What do you do if you are an assignee in Paris, and your child comes home telling you about having a paper fish stuck to them at lunch? Or if you are new to the U.S., and suddenly see the news that you can legally print your own money? If something seems strange, check the […] Continue reading… from Fool me once…
One of the benefits of being a global assignee and not just a tourist is the time to discover attractions not always on the tourist’s itinerary. Most people will visit the Louvre or the Met on their trips to Paris or New York, but how many will get to Germany’s Museum of Bread, or the […] Continue reading… from The museum of…what?
Approximately 62% of our waking time is spent at home, more if home is also our office. When moving abroad, the question of what “home” will look like is one of the big ones: how spacious will it be, what features will it have, how much will it cost? And how will it compare to […] Continue reading… from Is there no place like home?
A lot goes into planning for an assignment abroad. Most people are aware of potential culture shock, research possible pitfalls, and are eager to gather information about their new home. Often, the other side of the coin – repatriation – comes up with much less fanfare. When an assignee is returning to their home country, […] Continue reading… from What to Expect When Returning Home
When living in Japan, one of my favorite end of year customs was “oosouji,” the “big cleaning” that takes place between mid-December and the New Year’s holiday. Rooted in Shinto concepts of purification and the belief that gods of fortune won’t visit dirty houses, it’s also practical: New Year’s is when the family gathers, and […] Continue reading… from How to Ring in the New Year – Japanese Style
We all know air travel is a major driver of global pollution, but it is also a necessity for many industries. To fight this, most major airlines now offer “carbon offset” programs. Check a box, and you can pledge a certain amount of money to reduce the impact your flight has on the environment. What’s […] Continue reading… from Can Aviation have a Positive Environmental Impact?
Among other opportunities, an assignment abroad may offer a bonus that some would pay good money for: immersion in a language other than your native one. This can be exciting, but also overwhelming. When trying to memorize new words and grammar points, things can easily slip from your memory. If you’re working in a language […] Continue reading… from Did Something Slip Your Mind?
Moving Across the Ocean Returning to the US after fifteen years of living in Japan was an undertaking. There were lots of forms, lots of checklists, lots of tears. There were also lots of boxes. Even after selling off appliances and furniture, there were still so many boxes of books, clothes, and sundry items that […] Continue reading… from Does This Sound Familiar?
