5 Tips for Celebrating Halloween Overseas

"For some of us, Halloween is everyday" Tim Burton

In America the excitement is contagious, Halloween has been in the stores and supermarkets for a good month now.  You've had the opportunity to think about your costumes, decorations and of course, candy!  But what happens with Halloween when you are overseas?

Depending on your location, you could be on a Halloween-friendly country or not.  If you are not finding the enthusiasm Halloween deserves here are 5 places where to find it or where you could start a campaign for a new tradition.

1. If you have school age children, most likely Halloween will be celebrated at school in some way or form, a parade or a spooky party.  Who doesn't like to dress up and eat candy?  This is a great place to volunteer your Halloween cheer.  

2. Is work associated with an American/expat company or enterprise?  Offices can turn into great spaces for trick-o-treating.  Door decorating contest anyone?  Or each area could decorate their spaces with a different theme and let employee's children go around asking for candy.  It does take asking permission from top management, but it is a great opportunity to bring people together, so pitch your idea and start a new office tradition.

3.  Do you live in a building where there are other expats?  Maybe you can make the kids trick-or-treat around the building.  Or make a map of the Halloween-friendly houses in the neighborhood, grab a flash light and go get that candy!!

4.  Trunk-o-treat is another popular way to celebrate, with everyone decorating the trunk of their car and handing out candy.  You need to find an open space or parking lot, that's all.

5.  If everything fails and you are not finding the Halloween love around you, why not plan a private party at home?  If you and your children love dressing up, you can invite some friends and have a good time together.  

If you are trick-or-treating out in your neighborhood with the kids, try to avoid negativity by only knocking at the houses that are decorated.  Beware that the country where you live may be celebrating another holiday that same day (in Peru October 31st is the night of the creole song, half of the country celebrates Halloween and the other half goes to local music halls to celebrate their music).  I was greeted with not so friendly remarks a couple of times (don't take it personal, it's supposed to be a fun day for the kids, ignore and move on) but all an all have had good Halloween fun around the world.  

And remember... When witches go riding and black cats are seen, The moon laughs and whisper, 'Tis near Halloween.

Small Little Victories

“A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules.”  Anthony Trollope

The life of an Expat family is full of surprises.  Sometimes they are nice surprises, sometimes they are not.  At the end of the day one thing is a constant: change!  This summer it was my time for change.  Picking up all your belongings and moving them across oceans is no easy task but for us expats, it's just part of life.  I often get blank stares when I talk to non-travelers and I even get remarks like: "are you crazy!?" "how can you do this to your kids", "it must be so difficult!".  Truth be told, I've always enjoyed my moves, and thinking back on all the adventures I've experienced with my traveling family, I wouldn't change our lifestyle for any other. 

The post of today is all about settling in a new place.  The laws of settling-in apply exactly the same no matter where you go.  Since I just went through the process, or better yet, since I'm in the middle of it, I thought I would share one very important tip about moving to a new house.  Here it is:

"Small little victories"

Remember that phrase!  When you move, there's a million things you have to think about: school for the kids, vaccinations, registrations, shipments, boxes.  There is no planner big enough for the flood of tasks we have to face when moving to a new destination.  On top of it all, you don't have your "stuff", until you finally get it and with it comes the chaos of reorganizing a home for your family.  So, take it easy.  Choose one important task a day and tackle it.  If everything else falls apart in the mean time, fudgetaboutit! 

A couple of weeks ago, when I was overwhelmed with boxes from past lives and some from my latest life in Italy, I decided, eating was really important for my family so I forgot about everything else and concentrated on cleaning one side of the kitchen so I could have counter space on which to prep meals.  Maybe for you the "task of the day" is to have the desk space clean to be able to telecommute.  Maybe it's to schedule your internet connection so precisely that you will not be one second without an on-line presence.  Whatever it is, concentrate on one task at a time.  It will help you keep your sanity.  

Some days, just organizing one single drawer will feel like a victory, a small little victory.  And step by step, little by little, you will continue putting everything in its new place.  And like my friend Monica says, some days you just have to close the door and go for fresh air.

If you moved or are moving this year, I feel your pain.  If you have another tip that will help the expat community, please share it with us.  We'll certainly appreciate it!!

Arrivederci for now,

10 Things You Should Do BEFORE Moving to Italy

“Open my heart and you will see graved inside of it, "Italy".”  Robert Browning

Do you want to sell it all and move to Italy?   I've had the joy of living in Rome for the last few years and I am thankful for that amazing experience.  I still didn't realize the kind of pull Italy has on so many of us until last summer.  During a stay in Washington DC I took my sons to the Koshland Science Museum.  One of the interactive exhibits asked people to write down their biggest dream; as I browsed through the answers I was shocked to find so many entries about visiting, touring, and even moving to Italy.  I realized at that moment I was one of the lucky ones who was actually living the dream.  I also consider myself a realist and I know that even if you think you are living the dream, there are some days when you can have a nightmare or two...

Have you read the news about Italy lately?  You'll see words like "crisis, strikes, decline.."  What is that all about?  Italy is as wonderful as it is complicated, you can choose which side to dwell on, but you still have to live with both.

If you are visiting Italy (read this first!) you can concentrate on the beauty, the art, the wonderful cuisine and the wine.  But if you are moving there you do have to open your eyes completely and see the reality of the daily life.  Here are some pointers that will make your move a little less complicated:

1. Learn the language, learn the language, learn the language!  Your experience will be completely different if you can communicate and eventually meet local friends.  The Italian language is beautiful but its grammar is very complex.   Any time you put into it will pay off at the end.
2. Change your mind set.   Easier said than done.  Take the time to observe, and absorb the culture.   Read about it (I personally recommend "As Romans Do"by Alan Epstein), watch Italian films, get to know the local idiosyncrasies...  Do as the locals do (if you insist on finding eggs for breakfast you'll be disappointed, if you change to coffee and cornetto, you'll find yourself in the right place all the time!)
3. Be patient!  Everything happens at a different pace over there.  Slow down and enjoy the vino!
4. Make connections.  In Italy you're a stranger or you're family.  When you first get there you'll be a stranger, it takes time to make connections, start with your local market vendors, practice the Italian you've learned, be patient.  Try to go the same stores so the clerks recognize you and  you'll eventually become family.
5. Enjoy your surroundings, if you are having a bad day, go for a walk around town and it will remind you of the reason you moved there in the first place.
6. Look for a support group.  Find other expats in your city, they know what you're going trough and can help you when you hit a road block.
7. Take it easy!  Rome wasn't built in one day.  And your life in Italy won't be either.  Italian bureaucracy is known for being complicated beyond belief and just the fact of  moving can be very stressful, so take it easy!
8. Travel! Even after you settle in one city, there are 20 very different regions in Italy.   Venture out to the not-so-touristy ones.  See as much as you can, they are all wonderful!
9. Stop comparing!  There is nothing helpful about comparing your new life to your old one.  If you moved there with children, read this! One Easy Think you Can Do to Help your Kids Adjust to a New Culture.
10. Be patient!  The first year it's all about settling in, if you survive it you passed the test, you've made it! Every time after that will be a bonus.  

I hope these tips can help all the serious Italophiles have a better reality when they get to live the dream.

Arrivederci for now,

Making the Effort of Staying Connected

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.” Herman Melville

After having picked up my life and re-established myself in a different country enough times than I care to count, it almost feels I have lived several lives.  Every posting has had its good and not so good experiences, but they all have enriched my life.  The most rewarding experiences, however, have been the opportunities I've had to make friends along the way.

Which brings us to the topic of today's post: It's All About Connections.  I'm not talking about professional networking, which is extremely important in any field, but I'm more interested in the personal connections we've made with those whom we've crossed paths along this #expat #life.

Last week I read an interesting article on the cause of addiction, which suggested that the cure to substance abuse is far more attainable when working with addicts to help them find bonds with people instead of with drugs.  An interesting approach.  But if "bonding" with one another can affect us in such a way as to make us determine if our life is worth living -sober, what does this nomad life do to us?  Can leaving our friends every few years break the bonds we've created along the way?

All those who have relocated know the pain caused by leaving friends behind, but I want to believe that having lived my adult life moving around has forced me to make more connections throughout my life.  Some can argue these may be weaker connections than those made by a lifetime of being in one place, but I can honestly say I have friends spread out around the world.  No matter where life takes me next I can count on the fact that friends will put me in contact with their connections if it's not that I personally know someone already there. And if making bonds with people is so important, the more bonds you create the better off you'll be, right?

Staying connected today is a breeze compared to what it was in the pre-internet days.  But still, maintaining friendships with those who've entered your life takes time and effort.  We also have to take into consideration that it is our responsibility to help our children keep their connections, think about it as a duty you acquired when you signed them up for this lifestyle.  So make a point of visiting old friends when you go back home or when you travel. And what can be better than seeing someone again after a long hiatus and catching up?

Today I had lunch with an old friend, and let me tell you it has refreshed my spirits.  To all those who move around for a living, my humble advise is: make the effort, keep your connections.

Arrivederci for now,

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."  John F. Kennedy

I'm very thankful for all of you and I'm thankful for being able to share a little bit of me through this blog.  Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends specially the ones who find themselves far  from home during the holidays.  "#Friendsgiving" is also great, that's what we are celebrating today as we are far away from our families.  I'm very thankful for the friends I've made along my travels, that have become part of my new holiday traditions. 

Arrivederci,

Preparing for the Holidays: The Stains on my Tablecloths

“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”  Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I hosted a lunch at my house, one of those fun moments when we get to know our friends a little better, share a meal and learn from our different perspectives.  As I was preparing for this event I browsed through my tablecloths and in the pile I saw one that my mother had given me, a beautiful one, embroidered, delicate.  You could have guessed it was brand new if it wasn't for the yellowish tint it had gotten over the years.  As I decided on another tablecloth, a more simple and modern one, I recalled my mom's was probably used only a couple of times and had spent its life tucked away afraid of being stained.

At that moment, I decided not to worry about the stains on my tablecloths, all of them are completely worth it (ok, almost all of them).  Each little stain I cannot wash away will remind me of a loved one, who sat at my table and is no longer with us.  I'll be reminded of a friend who came with a wonderful exotic dish to share.  I will think of the family who came for a #Thanksgiving dinner on a short notice and made our day as it gave us the reason to cook a proper holiday meal.   I even have a tiny hole in one of my tablecloth from my boys trying to start a sparkle with my centerpiece candle, and every time I see it I remember their faces when they were little.  All those moments are what life is all about.  And the friends I've made along this #expat #life have my full permission to mess up any of my tablecloths.  I welcome all future stains that will remind me of my time in Italy.

I use my nice dishes for my family and all my guests, because there is no sense of waiting for special occasions.  Life is only lived once, and it is full of messy moments, the moments that make one's memories.

As the holiday season approaches I wish you many many stains on your tablecloths.

Arrivederci,

One Easy Thing You Can Do To Help Your Kids Adjust to a New Culture

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”  William Arthur Ward

With the beginning of the school year I've been meeting folks from different countries and backgrounds and that is a wonderful thing about being part of an international community.  After we all settle in our new routines and become more comfortable with each other, the season for the expats' national sport will begin.  And it's true, if we expats were a nation we would have a national sport: complaining about the host country.

Ok, we all need to vent once in a while and it's great to find a sympathetic audience.  Everyone has funny or horror stories to tell about a situation where our cultural differences have played us a bad hand.  But it is unfortunate if all our conversations become just that.

Take into consideration that your children are also trying to adjust to the new culture, and if you're constantly bashing the way things work and how people think or act, your children will mimic your behavior and will dismiss the locals at school negating themselves the possibilities of new friendships.  They'll believe the locals are as terrible (or as great) as you describe them.

One of the benefits of living abroad is learning to adjust, and that skill will serve your children well, way beyond their expat years.   Some kids are more forgiving and adjust a lot faster than adults.  Some others take their time to figure out their new environment.  But perceiving your positive attitude towards the move in general will help them accept this change and be more open to the new experiences.

Wether you moved full of excitement to live in a new country, following a spouse or for a great job opportunity, remember that  there is no better way to learn about your host country than befriending the locals.  

So stop! Stop before you say something negative about the host country.  And about those who never get out of complaining mode... the other day I read that successful people stay away from negative people the same way you would move away from a smoker if smoke bothered you.  Not a bad strategy at all in my humble opinion.   What do you think?

Arrivederci for now,

Helping Your Kids with their First Day in a New School

“I felt excited to go to school, and that scared me." Stephenie Meyer, Twilight.

I am still a few days away from sending my boys back to school but I can't stop wondering if they feel the butterflies in their stomachs, the ones I felt when I was a kid. I went to the same school from kindergarten to  the 12th grade, but my kids have attended six different schools around the world, and so far, they've always had smooth first days.

So, how can you help your kids feel more at ease on their first day at a new school? Here are a few tips:

1. Will you know someone attending the new school who could help them on their first day?  International schools (read how to choose the right one for your kid here) are pretty good at helping new kids navigate around on their first day.  If your school doesn't have a program to welcome new students, don't hesitate to request a "sponsor"for your child.
2. Visit the school before the first day of classes and give your child a chance to familiarize him or herself with their new surroundings.
3. Make an effort to attend the orientation programs.
4. Ask your child if he/she has any questions about their new routine and try to help them find the answers.  I know my kids were always worried about getting into the wrong school bus and getting lost in an unfamiliar city.
5. Write you home/work address and phone numbers on a piece of paper and put it in their backpacks so, in case or an emergency, they'll know how to contact you (have the card translated into the local language).  Of course if they're old enough a cell phone might not be a bad idea.
6. Will a new outfit (new backpack, new lunchbox...) give them the extra confidence they need?  Maybe worrying about what to wear will take some pressure away from the awkwardness of the first day.
7. If they're attending the same school as last year, help them connect with classmates before the beginning of school, so they can catch up and share some of their summer stories before school starts.
8. Remember, as you may be more nervous than them, try to keep your cool and radiate the confidence they need.
9. Volunteer at school.  Seeing you around and participating will help them feel part of the new school.
10. Remember, they are going to be fine.  You survived; they will, too.

Do you have any other tips to share?

The Saddest Month of the Year

“Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” Albert Camus

There is one thing that makes it easy for a friendship to start, common ground.  When you arrive to a new city and are trying to figure things out, and someone says "I know how you feel" or "me too, I also moved around a few times…" you just met a new friend.  

The one thing I've learned about the #expat community is that it is a very generous and caring one.  We all know what it is to be the new kid in town and not knowing where to start.  Helping each other out just comes naturally.  Sharing fun times, discovering your host city and keeping each other sane, create a special bond. 

As we are all miles away from  our  family, we become our own mismatched family, the one we chose.

Unfortunately, for an expat, when June comes around, before you start looking forward to your summer plans, you know you'll have to say goodbye to some of your friends.  June is the saddest month for an expat family.  There is no easy way about it, only to think that true friendships withstand time and distance and can pick up where they left off, no matter how long it's been.

To all my expat friends leaving this year, I wish you the best of luck and I really hope our paths cross again very soon.  I'll miss you but I'll take you forever with me, in my heart.

As usual, I'm scheduling visits with friends with whom we parted before and now just happen to be on the course of my summer vacation.  It gets easier with time...

Arrivederci, in Italian, means until we see each other again.  Just the word I was looking for.

Keeping Your Identity After Your Move Abroad

"The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild.

After leaving behind the life you once knew to embark on a new adventure, your life will take a drastic turn.  You have probably been on autopilot for a while and now a million changes are coming your way, all at the same time.  And after juggling pack-outs, going-away parties and all the logistics needed to get you and your family from city A to city B, where do you rank on the priorities' list?

Throughout my years as an expat I have met many professional, talented and super smart people who for one reason or another choose to put on hold their professional lives in order to embark on this overseas adventure.  Some are happy with their choice and some struggle with it, but there are ways to take advantage of a new life, the possibility of reinventing yourself into a new you.

Within the diplomatic world, it's somewhat easier than in the private sector, to continue working while abroad.  If you are set on continuing your career, check the bilateral agreements with the host country before you commit to the move.  Some professions are more portable than others.  I have seen many teachers and nurses do not miss a beat on the professional arena.  Any job that can predominantly be performed through the internet is portable, and more and more employers will appreciate the time difference aspect of hiring an expat (as when the work can be done while they are sleeping).

Sometimes though, working in your field is just not possible, but are you really a one dimensional person?  No!  You have many other skills that can be used.  Try to be creative!  I have worked on paid jobs ranging from a software translator to a senior logistics officer.  Never in a million years I though I was going to work as a translator as there are countless people who can professionally translate from English to Spanish and viceversa ,,,,,,but not in Sri Lanka!  In Sri Lanka it was only me!

I have worked in all the countries I lived in, except two.  The first one because I was giving birth to my second child and my oldest son had not learned how to walk yet.  It was my mommy tour.  The second time I have stayed unemployed is now, but I am exploring my creative side with the blog and dedicating time to my photography, which I am enjoying very much.  I also have a friend who is a mechanical engineer and who has turn around her professional life to become a recognized sculptor.

One of the most important skills that will allow you to survive any new situation is adaptability.  Once you are settled into your new country, think!  How can I reinvent myself?  What skills can I use that will land me a fulfilling new life in this country?  Don't dismiss volunteer opportunities,  they can lead you to your next paid job! Get out, get involved, meet people.  The more you network the more you will be able to market your skills.

Yes, when we move and we are the ones holding down the fort, it is easy to lose yourself into being Mr.Right's spouse and Kid#1 and Kid#2's mom (or dad).  Making a life for yourself is also a priority, allow yourself to think outside the box.  Do you have story of personal fulfillment you can share with me?

Emergencies are Even Scarier Overseas!

"Success is the by-product of [...] preparation." John Wooden

This past week I had to deal with my oldest son's jammed finger (a basketball injury) and a flooded terrace that left unattended could have turned into a disaster at home.  It made me think about #emergencies and how situations can turn serious suddenly.  Do you know where to go in case of a medical emergency?  Do you know how to get there?  Do you know who to call in case you need help with translation?

I cannot stress how important it is for you to find out where to go in case of a medical emergency.  As soon as you get to a new city and specially if you have kids (any of your little ones accident prone?) make a practice run to the hospital/clinic, learn the route, find out if there is parking, how the system works.

I used to have all emergency numbers posted in my refrigerator when the kids were small.  I now realize that nothing has changed and emergencies can happen at any moment, to anybody.  So I am reinstating the practice and preparing myself for any type of emergency.   Here are the numbers you MUST have handy (maybe on the fridge, by the phone, in your nightstand).  Believe me, when you are under high stress you may not think as clearly, and you may have trouble finding numbers, or remembering where you stored them and of course, your cellphone will be out of battery.  Do yourself a favor, print them and post them in a place anyone can find them.

• Write your number first, in case you have help in the house or hire #babysitters
• Husband/wife's number
• #Ambulance's number
• Write the address of the closest #hospital/clinic and their phone number
• #Fire department
• Handy man
• Office contact (maybe someone that could meet you at the hospital and help you translate?)
• List any #allergies

***Found this great sample at www.petitelemon.com

Also, have some drinking water stored if you have moved to an earthquake zone.  Candles and battery operated radios are also good to have.  Make sure you keep some canned food in your pantry, even if you are used to eating fresh food only.  Overseas, and specially in third world countries, you may have to deal with power outages and water issues frequently.  Also help may not come to the rescue as fast or may not be as efficient, so HELP YOURSELF!! Make a plan and be prepared.  I'm printing my Emergency Information Sheet right now.  Arrivederci!

***Image from www.petitelemon.com

Making It Work: A Good Attitude Is a Must!

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.”  Marcus Aurelius, Meditations.

This #expat life, and maybe life in general, is not easy sometimes, but facing problems with a good attitude will help you keep your sanity!  Packing all your belongings and flying half-way around the world to a strange city, one where you are unable to communicate and where things don't work the way expect them to, it's stressful to say the least.  On top of everything you are carrying with you the emotional toll of having said goodbye to family and friends.  If you've done it, you know exactly what I mean...

In spite of it all, having a good #attitude can make or break your experience as an expat.  On the flip side, traveling to a new country, learning a new language, experiencing life from a different perspective could be lots of fun and very rewarding!  So there is a good side to every situation: right?

I am currently living in #Rome, and just thinking about how many people save for a long time to visit Italy for a few days (a recurrent point in bucket lists), makes me feel very fortunate for having a longer stay here.   However, there are some bad days in paradise, too.

I live right next to a school.  Going into or out of my dead-end street during drop-off and pick-up times is just a nightmare.  There is no such thing as a Kiss and Ride lane.  People double and triple park and sometimes they simply park on the middle of the street.  As long as they have their hazard lights on, they are OK.  I try to avoid at all costs the times when I know this craziness will happen, but one day I came back home at school release time and as I was trying to get into my street as the entire universe was trying to come out of it.  I fought like a mad woman, trying to gain space on the road, it took me an eternity to park and I was furious!

That same week I came back home at the wrong time again and I decided not to go into my street, but to continue and drive straight to the #Gelato place.  I double parked (hey, when in Rome...) put my hazard lights on, ordered a Frutti di Bosco and Chocolate gelato, and enjoyed heaven in a cone.  Then, feeling very zen, I drove back home to an empty street with plenty of parking.  This has become my new routine when timing is wrong.

"Il Pelicano" my neighborhood gelato place...

Yes, having a good day is a decision you make every morning, and for those days when things prove to be a bit more difficult, there is always gelato (or wine, why not).

• Come Il Latte: Via Silvio Spaventa, 24 26 Roma.  They fill their cones with chocolate before serving the gelato, soooo good!  www.comeillatte.it
• Giolitti: Via Uffici del Vicario 40, 00186, Roma.  Serving gelato since 1,900.  www.giolitti.it
• Grom: Several locations around Italy.  Organic ingredients.  www.grom.it
• Frigidarium: Via del Governo Vecchio 112, Roma. www.frigidarium-gelateria.com

Arrivederci,

Saying Goodbye is Always Hard to Do (but Staying Connected is Not)

 “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” A.A. Milne

 

It's always been a very challenging part of the #Expat experience.  After a few years settled in a new city, some of your friends start reaching the end of their assignments, and the #farewell parties begin.  I've attended so many...

One of the wonderful aspects of living international is certainly the people you meet.  Most likely you will meet people that come from different corners of the world, some with whom you'd think there is nothing in common, only to discover you share the same strong values of family and community, or maybe you share some common interests that bring you to discover a new #friendship.

I have met truly amazing men and women in my journey, but I have also said #goodbye to most of them.  Nowadays, however, it's easier than ever to stay connected.  With social media, and the internet friendships can go strong long after you both left a posting.

When the children were little, moving did not have an emotional dimension for them.  They were with their parents and the family stayed together at all times.  As they have grown older and had to say their own goodbyes, I was worried how they would express their feelings or how they were going to be affected by them.  

Farewell party organized by the moms of those leaving at the end of the school year.

Fortunately, in today's world, even if their #bestfriend was a block away, they would still communicate virtually, so the problem has revolved more around calculating time differences and vacation schedules.  My youngest often plays video games with his best friend sitting an ocean away; during their game they also video chat, so they not only interact as characters on a game but they see each other and chat while playing.  OK, so it's not the best scenario, they cannot physically play ball together, but it's a second best, don't you think?

  

I have also made an effort to reconnect with friends as they move.  I stay connected with the mothers of my children's friends.  And every time we are in the same part of the world we meet to catch up and share a meal.  With some of my personal friends I've felt that no matter how long it's been since the last time we saw each other,  the friendship has remained intact.

Lastly, I know people who have flown back after leaving a post, just to let their children see their old friends and spend a vacation in their old city.  EVERYWHERE IS ONLY A FLIGHT AWAY!

The Italian word "Arrivederci" is normally translated as "goodbye", but it literally means: until we see each other again.  How appropriate!

Choosing the Right School for Your Child

“What is a teacher? I'll tell you: it isn't someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows.” Paulo Cohelho

Choosing the right school for your child overseas is one of the most important factors when evaluating or even accepting a foreign assignment.  If there is not a suitable school for your child you may even decline the opportunity.

Once you've checked there are a few viable options this important decision becomes one you can manage.  Here is what I do when choosing a school for my children.

If schooling is not part of a salary package the cost is always the first thing to consider as international school can potentially be more expensive that a college tuition.

Then I pay a visit to their websites, check their mission statements and find out which school holds a  curriculum that will give my children a smoother transitions in the academic front.  If your child has already been attending a British or American or Montessori school it will be easier for them to continue with the same style of education to which they are accustomed.

If you know someone already living in what will be your new city, ask for names of people that will be willing to give you references.

International or American schools have always been my first choice, but I know people with longer assigment lenghts that have chosen local or bilingual schools in order for their children to acquire the language skills and fully immerse in the culture.  I have seen children acquire foreign languages in record amounts of time (specially younger kids), and local or bilingual schools may be the better options for those moving permanently or for extended stays.

Through my experience I have learned that most international schools are proficient at communications specially with applicants.  If you couldn't get contacts through others, ask the registrar or admissions officer for the e-mail addresses of people who are willing to answer your questions regarding the school.

Find out the ratio of locals vs. foreign students.  Decide whether is important for you (or even possible) to immerse yourself in the culture or maintain an international perspective.  Know that locals attending International, American or British schools overseas are most likely of well to do families.  These local children may have several people tending to their needs, nannies, drivers, etc and this could be a bit of a cultural shock or in the worse case scenario make for a strong divide between locals and expats. Find out if there is a strong integration policy as part of the school culture.

Are sports a big part of your child's life? Check the school sports facilities and find out how active they are at competitions and even if they offer after-school sports and the cost associated with them.

Younger children adapt easily most of the times, but know that it will take at least six months for your child to feel a true sense of belonging.  For older children it may take longer.  The first year can be hard until they make friends and become more familiar with the new system.

We are all different on what we hold important and every child is a universe but the more time you spend doing your homework before hand the better things will play out later on.

How did you choose the school for your child?  I would love to hear and learn from your experience...

The Best of...

Here is a present for all my readers.  Below you'll find a list of services that make my life easier while living abroad. 

On top of most Expats' list is staying connected with loved ones back home.**

Vonage
Vonage is a phone service that works over the internet.  Before leaving the U.S. we transferred our U.S. number to Vonage, so we were able to keep the phone number all our friends and family already knew.  The number has been traveling with us to many countries throughout a few continents.  Check Vonage's World Plan, that allows you to call over 60 countries around the world in addition to calls State side.

Skype
Free way to video chat or call home.  The only problem, your contacts have to have the software installed in their computers or cellphones and they have to be online to receive your calls, which can be challenging when you're talking about older folks.  You can also buy Skype credit and call any phone number around the world.  Some friends also use MagicJack.

AppleTV
Not every cable provider has TV shows and movies in English, so we bought an Apple TV which worked wonderfully during our last post in Latin America.  It's great for downloading kids' shows and cartoons in English, at least it makes their life easier when you first arrive and feel immersed in a strange culture.  A few comforts from home won't hurt.  You will need to make an apple id and link your credit card to your account.  Then you just buy or rent movies and tv shows for a few dollars and enjoy american television wherever you are.  Netflix is another option but it doesn't work in every country.

Amazon
Everyone loves Amazon, and it ships internationally

Drugstore
Excellent source for all beauty, toiletries and pharmacy needs.  I have enjoyed their quick service for years.

Snapfish
Snapfish is great for sending Holiday Greeting cards every year.  I have always ordered the cards through them but this year I went a step further and had them deliver the cards directly to my loved ones.  Great service every year!

Podcasts
Apple's itunes has excellent language instruction podcasts.  Once you download itunes into your computer you will be able to access all of the Podcasts.  Whichever language you'll need to deal with, there is a podcast that will teach you in easy 5 minute sessions, words of the day, survival phrases or even advance lessons,,,,for FREE! I've been subscribed to Italianpod101 since I learned I was coming to Rome.  Great video podcast for building vocabulary.

Alright, those were the tips of the day.  Arrivederci!

** image source: www.thebitbag.com

Old, New and Borrowed Traditions

"It is useful to study different traditions in order to be free of attachment to any one way of expressing what is beyond expression. (x)” Ravi Ravindra, The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

During my life as an #expat I have worked hard to keep my family traditions alive, mainly for the sake

of my children.  Many of our traditions are culinary.  When I first got married, my mother in-law gave me a crash course on the dishes dear to her heart in order for her baby, my husband, to continue enjoying the family recipes.  I spent my first #Christmas as a married woman in her kitchen as  she taught me how to make her Anisette cookies.  I just finished making this year's batch, Merry Christmas Irma, I hope you saw the boys struggle making your cookies, you made it look so easy!

During our life overseas, I have celebrated foreign holidays and traditions that now have become my own.  There is no Christmas without a "Pan de Jamon", a Venezuelan Christmas bread stuffed with ham, bacon raisins and olives.  Many times I have also gathered with friends to celebrate Chinese New Year.  One of my expats friends never has her act together in order to mail #Christmas cards, so she always sends Happy Chinese New Year's cards in lieu of the Christmas ones.   Carnavales, celebrated in February in many Southamerican countries, was an easy one to adopt since it always meant traveling to the beach and enjoying the warm weather.

New Tradition: La Befana brings sweets to the children on January 6th.

On our first weekend in Italy we went to Piazza Navona, a buzzling square downtown #Rome that has forever been home of the most important Christmas market in the city.  We were puzzled to see as part of the Christmas decorations sold in the square, a witch, which for us was synonymous of #Halloween.  Come to find out, it was not a witch but the #Befana, an old lady that brings sweets to the children on January 6th and places them in their stockings.  If the children are naughty she brings coal; in the old days she really brought coal, but nowadays she brings coals made out of sugar.  Either way, it didn't take long for my children to demand we adopt the Befana tradition and there I was, buying candy like any other Italian mom, to stuff their stockings on the 6th.

For all the old, new and borrowed traditions, my favorite one will always be Christmas. This year the welcome drink for my guests (as my family is far away) will be a #Peruvian #PiscoSour and believe me, it's much better than a Margarita.  The recipe is as easy as 3, 2, 1.  Here it goes:

Peruvian Pisco Sour:

3 parts of Pisco (peruvian aguardiente)*

2 parts of simple syrup

1 part of lime juice

Image from The Bubbly Professor

Mix ingredients in the blender with enough ice to double the volume of the liquid in the blender.

Crush the ice in the blender for a few seconds.  Add one egg white (yeah yeah yeah, organic, free range, bla bla bla) and blend on high for one minute.  This will give it a pretty foam to which you can add a few Angostura Bitters drops. One glass will put you in a very festive mood, enjoy!

*Italian grappa can be used instead of Pisco.