify common themes as well as what is, in fact, distinctive to specific experiences. This symposium will be highly interactive using well qualified presenters, a short film, panels, research posters, and small group discussions. Our keynote speaker on October 14 is Professor Gary Weaver, Founder and Executive Director, Intercultural Management Institute, American University.

We invite all interested people to come, particularly academicians and practitioners in the fields of sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, child and adolescent development, and intercultural studies. Also those involved with immigrants, refugees, minorities, ethnicities, expatriates, international adoptees and other related areas, are welcome. Only $75.00 per person (includes two breakfasts, two lunches, registration)

Facilitators: Ruth E. Van Reken, co-founder of Families in Global Transition, co-author, Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds; Fran Colley, Education Chair – Association of International Women (Indianapolis), Research Co-chair – Indiana Multiethnic Committee; and Christine Dowdeswell – Co-founder, Association of International Women (Indianapolis), co-founder FIGT, Alumni Board IU School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis."

Potential participants are invited to click here for more details.

Congrats to the organizers! Enjoy! Andrea

FIGT Conference - 2012 Dates Announced & Speaker Proposals Now Invited

Hi Everyone, The dates for the 2012 FIGT (Families In Global Transition) conference have now been announced. Next year's conference will held 29 - 31 March, again in Washington D.C..

If you are interested in speaking, proposals are now invited. The deadline is September 9, but that day will come around very quickly, so it would be smart to start your proposal now. 

Click here to see who presented at the 2011 conference. 

Click here for details of how to present at the 2012 conference.  

I hope that many of you wonderfully wise expatriate and repatriate women apply! Andrea :)

Words from FIGT

"For over 10 years, the annual Families In Global Transition conference has inspired, educated and brought together those serving families on global assignments as well as family members themselves.

The FIGT community of speakers has included top professionals across all sectors. FIGT's mission is to promote the positive value of the international experience, and empower the family unit and those who serve it before, during and after international transitions.

Our work is spread to hundreds worldwide through the words of our distinguished conference speakers and the connections they make with attendees."

Expat Women April Newsletter Highlights

Hi Everyone, For those of you who missed (or did not get time to read) our Expat Women April newsletter, we invite you to click on the highlights below to read our latest features. Many thanks! Andrea

Success Story: Karen Hastings: Cupcake

Business Idea: CAMENAE Group: Jill Walker and Brittany Callard

Expat Confession: Expat Friends Leaving: by our Expat Women Girlfriend

The STARS Come Out at FIGT: A Report from the Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Conference, held in Washington DC, March 17-19, 2011: by Apple Gidley

FAWCO Conference 2011: A Report from the FAWCO (Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas) Conference in Marrakech, Morocco: 16 - 20 March 2011: by Andrea Martins

Winning Story: Making it Home: by Jenna (An American in Brazil)
"Moving back to Rio under much better circumstances was not the piece of cake I had expected. True, this time around, I didn’t have to worry about visas or finding housing on a pauper’s salary, didn’t have to count my change every morning and pass up air conditioned buses because their fare was too expensive... But suddenly, hassles I’d never contemplated took center stage. I was a newlywed in a foreign country. All my friends worked regular jobs and lived at least an hour’s commute away, making visiting difficult. People seemed flummoxed by the change from favela to high-rise, and many of my old acquaintances fell out of touch..."

Winning Member: The name of our Explorer Publishing mini-guide pack winner.

Not a Member Yet?
Just a reminder that our blog is separate from our main site, so if you are reading this blog post online or you are only subscribed to our blog, you will not automatically receive our Expat Women monthly newsletters. To go in the running to win our monthly prize of a complete set of Explorer Publishing Mini-Guides, please sign up today to our main site, ExpatWomen.com. When you join, you will also receive a link to download our free e-book of Winning Stories. Thanks for your support!

Thanks Everyone! Andrea

Note: If you are a member and did not receive your newsletter, please email us here, thanks.

Missed Some Great Expat Links on Twitter?

Hi Everyone, Here are some expat-related articles and links that I have tweeted about recently, that might interest you:

Expat Survey says it's the leisure time, not the money, that's better abroad
http://bit.ly/c0ZWTh

Top 10 Places for Women Expats
http://bit.ly/bVyQ5S

Loved new video promo for book by expat trailing man Alan Paul who reinvented himself in China
http://youtu.be/tAth-nW9L5U

Top International Women to Follow on Twitter
http://ht.ly/3hb9K

Why Should Expat Families Abroad Care About the Boarding School or College/University Visit?http://bit.ly/d1b00t

Ex-Career Expat Wives - Your thoughts?
http://wp.me/ptOFQ-mG

Expat study suggests that providing too much support may actually hinder workplace performance
http://bit.ly/crMypE

Got $500k to $1million to invest in the U.S. economy to fast track your U.S. citizenship?
http://ow.ly/2ZCjJ

Well-known author of expat books, Robin Pascoe, releases new repatriate "blogella"
http://t.co/55kLAqV

Article Writing: Interview with Expat Writing Coach Jo Parfitt
http://bit.ly/gtss5h

Want To Know Who's Speaking At The 2011 FIGT Conference?
http://www.figt.org/2011_Conference_Schedule

Moving to London, Geneva, Zurich, Hong Kong, Singapore or Dubai?
Check out http://www.lookseecity.com/ - they just won industry award

Expat Wives: Blog Post for You
http://bit.ly/fJ1xEl

British expat woman in Turkey raising funds to help train families still recovering from earthquake of 1999
http://bit.ly/hrMW4K

Expats: Online Magazine for Parents Raising Little Global Citizens
http://incultureparent.com/

Expat Issues: Cauldrons of Cultural Complexity, Deal-Breaking Weather, Fashion Faux-Pas
http://bit.ly/a7NcCN

Expat Women moving to the U.S.? Check out Girlfriend Circles to meet new friends in your area
http://bit.ly/hlwUbC

Funny: Expats Helping to Re-Write Chinglish Signs In Shanghai
http://bit.ly/fzG7BF

Expats: Looking For The 'Good Life' in France?
http://bit.ly/fesy7F
and WAIF (Women Alone in France)
http://bit.ly/gEl4qe

Expat Secrets: Great Week of Posts about Damaging Expat Behaviors from Expat Coach Marie Brice
http://ow.ly/3n8IF

Do expats really have a better life abroad?
http://bit.ly/hRneCK

Does abuse occur in expat communities?
http://bit.ly/gxdWtQ

Congrats to Winners: Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards
http://bit.ly/gU3362

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To follow me in 'real time' and keep up with even more great expat links on Twitter, please click here.

To sign up and receive our monthly, motivational Expat Women newsletters, please click here.

Thanks for your support and have a great week!

Andrea
Twitter handle: @andreaexpat

Want To Know Who's Speaking At The 2011 FIGT Conference?

Hi Everyone, Our friends at FIGT (Families in Global Transition) have now published details of who will be speaking, and about what, at their upcoming conference in Washington (March 17-19) and they have kindly allowed us to republish the information for you here...

Unleashing Your Creative Potential Through the Arts
Alaine Handa
Do you get a “block” trying to write your article/book, choreograph a dance, paint a picture, design an outfit, etc.? In this session, mini-activities using movement, character writing, art therapy, and free-write will be introduced, to help you unlock creative potential that can become material for your work. TCKs are rich with unconscious thoughts that may or may not have been repressed. By unleashing these vulnerable thoughts, we let go of what we have kept “locked” inside and can use it as material to move on with our mobile lives.

Does where you're from make a difference? Comparing American and Japanese TCKs
Ann Baker Cottrell
Nearly all TCK research is based on American or Japanese TCKs. A review of these literatures, including findings from a study of over 600 American ATCKs, reveals themes in common to TCKs. It also makes clear that the TCK experience, especially on re-entry, is shaped by socio-cultural characteristics and history of the passport country. TCKs from other countries will be encouraged to share their experiences and how they are similar to or different from American or Japanese TCKs.

Death from a Distance: Practical and Emotional Guidance
Apple Gidley & Laura Stephens
Death is not something we like to talk about and wherever you live is difficult to handle. Add an ocean between you and your aging loved ones and the issues can be magnified. This session aims to provide a greater awareness and understanding of the challenges of dealing with aging parents and death from a distance. Apple Gidley will share her experiences, both practical and emotional, and Laura Stephens will draw on her therapeutic training to offer clarity around the process of grief and related issues.

Department of State Support to Foreign Service Families
Archana Dheer
Department of State is a leader in the field of preparing its employees and family members for overseas assignments. While many organizations provide the required training to employees, we focus also on the accompanying family member. Transition Center at FSI runs training courses, seminars and workshops to cover many aspects of international life that are a challenge to these families. It can be traveling with pets, recognition of gay couples as family, relevant allowances, adequate education for special needs children, employment opportunities for family members, etc. What all does the department do? How does it do it?

Perspective Coaching: Empowering Expatriates with Choice and Action
Becky Matchullis
Using perspective to one’s advantage is a key factor in moving forward with courage and resiliency in the expatriate life, especially during transition. Going to a new perspective expands the way to look at a situation by creating new possibilities – leading to choice. This workshop is for both expatriate coach as well as expatriate. Interactive and experiential, you will learn when perspective coaching is most strategic, where to find perspectives, and the 4 step process of Perspective Coaching.

The Teen Perspective on Transition
Caitlin Morse & Amy Casteel
International schools, coaches, parents, sponsoring organizations and others will discover how teens perceive transition and what contributes to successful transitions, based on the responses of 100+ teens. This session will use survey results, video interviews, case studies, 15 years of experience working with TCKs, and audience participation to explore what transitions are really like for youth. Participants will be equipped with strategies for making transitions successful for teens.

We’re All in This Together! Navigational Strategies for Intercultural Intersections of School Communities
Candice Hughes
This session focuses on the multiple intercultural intersections that exist in school communities comprised of diverse populations that represent host country and other cultures. The cultural iceberg metaphor and a framework of intercultural knowledge and skills will be used to demonstrate how these intersections can be navigated by students, families and staff members to allow learning to occur in an environment of acceptance and tolerance. Participants will engage in a set of exercises to learn how to analyze school settings to identify potential problematic intercultural intersections and learn how to help community members navigate them successfully in their respective roles.

Traveling beyond the Limitations of Identity
Carolyn Vines
Everyone has an identity that's been foisted upon him/her by family, community, culture, religion and/or nationality. Everyone experiences various crises of identity caused by those prefabricated identities. However, not everyone recognizes these crises as opportunities to search within for a definition of self in one's own terms, on one's own terms. The objective is to help participants recognize that identity can be the fiercest of limitations on one's personal growth potential and to identify some tools for seeing/defining themselves in different terms.

TeamWork ABC
(Availability/Being Prepared/Communicating) = SEE! (success in expatriation experience)
Chantal Duke
Show how understanding of expatriation concepts and potential issues can benefit the employee, family and the company’s relocating staff during different cycles of the adaptation process.

Finding The TCK Voice: A Personal Journey Through Art, Creativity and Intuition
Cheilaugh Garvey
What is art? Art is creation, imagination, recording, investigation, arbitration and culmination. It helps define our existence and makes us less alone and frees our frustration. Anonymous. Don't be afraid of the "art part"! No previous experience required! In this hands-on workshop, you will learn to tap into your own intuitive creativity in order to discover your distinctive TCK voice. Everyone's experience is different! Through a variety of fun and informal creative exercises, you will find ways to visualize and verbalize your experiences as a TCK or ex-pat. This process will evoke memories and emotions and help you to reconnect with your cross-cultural experiences. Through art and journaling, you will express your personal voice and embark on a journey of reflection, reevaluation and growth. The influences and perceptions of living abroad will also be explored. Enjoy the process and conversations during this enlightening workshop.

The Modern Expat
Diane Endo
The notion of acculturation seems to be disappearing from the verbal and mental vocabulary of today’s expats. Shorter assignments, ease of global travel, technology, and busy work and family life are several reasons why expats today are more apt to opt out of total immersion in their host country culture. This session will introduce modern methods for being a resident in a foreign culture.

Choosing the right expat support services for every budget
Doris Fuellgrabe
Are you organizing relocations while juggling a tight budget? Are you wondering which support fits best for individual cases? In this session, participants will explore different areas of expat support services and receive practical resources how to choose which ones are right for them. This is not a sales presentation! We are going to look at the advantages and limitations of language training, readiness assessments, destination services, cross-cultural and repatriation training, and expat coaching. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, thereby creating a synergetic exchange of information among the group.

Developing a Personal Model of Resiliency for Expatriates
Duncan Westwood
An interactive workshop that trains participants to identify, build and strengthen a model of personal resilience with expatriates. Expatriate employees, spouses, TCKs and their service providers will personally and professionally benefit from learning how to foster resiliency in themselves and/or coach others to do so. Relevant findings from the research on expatriate resiliency will be an integral part of our interactive learning.

The Impact of Confucianism on Asians' Crossing Culture
Isabelle DS Min
Our values and languages shape the way we see the world. Just as most western view of the world were shaped by the Greek philosophies, Confucianism dictates Asians’ perspectives (Richard Nisbet “The Geography of Thought”). Confucianism, among other things, is highly hierarchical, relationship based perspective of the world. Among many Asian nations, Confucianism still holds a strong grip in Korea where there still exist 7 levels of honorifics. This session uses real life examples to illustrate how Confucianism still thrives in Korean life and business and offers practical solutions for smooth transition into such Asian mindset.

Increasing importance of expat partner support
Jacqueline Van Haaften
Companies and organisations are offering all kinds of assistance to the partners of the employees whom they are sending abroad. They have good reason to do so. But just how effective is their help? What are the trends? And how do the partners themselves feel about the support they receive? In order to answer these questions, Global Connection conducted a survey among its members around the world, mainly traditional expatriates, although the ‘expat-light’ trend is starting to emerge. The expats surveyed were posted abroad by a total of more than 50 organisations.

Blogs, books and bylines - How getting in print will boost your global business
Jo Parfitt
Do you want to stand out from the crowd and get more clients? Then you need to increase your client base and your profile through writing and getting into print. From writing a blog, to articles, booklets and books, there are many ways to increase your Googlability. This workshop will discuss how writing can help you to achieve expert status, passive income and an impressive Internet presence. Learn how to use the power of blogging, Twitter, booklets and books to grow an impressive business regardless of where you may live.

Action, Identity, Success or Failure: What makes an expat child grow?
Julia Simens
When does a child take failure from an action (I failed) to an identity (I am a failure) and why this follows them around the world as they relocate. Pick up some practical tips on how to make those around you ‘grow’. The view you adapt for yourself or the view your child takes on profoundly affects the way each of you lead your life. Listen to parents and teachers give comments and compare them to what a child really hears. Learn what is the most common mistake we make and how it can hinder motivation and performance.

Cross-Cultural Career Counseling and Job Search Coaching:
Supporting Accompanying Expatriate Spouses or Partners
Katarina Holm-DiDio
This session explores how a career counselor or job search coach can support the expatriate in a job search process in a country different than her/his passport country. We will discuss how to be mindful about cultural differences in career development and in career related values; how to find ways to help the client identify his or her values, strengths and challenges as an expatriate and ways to address them in the global job search context; how to assist the client to understand and address the employers/recruiters concerns about hiring an expatriate, and by exploring cultural differences in networking and job interviewing.

Advocating for Families – Ensuring the Voices of Families Are Heard
Kathleen Moakler
The families represented at this FIGT conference have all experienced global transition. They face the challenges of everyday family life enhanced by the additional stresses of changing environments and locations. Military families face these challenges as well. The National Military Family Association was formed to empower military families to become their own best advocates for addressing these challenges in their Nation or in their neighborhood. They are military family members serving other military families. They have grown to be a credible information resource for those families and for the policy makers that serve them. We will discuss how to form and sustain an advocacy organization, why it is important, and how we serve our constituents. We will trace our growth over 40 years and how we have had to adapt to changes. We will invite all sectors to brainstorm on how they could use this model to advocate for the needs of their families.

Oh the Places We Will Go: A Look at the Cross-cultural Adjustment Process of Expatriate Families in a Multinational Organization
Katie Rosenbusch & Len Cerny
Currently, there is limited research evidence on the cross‐cultural adjustment of expatriate families; therefore, there is a need to develop a better understanding of the impact that family makes on the cross‐cultural transition. This study investigated the impact of the family characteristics ‐ family cohesion and family flexibility‐ on the cross‐cultural adjustment process from the perspective of the expatriate and his/her spouse and child. The findings of this research provide insights to organizations and their HRD professionals as well as to the expatriates and their families on how family flexibility impacts cross-cultural adjustment.

Crossing Sectors for Good Practice: Practical Lessons from International Mission/Aid
Kelly O'Donnell
Go and grow broadly. This presentation looks at the importance of interacting with different sectors on behalf of our international work with staff and their families. How can we take advantage of the wealth of opportunities for connecting and contributing to various international sectors? We’ll share personal stories, key concepts, and practical grids based on the presenter’s 30 years of experience in the humanitarian and mission sectors. Crossing sectors involves three overlapping areas:
• Crossing domains (e.g., health care, human rights)
• Crossing disciplines (e.g., human resource management, organizational management)
• Crossing deserts (e.g., personal challenges in the context of challenging work).

Getting the Most from an International Education: A How To Guide for Parents and HR
Laila Plamondon
Navigating life abroad can be daunting. Faced with tough decisions and life changes, parents often opt for the safest options... However more and more parents want a true global experience for their children; increasingly expensive international schools are just not an option. We’ll explore ways to get the most from every international education, from day-long activities to the ultimate immersion experience of attending a local school. We’ll discuss common dilemmas and long-term pitfalls, and share new strategies and trade secrets to help make the most of every international educational experience.

Through Western Eyes
Lesley Lewis & Betty Eng
Using the Whole Person Development concept along with Personal Experiences, Journal Entries and Narrative Inquiries (storytelling) of forty-five Hong Kong Chinese and ten Mainland Chinese undergraduate students - this presentation will present "cutting edge" findings and solutions to work with TCK's from China. There are many Asian students and adults moving internationally. The session will discuss the approaches to working with Asian Students in a most effective fashion allowing the students to feel they are "being heard" and how as professionals we can be culturally sensitive to their needs using the Whole Person Development approach.

Adjusting to Life in Brookline: A community-based program to help new international families in their adjustment to a new country.
Liliana Busconi, Andrew Miser & Mindy Paulo
People moving to another country are faced with cross-cultural dilemmas, such as lack of understanding of the social norms and rules, challenges to their personal and cultural values, inability to communicate, disruption of family functioning and loss of identity. This session will present a description of a successful free community-based intercultural program developed to support newcomers in the process of adjusting to life in a new community. We will analyze the benefits of a community-based program, present the program curriculum and cross-cultural activities and discuss the possibility of reproducing similar programs in other communities.

The World Bank Family Network, a long success story: a professional volunteer based support network
Maaike Le Grand
Volunteers can play a unique and determining role in welcoming relocating families and easing their transition in their new environment. The World Bank Family Network is a case in point. A group of some seventy spouses of the WBG staff volunteer their time welcoming around 500 families per year and organizing as many as 30 activities per month as well as 9 big events per year. This is done seamlessly and efficiently despite the transient commitment of the volunteers and with the help of only 3 WBG full time staff. What makes this work and what lessons can be drawn for other institutions?

Strengthening Resiliency in Military Children: Insights for Military Parents, Teachers, Counselors, Youth Leaders, Clergy and Other Helping Professionals
Mary Wertsch
All military children face tough challenges: repeated uprootings; caregiver adults who disappear to the combat zone; the delicate daily negotiation of fitting into both military culture and the radically different civilian culture around it. That's just for starters. There can also be the tensions of a blended family; a warrior parent dealing with high stress or trauma; a family member with an addiction. Can anything be done to help military children weather these storms? Yes. This session will teach participants a paradigm for helping military kids find the inner strength to survive and thrive, whatever the emotional weather.

Writing the Story of Your Overseas Experience
Maureen Sullivan Romagnoli
The world is made not of atoms, but of stories. These are the words of the poet Muriel Rukyser. We define our lives and our experiences through the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we tell others. The challenges you have faced and the incredible education you have acquired about living and working overseas is filled with a myriad of stories that need to be set down in some systematic manner. This workshop is the place to start. It will provide you with the questions you need to ask yourself in order to begin to record your story.

Best Practices in International Assignee Cross-cultural Training and Support
Neal Goodman
In this very interactive session we will share and examine the latest best practices that contribute to a successful cross-cultural training program. These include: training methodologies, use of technologies, social networks, and support services which promote the successful integration of international assignees and their families into their new host country and their successful repatriation back home. Attendees will be asked to share their experiences and best practices and a Model of a successful cross-cultural training and support process will be presented and examined. Each participant will be expected to develop a minimum of one action item to implement immediately.

When Friendship Becomes A Weapon, Exploring TCK Relational Aggression in International School Students
Noel Roberts
Relational Aggression is not a new concept but is still understudied in certain settings especially as it relates to TCK’s in the international school environment. Building on David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken’s work, “Third Culture Kids”, this workshop begins to investigate the complex friendships of TCK International students between transitions. We explore how issues of unresolved grief, guardedness, rejection, cultural miscues and unfulfilled expectations in both students and their parents, entangle and fuel TCK relational aggression. The workshop offers solid strategies for caregivers to help them learn how to unravel and disengage from these destructive relationships.

One Woman’s Air Force: Professional Opportunities and Personal Challenges of Women in the Military
Paulette Bethel
Women make up a growing component of the US military, especially in the last decade. Currently, women represent 14% of the US active duty forces and 20% of new military recruits. Current research findings and interviews with military women will be presented through the lens of the presenter's personal experiences to explore and “connect the dots” regarding the benefits and challenges of a military career. Discussion topics will include single parenthood, dual-military marriages; deployment issues; family adjustment issues, including medical and mental health impacts on mothers and their children. Suggestions will be offered for areas where further research is needed.

How Can EAP’s Retool to Address the Global Business Demands and the Familial Need of the Expatriate
Philip Berry & Tom Diamante
As companies and organizations increase their global focus, the value of the expatriate assignment is rising. However, the expatriate, like the domestic employee cannot focus on the job when family concerns are pressing. On the global business stage, the work-life dynamic is complicated by cross-cultural elements and added familial issues. Research indicates that family/cultural adaptation and on-going support is critical to retention of talent overseas. Pre-transition, during assignment and post-transition (repatriation) periods each require focused attention. We will explore the strategic integration of technological, organizational, social and familial elements critical to business success in the context of “transitions” on a global level.

The Resilience Doughnut: A strengths-based model for building resiliency and a route to solutions for the transition issues faced by young people
Stephanie Schwarz
The Resilience Doughnut (created by Lyn Worsley) is a practical, strength-based model for building resilience in young people. It considers how to enhance internal positive beliefs and make use of seven external life factors to develop resilience. This session introduces the model and applies it to a case example. It then explores why, at times of global transition, young people’s resiliency is particularly vulnerable before exploring strategies for parents and schools to help transitioning children remain resilient. Finally, participants will see how the model informs an International School’s “Transition Mentoring Program”, which works with new Elementary students to speed and smooth their transition into school.

ATCK Repatriation Challenges: Counseling Needs and Techniques
Tina Quick & Lois Bushong
Once ATCKs step out of the international, highly mobile third culture, they begin to witness differences between themselves and others who have grown up in more traditional cultures. Counselors, EAP providers and member care directors will benefit from this anecdotal filled session that looks at the issues young adult TCKs struggle with upon repatriation and how they can be helped to navigate the deep waters of adjusting to the new culture of their home country. Stories and video clips will be interspersed with counseling techniques and treatment plans in the therapy office for helping ATCKs cope with grief, identity questions, relationship challenges, belonging, old wounds and other themes.

FIGT is always a great conference: educational sessions plus wonderful networking with a group of people that really do become like 'family'.  I highly recommend the conference (I went in 2007 and 2009) and encourage you to find out more details here.

Thanks and enjoy your weekend!  Andrea

STOP PRESS: MORE SPEAKERS NOW LISTED ON THE FIGT SITE HERE: http://www.figt.org/2011_Conference_Schedule (18 January 2011)

Would You Like to Speak at the 'Families in Global Transition' Conference in 2011?

Hi Everyone, If you would like to share your special expertise, research project and/or successful strategies for successful international relocation at the Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Conference next March (17-19) in Washington, speakers' proposals must be submitted by this Friday, 10 September. 

FIGT is a wonderful conference full of very friendly and supportive peers.  I have been two times (2007 and 2009) and I encourage anyone interested in this arena to go along to the conference, speak/contribute, learn and make some fabulous new friends!

Andrea

"For over 10 years, the annual Families In Global Transition conference has inspired, educated and brought together those serving families on global assignments as well as family members themselves.

The FIGT community of speakers has included top professionals across all sectors. FIGT's mission is to promote the positive value of the international experience, and empower the family unit and those who serve it before, during and after international transitions.

All speaker applicants will be notified by October 2010."

Speaker Proposals Now Invited For 2011 Families In Global Transitions Conference

Hi Everyone, The team at Families In Global Transition (FIGT) are now inviting speaker proposals for their conference next year (March 17-19) in Washington D.C., United States.

"Do you know the challenges of moving across borders? Do you have a personal history to share, a work philosophy, a special expertise, research findings, or strategies for successful international relocation? If so, FIGT wants to hear from you.

For over 10 years, the annual Families In Global Transition conference has inspired, educated and brought together those serving families on global assignments as well as family members themselves.

The FIGT community of speakers has included top professionals across all sectors. FIGT's mission is to promote the positive value of the international experience, and empower the family unit and those who serve it before, during and after international transitions.

Our work is spread to hundreds worldwide through the words of our distinguished conference speakers and the connections they make with attendees.

...If you are a returning facilitator or new to the FIGT community, we invite you to submit a response to our Request For Proposal (RFP). Deadline for submissions is September 10, 2010."

Click here to read more.  Click here to see the speakers list from the 2010 conference.  I hope you wise and talented women submit a proposal! Andrea :-)

Expat Women April 2010 Home Page

Hi Everyone, We have just uploaded our Expat Women April 2010 home page. Please take a look, share it with your friends and tweet about it for us. Thanks!

Success Story
Beverly Mayhew
Orientations
Beverly Dwiggins Mayhew is the founder of Orientations and distinguished as a pioneer of destination services in Asia Pacific. A long-time devotee to the field of international human resources, Bev’s company has offices in nine Asian Pacific countries...
Read more…

Business Idea
Francesca Chocolate
Cornelia Francesca Maeder
Swiss Master Chocolatier Cornelia Francesca Maeder is a talented expat entrepreneur with a big vision: she wants to create products (chocolate, seminars, books, CDs and more) that positively contribute to the health, success and happiness of everyone touched by her brand..
Read more…

FIGT Report
Families in Global Transition Conference 2010
Rebecca Grappo
Imagine a huge convergence of people who represent families who are in, or understand, global transition. One cannot measure the level of energy nor the buzz of excitement that filled the air of the conference center as old friends reunited and new friendships were made...
Read more…

Facebook
New Book: Facebook Fairytales
Modern-Day Miracles To Inspire The Human Spirit
Emily Liebert
We talk to Emily Liebert about Facebook Fairytales, which presents twenty-five true, heart-warming stories from the world’s most popular social networking site. Emily shares her inspiration, her favorite stories and her impressions of CEO Mark Zuckerberg...
Read more…

Expat Confession
Not Welcome
Expat Women Girlfriend
Help! My husband’s job has taken us to a small, remote, island community in the middle of nowhere. The population is just over 1,000 people and the locals resent and bully the foreign community. They even chased an expat off the island who blogged about her time here...
Read more…

Expat Divorce Settlements
UK Case Study:
Agbaje v Agbaje (2010)
Carol Barraclough
The newly-reported case of Agbaje v Agbaje (2010) UKSC 13 has raised the issue of entitlement for spouses who have dual nationality in divorce proceedings. This is the first time that the Justices of the Supreme Court have...
Read more…

Not A Member Yet?
Just a reminder that our blog is separate from our main site, so if you are reading this blog post online or you are only subscribed to our blog, you will not automatically receive our Expat Women monthly newsletters. To receive our newsletter this month (which will come out around the middle of April) and to go in the running to win our monthly prize of a complete set of Explorer Publishing's Mini-Guides, please sign up today to our main site, ExpatWomen.com, and receive your free e-book of our Winning Stories!

Reminder
Have you told your friends? Our Amazon Kindle Competition (where you and a friend can both win a Kindle) closes on April 30. So please do encourage your friends to join Expat Women today!

Thank you very much and have a sensational April! Andrea

FIGT Conference

Hi Everyone, By all accounts, the Families in Global Transition (FIGT) conference last week in Houston was yet another great gathering of wonderful people in the relocation/global mobility industry. Congratulations to Kimberly Van Cleave Michaels, the FIGT Board and to everyone who had a hand in making this year's conference the annual success that it is.

Honorees

At the conference this year, the FIGT Board (and audience) honored two of our all-time favorites in this field for being "trailblazers" in the arena of support for globally mobile families. Congratulations Robin Pascoe and Jo Parfitt. You most certainly deserved to be honored and we thank you for all of your efforts over the years in helping expatriate families adjust, re-adjust and re-invent themselves abroad.

FIGT Article

Our friend Rebecca Grappo is kindly putting an FIGT conference article together for us for our April newsletter. If you have a few great photos to contribute to the article, please email them here.

FIGT 2011

Breaking recent tradition, the FIGT conference next year will be in Washington DC, not Houston. Mark your calendars now.

2011 Speakers

If you are interested in speaking at the 2011 conference, the request for proposals should be announced in April, with a deadline of September 2010. So start thinking of some fabulous, innovative topics and get ready to nominate yourself as a speaker for next year.

See you there in 2011! Andrea

Research: Female Minority Expatriates

Hi Everyone, IOR Global Services is conducting research on the experiences of female minority expatriates to be presented at Families in Global Transition conference in March 2010.

If you consider yourself a minority female, you have been sent on an international assignment and you would like to help with this research, please take the short confidential online survey here.

Please contact Charisse Kosova for any questions or to register your interest for the results. Many thanks.

Background: "Recent studies, and IOR Global Service’s own observations, have revealed that an increasing number of women, and particularly minority women, are accepting expatriate assignments. IOR is conducting research to highlight this demographic shift and to capture the important observations that expatriate minority women have made in both the selection process and during the expatriate experience.

Qualitative data collection will take place in two parts:
(1) completion of this 5-minute survey; and
(2) a 30-minute interview with participants.
The 30 minute interview is not mandatory.
All responses will remain completely anonymous."

2010 Families In Global Transition Conference Sessions Announced

Hi Everyone, What a fantastic Families in Global Transition (FIGT) conference the Board has lined up for March 4-6 in Houston next year! The conference sessions have just been announced and we've summarised them for you here:

Plenary Sessions

Encouraging the Courage of Children, Robert Ivany

Whether we serve in the corporate, non profit or military fields, relocating our families remains the largest single challenge for most professionals. With the hindsight of 24 moves in 34 years and the experience of school systems ranging from parochial to international, private to public, the Ivany family has benefitted from diverse communities. In order to reap the advantages on a global environment and a nomadic lifestyle, however, a significant amount of preparation is essential. Dr. Ivany and his lovely wife, Marianne, will share antidotes and insights into the joy and challenge of raising four children in unique surroundings. They believe that a positive attitude, love for each other and an appreciation of the national culture can combine to create mature, young adults ready to face the changes of the modern world.

ATCK: And Then Came Kate, Apple Gidley

Apple Gidley's closing keynote address will discuss the many transitions that have been a part of her life: from multiple school changes and finally boarding school; to segueing from expat brat to expat wife and expat mother; to finding fulfilling roles both in the voluntary and commercial sector. It will discuss how twenty-six relocations throughout twelve countries have intrinsically given her a deep awareness, and understanding, of many cultures. Apple will also talk briefly about the attitudes encountered along the way of expatriates, their sponsoring organizations, and the host countries. Recognition of expat terminology is becoming more widely accepted in the HR world, and with it a greater understanding of what a global upbringing can bring to the workforce. These and other relevant issues will be touched on, with Apple drawing on her many experiences to highlight certain points.

Cross Sector Panel: "Learning Across Sectors"
Three veteran FIGT participants will make up this panel that will share practices learned from their colleagues in different sectors. A lively interaction will take place among panel members as they share examples of adapting practices learned from the experiences of others' sector successes or failures. The audience will be challenged to continue the conversation at their own table and throughout the conference.

Teen/Parent Panel: "Relative Distance"Moderator: Lois J. Bushong
Teens and their parents will discuss in a lively and interactive manner some of the challenges of being internationally mobile. Our format will highlight the ways perceptions can vary between teens and parents and within families who have purportedly witnessed the same events. It will be entertaining to see how the perceptions vary between the teen and their parent, hence the distance - emotional as well as geographical.

Concurrent Sessions

• The Multicultural Self in the Intercultural World, Janet Bennett
• Transitions and Work: Your Relocation, Reinvention, and Resilience as an Accompanying Spouse or Partner, Jennifer Bradley
• Global Nomadic Leaders (ATCKs): Tomorrow's Leaders in a Global World, Katrina Burrus
• Emotional Intelligence: Key to Successful Cultural Adaptation, Laura Celis Black
• The Impact of Expatriation on Children, Simone Torres Costa Eriksson
• Global Mobility Programs & Trends, Sarah De Hayes
• Business Plan: "The Path Forward", Deniz Demirors
• Challenge to Fulfillment: Midlife Transition for Accompanying Spouses and Partners, Diane Endo
• Expat Finances: Considerations for an Overseas Assignment, Andrew Fisher
• Crossing Oceans and Borders: Take Your School With You, Marilyn Mosley Gordanier
• The Expat Experience through the Arts, Alaine Handa
• The Positive & Negative Impact of Technology & Social Networking on Expat Family Life, Anne-Claude Lambelet, Michelle Sandlin and Leslie Sjurseth
• Transition Saturation© Kids Struggling in Deep Waters: Too Many Changes/Too Few Adaptive Skills, Linda Maguire
• Helping People Through: The Gap…Between Two Worlds, Kevin McNulty
• Just Another Expat? Insights and Strategies of Female Minority Expatriates, Kendra Mirasol and Charisse Kosova
• Cross-Cultural Coaching: Tools for Successful Cultural Adjustment, Andrew L. Miser & Oshikan Sjodin-Bunse
• Coaching Expatriates/Repatriates for Improved Transitions, Colleen Mizuki
• Top 5 Uncommon International Job Search Strategies for Spouses/Partners, Susan Musich
• Out of the Boxes, Jo Parfitt
• Writing and Publishing a Book 101, Jo Parfitt
• Choosing a School for an Expat Child: A How-To Guide for Parents and Sending Agencies, Liz Perelstein and Laila Plamondon
• Supporting Spouses /Partners and Families: The Recipe for Success, Yvonne Quahe, Anne Folliet and Catherine Mathieu
• International Schools' Policies and Programs Supporting the International Student - 2009 Survey Results, Mary Rabbitt and Elizabeth Sawyer
• Keeping Our Children Bilingual, Virginie Raguenaud
• Exploring Multiculturalism and Identity in Children's Literature, Laura Sicola
• Re-occurring Cycle or Full Speed Ahead? - Should Families Return "Home" between Assignments?, Julia L. Simens
• Home is Where the Heart Is? Oshikan Sjodin-Bunse
• Purposeful Leadership: Using your Global Experience to Lead from Within, Sandy Thomas
• Teaching Locally, Thinking Globally: Helping School Educators Understand the Third Culture Kid Experience, Ruth Van Reken
• Military Families: Understanding and Bridging the Parent-Child Cultural Divide, Mary Edwards Wertsch

Cracker Barrels

• Outcomes of a Summer Program for Gifted Student, Tatiana Behrmann
• Global Mobility Talent Management - Expat Coaching, Sarah De Hayes
• 10 Things to Know Before Starting Your Own Business, Deniz Demirors
• Ensuring Educational Continuity: Tips for Families Who Experience Multiple International Relocations, Heather Dickmeyer
• Optimizing Repatriation - Positive Experiences of Going Home, Madeleine Dobson
• From Third Culture Kids to Geographical Itinerancy, Deniz Gyger Gaspoz
• 10 Things You Should Know Before Choosing A Distance Learning Program, Marilyn Mosley Gordanier
• A Short Screening of "I am a TCK", Alaine Handa
• Are Missionary Kids (MKs) Less Religious Than the American Public? Nancy Henderson-James
• Awesome Leadership Opportunities for Youth! Tonya Kay King
• How International Schools Can Support Students' Native-Language Needs, Andrew Kittell
• Using your MBTI Score to Help You Plan for a Successful Integration, Anne-Claude Lambelet
• 10 Considerations When Sending Minority Women Abroad, Kendra Mirasol and Charisse Kosova
• Learning, Changing and Growing…Inside The Gap Between Two Worlds, Kevin McNulty
• The Coaches Corner, Andrew L. Miser
• Social Networking Strategies for Spouses on an International Job Search, Susan Musich
• Building Beneficial TCK Communities, Darci Nealeigh and Candy Hart
• Choosing a School for an Expat Child: A How-To Guide for Parents and Sending Agencies, Liz Perelstein and Laila Plamondon
• Top 10 Issues of TCKs Repatriating for University, Tina Quick and Julia L. Simens
• Multicultural Children's Literature, Laura Sicola
• Moving for Love? Be Sure to Pack These Quick Tips, Oshikan Sjodin-Bunse
• Learn the ABC's of Resilience to Master the Hard Days, Oshikan Sjodin-Bunse
• Understanding our Attachment Needs: Tips to Boost Emotional Resilience, Laura Stephens
  Positioning your Corporation as a Leader in Expatriate Community Support, Thomas Speckhardt and Caitlin Morse
• Births Abroad: Practical Tips for Service Providers Working with Growing Global Families, Marian Valia
• Culturally Complicated Childhoods: A Bane or Blessing? Ruth E. Van Reken
• Belonging: Impossible Dream? Mary Edwards Wertsch
• Quiet Space and Reflection, Lois J. Bushong
• Researchers' Forum, Becky Powell and Ann Baker Cottrell
• Cost-Effective Approaches to Supporting the Expatriate FamilyPresented by a group of FIGT Leaders
• TCKs Repatriating for University:Confronting the Challenges and Building Communities, Tina Quick, Darci Nealeigh, and Candy Hart
• "Portable Stability"© for Families in Turbulent TimesLifeboats & Lifelines to Secure Families & Strengthen Organizations, Joyce Blake and Linda Maguire
• Cross-cultural Coaching: Tools for Successful Cultural Adjustment, Andrew Miser and Oshikan Sjodin-Bunse

Click Here to learn more about attending the 2010 Families in Global Transition conference in Houston, Texas. Conference fees range from only US$350 - US$750.

I'm a big supporter of FIGT, having loved the two conferences I have attended. The sessions are great, but it is the people that you meet that truly make the event memorable. If you have never gone, but would like to go... maybe 2010 is your year.... Think about it.

Enjoy your day/evening! Andrea.

Scholarships Available To The Families In Global Transition (FIGT) Conference 2010

Hi Everyone, If you are a student or a self-sponsored non-profit representative, you are invited to apply for a full or partial David C. Pollock Scholarship to the upcoming 2010 Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Conference in Houston, Texas, March 4-10.

The deadline for applications is 15 December 2009. Please click here for more information. The FIGT conference is always a wonderful chance to learn and network with others in this arena. Good luck to any Expat Women member who applies for the scholarships! Andrea

Want To Speak At The FIGT Conference, Houston, March 2010?

Hi Everyone, If you are interested in speaking at the upcoming Families In Global Transition (FIGT) Conference, here is a final reminder that the proposal deadline is September 1.

The 2010 FIGT conference will be held in Houston, Texas, March 4-6. It is honestly a great conference to go to if you are involved in the industry supporting families/expats abroad. The people that attend are like 'old friends' and you should genuinely get something out of it... especially if you get a chance to speak there as well.

FIGT Call For Proposals

Hi Everyone, If you are interested in speaking at the Families in Global Transition (FIGT) conference in Houston, Texas, March 4-6, 2010, FIGT are now inviting your proposal.

"Proposals for presentations are invited for any topic of interest to the FIGT community. Preferred proposals will move beyond entry-level awareness-building to development of strategies, systemic interventions, and practical ‘how-to’ guidelines. Submission should be for a presentation that has not been offered at FIGT before.

Preference will be given to sessions focusing on one of the following topics or other new, innovative, timely, and fresh ideas:

1. Global Citizens
2. Cultural Issues that Influence How We Enter New Cultures
3. Technology’s Role in the New Expatriate Family’s Life
4. Moving for Love or Other Personal Reasons
5. Under-studied Groups
6. International Schools and International Students
7. Sponsoring Organizations’ Perspective
8. Difficult Locations, Difficult Times
9. Mental Health and Coaching Issues
10. Unplanned Repatriations and Early Returns
11. Again and Again, For Better and For Worse: Multiple International Relocations
12. Taking Care of (Personal) Business
13. Moving Beyond Words: The Expat Experience through the Senses
14. Building Your Own Business"

Click here to find out more about the 2010 FIGT conference and/or submitting a proposal. Thanks.

FIGT Conference Wrapped Up In Houston

Hi Everyone, Apologies for the quietness of late... I have been here in Houston (US) at the annual Families in Global Transition (FIGT) conference for the last few days, plus travelling before that.

This year the conference was another huge success. Around 200 or so participants came from around the US (both expats and Americans), from The Netherlands (yes, the second-largest contingent that attended), other parts of Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin America and maybe more. I didn't meet anyone from Africa.

Sectors represented included: US military/navy/air force (namely representatives from their Family Readiness Centers - from posts all around the world); relocation (including destination services); academia; authors; schools; TCKs (Third Culture Kids) and Adult TCKs; corporates; missionary sector representatives; coaches; counsellors; interested individuals; and more.

When asked who was new to FIGT, about half of the people in the room stood up, which was a positive sign - that is, that people are learning about FIGT and that the conference does have new blood/ideas each year.

One of the big themes that seemed to shine through this year was grief and reconciliation - putting language to experiences and dealing with the grief of leaving locations before being able to successfully move forward and adapt to new locations/environments.

There were not as many TCK topics this year - and lots of new presenters - plus lots of interest in their new topics. For example, I talked a few times - about expat websites, general website tips and traps, blogs and social media - and these topics were well attended by people across all industries, who seemed really keen to learn how best to use the web and modern technology, which was great.

In our Expat Women Members' Newsletter for April, I will put together a more detailed article of some of the topics presented, plus share with you some photos that I took, so anyone interested can get a better glimpse into FIGT's 2009 conference.

Thanks, best wishes, and enjoy the rest of your weekends, Andrea

Reminders - FIGT & Re:locate Awards

Hi Everyone, Just two quick reminders:

(1) The Families in Global Transition (FIGT) conference in Houston, US, March 5-7, is now less than one month away - so if you are thinking of going, register quickly before time runs out; and

(2) Entries for the Re:locate Awards 2008/9 (UK) close Monday 16 February. The organisers sent a note out today saying:

"Whatever your contribution to relocation, managing international assignments and global mobility, there is a category for you, or your team, to enter."

So, go for it and good luck!