Foreword
Celebrating twenty years of expat partner support T
wenty years ago, during the setup of the Heineken Partner Network – which would later become Global Connection – I was an expat partner looking for a job. And my fellow expat partners couldn’t for the life of them understand why: “But sweetheart, you don’t have to work, you’re now married to an expat!” Oh, how times have changed. In those early days, partner support consisted mainly of exchanging phone numbers. A ‘newsletter’ was circulated a couple of times a year because everyone thought it was a good idea to stay in touch with each other. A few years later, that newsletter was replaced by a real magazine. A whole sixteen pages long. It was written entirely by passionate volunteers referred to as ‘Global Connection Reporters’. Over the years, not only has Global Connection’s membership expanded (as we gained expat partners from the international companies and organisations that joined us), but the services we offer have also grown. Thanks to the enthusiastic feedback we receive from you via our regular surveys, we know exactly what you expect from us. It has enabled us to develop from ‘a magazine with a network’ to a ‘one-stop shop’ for partner support. The new generation has new interests. Compared with twenty years ago, the number of partners lounging by the pool all day has decreased significantly. This doesn’t mean that the majority of them have – or are looking for – a regular job. Rather, they are looking for ways to create fulfi lling lives for themselves that go far beyond that. Sometimes they are forced to find an alternative to paid work because of restrictions. Sometimes they choose an alternative because they see an international posting as a great opportunity to do what they’ve always wanted to do. I’m reminded of the doctor in the UK whose quest for a ‘portable career’ led her to follow her dream of becoming a Pilates instructor. Or the television producer in Nairobi who now applies her creativity to furniture design. Or the psychology student whose volunteer experience in Rwanda led her to specialise in trauma processing therapy. Or the management consultant in the Caribbean who now uses his skills to help an NGO. These are the kinds of stories we hear about thanks to our network and the personal support we offer our partners. One expat partner, who’s relocating to Lagos this summer, emailed us: “How wonderful to be a part of this!” We replied that she was fortunate in being posted by the right type of employer – because the organisations who entrust their expat partners to us are mavericks, in a way. They understand that expat partners need targeted support tailored to their personal situation. We know that expat life isn’t all about lounging by the pool. As well as writing about the opportunities, we also confront – and present – the challenges of living abroad. A lot of companies recognise the value in this. The days when a managing director would say to his personnel department “Don’t tell them what it’s like there, otherwise they won’t go” are over. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to seeing what the next twenty years will bring!
jvanhaaften@gcmail.info
Global Connection | March 2013
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