by Katherine L. Hughes, Aletheia Publications 1999.
180 pages. ISBN 0-9639260-7-1
Book available from: Aletheia Publications Inc., 46 Bell Hellow Road, Putnam Valley, NY 10579, ph +1 914 5262873, fax +1 914 5262905. $17.95
or from Amazon.com USA or from amazon.com UK
Reviewed by: Gloria Otto, whose formative years were spent as a daughter of a naval career man, opted out of a teaching career after 25 years to pursue new interests.
Katherine Hughes, who grew up in a Foreign Service family, uses 1976 as the dividing point in defining the "older" from the "younger" generation. She provides the reader with a brief history of the Foreign Service where traditional gender roles were an integral part of its organization and the "two-for-the-price-of-one" principle reigned and explores its difficulties in trying to come to grips with the many changes in US society the women's movement of the late sixties produced and on the role of choice in modern women's lives.
What makes this book particularly interesting is that women are given ample room to speak for themselves, to present their backgrounds, their expectations about career, family, the influence the opportunity to travel had or not and how these conformed to the ideals of their time. The pivotal difference between the two generations is in their attitudes on commitment to the Foreign Service and identity with their own profession.
An equally significant portion of this book deals with the strivings of the State Department to come to terms with the role of spouses today. The directive of 1972 which declared a spouse a "private" person who should not be required to perform unpaid services for the government has proved to be too simple a solution to a very complex problem. Firstly, the need for the unpaid work women did in the past, remains. These representational, charitable and social activities are essential today. Secondly, a wide gulf exists between those wives who embrace the traditional role and those who want no part of it. Thirdly, those spouses who are determined to follow their own career plans face enormous difficulties. The chapter on male spouses and tandem partners highlights the fact that though women may have been liberated from just being declared the "wife of" and are now identified by their own profession, putting this into practice on a truly equal scale is extremely hard. The last chapter asks how and if these spouses should be compensated.
This book is essential reading to anyone interested in joining the Foreign Service, for those contemplating following their spouses in corporate moves, or for those interested in an oral history on the change in gender roles since 1949.
by Victoria Pybus, Vacation Work Publications (sixth ed.) 1997
287 pages. ISBN 1-85458-164-3
Book Available from: VACATION WORK, 9 Park End Street, Oxford L1099, GB
or from Amazon.com
Reviewed by: Angelo D'Agostino, SJ, MD, is Founder & Medical Director of NYUMBANI, a hospice for HIV+ orphans in Nairobi, Kenya where international volunteers provide on integral part of the professional and non-professional work force.
In Part I (Residential work throughout the world) one finds a concise, well written abstract of volunteer possibilities arranged in two main categories: Long Term and Short Term, with a year's duration being the dividing line between the two, generally. The Long Term category includes many large international organizations, many of whom are denominationally affiliated. Yet the variety includes many with objectives one rarely expects, such as conservation projects for sea turtles, wolves, ibex, etc. As one would assume, many projects deal with development, peace activities, medical and educational matter, but unskilled opportunities also abound. The Short Term listing are more numerous by far (144 pp.vs. 32 pp.) and present a veritable kaleidoscope of possibilities to the aspiring volunteer.
Contact information is clearly and simply presented and the table of content and index of organizations allows for easy and rapid reference. The author has made and continues to make a very valuable, but probably not as well appreciated, contribution to the phenomenon of a growing global involvement by young people who are ready to sacrifice themselves for a "cause". Despite accusations of self-centered and materialistic life styles hurled today,it is refreshing and encouraging to see that literally millions of people are willing to give their time, talents and even career insurance to make a contribution where needed.
While the opportunities given are mostly from North to South (Long Term) they are also evident on the domestic scenes as well as internationally. There are some exceptions, in which the flow is to the North or West. This book gives concrete testimony to the vivacity of international volunteerism; otherwise, how can one explain its continued publication? At the same time, the book fuels and oils the mechanism needed for volunteerism to prosper.
If some programs are not mentioned, as is inevitable, the author shrewdly attempts to compensate for that by offering a free copy of the next edition if a reader submits "something that might be of interest" and it is used.
For anyone of any age - contemplating volunteer work at home or abroad - this book is a must that does all the research needed for a successful venture.
How to Adopt Internationally
by Jean Nelson-Erichsen and Heino R. Erichsen
Mesa House Publishing, 1997, 272 pages
New edition, 2000, 300 pages, ISBN 0-940352-13-3
Book available from:
Mesa House Publishing, 3202 Greene Ave.,
Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA. US$22.00 + shipping
and handling.
or from
Amazon.com
First edition reviewed by: Rev. Angelo D'Agostino, SJ, MD who is a surgeon and psychiatrist who is founder and director of Nyumbani, a home for HIV+ foundlings in Nairobi. Father D'Agostino is ACA's Country Contact for Kenya.
But why should ACA be interested in the topic? Simply because Americans abroad are more exposed to the possibility and furthermore, ACA has spearheaded legislative changes to facilitate the process.
It is a formidable manual -- an invaluable resource for all sorts of very specific needs such as the forms required before adoption, the documents needed to effect the adoption -- even finger printing charts, visa application forms, correct passport photos, etc. But it is more than a manual it is a sensible and sensitive treatment of an emotion-laden event in the lives of the adoptive parents and the adopted child.
In the early chapters, a case is convincingly made for I.A. (International adoption). Its advantages for both are fairly and humanely presented. Sensitive issues are confronted: interracial and transcultural problems, the costs and risks involved, the legal and emotional implications. Though not avoiding negative aspects, the authors make a compelling case for I.A.
They leave no stone unturned in anticipating even the most minute detail of the process. They consider all the imaginable problems that might arise and make ingenious suggestions on how to avoid or solve them. Nothing is left to chance. From the choosing of the correct agency, through the obtaining of State approval, INS approval, the interaction with host country, wending the otherwise tortuous path of paperwork, making the trip, meeting the child, returning home to commencing parenting -- all these stages are comprehensively yet warmly treated.
There is a specially highlighted section devoted to the unique interests of US citizens abroad (p. 89 ff.) wherein US governmental requirements are spelled out and advice for compliance given.
The unfolding of child developmental stages are well described and the very healthy activities suggested to smooth the adjustment of the adopted child are ingenious.
Even the failures of I.A. are dealt with realistically and beneficially so that such untoward events can be avoided.
All in all, the book is written with a wisdom drawn from wide and long experience and it is readably presented. It is a daunting exposé of all possible aspects of I.A. which could be overwhelming if not so intelligently arranged.
The only omission I could identify is the fact that in the review of African nations, Kenya is not mentioned. From personal experience, many adoptions have been happily arranged from Nairobi to Canada, USA, Dubai and Italy.
In closing, I must say that this book is not a manual, it is a well-informed labor of love which can be of immense benefit to anyone contemplating I.A.
The Grown-Up's Guide to Running Away from Home
by Rosanne Knorr.
Ten Speed Press, 1998, 216 pages, ISBN 1-58008-000-6
Book available from:
Ten Speed Press, PO Box 7123, Berkeley, California 94707.
$11.95 + postage/handling.
or from
Amazon.com
Reviewed by: Maria DeLong, a former tv news anchorperson in Los Angeles, and Jim Hearne, a "life-long entrepreneur" from Texas, are editors of the "Guatemala Living & Retirement Newsletter" and serve as ACA Country Contacts for Guatemala.
There are useful toll-free phone numbers, internet addresses, passport and visa regulations for specific countries, insurance company contacts, storage rates, all the details the runaway must consider.
Be it armchair escape, or the real thing, it's a useful resource guide and a darn good read!
The Unknown Ambassadors: A Saga of Citizenship
by Phyllis Michaux
Aletheia Publications, 1996, 162 pages. ISBN 0-9639260-2-0
Book available from:
Aletheia Publications Inc.,
46 Bell Hellow Road,
Putnam Valley, NY 10579,
ph +1 914 5262873, fax +1 914 5262905.
$15.95 + postage/handling.
Single copies can be obtained in
Europe from: Gina Doggett, 12 rue Roger
Bacon, 75107 Paris;
or from
Amazon.com
Reviewed by ACA Director Alan Gladstone, consultant in the field of labor law recently retired from the ILO.
Ms. Michaux ranges far and wide over issues of great moment to Americans abroad, as well as some that are less critical. The core issues are citizenship, taxes and voting rights. In all of these areas there has been progress, largely attributable to a sturdy band of dedicated activists.
The citizenship issue has many aspects, all of which are well covered by the author. She discusses transmission of citizenship to children,the issue of tacitly renouncing citizenship through certain, sometimes involuntary, actions on the part of American citizens, and the wider question of dual nationality. While efforts of the groups representing US citizens abroad have led to significant positive results in these areas, Ms. Michaux points out the anomalies and discrimination which still exist.
Voting rights for Americans abroad also marked a relative success for the concerted efforts of the persistent activists of which the author was so crucial an element. With the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1976, US citizens were in a sense re-enfranchised.
Less happy results, thus far, relate to the efforts to give significant tax relief to US citizens established abroad with respect to US income tax on income earned abroad from non-US sources and to extend Medicare coverage to US citizens abroad.
Ms. Michaux points out the economic arguments of enhancing US trade and business through granting normal advantages and benefits to Americans abroad. However, the recurrent leitmotif of the book is one of the simple justice and fair treatment for those Americans who for personal and professional reasons find that their life, or a substantial part of it, has to be spent outside of the United States.
The author has chosen a chronological pattern. This means that she jumps from one issue to another, which sometimes leaves the reader a bit perplexed. But if you stick with the history, the result is the only relatively complete picture available of the efforts of Americans abroad to wield some influence on the questions affecting them and what can be accomplished through persistent concerted action.
Ms. Michaux' book is now the definitive work on a subject which is of such great and direct importance for the millions of Americans living abroad.
Cupid's Wild Arrows - Intercultural Romance and
Its Consequences
by Dianne Dicks
Bergli Books Ltd. 1993, 295 pages. ISBN 3-9520002-2-1
Available from: Bergli Books, Eptingerstrasse 5, CH-4052 Basel, Switzerland. ph: +41 (0)61 3732777 fax: +41 (0)61 3732778. email: info@bergli.ch Web: http://www.bergli.ch Cost: CHF 30.
North American edition: Breaking Convention with Intercultural Romances
1995. ISBN 0-89594-757-9. The Crossing Press, Freedom CA 95019 USA Cost: $ 12.95
Reviewed by Trudy Boukas and her Greek husband who operate an inn on the Greek island of Syros
The book offers perceptive overviews of cultural differences and fascinating customs in a variety of lands in addition to a look at the cultural aspects affecting a relationship. There seems to be a preponderance of marriages with Danes and Swiss. As there are many foreigners married to Greeks and other Mediterraneans it would have been nice to include some of those experiences as well. The stories range from gaffs in learning the new language to more serious problems such as clashes over child rearing and in-law troubles, to the most dire cases of racism. Some stories not only illustrate marital difficulties but are also a mini course in the country's history and mentality.
A few stories are of a very serious nature highlighting deep-rooted differences that were almost impossible to overcome, but most are of a superficial nature, not as substantive as one would have expected. However, readers will find the stories very entertaining and heart-warming, full of insights, a range of perceptions in even the most banal activities, a brief introduction into a number of cultures as well as a glimpse into some difficulties as well as advantages when living in those cultures. The variety of stories evokes a variety of emotions as well -- sympathy, anger,disgust, confusion, sadness, mirth, surprise, empathy, even shock.Although the stories highlight mostly cultural differences in a bi-cultural marriage it often seems that the differences could just as easily lie in culture, gender, or even personality/character, so that even same-culture married folk can identify with the problems.
This book should be required reading for anyone contemplating marriage to a person of another culture, particularly if they intend to live in that person's country, as it contains many good tips (and warnings).One also gets an appreciation through these stories of the incredible enrichment there is in exposure to another culture, particularly for the children. The book, covering a timely topic as so many people are married to "foreigners," contributes a great deal to a better understanding of peoples, so important in today's interdependent world.
Several stories touched on the fact that the authors felt disoriented, not only in the adopted culture but also in their own, not being sure of where they belonged. Perhaps the lesson here is not to worry so much about belonging to any one culture but, rather, to consider oneself a citizen of the world.
The International Couples' Handbook
by Joy Oliveira Steltzner
Insight Out Press 1995 47 pages. ISBN O-9646032-0-9
Book available by mail order for $10 from Insight Out Productions, PO Box 16171, Santa Fe, NM 87506.
Reviewed by Warren Furth who is a retired official of WHO and who serves as ACA's Associate Executive Director.
The book is well organized, focusing in the five "critical issues" that, as the author states, if not handled properly, may keep couples or families apart, cause harm to one or both partners, or have serious legal or financial consequences. In addition the book covers such topics as what the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is and does, and how to contact it; when couples need legal advice and how to get it;and information for lesbian and gay international couples. Every chapter provides basic legal information as well as addresses and telephone numbers where further information or assistance may be obtained.
The designations of some of the critical issues may be slightly misleading at first glance. For instance, "Adjustments in the US" does not deal with cultural or economic adjustments of international couples establishing residence in the US. Instead it refers to the legal adjustments that have to be made by aliens whose initial immigrant status is based on their marriage to an American (they have to apply to the INS for a conditional residence permit) and aliens who were granted a conditional residence permit (they must make a timely applications to the INS for a permanent residence permit, the so-called "green card," which is in fact now pink). The contents of the chapter entitled "Americans' Rights Abroad" may particularly surprise American citizens residing abroad. It contains only one brief paragraph on the rights of US citizens living or traveling on a foreign country, stating that they are subject to the laws of that country. The author also refers to rights of Americans to acquire dual citizenship and to register in the consulate of foreign-born spouse's native country marriages and births that take place in the US.
The above minor criticism is not meant to disparage the value of this book for the American-foreign couple planning to live in the US. Such a couple would surely be hard-put to find so much vital information in so few pages. In addition to the 26 pages of explanatory text, the book has 16 pages of the following useful reference lists, often with addresses and phone numbers: INS offices in the US, and abroad; contacts at the State Dept's Bureau of Consular Affairs; over 90 foreign embassies in the US;over 400 nonprofit agencies in the US that assist people in immigration matters; and commonly used INS forms and terms.
Price: $ 149.95. To order, call World Library in the US at 1-800-4430238 or in the UK at +44 1993 778077. Available from: World Library, 2809 Main Street, Irvine, CA92714; or Four Seasons House, 102b Woodstock Road, Witney Oxfordshire OX8 6DY,UK.
Reviewed by Anne Hornung-Soukup who is vice president of a Geneva bank and Secretary of ACA's Executive Committee.
For this reviewer, it's thumbs down on this CD-Rom, but not for any reason you'd expect, so keep reading.
Is it tricky to install? It would be difficult to be easier. Installing it took one minute. Is it difficult to use? Not at all. The entire disk can be searched alphabetically and instantly by clicking on buttons labelled "Title", "Author", "Words", or "Strategy". A test word search for "Four score and seven years ago" brought up "House of Seven Gables", but this was most likely due to the reviewer's late-night fatigue and ineptitude. A 'strategy' search can be done using different criteria, i.e. subject matter (drama, comedy, children's literature, etc.), country or region, and era, ranging from the Roman Empire to the 20th century. For example, a search of the subject of government/economics dating from the Roman Empire brought up countless documents by Plutarch, Aristotle, Cicero, Demosthenes and Philip, King of Macedon.
Then why the reticence in recommending this CD-Rom? Certainly not because of the excellent illustrations which accompany certain texts, including classic photos of authors as well as oddities such as a drawing of a orangutan foetus from Charles Darwin's Descent of Man. A quick click from the photo or illustration drops the reader straight into the corresponding text.
Is the hesitation in enthusiasm due to the video clips which also accompany texts? Granted, all 20 or so are from old, very very old, films, and are poorly identified as to date of film and actors. But video clips are not the reason for buying the CD-Rom, so a little falling down in this area is still no reason not to like the disk.
Is it hard to read long texts on a computer? Absolutely not, since the fonts and type size can be adjusted as desired.
No, the criticism is the sheer chunk of time which any literature lover will spend in contented bliss, reading this CD-Rom's entire contents. It is just too tempting to settle into a comfy chair in front of the computer and spend hours reading Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen, dipping into the History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, then scanning the original text of the Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum.
This CD-Rom is altogether too comprehensive, too tempting, too entrancing and too easy to use. Alas, no one has the time anymore to spend hours reading, but if they want to, this CD-Rom is a must.
by The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan 1993
197 pages. ISBN 0804830096
Available from: American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Bridgestone Bldg., 3-25-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105. $20 members; $28 non-members; air mail: add $13. Also available from Amazon.com
Reviewed by ACA Director Amy Balderson who is a public relations consultant and who has worked in Japan.
Setting Up an Office in Japan is a practical, no-nonsense guide for companies new to the market as well as to those already in Japan. It is designed to supplement professional advice, and on its own, will help to provide a good start. This guide encompasses general aspects of "starting up", including banking, taxes, legal affairs, insurance,staffing, office design, and patents and trademarks. In addition, it provides advice on dozens of business and personal concerns. Setting Up an Office in Japan is written in an easy-to-read, organized format and addresses the questions most often asked by newcomers and "new-goers" to Japan.
The outlook for foreign business in Japan is generally optimistic. However, certain less-than-favorable conditions serve as obstacles to expanding or establishing a business in the Japanese market. Among the obstacles reviewed in Setting Up an Office in Japan are the complexities of operating in Japan, difficulties in hiring and keeping qualified personnel, as well as the high cost of setting up and doing business. The guide reviews the real estate situation inside and outside Tokyo, start-up business issues, marketing and research, and local business customs. A directory provides useful contacts and publications to facilitate the research.
Setting up an office in Japan requires careful consideration,not only because of the huge expense involved, but also because of the subtle and long-term ramifications of decisions made, which can range from choosing the right address to hosting a reception. The information provided in Setting Up an Office in Japan points readers in the right direction.
Carolyn D. Smith, ed.,
Aletheia Publications 1996
230 pages. ISBN 0-9639260-4-7
Available from:
Aletheia Publications Inc., 46 Bell Hellow Road,
Putnam Valley, NY 10579, ph +1 914 5262873,
fax +1 914 5262905.
Cost: $15.95
Or from
Amazon.com
Reviewed by long-time expatriate Ruth Carter who has worked in the film industry in Hollywood and Rome as dialogue director, story editor, and unit publicist.
Those who lived the expatriate experience agree that it exerts a strong influence on one's personal development and impacts powerfully on one's perception of the world. Close contact with other cultures enlarges one's point of view. It helps develop special skills such as tact,diplomacy, facility in languages other than one's mother tongue. Insights are gained which make the individual independent in thought and spirit,tolerant of differences whether they are skin color, religious practices, or social taboos. Multicultural persons understand that 'beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder' and what can be a charming compliment in one country can be a deadly insult in another.
Along with the positives, some negative fall-out has been documented. For example: one's sense of identity may become fragmented. There may be a sense of otherness, of being an outsider when returning to one's passport country which can create a need to mask or dissimulate attitudes and feelings. However, the majority of expatriates indicated they would not have changed this experience because living abroad enriched and enlightened their lives in inestimable ways.
Research reveals that "global nomads" have skills of far-reaching significance for the world of the future. Since their vision transcends national boundaries, they are able to view the world as a whole, which is an invaluable asset in developing an atmosphere of tolerance and trust.
Statistics also reveal that most global nomads find positions in international organizations, working to eliminate hunger,disease and illiteracy. Their contributions are already bringing about cooperation among governments in dealing with world affairs and there is hope that their continuing efforts will create conditions that foster friendship, unity, and peace. In the concluding words of her essay in "Strangers at Home", Jody Merrill-Foster sums up this hope when she says: "they (i.e.global nomads) believe that all our lives are inextricably connected to one another and that together we are, in truth, the Family of Man."
by Beverly Roman
The Insiders Guides 1996 192 pages. ISBN 1-57380-001-5
To order, contact The Insiders' Guides, Inc., (1-800) 727-7691;
or
Amazon.com
Reviewed by Edward Patrick Flaherty who is an ACA Director and an American lawyer practicing international civil service and commercial law in Geneva and Fribourg, Switzerland.
A self-proclaimed "relocation expert", Ms. Roman has used her own sixteen house moves (both domestically and internationally) with a family of five over some twenty-nine years to form the solid basis of her easily readable and very practical guide. Whether one is contemplating a move across town or across the world, this book is a must read.
For ease of reference, this guide is divided into three parts:section one outlines practical details to organize and expedite a move,including an overview to moving and organizational advice to get the process rolling. Section two has specific information to help one move anywhere within the US, either across the street or across the nation. And finally,section three leads the reader step by step through the intricacies of setting up home in another country.
Chock-full of tips and special sidebar features, the book contains tidbits of sensible advice and valuable information not to be missed. Ms. Roman makes the moving process easier by including checklists at the end of chapters (safety hints, overseas educational guidelines,investment considerations, etc.) to monitor progress of the most important moving tasks. No detail is too small or insignificant to escape the consideration of our enthusiastic tutor. Make no mistake, Ms. Roman clearly does not consider moving a particularly fun experience, and is adamant that it will not likely become someone's favorite pastime; however, she does her best to equip one and all with the facts and information which can make the difference between a successful move or an unmitigated disaster.
The one shortfall a reader might find is that some (but certainly not all) of Ms. Roman's tips are often more effective for local rather than international moves (i.e., familiarizing oneself with the new destination through multiple pre-move visits).
Let's Make a Move!
by Beverly D. Roman
BR Anchor Publishing 1997 (rev. ed.) 32 pages. ISBN 1-888891-04-1 Available from: BR Anchor Publishing, 7213-A Market Street, Suite 342, Wilmington, NC 28405-9448. Fax: (910) 256-9579; e-mail: BR Anchor@aol.com. $6.95 + shipping (volume discounts).
Reviewed by Chandra Moore who is an American lawyer who recently "transplanted" with her family to Switzerland.
This book addresses moves within the continental United States and international moves. Of particular interest to ACA members are the two pages concerning overseas moves. Page 16 has a world map with blanks to complete about the child's new country. Page 17 provides spaces for writing how to say simple phrases in the new country's language.
Other especially helpful pages are those that ask the child to plan and think positively about the new home. The child is asked to list places that might be visited in the new location, draw his or her new room and arrange the furniture, and draw his or her new house. For the actual moving day, the "survival box" on page 13 helps the child plan which special things to take along on the moving trip itself. There are pages for pasting or drawing pictures of friends and their addresses, and the last page of the book contains cards with blanks for the child's new address to give to the friends left behind. Finally, the back cover suggests seven travel games that could help pass the time in the car or airplane.
For most children between the ages of 6 and 11, this book should be entertaining while helping them learn about their new home and remember their old one. With assistance from a parent, a preschooler will probably enjoy much of the book as well. The book might be more appealing if some of the pages were in color and it looked less like a school exercise book. However the topics presented help parents and children focus on the children's concerns about the move and make this book a beneficial resource to families moving any distance.
Military Brats
by Mary Edwards Wertsch
Aletheia Publications 1996
452 pages. ISBN 0-9639260-3-9
Book available from:
Aletheia Publications Inc., 46 Bell Hellow Road,
Putnam Valley, NY 10579, ph +1 914 5262873,
fax +1 914
5262905.
$14.95 +
postage/handling.
Also available from
Amazon.com
Reviewed by Sterling M. Giannotti, Jr., LDCR USN (Retired), who is former ACA Country Contact to Uruguay. He is currently working in Richmond, VA.
A significant portion of the book deals with how family life is necessarily subordinated to military Mission and Readiness, and the impact the military establishment has on the entire family structure.
Superimposed on Mission and Readiness, or as a result of their importance in the life of military professionals, the author intricately provides actual accounts of widespread alcoholism, child abuse and neglect, families functioning for months or years without a father (due to deployments or unaccompanied tours), the constant moving from place to place, and the unique demands and expectations placed upon sons and daughters. Throughout these chapters the author, in a very balanced way, explores the psychological effect all these variables has had in later years for her 80 brats.
Although the book deals with the periods of World War II and Korea, much more attention is given to the 1960's and 1970's, and the Vietnam War. Since this is an era this reviewer can best identify with, I found the research for this period particularly enlightening, and, again,balanced.
This is a superb book and Mary Wertsch bares her soul in many of her personal recollections. Don't let the title turn you off!
Further links concerning "military brats" can be found on the Overseas Brats website.
by Craig Storti
Intercultural Press 1997, 216 pages, ISBN 1-877864-47-1
Book available from: Intercultural Press, Inc., PO Box 700,
Yarmouth, ME
04096. $17.95 + shipping. Also available from
Amazon.com
Reviewed by David M. Ferrell, ACA's Country Contact for Brazil, who lives and works in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
Three decades later, it seems very little or nothing is being done today by corporate, governmental, educational, religious and military organizations, in the USA or elsewhere, to prepare their returning expats for re-entry, an adjustment more difficult for most than adapting to a foreign culture, according to Craig Storti.
Mr. Storti's perspective on this very complex adjustment phenomenon helps make returning home an integrated part of the overseas experience rather than a frustrating and disappointing end. "The Art of Coming Home" is a step-by-step manual not only for returnees, but also for their friends, families, co-workers and employers.
The author is a Peace Corps veteran and trainer who has spent nearly a quarter of his life abroad, and is now director of a consultant firm specializing in seminars on cross-cultural adjustment,repatriation and multicultural diversity. His previous books include "The Art of Crossing Cultures", "Cross-Cultural Dialogues" and "Incident at Bitter Creek".
In his new book, Storti outlines the difficult times that will be encountered once back home, analyzes the possibilities that may arise and makes helpful suggestions designed to transform the reentry experience from a struggle to an art.
The volume cites numerous studies on the subject made not only in the USA, but in Europe, Japan and South America, and with quotes from returnees on their experiences -- for most, an intense period of personal growth that changed their lives in more ways than one. He defines the four stages of reentry (leave taking, the honeymoon, reverse culture shock and readjustment), discussing the highs and lows and what to expect at each stage.
Storti treats separately the category of employee from that of their dependents. He sketches the issues to be confronted not only by the employee, but those to be tackled by the organization. Then he deals with issues to be dealt with by parents and their younger and teenage children. Included are those issues dealing with relatives, friends, and co-workers they left behind when they went abroad, some of which will be on a different footing after the expats' reentry.
In the final part of his book, Storti writes about the more complicated problems encountered by what he calls "special populations,"namely exchange students, Peace Corps Volunteers, military personnel and their families, and missionaries and their children. These groups have special issues, mainly due to the deeper involvement they have with the culture where they live abroad, and in the case of the military, the vast support network mounted for them abroad which is not duplicated back home.
Ideally, expats should read Storti's fascinating and reassuring book at least six months prior to reentry to get ready for what a Peace Corps Volunteer described as his reverse culture shock problem: "I'm 23 years old and I've already had the experience of a lifetime."
Intercultural Marriage - Promises and Pitfalls
by Dugan Romano
Intercultural Press, 1997 244 pages, ISBN 1-877864-51-X
Book available from: Intercultural Press, PO Box 700, Yarmouth,
ME 04096.
Also available from
Amazon.com
Reviewed by German-born now-American Trudy Boukas and her Greek husband who run an inn on the island of Syros, Greece.
The book aims to assist by giving a brief overview of how IM's are different, explaining why they are harder than others, predicting potential problems, and advising how these differences can be utilized to advantage or at least minimalized. There are 3 main parts: Part I outlines the three phases of an IM - the honeymoon phase, where cultural differences are seen as exciting, attractive, and minimal, the settling in phase,where appears the first inkling that the partners' conception of their roles may be different and the differences now appear as obstacles and adjustments are now important, and the life patterns phase, where adjustments have taken place (or haven't) and what decisions have been taken or compromises (if any). Part II of the book examines trouble spots that become issues in an IM. Part III focuses on different types of IM's and how best to deal with special problems thereof and the conditions that need to exist for IM's to function well. Practical solutions are presented by interviewed couples of how they have resolved their differences and worked out a particular balance of power.
The book makes for very smooth reading because of its clarity and good organization. At the beginning of the book we are introduced to a number of IM's with some interesting combinations - French/Kuwaiti, American/Morocan, Australian/Vietnamese, Dutch/Japanese, Swiss/Tunesian,Swedish/Malaysian, German/Libyan, to name just a few. These same couples are mentioned throughout the book to illustrate certain points and we come to know them as real people with real problems and become very interested in what happens to them. There were two frustrating things with this, however. Although an attempt is made to identify their citizenship each time, it doesn't always happen and we are left wondering who Stfan was and where he lived, since so many were introduced to us. A simple list of the IM's at the back of the book doesn't answer all our questions. Because our interest is so aroused in these couples we would like to know how their story ends but here we are left hanging.
The weakest part of the book is probably the chapter in which the author attempts to categorize what type of people tend to marry into another culture. The effort seems irrelevant and a bit contrived as in most cases one falls in love with a person who just happens to be from another culture; the question of culture is secondary. For example, one of the categories listed was "non-traditionals" but perhaps some seek more tradition, as perhaps a Westerner who wants a "subservient" Asian wife.
The strength of the book is that it makes for better understanding of special IM difficulties and clearly makes the point that IM's are not for everyone, as they require far more effort than monocultural marriages, although advantages of IM's are also stressed. The difficulties are laid out so clearly that one can empathize with both sides. As the book itself points out, however, merely understanding another's viewpoint is not sufficient for resolution of problematic differences. That must by necessity be an experimental and emotional event. Nevertheless, the book gets high marks for raising our awareness levels and bringing us further along the way to better understanding of special problems that can arise in an intercultural marriage and possible ways of dealing with them.
Living and Working in Britain
by David Hampshire
1991, 2nd edition 1995, 700 pages
Publisher: Survival Books.
Available from Interlink Publishing Group,
99 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215 or via your local bookseller.
Also available from
Amazon.com
Reviewed by Elizabeth Lank who has been living in the UK since 1986. Responsible for management development at a US information technology company, she is married to an Englishman and has two children.
Reading this 1991 edition in 1994 does highlight the need for an annual update. A first class postage stamp already costs 3p more than what is listed in the book, for example, and some of the tax information is out of date.
As long as one bears this inevitable outdating in mind, it is a very useful guide, with the added enjoyment of the author's wit which is in evidence throughout. Highly recommended for anyone moving to the UK.
by David Hampshire
1992, 540 pages
Publisher: Survival Books.
Available from Interlink Publishing Group, 99 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215 or via your local bookseller.
Reviewed by one of ACA's directors and engineering professor in Geneva, Karl M. Jauch was born to an American mother and a Swiss immigrant father. He spent most of his younger years in the US and maintains strong family contacts there.
Naturally, part of the joys of travel are finding these things out for yourself. But -- as many travelers to the US know -- first time encounters with a New York City taxi driver or a small-town policeman can be bewildering, if not frightening. This books dispels doubts for first-time travelers, yet also is useful for seasoned globetrotters.
The book notes that Americans are quite insular and may not even realize that foreigners are not always conversant with American ways of doing things. Buying gasoline, leaving tips, using the telephone, and other such details that cause problems for foreigners are explained. For Americans, it makes useful reading to better understand how others see us.
Carefully noted are different attitudes, laws and traditions in the 50 states. The section on inheritance law, for example, lists the states which apply community property law as opposed to those which apply common law. Drinking laws, motoring, education and taxes are similarly treated.
This reviewer found only a few minor errors. The books states that children born abroad to an American parent are automatically Americancitizens. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. It is also no longer true that "US law doesn't permit dual nationality for a naturalized citizen."
The chapter on sports describes in detail the rules of baseball but which probably does more to confuse the reader than to explain the mysteries of the game. The explanation of (American) football is only slightly better.
While much of the information in this book can be obtained elsewhere (the author includes a useful bibliography), there is such a variety of useful facts that one would need a whole bookshelf to hold the equivalent books.
In a word, if you're planning to move to the USA or go there fora long-term stay, then buy this book both for general reading and as a ready-reference.
by David Hampshire
1993 (4th edition), 1997 (6th edition), 392 pages
Publisher: Survival Books.
Available from Interlink Publishing Group, 99 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215 or via your local bookseller.
Reviewed by Connie Lank, a Director of ACA, and a long-term resident in Switzerland.
The book is crammed with useful information and lightened with humorous quips which make the facts more readable.
For those about to move to Switzerland, it saves time, energy and expense. For example, it explains the documents needed when applying for residence permits.
Included are appendices of foreign words, weights and measures, clubs and organizations, useful addresses and further reading subdivided by topic.
Living and Working in France
by David Hampshire
1993, 1997 (2nd edition), 458 pages.
Publisher: Survival Books.
Available from Interlink Publishing Group,
99 7th Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11215 or via your local bookseller.
Also available from
Amazon.com
Reviewed by Frank and Mary Romary who are retired from the US Air Force and have been traveling and living in France since 1981.
Major emphasis is given to the subject of employment. Readers learn what to expect, whether aspiring to pick grapes or run a large corporation. Among the useful topics are laws and employment contracts, salaries and self-employment. As in other sections (such as finding a house or choosing a school), exhaustive information is followed by checklists.
Though it is an extensive reference book, it is worth reading from cover to cover, if only to discover the intricacies of French society. It offers invaluable insights toward understanding the sometimes perplexing French mentality. After persevering through chapters on taxes and social security, the reader will be rewarded by the penultimate chapter, The French. Here the author exposes his bewilderment with this paradoxical nationality in a 125-plus word sentence describing the typical Frenchman.
Despite the book's praiseworthiness, frequent editing errors are present. Another careful reading through the final manuscript with a fresh mind would clear out the word processing residue. This minor fault should definitely not deter someone interested in France from buying this book.