Bounce

"We've been forced into a change that none of us has experienced before, and we don't know what to do with it."

In this 9 minute video, I talk with SIM NZ Director Rob Reynolds about the Transition Curve and the Transition Bridge, two tools we use a lot with people moving cross-cultural. These same tools could be helpful to all of us in these days.

Transition Video - eZine Version This is "Transition Video - eZine Version" by Daisy123 on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

This is the follow up to the previous post. You might find your voice or thoughts reflected here. Let me know if you do :)

How expats cope with losing their identity After years away on a foreign posting, coming ‘home’ can be overwhelming and isolating. Here’s how many people cope with fitting back in.

Whilst the definition of "long-term" does not necessarily mean "a lifetime" I think this article applies to anyone who has lived out of their passport country. Your thoughts?

The problem with being a long-term expat People on long-term foreign assignments often find it hard to adjust once they return home. Many leave their company within a few years, and some leave the country entirely

YAY Christmas is nearly here and for many of us that means travel. Have you been to any of these airports? The Wellington one is not far from me and it really is quite beautiful BUT the best bit is inside. Check out what I mean in the comments. Wherever this festive season finds you and with whomever you are sharing it may it be filled with love, joy, and peace # # # https://www.theguardian.com/travel/gallery/2016/nov/30/worlds-most-beautiful-airport-terminals-in-pictures

The world's most beautiful airport terminals – in pictures

It seems there is a lot being posted on reverse culture chock at the moment. What I love are he personal stories of what it feels like and how to work through it (do you ever really get over it?). All of this makes my experiences feel more "normal".

The hardest part of moving overseas is the reverse culture shock of coming home "Returning home brings with it an expectation that everything will be the same, but the people I left behind have moved on and I've changed as well," writes Mihal Greener.

It fascinates me that the US Department of State has a page on reverse culture shock. How smart are they!! This is a long read but gives so much great info that it is worth it. Grab a cuppa and get started or at least bookmark this page to read over a cuppa AND a snack or two :)

Reverse Culture Shock - The Challenges of Returning Home: Reverse Culture Shock This section will discuss reverse culture shock -- the psychological, emotional and cultural aspects of reentry. While the phenomenon of culture shock is increasingly well known (and relatively well prepared for in the foreign affairs community), reverse culture shock is not as recognized and unders...

Thinking through and anticipating repatriation is probably the best preparation one can have for the struggles that will inevitably come your way. Check this out for a wee dose of preparation.

The Seven Lies of Repatriation Ahhh “Repatriation” It’s one of those words that you don’t even look up in the dictionary until you start going through it yourself. For those less traveled it may not even…

After reading this article I was struck by the final line... Your experiences overseas are best stuck with you. It feels cynical, and selfish. Can we not use our experiences to help others see the world beyond their own little bubbles? How can we do that? I'd love to know your thoughts.

I lived in Korea for 5 years. Here's what happened when I came home to Nebraska. Rarely do people talk about what awaits when your expat life ends

"While away, we all keep an image of what “home” is like, but often these are memories of a different time, and a different you." I can relate to this. When we are away we work hard to remember "home" but then when we get back there everything is different. Have a read of these tips to help with going back to where you came from.

Repatriation: Returning Home for Another Shock! Featured Image Source: Unspash.com. Photographer: Tim Swaan. While many expats expect to experience culture shock when moving to a new country, few of us anticipate the shock of returning home. We…

This came out in 2011 but the info is still good. If you can't figure out the graph itself have a read of what is written as it makes for interesting reading.

INFOGRAPHIC: The Modern Third Culture Kid The typical Third Culture Kid has moved at least once by their 5th birthday, and will move at least four times in their life. They speak at least two languages and have a 4-year college-degree. Data based...

On my goodness this all sounds so familiar. I can safely safe I have experienced every one of these 10 things. If you are going "home" have a read and feel not so weird and if you care for someone who is coming "home" learn why life isn't "normal" for them anymore.

Repatriating Normally: 10 Things That Make Coming Home Feel Weird Repatriating is weird. It shouldn’t be but it is. It should be awesome — and easy — and the complete redemption of every challenge, every irritation and every bumbling misa…

This book is the original tome on TCK's. It's a massive book that you can now download for free. It is a great resource so go ahead and grab a copy.

Raising Resilient MKs: Resources for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers - Missionary Care Missions and Mental Health Resources from Ron and Bonnie Koteskey and New Hope International Ministries. This site features a searchable database of missionary care resources, articles, and books as…