Unpacking the boxes
The first weeks back in your home country after living overseas are chaotic. Just like going on a new assignment in the first place. You may need to live with someone else for a while until you find somewhere permanent. Maybe you need to wait for your tenants to move out of your house. Perhaps […]
Building friendships during re-entry
What is it that makes you feel settled? When you’ve moved before, what has helped? Many things contribute to feeling settled in a location, as you will know from past experience. Getting to know language and culture, having a base to call home, and knowing your way around all play a part. I talked in […]
The hardest aspects of re-entry
It almost goes without saying: everyone has a different experience of re-entry. But perhaps you think that others are handling it better that you are? Maybe you think you are the only one finding it this hard? I’m pleased to be able to let you in on a little secret: the vast majority find going […]
Finding support during re-entry
It’s already been firmly established that re-entry is not the easiest of transitions (understatement). The vast majority of the 200 people who completed our survey faced common issues during re-entry: grieving and missing their life abroad, feeling a loss of identity, restless, unsettled, and misunderstood. When you go on an overseas posting, most people now […]
What you told us about your feelings in re-entry
I recently carried out a survey with some other re-entry coaches to find out what your struggles are in re-entry. We had over 200 responses! We looked at the range of feelings experienced and coping strategies used by expats from many different sectors (mission, Non-Governmental Organisations, corporate, educators, students, military and accompanying spouses). I’ll soon […]