Rebecca Grappo (M.Ed, C.E.P) is a professional educator who has successfully combined her advocacy and teaching experience with her need to develop a portable career abroad. After living, working and teaching overseas for many years, Rebecca started RNG International Educational Consultants in 2006 whilst living in Oman and has quickly become known as a global expert in the field of international relocations with children.
In addition to her native United States, Rebecca has lived in Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Portugal, Jordan, Oman and has recently moved to Dubai. She speaks five languages and has raised her own three children between the United States and various overseas assignments.
Expat Women's Interview With Rebecca
Expat Women: Rebecca, what exactly does an international educational consultant do?
Rebecca: Well, let's take apart the words. A "consultant" is an advisor who can say here is where you are, where do you want to be, what you have to do to get there, and makes recommendations on how to do it.
The word "educational" means that I work with students and families to help them find educational options for their unique situation. That could be colleges and universities, traditional schools, international schools, boarding schools, schools that support learning differences or schools that help a child who is having behavior and/or emotional issues. An educational consultant can also work with a student on university planning to help them find the right fit and match for their interests and abilities.
An "international" educational consultant is someone who does this internationally - whether it is for families on the move around the globe, or international students who are looking to study abroad.
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Expat Women: What should expat families look for in a professional consultant? |
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Rebecca: To be an effective international educational consultant requires constant professional development in child psychology and development, constant travel to visit boarding schools, programs and universities, constant learning about options and issues in education – especially higher education, and the ability to listen, empathize and communicate.
When looking for an educational consultant, one should also ask if the person is a member of a professional organisation such as the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). There are also people who pose as educational consultants who are really paid agents for schools, programs, and universities. So it is extremely important to check out their credentials and professional memberships to be sure that you are getting someone who adheres to high ethical standards when making recommendations for a student. |
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Expat Women: What motivated you to launch your consultancy business whilst living in Oman? |
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Rebecca:
I started my business because I saw a need for a personalized service for expats living abroad to help them make informed educational choices for their children. I do a variety of things in my practice - public speaking, workshops and writing - but I really love individualized case work with students and families. Some of my kids are struggling, or would thrive more in a different educational setting such as a boarding school. I have other students who seek additional guidance and direction with the college admissions process for American universities. And though I started my practice with expats in mind, I find that many (local) international families are interested in finding quality guidance for their children's educations.
I started my practice while I was in Oman because of practical considerations. I am an expat myself, since I am married to a career diplomat. I am also constantly on the move, yet I have much professional expertise to offer. We were moving overseas again, and I had to leave the position I adored at the State Department. I knew that no one would ever give me a similar job, because it did not exist. So I decided I would do it myself! I looked to what my domestic counterparts were doing for inspiration and then tweaked the model for the expat community. I knew what the needs of globally nomadic families were because I am living the same life. What surprised me was how responsive families of other nationalities (who do not move) have been. It has been really wonderful to work with so many different cultures. But this kind of cultural sensitivity and appreciation comes naturally after living most of one's life overseas, and makes it even more rewarding to work with people of various backgrounds. |
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Expat Women: What do you like the most about your new career direction? |
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Rebecca:
Firstly, finding a career that offers so much positive feedback from the real differences that I have made in students' lives. It is a huge responsibility, but I know that what I do can change a life.
Secondly, I am proud of the fact that I have been able to do something that I absolutely love, while living a globally nomadic life myself. I feel that although my husband's career is usually the one that gets the most attention, I really feel fulfilled by my career - which has given me my own sense of identity and purpose. I had a dream to create this kind of consulting practice and through a lot of hard work, I feel like I am living the dream now.
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Expat Women:
What are the most common decision-making dilemmas you see amongst international school students and what tips can you offer? |
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Rebecca:
Families often do not plan ahead enough, and do not realize how important it is for a child to have continuity in their education, especially in an educational system. This is particularly important in secondary school so that the student can graduate from high school on time and be ready for university. I also see students struggling with learning issues, or ADHD, and the families and/or schools are not sure how to address it.
Lastly, I have some students who do have wonderful school counselors, but
who may desire more time and help than the school counselor has to give with
so many other responsibilities. So by spending lots of one on one time with students, sometimes I am able to help them see new possibilities and options that they never knew existed.
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Expat Women: Finally, with so many years abroad, I am sure you have plenty of stories to tell. Please share with us some of your memorable moments abroad. |
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Rebecca:
Well, first of all, I think that all expats need to pack their sense of humor in their suitcases and bring it with them to the new assignment, even if the airlines charge for excess baggage! I just moved to a new country while we were in the process of this interview, and even though I have moved more times than I can count in my adult life, it is always a challenge. During this last move to Dubai, I had such dusty steps to my front door that walking up them left footprints as if they were footprints in the snow. I went to the hardware store and tried, mostly with hand gestures, to buy a hose with the right attachments to fit the funky faucet size. Then I wanted to be sure the hose was long enough to reach both the patio and my car.
So I bought the biggest hose I could find - 50 meters. My husband asked me what I was thinking, as it is half the length of a football field! Well, I tried to set it up - it was 100 degrees F (40+C) with 100% humidity. Water came gushing out of the faucet like a geyser because the connector did not fit, the hose kinked up every few feet, and as I tried to uncoil and straighten it, it looked like I was wrestling with a gigantic green boa constrictor! I got so mad I went and got my scissors and whacked that hose into smaller pieces! Finally, I got enough of a trickle of water to be able to hose off my steps - but in the meantime I was soaking wet from sweat and water that came from the opposite end of the hose from the one I wanted. If you have never lived outside the United States, where all hoses are standard size and come fitted with the proper fittings, you would probably raise an eyebrow and think, "So what!", but if you have lived abroad, and struggled with foreign fittings, hardware stores, and language barriers, you will see why I was so frustrated but later able to laugh about it!
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Expat Women:
Rebecca, we take our hat off to you and your achievements. Keep up the fabulous work - your career-in-your-suitcase is truly an inspiration to all of us. |
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| November 2009 |
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