L-R, Front Row:
Dottie Byers,
Lois Bushong,
Liz Perelstein,
Sandy Thomas,
Joyce Blake and
Mischell Navarro
L-R, Back Row:
Karly Amirkhanova,
Tina Quick,
Anne Copeland,
Paul White,
Carley Dodd,
Craig Toedtman and
Duncan Westwood
Anel & Anika Smith
Doug Ota,
Smitha Day and daughter Karishma,
Ruth Van Reken,
Donnyale Ambrosine and
Foojan Zeinel
Doug Ota and
Ruth Van Reken
Families In Global Transition (FIGT) 2009
Conference, Houston, US, 5-7 March Andrea Martins
This year's FIGT conference was again a reunion of ‘like minds'. It sounds cliché, but it is true: most FIGT regulars go back time and time again because they enjoy the camaraderie that exists between ‘like-minded' attendees, with whom they can share the international experience – with all of its joys and complexities.
There were a lot of new people there this year. When new attendees were asked to stand for an official welcome, about half of the room stood up, which was wonderful to see, as any annual get-together needs both old blood and new blood, to blend past history with new ideas and enthusiasm.
Participants (around 200 this year) came from: around the United States (both Americans and expats living in the US); The Netherlands (which was represented by a surprising number of expats residing in The Netherlands, perhaps due to the savvy network skills of FIGT champions like A Career In Your Suitcase author and Dutch resident, Jo Parfitt); other parts of Europe; Asia; and Australia.
Sectors represented included: the US armed forces (namely representatives from their Family Readiness Centers around the world); relocation and destination services providers; researchers; authors; international school and school search providers; TCKs (Third Culture Kids) and Adult TCKs; missionaries; coaches; counsellors; corporates; and basically anyone who was interested in global mobility issues – particularly how they affect families.
One of the big themes that seemed to shine through this year was grief and reconciliation - putting language to experiences and dealing with the grief of leaving one location before being able to successfully move forward and adapt to a new location. The story was told of one particular TCK, who was struggling with a debilitating hand condition, unable to be solved by the doctors... whose hand condition literally healed itself once the TCK learned that he was not alone in his emotions and once he gave himself space to work through his grief from leaving multiple locations abroad.
Not everyone suffers in this way, but the point was made by school counsellors with hands-on experience with TCKs, just how much of a positive impact it can make in a TCK's life when processes are learned to deal with unresolved relocation grief and TCKs are given the time and permission to grieve their past location. Arguably, the same happens with adults, especially anyone involved in an unplanned and/or sudden departure – so bear this wisdom in mind for your/your family's next move.
Other FIGT topics included:
• The Path to Choice – Finding Perspective in Global Transition.
• From Surviving To Thriving: Living Your Best Life Abroad.
• The Myth Of Resilience; Grief, Trauma And The TCK.
• Making Expat Websites Work For You.
• The Boarding School Conundrum.
• TCKs and Tolerance: What TCKs Can Teach Us About Race Diversity.
• A Treasure Worth Trapping: How HR Managers Can Meet The Need.
• Starting Your Own Business: Building The Life You Want.
• Using Social Media To Boost Your Global Reach.
• Planning For The Long-Term: Considerations For Globally Mobile Parents.
• How Corporations, Schools And Families Can Work Together To Meet Expatriate Needs
• Essential Strategies For Language Learning Success.
• Employment Assistance For Dual Career Expatriate Couples.
• Family Care Plans And Personal Preparedness Plans.
• Cross-Cultural Kids (CCKs).
• Starting A Transition Program In Your School.
• #1 Employment Assistance Need For Male Accompanying Partners.
• Social Networking Strategies For Spouses On An International Job Search.
• Help For Domestic Violence And Child Abuse Victims Abroad.
• Knowledge Management Within Global Corporations.
• Supporting Expatriate Spouses On Assignment.
• Building Intercultural Competence.
• Supporting Children With Special Needs, and
• Spiritual Support.
...and believe it or not, this list is not all-inclusive. However, it should provide you with a good illustration of what FIGT was about this year and perhaps give you incentive to attend next year – or suggest your HR Manager attends.
Speaking of next year, the FIGT conference will be in Houston again next year, March 4-6. If you believe you have something valuable to contribute, especially on any new and interesting topic, I encourage you to get in touch with FIGT now. Speaking at FIGT, if done well, not only helps to boost your profile and credibility, but allows you to attend FIGT at a fraction of the standard price. This year, for example, speakers who paid before 31 January paid only US$225 instead of the standard US$650. That is a big saving for anyone who is budget-conscious and it is definitely worth the effort.
To wrap up, the FIGT conference this year was a wonderful experience, again, and I thank both everyone involved in the organization of the conference and everyone around the world whose work helps to improve the lives of globally mobile employees/families. Keep up the great work, everyone!
Andrea Martins is the Director and Co-Founder of ExpatWomen.com
Special thanks for the photographs go to Joyce Blake at FIGT
