http://vimeo.com/42688677

What do you think? Does it ring any bells?

tl;dw

can someone post what the 7 mistakes are?

Listening to speaking Alsations!

hoped for some fun stories.... very disappointing

I must be Americaised as My attention span only let me get to the first before I was overwhelmed with boredum.
1. Tell the kids you are emigrating before you go.

Mistake #2: Rushing the move

Mistake #3: Not getting any cross-cultural training.

Mistake #4: Thinking that cross-cultural training alone will solve all your problems.

Mistake #5: Failing to seek support for the spouse

Mistake #6: Failing to seek support for the children

Mistake #7: Thinking that returning home after living abroad will be easy

Nope. Doesn't ring any bells.

Yeah sorry me too, when the first point "was babies are people too" I thought to myself No, lifes too short for 20 mins of Frenchie psycho-twaddle.

However I did pick up she went to Oz, and thanks to NotAllThere summary am amusing myself with the though of content of a cross cultural training for Oz...

This is only applicable to certain sub-groups of expat.

Americans?

Also got bored before getting to #1. Thanks for posting a summary, NAT.

Are her glasses upside down

cheers
SC

Thank you for the summary, NotAllThere!
I wonder what support is required for the spouse and for the child?
After struggling to shake both of them into shape I got sort of mad, I put my feet down and I requested help from them.
They really tend to stay in this "I need help" situation which was killing me.
I had to tell them that it is a hell lot difficult to me (I work 100%, SAP), I expect them to help in the way that they well use any opportunity that is offered to them, I will not spoon feed them.
I myself struggle with finding friends, missing friends, pets, workout (which was way better in Hungary), loosing everything there.
My spouse is thankfully on his feet now, very independent. My daughter just does not except that she HAS TO go to school and has to get up and has to do housework and homework and she has to tell me if she wants to do any sports, and if she is invited by schoolmates she has to go - mummy will not clean her little a...
She is always complaining about her missing friends in Hungary but would not do anything to find anyone here. She wants me to solve this situation. And I just want a beer... and some peace
It is hard.

I didn't watch the movie, on recommendation of prior posters. We didn't make any mistakes,

1. We told the kids (actually asked if they had any serious objections), and all was good. But 8 yr old has said 'I wish I said no!' but not often.
2. We rushed our move b/c we didn't have a choice. It was fine, luckily I am a stay at home mom so I spent 4 solid weeks mapping out what we were taking/leaving/selling/giving away. I lost my mind but it went fine in the end.
3. The cross cultural training given us by husband's company was crap. Given by someone from I think Russia. What??? It was 2 long days that could have been condensed to one. 8 yr old was set up for the 2 days in a separate session but left at lunch time on day 1. They were doing a bad job a psycho-analyzing her feelings about being here. That said, I don't sit around and wait for someone to tell me how to throw away my trash or go grocery shopping. I educated myself before coming and all info in the CC 'training' I already knew. Some thanks to EF
4. Our cross-cultural training almost created more, b/c my 8yr old was in tears wanting to leave. And she loves it here, *almost* all the time.
5. Support for spouse (that's me). I am fine. God supports me in times of doubt and loneliness but He has also put some wonderful people in my path, expats and locals both. I have plenty of 'non-professional' support. It helps that I am not introverted or looking for a built in friend to show up at my doorstep. I do feel bad for husband sometimes b/c he is at work all day and doesn't have the time to search out friends beyond work.
6. Support for the kids. Well, I have no idea. I talk, they talk, we talk, and we do this together, as a team. We experience the same ups and downs, usually together.
7. Returning home. We'll see! I think it will not be easy, maybe harder than moving here b/c our expectations of 'home' may be too high.

Funny how Anglo-Saxons find it very difficult to listen to a foreign accent without getting irritated

Agreed too, that numero uno does seem a bit far fetched - and yet, I like the idea that even young children should be somehow engaged in the moving process as far as possible. Toddlers do understand a lot more than we think.

For the other points - having been an expat elsewhere, and sharing experience with so many others in the same boat- I think she's got it spot on. Now I talk to many expats living here and the same points come up again and again - especially the support for children and trailing spouses. When I lived in the UK as a newly married expat, my OH had no idea how hard it was for me, and as he was working very very long hours, including nights and week-ends, I felt I couldn't voice my feelings and ask for help. I muddled through, somehow - and survived to tell the tale, often laughing about those desperate days now.

Not so much the accent as the fact I was staring at a staring face forever, then staring a a still photo of a small child for ever. If it's a video it should have visual media, otherwise have it as a podcast and I can look at something else whilst listening.
Like I say, I fear I'm becoming Americanised. (but not enough to use a Z)

Of course I told my nearly 3 year old what was happening, and talked about it and asked nursery to talk about it and even had some german language included in nursery and at home. Why wouldn't you tell your kids you are moving country. Bleeding obvious to me. I even told baby when we were going to see someone for the day, babies need routine and continuity, everyone knows that. Only an idiot would emigrate without mentioning it to a child first.
As for the other points, I didn't watch so really can't comment. But I joined EF pretty much as soon as I got the offer, talked to future (Swiss and expat) work colleagues about what to expect. I don't have a spouse so that wasn't an issue. Cultural differences are not that huge really, I think EFers make mountains a lot of the time, but then Britain has a germanic influence... The biggest problem was (and is) the language. No 'learn the language you idiot' point listed.

BTW-Cross cultural training? What is that?

She makes some good points, but her premise doesn't quite take into account the new realities of working globally. It's a very different word today than when we first started on the expat merry-go-round.

The expat assignment of 20+ years ago is a rare thing today - more often today folks from outside the country are taken on as local hires, not expats. The days of perks and coddling are waning. Many companies simply cannot justify the expense of an expat package for all but a few employees with unique skills - nor do they need to offer one. The economy being what it is today, combined with the free movement treaties within the EU, many people are willing to relocate with minimal incentives because doing so offers better career prospects than can be had at home. It's pretty much 'get on a plane, sink or swim' these days.

So her first three points - talking to the children, taking time to plan the move, ensuring support for the spouse - good ideas, but a luxury many folks no longer have. If the family present too much of a complication... one should be aware that there may be other candidates with less 'baggage' ready to fill the role.

Yes, the family need to work out whether this is a good move for each individual and for the family as a unit, and how to go about it to meet the needs of all concerned - but one should be realistic as to what most companies are willing to offer these days.

Bottom line - if you think your family may need help in any of these areas be prepared to find and if necessary purchase those services on your own.

I do too. The trick with SAP is to realise that it's just the rewording of every concept into SAPspeak that makes it difficult. It's in fact quite easy. But don't tell anyone, or we'll have to reduce our rates.

Argg I have made the worse mistake: I clicked your link and seen that person talking....

Let's list the mistake she made:
1) She talks horribly, it looks so "mechanical", almost reading.
2) She is too close, I can almost see the hairs coming out from her nose
3) Way to boring
4) Talking about almost obvious thing as if the viewer is a simple minded creature

Arg, thanks but no thanks.


PS: it's mistakes on "families" not necessarily "expats". When I clicked I was sure I was about to see something like:
1) Don't forget to bring the stock of brown sugar,
etc..

LOL


Thanks for pointing that out, I realize what was "wrong" with her face...staring!

We told our kids we were moving to Switzerland....they looked worried...they thought we were going to leave them behind

Sometimes...I'm sure they wish we had....