Your Family
Overview
The strength of the family unit is an all important factor in how well and how quickly you will be able to adapt to your new surroundings. Make no mistake, each family member will be tested, both collectively and individually, and it would be amiss of us if we were not to advise you of the need to steel yourself for the challenge.
But there is good news. There is so much information available on what you, as an ex-pat operating out of your comfort-zone, need to know, that you can gain enough detailed, advance knowledge of the hurdles that await you to minimise the extent of the negative influence they can command over the lives of your family.
In this section, we do the leg-work for you with regard to covering
all of the questions you will want answered under the headings of education
and lifestyle issues.
It is important to read these articles and to take in the relevant message
as it applies to you in each of these important sectors of family life.
Then you can plan how to put that knowledge to use to your best advantage.
That is how your family needs to interact and operate … taking one step at a time, getting one thing done and then moving onto the next matter awaiting your decision. The task facing ex-pats is huge and is undoubtedly intimidating when taken as a whole. By dissecting the challenge into smaller areas, it becomes much more manageable. By continually moving forward in this systematic manner, you will successfully find your way out of the maze.
Be aware that, wherever you start, family life initially will be a juggling act, primarily because each member will grow into their new role at a different pace. Individual family members will uncover various problem areas which will affect different family members to different degrees. The problems have to be worked through on a personal basis. There is no set manual of the right way and the wrong way to do things. No easy, ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution.
The most important decision has to be made early. It is that you, as
a family will:
- recognise and not hide from the difficulty of the task.
- resolve to look out for each other and to work together.
- resolve to harness the power of information.
- work at maintaining a positive outlook and, finally,
- take action to apply all of the above forces in a manner which works in your favour.
Do this and your family will do well!