Teenagers Adjustments as Expats?

[frogblogger]

I deleted the book title partly because, on visiting the author's website, I have rarely seen such a collection of simplistic clichés and hard sell waffle. The site reads like an ad by a carpet salesman.

Mainly though I felt it was inappropriate for a first post.

As for the first post in question, you had hardly entered your stride before you accused previous contributors wholesale of relying on "gut instinct" (presumably rather than experience, intelligence, information gathering, advice etc), and "not taking any pertinent facts into account". Given that you know nothing whatsoever about the contributors, you can hardly be surprised if some of those concerned took affront. For someone who has not raised teenage children of their own through the education system of a European country (presumably, from the age you gave in your public profile), and didn't learn French as an adolescent (you mentioned you started to learn as a young adult, at 18), it is always useful to find out something about the experience, knowledge and insights of people who have actually done so before condemning them - especially in a first post.

Welcome to the forum anyway - we all slip up sometimes!

[goodjaz]

Thanks to all who have replied to my original post. We're getting closer to making a decision. It's not easy. But having the input of those who have lived through this is very helpful. I'm also reading books on third culture kids and on living the expat life expertly. And I've been speaking with others in my company who have been expats (although they all seem to have either done it when their kids were very young or aleady raised, not with teenagers). We're goign to Lyon in November as a family to speak to schools with the girls, to maybe meet some expat families living there, and to check out housing options. All the research I've been doing and the trip there should help.

When it comes right down to it, it's the parents' decision; I'm simply trying to figure out how to best help my family (should I decide to accept the assignment). Again, Thank you!

Jennifer

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by goodjaz

Thanks to all who have replied to my original post. We're getting closer to making a decision. It's not easy. But having the input of those who have lived through this is very helpful. I'm also reading books on third culture kids and on living the expat life expertly. And I've been speaking with others in my company who have been expats (although they all seem to have either done it when their kids were very young or aleady raised, not with teenagers). We're goign to Lyon in November as a family to speak to schools with the girls, to maybe meet some expat families living there, and to check out housing options. All the research I've been doing and the trip there should help.

When it comes right down to it, it's the parents' decision; I'm simply trying to figure out how to best help my family (should I decide to accept the assignment). Again, Thank you!

Jennifer

Don't forget to consider what your college (i.e. university) aspirations are for your kids. I used to administer applications for a scholarship program for expat kids, and there was always a "cultural shock" issue for those dual-culture kids (one US parent, one foreigner parent) whose parents wanted them to go to an American university - especially for the French kids raised exclusively in the French public school system.
Cheers,
Bev

[♪♫♪♪♫☺]

Goodjaz, may I ask what line of work you are in? As a student studying the ways of IT, I'm always looking for international opportunities.