“Study the past if you would define the future.” ― Confucius Click to tweet From all the articles dealing with problems affecting expatriates in 2012, here is what you cared more about, this past year. 1. Bilingualism: how it affects us and especially our children. Busted: 10 Myths About Raising Bilingual Children Bilingualism: 3 questions […]
Continue reading...January 8, 2013 by 2 Comments
My New Year’s Resolution For 2013: More Input From You!
If I could sum up 2012 in one word, I would say… transformation. 2012 was a turning point for me where I finally decided to follow the path of a life-long interest in psychology. I’m fascinated by the deep understanding of how relationships work, weaved by the influence of culture and languages. I found my […]
Continue reading...December 28, 2012 by 1 Comment
Expatriates: Who Can You Rely On When Your Parents Get Sick?
Christmas Eve 2010. 6 pm, France. My parents, my brother and his wife were preparing the dinner looking forward to a tasty meal. All of a sudden, my mother felt an excruciating abdominal pain. At first, she thought she was too tired. She had been working very hard in the last few days. She went […]
Continue reading...December 21, 2012 by 5 Comments
Expats, Not Home for Christmas? 7 Ways to Feel Closer to Your Family
“So you’re not coming back home for Christmas, are you? Oh, we’ll miss you so much. The house will be empty. It’s so sad. I was hoping you could make it. I was so looking forward to seeing the girls. It’ll be more than a year that I have not hugged them. I planned to […]
Continue reading...December 12, 2012 by 5 Comments
The 10 Relatives You Dread to See When Going Back Home For Christmas
The countdown has started. 12 days to Christmas. The expat community is divided: * either you’re going back home, * or you stay put. “So what are you doing for Christmas this year?” This question, you’ve heard it 100 times, 200 times. At school, at work, from your neighbors, even from the cashier at the […]
Continue reading...December 7, 2012 by 7 Comments
Bilingualism: 3 questions to expert François Grosjean
François Grosjean is Emeritus Professor of psycholinguistics at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. He is bilingual himself (French and English) with more than 30 years of experience in the study of the psychological and neurobiological factors involved in learning and using languages. I’m extremely honored to welcome him in this article and very grateful he […]
Continue reading...November 28, 2012 by 1 Comment
3 Tips to Help Your Family Cope After a Disaster When You Live Abroad
Facing a natural disaster is a traumatic experience. But going through this experience in a foreign land can be even more stressful. How is it possible to make it easier for your expatriate family and yourself? You don’t have to let your loved ones suffer needlessly. Here are 3 useful tips to help your family […]
Continue reading...November 16, 2012 by 3 Comments
Before Natural Disaster Strikes: a Checklist For Your Relatives Back in the Home Country
In the previous article, we saw how we, expatriates, could cope with disaster in a foreign country. In the wake of hurricane Sandy, some families are highly traumatized. But can you imagine the experience of your relatives during such a disaster? It must be nerve wracking. While you may think they can’t do anything but […]
Continue reading...November 9, 2012 by 3 Comments
Facing Natural Disaster As an Expat: Lessons Learnt From the Eye of the Storm
Hurricane Sandy has now gone. But it has left behind the traces of its wrath: devastation. In New York City, Angela, recent expatriate to the United States is still shocked. She came from Spain six months ago with her husband and 2 children. Last week when hurricane Sandy hit New York City, she thought their […]
Continue reading...October 29, 2012 by 18 Comments
Is It Ever Too Late to Learn a New Language? Here Are the Facts
Thrown into a new language, children keep their eyes and ears wide open. They record, they process, they produce: they learn the language without even noticing it. They’re not mulling it over. It’s you (and me) as an adult who start thinking. You compare, you ponder, you analyse. To the point where you doubt: If […]
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