When Abroad Do As The Local Children Do
Hilly Van Swol-Ulbrich & Bettina Kaltenhäuser

Expat Women's Interview with Hilly and Bettina: 

ExpatWomen: Hilly and Bettina, congratulations on your very creative book for expatriating children, “When abroad—do as the local children do”. Why did you decide to write this book?

Hilly and Bettina: As an intercultural trainer preparing families going on international assignments, many parents had questions on how best to include the children in the upcoming changes. This initially prompted the development of a special kids in transition program, which has been so well received that it has been included in many corporate expat training packages.. but still.. this way only our direct clients would benefit. How to reach all the other families out there? We wanted to share our ideas and make them accesable to those that needed it.. the children foremost, and their parents of course. We are happy to say, that other than individual families, relocation companies, int ernational van lines, Corporate HR managers and even our intercultural training colleagues use this book as a standard resource to help the families adjust to their new life abroad...

ExpatWomen: What is the age range for your book? Do you think even younger and older children can benefit from it's contents?

Hilly and Bettina: This varies and depends on the individual child- not just their reading and writing skills so we chose to stay on the safe side and suggest 8-12 when the child is handling the book by themselves. When an adult is involved in the process, the starting age can be adjusted to 6-7 or when the 6 - 7 year old has older siblings, then the "make available at a younger age" certainly applies. The upper range can easily include the early teens, as the format of the book offers many projects and even internet related suggestions.. with the latter, of course we want parents to make sure that their kids are "internet wise" and keep an eye on their www explorations...

ExpatWomen: Hilly and Bettina, what motivated you to have the character Ori (the migrating bird) as the central character of your book?

Hilly and Bettina: The concept of migrating bird speaks for itself.. but Ori's name and origin derives from the Orizuru paperbird in Origami. The cranebird is a holy, mystical bird in many cultures, but particulary worshipped in Japan, where he stands for hope, faith and good luck. Don't you agree that we all need that? And even the more when children are moving to faraway places and leaving their friends behind.. Both Bettina and myself hope that the children will have found at least a new friend in Ori, who as a migrating bird, knows what it is like, and helps the children through this period of transition.

ExpatWomen: What type of feedback have you received from children (and parents) since they can write to Ori via your website?

Hilly and Bettina: Many, multifold, all over the world, from parents, from children, from teachers and even adults who as a child had lived abroad. All of them so valuable to us, and have given us so much reconfirmation to continue spreading the news that children are not a just a plant that you move to yet another windowsill, but that there are many options out there to ensure that they will bloom where planted.

ExpatWomen: You published your book in 2002, any plans for a revised version?

Hilly and Bettina: It has become a standard piece of work referred to by so many, a generic tool, we hesitate to touch it. Rather than tamper with it, we prefer to open our mind to new projects..maybe a new book.. we shall see...