Relocation Archives - Page 3 of 5

Self Care for Expats: Part Five – Setting Goals

Traveling and taking up residency in another country is no doubt exciting. And sometimes when you finally arrive you just want to let loose and have as little structure as possible as you take in everything new around you. After a little time there, though, you may find yourself taking a step back and pondering what you hope to get out of the experience in more concrete terms. In other words, what goals do you have for yourself while there? Now before you ask incredulously, “Goals?! I just want to enjoy myself while traveling,” we get that!

However, many people have a general vision of how they expect their time abroad to go and would be disappointed if certain things didn’t happen while there. And maybe your goal is to simply enjoy yourself and have a uniquely different experience than you’d have back home. Nothing wrong with that, but for those that crave a little more structure, defining and naming some goals can be most helpful.How you set them will likely be dependent on how long your stay is. We’ll break these down and offer some pointers for each duration of stay.

Short-Term/Under Three Months

If it’s a short jaunt based mostly around travel and sight-seeing, you may already have a running list of places you’ll want to hit. Maybe it’s the Louvre or the Great Barrier Reef? Get out a calendar and plot on a map all the places you want to visit while there. Know the top three “must-do’s” and build your time around those during your weekends between busy weeks of work. Then you can have second-tier places and activities that you hope to fit in but would be OK with not seeing if it didn’t work out. Of course, there are now endless internet resources and travel blogs you can peruse prior to the actual trip, as well.

For example, our Founder, Micah Bellieu, went to Japan for a month to work during the week and take 5 hours a day of Japanese conversation classes, but she also wanted to see the south and north of the country. So she booked her lessons during the morning (9am – 1pm), so that she could jump on a plane at 3pm every Friday and return every Sunday evening. She hit up Hiroshima, Hokkaido, and Kyoto, filling every weekend with a new city.

Intermediate/6-12 Month Assignment

This type of stay may involve both work and travel for fun/pleasure. Maybe it’s a temporary work assignment, contract work, or you’re trying your hand at freelancing to see how you do in another country. I knew someone who wanted to take every weekend trip possible when he wasn’t working. For me, that sounded exhausting and I was more interested in exploring the city I was currently in, making a routine for myself and getting to know local friends in a more relaxed way (think coffees, walks and shopping), with the occasional weekend trip sprinkled in. Everyone’s different and there’s no right or wrong so figure out what works best for you. For this length of time, you’ll likely want to strike a balance between leisure and more academic or work pursuits.

Micah actually says to beware of the 6 – 12 month assignment, because you actually lose track of time. Unfortunately that’s what happened to her when she was studying Spanish in Madrid. She felt like she had so much time that she didn’t end up making any Spanish friends, and instead, stuck with her American classmates most of the time. What a waste! She really regrets it, and always makes sure to surround herself with locals when she travels now. She knows that she must be strong and say no to offers from other Americans if she really wants to learn the language and be surrounded in the new culture. It’s hard, but it’s the only way to immerse.

Long-Term/Indefinite Length

When at a new work placement, employment goals will likely come first as you are trying to make a good impression and ensure job security for yourself. Once you establish your credibility there, you can focus on more outside goals. The benefit of an indefinite stay is that you have longer to achieve whatever it is you’re planning to accomplish and can take a more long-term view as you are potentially building a life for yourself in this new locale.

After you’ve completed key projects and hit major deadlines, you can branch out to more personal goals. With that in mind, keep quality of life goals in mind, too. Objectives like staying healthy, not drinking more than twice a week, getting to the gym regularly and sleeping 7 hours a night can be very attainable goals that, incidentally, help you reach the larger goals you have, as well. And lastly, take a flexible approach as these can all shift around based on the priority.

Fluency Corp can help your employees and their families assimilate to their country, city and neighborhood through private English lessons in-home, in-office or wherever is convenient for you. We streamline the language learning process so the success of international relocations is greatly increased. For a free consultation, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159. Read success stories at fluencycorp.com/testimonials/.

Tips on Hiring Bilingual Employees

It’s no surprise that when we comb through the job ads, a phrase that hits us in the face again and again is, “Bilingual a plus”, “Spanish/English Speakers Needed” or “Bilingual Employees Wanted”. Even if it’s not mandatory, boy would it be easier for everyone if the employee spoke a second language! Am I right?

On an almost weekly basis, we hear Human Resource Directors call us about getting their workforce fluent in another language. And while it’s commendable that companies are wanting to provide Spanish language training, or even cultural training to their employees, the reality is that it would take 600 hours or more per employee to make completely bilingual employees out of them. I’m talking about being able to hire, fire, interview, do conference calls, give trainings, etc. This would cost a lot of money and a whole lot of time, that the company just does not have. They need people who speak 2 languages today.

Advertise for Bilingual Employees First

Since 600 hours of private Spanish classes per employee is never something we recommend (unless you have a long term goal in mind), the true way to quickly get a bilingual workforce is to write on your job ad: Must be bilingual. This will allow you to start to grow this skill set in your workplace. Most companies that call us admit that only 1-2 employees are carrying the Spanish interpreter load for the entire company. So every time one of the office managers or HR personnel need to understand or train someone in the warehouse, this bilingual employee must stop the work he or she is doing, and go interpret a conversation. Many times this conversation should not be had with someone else in the room, but since there is no way to understand the employee, the sensitive conversation must be had with the HR personnel, the interpreter (who is not a professional interpreter, but just another employee!). We know that a lot of companies are going through this pain, because they call us asking for a solution each and every week. And interpreters are not typically available on a moment’s notice, and furthermore, they are very expensive, often costing $90 + per hour, and the minimum they will come for is 8 hours (a full workday). You don’t want to spend $720 every time you need to talk to an employee in Spanish!nnYet, if you had 20 bilingual employees, then this could take the interpreter burden off of the few.

Test Employees’ Language Level

Another challenge when you need more bilinguals is, how do you know a potential employee speaks the language if you yourself do not speak it? That’s where testing comes in. There are many online language testing companies like Transparent (online only – super simple!), ACTFL (online automated speaking test and also live person speaking test – good test!), and others that can help you get a general idea of what the employee’s level of Spanish, Japanese or another language is. Typically they cover the most common languages, and not the more remote or less-used in business languages.

I further suggest (if needed) sending out a very simple multiple choice Spanish test that can be found online, so that you filter out those who think they speak Spanish. An online multiple choice Spanish test will very quickly let you know if they any Spanish at all. But, you say, they could Google the answers. That’s true.

10 Secrets to Managing your Multilingual Global Workforce

Screen for Bilingual Employees

At Fluency Corp, we have a member of our staff that speaks the language as a native speaker quickly screen potential instructors. This is a simple 5-minute phone call that can really save the HR director or the hiring manager a ton of time. The native speaker can know right away if the person speaks Spanish, and not only that, this person can also go through a few basic questions to make sure that a more formal interview is worth everyone’s time.

Screen Questions for Potential Bilingual Employees (phone interview done in the 2nd language needed only)

How long have you been doing this type of work?
Can you describe why you were successful in this work?
Did you already send us 2 references from past employers? Not friends, not family, not coworkers, but rather, only supervisors or managers for similar work.
When are you available to start?
Have you worked with X software or system before? What did you find most challenging about it?

These questions will quickly let you know if this is someone who should be brought in for a more formal interview. A quick phone vetting will save you hundreds of hours over the course of a year of work.

Understanding your Employees’ Language Proficiency

I would not suggest any online tests that do not have a speaking portion. There is a big difference between writing and speaking – actually, there is almost no correlation. I know big time book translators that cannot speak the language, yet their entire job is to translate books. So make sure the speaking portion is a large or important part of the test, as that will truly tell you the level.

Test your Employee’s Business English Writing Level

Now, if writing is also crucial in the role, there are more serious academic tests like the DELE for Spanish or ACTFL for English that can be taken. I do recommend these if the employee will be writing emails, proposals, and interacting through email with companies abroad in their native language. You want to make sure they can speak in a professional manner in the language.

Interviewing Bilingual Employees

If you’ve vetted the employee over the phone, the online Spanish speaking test is not necessarily needed. But that’s up to you to decide. If you’re interviewing hundreds of employees, maybe the online speaking test by ACTFL would be more appropriate than having an employee vet each applicant. During the actual interview, I would also suggest that a bilingual person be present for part of the time, if you would like to see further how they act and speak in the 2nd language.

Many times we hear that someone might speak the second language, but they do not have a professional way of speaking in the language. Many monolinguals might not understand why this is. If someone became bilingual in a university (enough to work in the language), which is a very small number of people, then they likely would have learned the formal aspects of the language, but not sound or understand like a native speaker. The drawback to these people is that they are not native speakers, and will not catch as many nuances as a native speaker. The other group of bilinguals would be those who learned the language from their parents as a child, but were not educated in that language, so this was the language spoken in the home. This group is considered a native speaker, yet, since we do not speak to our family at home in a business or academic way, they might not have the vocabulary for a professional job.

In our opinion at Fluency Corp, it is much easier to teach formal language to native speakers, than to get a non-native speaker to the level of a native speaker in understanding all vocabulary and nuances. They do not have the decades of experience hearing the language, understanding the humor, watching TV, listening to songs, knowing the culture and so much more.

Both are good options, and you’ll have to weigh them out for your specific company.

If you ever would like to discuss bilingual employees or brainstorm about how to manage or create a multilingual workplace, Fluency Corp is a leader in multilingual workplace solutions. You can go to www.fluencycorp.com or call us at 1-800-401-3159.

Making Financial $ense Abroad

Moving abroad, be it for work or pleasure, involves learning a new currency and adjusting to different costs of living. Each destination has its savings and hidden costs. We all want to save a buck and feel more in control with our finances. Luckily, here at Fluency Corp, we’ve done some serious globe-trotting and have picked up a thing or two about stretching a dollar in foreign countries along the way. Check out these general guidelines so you’re free to enjoy the locale without spending too much time worrying about the money side of your travel.

Housing Costs When Moving Internationally

Your chosen living conditions will play a part in the resulting costs, clearly. If you’re comfortable with roommates, this can offset housing costs. We lived in Boston with 5 roommates at one time, only paying $400 a month each with the ability to walk to the subway (this was in 2006, but it’s doable, when you’re young). House shares or co-ops can be a wise way to go. If you’re buying, location will make a big difference, especially in the U.S. where house costs can be exorbitantly high (like in coastal cities such as New York, Boston, Seattle and San Francisco) to much more feasible (like in Nevada or the Midwest). A house in the city can still go for as low as $200,000 – $300,000 in a city like Dallas. Ancillary housing costs can vary widely, too. In Bangkok or Mexico, a weekly house cleaner is a nominal cost of $5 – $10, while in the US it can run $80+ a week.

Paying Taxes on an International Assignment

Obviously taxes depend on where you go. Taxes in Europe, especially, are closer to 50%, with much of health-care costs offset as a result. However, it’s not uncommon for Europeans to think that that they’re flush all of a sudden when moving to the US where tax rates are lower, but they usually get a shock after visiting the doctor later. Do you research by country to plan for the accompanying spike up or down.

Transportation Across the Globe

Any big city offers you the opportunity to use public transportation to get around. In some international cities, like Melbourne (Australia) and Ghent (Belgium), this is an excellent economical option. For a modest fee you can get to your destinations on the daily, both quickly and reliably. But in the U.S., there are a lot of cities, even big metropolitan cities like Dallas where I currently live, that still do not have good public transportation. I yearn to leave my place each day and walk to work or to the subway, but I have to adjust as the city has simply not gotten there yet. Places in the U.S. where you don’t need a car include New York City, Boston, Chicago, D.C, Jersey City and San Francisco. If being car-free (and in turn reducing your transportation costs and your global footprint) is your goal, consider these cities.

Food Costs

Naturally, this budget line varies wildly by locale (in Bangkok, for example, one can dine out comfortably three times a day for a handful of dollars in contrast to London where you’re more likely to be padding your food budget). The costs of a modest restaurant meal abroad will find Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Denmark topping the price list with meals running from about $17 – $25, with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indonesia on the lower end of the scale with meals under $2. I remember the first time I dined in Mexico City, with incredible fare, gorgeous upscale restaurants, and even 2 Michelin restaurants now. We ate like kings for about $40 per meal, and that included an appetizer, coffee, meal, and dessert, plus tip!

Entertainment

Perhaps you love the outdoors and your new city is filled with natural wonders to explore that cost little to no money. You may be content traversing local parks, with a sack lunch in your backpack, each weekend. However, if you’re into the arts, opera, local concerts, wine tasting or fine dining, you’ll want to budget extra to experience those activities that are meaningful to you. Decide what really matters and if an event is truly special and location-specific and you can only experience it while there (like Mexico City’s Ballet Folklórico), prioritize it and consider reducing costs in other areas if necessary.

A Final Note on Savings

Regardless of how the money shakes out, there is one part of your financial well-being that doesn’t change no matter where you are and that’s the importance of an emergency fund to absorb whatever unexpected cost may come your way. Aim to have at least the equivalent of $2,000 in a savings account you can easily access should you need to. Hopefully you won’t have cause to touch it, but the peace of mind it provides will make a difference no matter what continent you’re on. Fluency Corp can help your employees and their families assimilate to their country, city, and neighborhood through private English lessons (or other languages) in-home, in-office, or online. We transform communication with employees and their families so the success of international relocations is greatly increased. For a free consultation, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159. Read success stories at fluencycorp.com/testimonials/.

The Expat Parent’s Guide to U.S. High Schools

I recently got a frantic call from a client who is a Swedish expat in the U.S. Her son wouldn’t get out of bed because he was too depressed about the differences between the schools and the people in his home country and those in his new country.

Finally, on the fifth day of unexcused absences, the school called. Our client learned that if her son was absent one more day this semester, he was going to flunk his grade.

The Swedish mom didn’t know about the absence rule. She didn’t know her son needed a note from the doctor to excuse the absences.

But, even beyond the crisis over the absences, there was still more she didn’t know about U.S. schools. She didn’t know that her son would be taking the same math class again because staff at his new school were afraid that putting him in the higher math class with his low English level would be too much for him. She agreed, but it was still disappointing, and her son was very bored.

Cultural Differences in U.S. High Schools

She also got the impression that students could only go to the bathroom during the 6-minute passing period, and never during class, so her son was stressed about rushing from class to class, trying to go to the bathroom and ended up never drinking water for fear of having the need to pee during the class time.

And, she (and her son) were afraid he would make no friends because someone had told them that when Americans smile, this does not mean they are your friend, so don’t trust them. What a welcome into the U.S.!

This family’s experience isn’t unusual. You get misinformation, you have no one to ask for help, and every tiny, little thing about your new life is different. I mean, they knew it would be different, but they didn’t realize it would be this different.

There’s so much to prepare for when you move internationally to the U.S. And most of the people you encounter won’t know what to clue you in on, because it would never occur to them that you don’t know a bunch of things they take for granted.

For example, how in the world can an American high school teacher prepare a family from Sweden for the differences if the American teacher doesn’t know how schools work in Sweden (and in most of Europe and South America)?

Here’s some of the advice we gave the Swedish mom. Hopefully, it will save other expat families some headaches!

Absences in U.S. High Schools

In the U.S., you must get a doctor’s note if your child is not going to be in school. The schools do this to make sure you aren’t keeping kids home for no reason. This is primarily to protect the child and his/her right to an education. You are likely not a bad parent, but not all parents are awesome.

Grading in U.S. High Schools

The U.S. grading system goes from 0 to 100. 100 is a perfect score. You will hear the letters A, B, C, D and F used. Every school uses a different scale. But, commonly, 100-90 is an A, 89-80 is a B, 79-70 is a C (this is average), 69-60 is a D and anything lower than 60 is considered failing.

AP Classes in U.S. High Schools

Some schools have AP (advanced placement) classes for kids who want to push themselves. AP classes might cover more material than regular classes.

AP classes will also prepare teens for a test at the end of high school that could count toward college credit. That means your teen could skip some required classes, which saves you money!

For example, a liberal arts degree typically requires a few semesters of Spanish. But a student who gets a high enough score on the AP Spanish test might be able to skip a few semesters of Spanish and start at a higher level in college, which could get the student closer to a minor in Spanish as well.

Class Schedules

In most high schools, students take the same classes every day, and classes are just under an hour long. They have a few minutes to move between classes. The time allotted for changing classes can vary by the size of the school. High schools have traditionally had lockers for students to store their books. But there’s a trend toward schools doing away with lockers. This can be very different from European high schools where the kids have more freedom at school and are more independent in regards to classes and choosing class schedules. Many Europeans might become bored with the routine of US high schools. Beware.

Bathroom and Lunch Breaks in U.S. High Schools

Students can take a bathroom break while they’re changing classes, of course. But they can also ask the teacher if they can go to the bathroom during class. This is normal and expected.
The lunch period will likely seem VERY short to expat students. It is typically 30 minutes. (Which is ridiculous, right?)

What’s With All the Smiling in the U.S.?

Americans smile. A lot. We all do it. All the time. For no particular reason. We just do it. If we make eye contact, our lips curl. It just happens automatically, as it’s considered a bit rude to look and not smile. This does not mean we are fake or insincere in our smiles. We smile as a courtesy, out of politeness and general congeniality. That’s it. It’s like breathing. Just remember that a smile in your country might mean one thing, but a smile in the U.S. is natural and common, even from strangers.

Making Friends with U.S. Parents

When an American suggests that the two of you get a coffee sometime, this does not necessarily mean they want to schedule a coffee date for next week. It basically means, “See you later” or “Hope to see you again soon” or “Talk to you again sometime.”nnThis can really disappoint a lot of expats, who assume that Americans suggesting a coffee date truly want to make plans soon. Sure, you can ask them for a coffee in the future. But just don’t take their ‘Yeah, let’s get coffee sometime’ as a commitment. Not until you hear the date, time and place does someone want really to get together.

At Fluency Corp, we’re always happy to help our clients with questions like these that go beyond language. If you’re relocating to another country, or looking for ways to help employees at your company prepare for international assignments, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159 for a free consultation.

Holiday Traditions in Mexico

Just as in the U.S., the holiday season is a big deal in Mexico. It’s a time of beloved, beautiful and meaningful traditions and celebrations. If you’re spending your first holiday season in Mexico as an expat, or you’re visiting Mexico in December, you may be curious about how the country celebrates the winter holidays. So we wanted to help you learn a little more about holiday traditions in Mexico.nnThe Christmas season in Mexico brings a religious festival called Las Posadas from December 16-24. Each night there are processions that represent Joseph and Mary’s trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Las Posadas also brings parties each night, and those parties include piñatas (traditionally star-shaped).

Nacimientos, or nativity scenes, are the most traditional Christmas decoration in Mexico.

Christmas Eve is called Noche Buena in Mexico. It’s the last night of Las Posadas, and the heart of the Christmas celebration.

Food is a big part of the Christmas season in Mexico. Popular dishes include pozole, a pork and hominy stew; tamales; and buñuelos, fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar.

Buñuelos are also popular during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, written in Mexico as “Januca.” Another tradition: dreidel-shaped piñatas.

New Year’s Eve in Mexico

On December 31, Mexicans enjoy a special dinner to ring out the old year and ring in the new.

On New Year’s Eve, it’s traditional to eat 12 grapes as the clock chimes midnight. This is to bring good fortune in the coming year.

But New Year’s does not mean the holiday season is over. Mexico celebrates Día de Los Reyes on January 6 to honor the Three Kings, who fill children’s shoes with toys and gifts.

Sources: britannica.com, apartmenttherapy.com, inside-mexico.com, whychristmas.com, howstuffworks.com, isabeleats.com, atlasobsura.com, parade.com, mexicobob.blogspot.com

If you are curious about other aspects of living and working in Mexico, check out these past articles from Fluency Corp:

· Expanding to Mexico: What Your Company Should Know
· Cultural Tips for Doing Business in Mexico

Are you relocating to Mexico soon or helping other employees at your company prepare for assignments to Mexico? For a free consultation, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.

3 Tips for Learning English at the Office

Want to know something that often surprises professionals who relocate from other countries to the U.S.? They may have previous experience using English on the job. But working day in, day out in an English-only office, with native English speakers, is a whole new challenge.

These expats realize that improving their English skills, including their accent when speaking English, will help them do a better job at the office — and help them enjoy life outside work more.

But, as we all know, life gets busy. And the prospect of driving to another location regularly for English classes might seem like too much of a hassle. So today we want to focus on three ways to learn English while you’re on the job. If you’re an expat in the U.S., you can start implementing these ideas without leaving your office. And if you’re an HR professional who supports international employees in the U.S., you can help them try these tips.

1. Use Your Breaks to Learn English

Everyone has a few pockets in the day to squeeze in a little language learning at the office. The trick is making that learning fun, so you don’t feel like you’re giving up your break time. Try one of these ideas the next time you’re eating lunch, taking a walk, or filling a few moments between meetings.

Listen to an English-language podcast. At Fluency Corp, we encourage our students who are studying English at CEFR Level B2 (upper intermediate) or higher to improve their skills by listening to English-language podcasts that tell compelling stories. In fact, we have a whole article with recommended English-language podcasts, as well as a process you can use while listening to podcasts to accelerate your learning. Check it out and start streaming!
Watch English-language shows. A little TV at work can be great for your productivity — if you pick shows that help build your English skills. So choose a sitcom, reality show, or another program with lots of dialogue in everyday, conversational English. Notice how the cast members sound when they speak, and be sure to note any phrases or sentences you don’t understand.
Use apps to practice English. As we’ve written before, language apps won’t make you 100% fluent. They are, however, a great way to supplement English language classes. Using a language app can be especially helpful if you can close your office door (or find a private spot) so you can practice repeating words and phrases. Our favorite non-teacher software is Pimsleur.

2. Enlist Your Colleagues For Help Learning English

Now, we’re not saying that it’s your co-workers’ responsibility to teach you English. (That’s where our final tip comes in. See below.) But they can play a valuable role in helping you sharpen your English skills.

First, simply try engaging your English-speaking colleagues in conversation more often. Invite them to lunch or even to walk with you to the vending machine or to get coffee. Making small talk about your families, hobbies, etc., might seem like just chitchat. But the more of these conversations you have, the more comfortable and skilled you will become in using English.

As you bond with your colleagues, you should also feel more comfortable asking them your questions about using English at work. For example, does the email you wrote in English have the appropriate tone? And what on Earth was your boss talking about at the meeting when he said, “We really need to think outside the box on this, so let’s circle back around next week and loop in some more people.”

3. Take English Classes at Work

Without a doubt, this is the most effective way to learn English at the office. We totally understand, though, that bringing onsite English classes to your workplace means getting buy-in from managers. That’s why we did all the math (and it was a lot!) to show the business value of language training. Share the article at the link with decision-makers on learning and development at your company.

And if you want to help your English-speaking colleagues learn to communicate in a way that is more effective for everyone, then learn about our SASS training – the key to success in a multilingual office.

If onsite classes aren’t an option, perhaps online English language training is. At Fluency Corp, both online and onsite classes are taught by live instructors who customize lessons according to student needs.

We’d love to talk with you more about how you, or your company’s employees, can learn English at the office. For a free consultation, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159. Read success stories at fluencycorp.com/testimonials/.

Self Care for Expats: Part Four – Embracing the Culinary Culture

Food is an integral part of our daily life. When you move abroad, sampling the local cuisine can be an exciting and exotic sensory experience. Your new location may present you with the opportunity to try new spices, meats, fish, vegetables, grains and desserts, to name a few. Your destination may also have different eating schedules than you’re familiar with (like late lunch times or after-dusk dinners) as well as styles of food preparation that you’re unaccustomed to. By all means, enjoy the various feasts you find before you! But sometimes we also crave food from “home,” as well as may have food allergies to take into consideration. Use these quick guidelines to manage the culinary adventure you’re about to embark on.

Embracing the Culinary Culture

If you’re a foodie by nature, trying new foods is a welcome task. If you’re not so open-minded when it comes to food, try to adopt an adventurous approach as you sample the local fare of your new city. Sometimes the food is familiar, just presented in a way or time you’re not used to, such as the case in Melbourne where they put baked beans over toast or in Laos where they eat noodle soup for breakfast. Adopt a curious stance to it all and give it a shot. You may discover some new favorite dishes that you start to eat regularly. And the worst thing that happens if you don’t care for something is – you just don’t eat it again!

Food Sensitivities & Allergies

More and more people are discovering food sensitivities and are making a concerted effort to integrate that knowledge into their daily eating. Introduce a new culture and location and it can be tempting to loosen up the reigns on your diligence. That’s understandable. There is going to be an adjustment period as you experiment with different foods and see how your body responds. If you know you have food sensitivities, however, try to exercise some restraint when eating out as you often can’t be sure exactly what is in the food. There’s no quicker way to kill the buzz of exploring a new place than to be home sick with a stomach ache because something you ate didn’t agree with you!

A good strategy is to find your local supermarket as soon as you can upon arriving and stock up on some trusty staples you know you can comfortably eat. Make that the base of your eating and then plan some special meals out. Before going, check if the menu is online, and see if there are meals that look compatible with your restrictions. If the menu is not online, you can call ahead, explain your restrictions and see what they say.

This is another time when language training will save you as you’ll be able to communicate effectively about what you need to eat. You can also bring a friend who is more comfortable with the language and can inquire in person when you are sitting down to eat. Special note: if you have a full-blown food allergy as opposed to a food sensitivity, you’ll obviously want to take special precautions to avoid those foods altogether. If you require an epi-pen or a histamine, pack those before traveling.

Craving Comfort Food

As much as you may be enjoying the new fare, at some point you’ll crave a familiar food from home. It could be Cheetos, Mountain Dew, or sour cream (all foods that my coworkers seemed to crave after about six months of living in a new country). You have a couple of options. The first is to attempt to recreate it yourself from scratch with a tried and true recipe. The second is to try to find it locally. The last option is to have it shipped, either from an online retailer, a sympathetic friend, or family member back home.

The World is Your Oyster

Make the most of your time abroad and sample what you can. Food is a great way to connect to your new home and feel as though you’re getting integrated, as well as step out of your comfort zone. After all, variety is the spice of life!

The EASIEST Ways to Stay in Touch After Moving Abroad

In the flurry of making new friends and meeting people while abroad, we all still want to stay in touch with those back home. After all, like Dolly Parton croons, “You can’t make old friends.” There’s something about maintaining those ties with those who know us best that gives us a more grounded feeling. Fortunately, we live in an incredibly technologically advanced time and staying connected is easier than it ever was. Remember when you had to plan a long-distance phone call, not to mention watch the clock while chatting as fees were higher for long distance, from your landline phone?! Those dinosaur techy days are a thing of the past and we have a buffet of apps and services to choose from. Here’s a round-up of some of the easiest ways to stay in touch after you move abroad.

Technology to Use to Stay in Touch when you Move Abroad

Whatsapp
By far and away, Whatsapp is one of the most popular ways to stay in touch between countries. A free app available for download at whatsapp.com, its main appeal lies in the fact that audio and video calling is completely free, easy to use, doesn’t require a particular carrier and gives the option for FaceTime functionalities. You can instantly send a message to anywhere in the world, link it to group chats with people in other countries and send pics. It has a good reputation for working everywhere and there are no roaming fees. Bonus is that they are constantly expanding countries so if you find yourself in a more exotic locale, it will likely still work. You can share your live location as well as send Document files up to 100Mb, such as PDF and Slideshows.

GroupMe
GroupMe is a fun way for many people to interact quickly and in a more eye-pleasing way than straight texts. Download the GroupMe App for an attractive interface that allows those who are invited to a particular group to communicate in a more sophisticated way than just group texting. Users can upload avatars of themselves, messages can be liked by many and it works on all devices. This is also a nice option for when you connect with new local friends as it’s a quick and conducive way to communicate when setting up local plans.

Group Texting
Tried and true, group texting, or just one-on-one texting, is still incredibly popular and has replaced phone calls as a preferred way to communicate for many. Check on rates, however, for international texting as they can be shockingly high. If that’s the case, try one of the apps above.

Facetime and Skype
Facetime and Skype are popular options for video calling. FaceTime is unique as it was developed by Apple and is intended to be used on Apple products like the iPhone, Mac-book, and iPad. As a built-in app, Facetime is fairly intuitive and free without the need to download any extra applications. It should be already installed in your Apple products. Simply access your contacts and hit the FaceTime option.

Skype, on the other hand, is a bit more versatile in that it works on more platforms and offers a basic (free) option, as well as a subscription service with more enhanced features. This universally recognized, easy-to-use app also boasts
screen sharing, call recording and live subtitles.

Visits from Friends When you are Overseas

This is perhaps the most satisfying way to stay in touch of all. If your friends back home are able, there is no substitute for having them visit you in person in your new city. Ideally they would come after you’ve gotten sea legs a bit and can confidently show them around. The most common challenge for international travel is the expense. Check out this guide to help your family or friends book affordable international travel. Plan for an off season, or perhaps offer to chip in on the airfare. Seeing your friends and family is MUCH better than talking to them on a screen!

Fluency Corp can help your employees and their families assimilate to their country, city and neighborhood through private English lessons (or other languages) in home, in office or online. We transform communication with employees and their families so the success of international relocations are greatly increased. For a free consultation, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159. Read success stories from people we have helped!

Self Care for Expats: Part Three – Building a Social Life

Self Care for Expats - Building a Social Life

At this point, you’re probably getting your sea legs in your new country. You’ve got a schedule, started your job and are adjusting to your living situation, be it a house, apartment or other arrangement. You’ve explored a bit and are settling into a routine. Now’s a good time to turn your attention to making some friends in your new international home.

Depending on your stage in your life (single, married, kids or child-free), your bandwidth for how much energy and effort you can put into meeting new people and making friends will vary, but regardless, your experience will be enriched by having at least a few friends you can meet with regularly. Also, the sooner you start talking to people, the easier it will be to speak with ease in your new language. On that note, here are tips to expand your social life.

Join Meetup to Match Up

Meetup.com is a rich resource for anyone looking to grow their circle. The groups are created by people who are interested in a particular topic and participation is usually free to low cost. Typically anyone can join any group. Some groups are small and specific (bare metal enthusiasts, for example) and others broad and big (like hiking), and some are serious (philosophy discussion groups) while others are light-hearted (board game groups).

Pick out a few that interest you and RSVP for a couple of events in the coming weeks. If you’re an introvert and naturally on the quiet, observant side, socializing can be a bit draining, so be sure to pace yourself. Tell yourself you’ll go for an hour and then leave to take some of the pressure off of yourself. If you’re an extrovert, well, you’ve probably already attended a few events or even started a group of your own!

If you don’t gel well with a particular group, just keep trying different ones until you do. If you’re particularly good at something (tennis, chess, trivia, etc), join groups focused on those topics as that is always a good way to make inroads with new people. You’ll stand out in a positive way when they see your skills and competency.

Day-To-Day Tips

The little interactions build on one another, so say hello to your neighbors. Remember people’s names and be purposeful about using them the next time you see them. This signals to people that you’re available for friendships. Take advantage of everyday moments to connect. For instance, if you’re laying at the pool at your apartment on the weekend, try to say hi to people around you, especially those that are there alone.

Tap Into Internations

The largest international community for people who live and work abroad, InterNations has over 6,000 monthly events and activities for expats to meet fellow internationals in their city. Represented in 420 cities, the odds are good you’ll be able to tap into this global networking source no matter where you’re stationed. It can be comforting to commiserate with other expats who understand your situation. Membership also gives participants access to tips and information about your specific destination.

Raise a Glass to Toastmasters

Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. There are over 357,000 members in more than 16,600 clubs in 143 countries. International dues run about $45 every six months, plus a new member fee of $20. The groups are generally very supportive in nature, lending themselves well to making friends. They’ll also give you an edge professionally as you become a more confident communicator, not to mention you will be required to practice your new language.

Seek Out Religious or 12-Step Groups

If you associate with a particular religion or 12-step group, this is also a great way to connect with people who share your values and worldview. Again, membership is free and open to anyone. There are a lot of opportunities for talking and practicing your language during meetings and after meetings and services, people often go out to eat or for a cup of coffee to socialize.nn

Final Thoughts

A bonafide bookworm? Then what better way to meet new friends than to hobnob with other readers? Google “book clubs” and your city to see what turns up. You can also check meetup or inquire with your co-workers and ask if they belong to a club you can join. Lastly, keep an eye out on Facebook for groups and events that you’re interested in. For example, I found a vegan group meeting for food last week. YUM!

Micah Bellieu is CEO and Founder of Fluency Corp. She has relocated as an expat to Campeche, Mexico, and used the above tips to not only increase her fluency in Spanish, but also to survive the year and a half in Mexico. She made a ton of new friends and she now speaks Spanish very well.

Ask These 10 Questions Before Your International Relocation

Your boss calls you into their office to ask you an important question: Are you open to an international relocation?

The prospect sounds exciting, but a change this big is also nerve-racking to consider. A successful international assignment takes thoughtful planning. So if you decide to make the move, here are some questions you’ll want to get answered as soon as you can.

1. What Language Training Will You Receive?

This might not be where your mind goes first when you think about moving internationally. But trust us: Gaining fluency in the language of your new country will make everything else we’re going to talk about in this article so much easier. You’ll feel at ease in both your professional life and your personal life a whole lot faster. Take advantage of any language training your company offers. And, if you can, push for one-on-one training with a live instructor (whether face to face or online). This will help you learn your new language a lot faster. When we relocated to Mexico in 2007 (before Fluency Corp had been started), we quickly realized that the 8 semesters of Spanish (academic and business) had not prepared me at all to be able to speak like a regular person in Mexico. I needed language training! And fast!

2. Will Your Family Receive Language Training?

Too many expats don’t consider this before their international move, but it’s super important. Just like you do, your spouse and kids need language skills to navigate everyday life and make friends in your new country. Family unhappiness is a big reason that international relocations fail. But everyone (including you) is going to be much happier when the whole family gets language training. Most of the time, your children are going to improve much more quickly than you. Why is this? Is it easier for children to learn? Not necessarily. The truth is that they will be immersed for 8+ hours a day with other children: talking, playing, listening, watching TV, reading, having lunch, socializing and playing sports. That’s how language is learned. So children under age 7 typically do not need much help. Over 7 years old, you should enroll your child in as many fun activities as possible where they can hear the language throughout the day and get much-needed listening and speaking practice. If you’re moving a child over the age of 11, you might want to get a tutor to help with writing class, reading class, and even history, social studies and literature. But again, enrolling the child in as many social activities as possible is the top priority.

3. Is Cultural Training Offered, Too?

Learning the language is only part of the equation of communicating effectively in your new country. Don’t forget that there may be many differences between the culture of your home country and the one where you’re moving. Not to mention, whether you realize it or not, you have stereotypes in your mind about what it will be like there. This is human nature – we all have preconceived notions about the people in other countries. Sometimes, it’s correct, but more often than not, it’s not correct. For example, a Swedish family recently moved to North Carolina, and their kids did not want to talk to anyone at their school because they were told that you cannot trust Americans. What a horrible way to start the new school year in a new country. We had a sit-down talk with the parents, and talked through the reliability of that statement, and how they can get the kids to open up and make friends, despite what they’d heard about Americans.

4. Will You Receive Help With the Immigration Process?

Before you even start your international assignment, simply getting to your new country can be a big hassle. Hello, tons of paperwork! Your company should give you plenty of assistance here. It’s to their benefit to do so. According to Altair Global’s survey on international relocations, the immigration process can be a major drain on expats’ work productivity. Altair recommends making sure you have a designated contact you can approach with questions during the immigration process. And if you think you might want to stay in the country, start learning what you’ll need before you even more: birth certificates, etc. And learn what you need to prepare to get on a waiting list, if there is one, for work visas or green cards.

5. How Will Your Compensation Work?

Along with immigration, this is another complicated aspect of your international move. According to Altair, asking your employer for a total rewards statement so that you can understand the big-picture financial ramifications of your relocation. Also, dig deep. Go on online forums and learn from people who have already lived in that city. Learn what neighborhood you can afford, ask questions about the weather, what clothes you need (4 seasons or 2?), what are the utility bills like in the winter/in the summer, what neighborhoods are safe, what type of vibe does the city have? Forums are the best for learning the real information.

6. What Destination Services are Provided?

What will your company do to help you find and pay for a place to live during your international assignment? What about moving your stuff to your new country? Don’t forget to be creative – if you are given a lump sum, know that you can likely save a lot of money using a service like Airbnb, and you’ll feel more at home than in a hotel. Also, this will allow you to test neighborhoods more easily, as you can live in them for a month at a time and decide if you like the way it feels, the traffic, the commute, the local restaurants, the people walking around, etc.

7. What Support is Available for Your Spouse?

Being the trailing spouse of an expat employee isn’t easy. Does your company offer job-search and other assistance for spouses? We heard from a couple from Paris that the husband was offered a job in Oman. The wife was on board, as she loved adventure, new cultures, food and more. She was told she could work there as well. She looked forward to this new opportunity. Upon arrival, she learned that there was a law that prohibited her from working. She could work under the table, but that would put them at risk of being sent out of the country. So, for 2 years she could not work when she thought she would be able to. These things must be considered, and must be addressed.

8. Where Will You Receive Physical and Mental Health Care?

Many aspects of your daily life will be different after an international relocation. One of the major differences can be how you receive healthcare. Before your move, take some time to learn about what to do when you need physical or mental health care. One of our clients from the Ukraine did her homework about the American healthcare system. She knew it was completely different than in Germany, Poland and Ukraine (3 countries were she has lived and worked), so when she needed a doctor on the weekend, she smartly went to a small urgent care instead of the hospital emergency room. She got right in, was taken care of and then 2 months later she received the bill. What a surprise! Now she knows that you do not know the price when you go. We (Americans) aren’t too psyched about our healthcare system either, but we do know that the bills come. So asking around about the healthcare system is key to understanding it and attempting not to have any surprises.

9. Do You Have Contacts in Your Destination Country?

Preparing for your international move doesn’t just mean seeking information from your employer. It also entails doing plenty of research on your own. For example, tap your network to see if you already know anyone in your destination country or if any of your contacts can introduce you to someone there. It can be enormously helpful and reassuring to have someone you can ask questions before your move and meet up with after you arrive. If you cannot make a contact in advance, Fluency Corp provides a best friend upon arrival, and we hope that your company will provide you this fluency and assimilation service. But even if they don’t, you can meet other expats through Internations.org and also sign yourself up for new classes or try new hobbies so you can meet people that enjoy the same activities as you – then, you will also have people to reach out to when you have questions.

10. What’s Your Plan for Staying in Touch?

Making new friends should be a priority during your international relocation. But your friends and family back home are still a valuable source of emotional support. Don’t rely on social media to maintain your relationship. Talk now about how often you want to communicate and the channels you will use. If your loved ones aren’t familiar with technology like Skype or FaceTime, give them a tutorial now so that they’re not trying to figure things out during your first international call.

At Fluency Corp, we understand the needs of employees working abroad, and we tailor our training to help them thrive at work while building a satisfying life and nurturing support network in a new country. Customized language lessons give expats the vocabulary they need to excel at their jobs, to navigate life outside work and to make connections with others. And because our experienced instructors are native speakers, they can also offer valuable guidance that helps expats and their families adjust to their new culture. For a free consultation, contact us at getfluent@fluencycorp.com or (800) 401-3159.