Stage One Report NTU FMB by Olivia Thomas

STAGE ONE

international living

n0733317 olivia kate thomas

â&#x20AC;&#x153;An exploration into if living in an unfamiliar environment and experiencing culture change can create a feeling of instability, loss and implicate well-being.â&#x20AC;?

I confirm that this work has gained ethical approval and that I have faithfully observed the terms of the approval in the conduct of this project. signed: date: 21/01/2020 word count: 7890

01 1.1 introduction 1.2 Rational 1.3 aims 1.4 objectives

02 literature review

03 METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research approach 3.2 sample 3.3 secondary research 3.4 PRIMARY RESEARCH 3.5 quantitative survey 3.6 industry interviews 3.7 focus groups

2.1 introduction 2.2 theme one: expatriation vs repatriation 2.3 theme two: reverse culture shock 2.3.1 third culture kids 2.4 theme three:cultural identity changes 2.5 conclusions 2.6 research gap

04 DISCUSSIONS

CHAPTER 1: ATTITUDES TOWARDS EXPATRIATION AND REPATRIATION 4.1.1 FUTURE AND ESTABLISHED APPREHENSIONS 4.1.2 BEING AN OUTSIDER & UNSTABLE IDENTITIES 4.1.3 TRANSIENT OR STATIC TIMEFRAME IMPLICATIONS CHAPTER 2: IMPACT OF RELATIONSHIPS AND PERSONAL EMOTIONS 4.2.1 IMPACT ON RELATIONSHIPS 4.2.2 OVERALL OUTLOOK OF EMOTIONS AND PERCEPTIONS OF THIRD CULTURE KDIS

06 6.1 REFERENCES 6.2 BIBLIOGRAPHY 6.3 IMAGE REFERENCES 6.4 APPENDIX

05 5.1 CRITICAL REFLECTIONS 5.2 KEY INSIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

INTRODUCTION

“Finding a home between worlds” In a world consisting of 7 continents, 195 countries, over 4000 cities, a combined figure of 2.5 million towns and villages and a population of 7.7 billion, how can it still be so difficult for some people to have a place they call “home”?

01.1

Introducing: Expatriates, Repatriates and Third Culture Kids.

The international business practice dominates a considerable part of the activities of world trade. (Simonelli and Felix, 2015). The implication of this supports the idea that more and more people are living abroad for their career and becoming expatriates (BGRS, 2014). Additionally, research shows that returning to passport countries after an international secondment is often even more challenging for repatriates’ well-being (L. Gorp and S. Boros, 2016), these difficulties can create personal issues but can also have an adverse impact for organisations. The purpose of this report is to examine how expatriates and repatriates deal with the increased fluctuations of change within their lifestyle, mentally and physically. This will be also examined through the static and transient terms of their international assignments. This report will discuss the positive aspects of expatriation and how it especially has an effect on the bringing up of third culture kids. However also will deeply discuss the negative aspects and how it is harmfully impacting the sense of loss and instability within individuals. Extensive research has been carried out to provide empirical indications on what experienced individuals and industry experts have on their understandings. The future thinking report was a springboard for this research after developing knowledge within the macro trend ‘Health and Wellbeing’. Although this trend does not support much of a direct relationship to this research topic; the research into mental health within employment sparked the interest into organisations involvement with employee’s mental health. And therefore, into expatriates’ difficulties with their sense of settlement or loss from moving. This report highlighted the recurring question of where those who have experienced expatriation actually call ‘home’ and what factors impact this uncertainty? This report will utilise both primary and secondary research in order to answer the aims and objectives set to structure the debates on this topic. Moreover, this report will include an in-depth academic literature review which will specify a breadth of research. The review will underpin conceptual theories from professional researchers to support answering the aims and objectives and will highlight different themes that will build debates to provide an insight into the research gaps. Fundamentally, this report will conclude by drawing out the links between the primary research findings and the literature review to identify future recommendations that will be used as a catalyst for the stage two report.

01.4

01.2 RATIONALE

Global expatriation is a lifestyle that has made saturated moves into the world. As dialogue opens up, it is questioned on which factors cause the biggest implications within an individual’s wellbeing. In today’s culture it is difficult to pinpoint exactly which concealed aspects of our lives’ we should bring to the surface and prioritise before making life-changing decisions. Economic apprehensions shift people’s vision of life nowadays and are overwhelmed by choices. So, what exactly does drive individuals to want to make this change?

The reinvented outlook on international assignments has stimulated this investigation to test and extend findings that explain if expatriation causes loss in general, loss of identity or an implicated sense of self. Ultimately to gain and analyse enough sufficient research to eventually be able to assist future investigations down the path to beneficial support for expatriates.

objectives

To understand the implications of adapting to a new and different cultural lifestyle.

To look at how different age groups are affected by a sense of loss of identity when moving to a new place.

01.3 RESEARCH AIM

Explore how employment relocation can impact the state of one’s health (physical and mental).

To understand how sociocultural and economic factors influence a state of contentment during a drastic life change.

The aim of this report is to discover whether or not the state of flux and frequent relocation, static or transient, has any effect on individuals’ mental or physical well-being. Additionally, if it impacts their personal state of instability and creates a sense of loss.

05 10

02 04

To define and understand the meaning of expatriation and third culture kids.

02.1 introduction

This report undertakes an analysis of if the state of flux and frequent movement has any impact on an individual’s mental and or physical health. A complicated concept that nonetheless plays a very central role in the process of expatriation and repatriation. The analysis of this literature review generates reasoning for the following identified themes; reverse culture shock, feeling of loss, culture change and identity. In the modern sense of things, “identity” is a formulation of values and beliefs that reflect who a person is. The aim of this research is to develop an understanding of the important relationship between relocation and one’s unstable identity. The mentioned themes has also allowed further analysis into how language and cultural norms shape an individual into an integrated or fragmented self. This literature review will also underpin how socioeconomic factors impact individuals state of living and how organisations react to these in terms of how they treat their relocated employees.

The importance of this literature review is to argue the topical positive assumptions made about enriching experiences of moving to different places and having to adapt to different cultures. The identified themes aid arguing this by providing insights and developed analysis into how each topic implicates a persons living situation. Additionally, it is vital to present a realistic view of a situation for an expatriate or someone experiencing repatriation, in order to amplify the unrealistic expectations from families and employers. This literature review contains a plethora of unbiased existing knowledge and new researched insights for understanding the reports themes and topics.

literature review

02.2

expatriation vs repatriation

An expatriate is the term used for someone who is temporarily or permanently living outside of one’s native land (Holland, 2019). Repatriation is the process of returning to the home of one’s citizenship after living outside of this due to various reasons, such as employment, retirement, education or world issues (Chiang, Van Esch and A. Birtch, 2019). Though expatriation can be due to personal choice, this report is looking more at the implications of it being due to more forceful reasoning. Comparing these will balance out the argument of impacts from moving away to a different country and the implications of moving back to one’s host country. A process in which one would assume would be seamless. DeLollis (2007) explains that “Expatriates go through an emotional cycle and typically hit a low between six and twelve months after starting an assignment”. Showing a key obstacle to the success of an expat is down to the adaption of the individual. Nonetheless that difficulties adapting to sociocultural patterns have been identified as the main source of stress-induced emotions (Pires, 2006). Commercially, it has become more common for organisations to shift into new foreign markets as restrictions around the world dissolve. In order to successfully expand, employees are often required to relocate. (Laine, 2013). An important finding through an academic journal shows that international assignments are usually extremely demanding and often result in failure of meeting the organization’s goals that can create significant loss (Pires, 2006). Due to research from the PESTLE analysis (refer to appendix 7) though despite the extent of the challenging tasks and high-failure rates, global corporations are showing no sign of putting a halt to sending expatriates out. Arguably, due to external revenues (Bruning & McCaughey, 2005).

However, in spite of the struggles, employees are still volunteering to take international assignments for the advantage given by the experience of living abroad but occasionally jeopardising their well-being in the process. The explorations into this topic has traditionally been about pre-departure training. However, repatriation adjustment research has been neglected to an extent (Suutari et al, 2002) as it is assumed to be a simple matter as they are returning back home. Harvey et al (1989) explains the process a “holding pattern”. Meaning that, contrary to the expat’s advanced experience, they may only be exposed to jobs holding less authority and responsibility on their return (Pickard et al, 1995). As an outcome of this, 10-25% of expatriates have been reported to leave their company within a year of return (Black et al, 1992). Hyder and Lovblad (1999) found that returning back to the same people and the same workplace has risen the attention of why it is actually so difficult and is as problematic as expatriation (Black et al, 1992). Due to fairly major issues risen from these changes, understanding the antecedents of the repatriation process is crucial to the well-being of the expat and their family. The number of theoretical studies (Black et al, 1992) and empirical data is limited in comparison with the extent of studies on expatriation. Although, academic knowledge and research shows that organisations could offer opportunities to help repatriation be less stressful. Certain workplaces recommend that employees must stay in touch with their home life to ease the repatriation process (Lowe Van Group, 2010, p.645).

“Expat Syndrome is a condition whereby many expatriates see mostly either the best of their own nationality and the worst of the locals, or see the opposite.”

(crossley, 2013)

Accordingly, the difficulty of the process is mainly developed within organisations and how they must ensure training and adjustment programmes. One interesting finding through secondary research shows that there are various repatriation programmes online to help the process of returning. However not many subject to specific organisations. Increased activation of these programmes would help develop precise and exclusive training to that organisations employees and would highly improve the seamlessness of returning home, after a long or short assignment. Such long absences from one’s home country can cause havoc on a person’s identity. Feelings of identity loss develop and is argued that it will be intensified with the longer they are away, as it becomes more difficult to keep in touch with their culture and nationality (Mayberry, 2019). Consequently, researched gathered by academic investigators show that in terms of employment, repatriation can be found much more difficult due to the pressures and uncertainties of settling back into that culture and finding employment. According to the Oficial Training Journal (2013), these feelings of uncertainties are often also worsened by the actions of hostile attitudes and environments caused by the people one may least expect. Expatriates can often develop a sense of loss in many different aspects and therefore is the foundation of where detriments to well-being arise from when having to return.

02.3

REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK Experiencing reverse culture shock can be one of the most difficult things to deal with after moving country. Third culture individuals may feel lost within their own place of citizenship after having lived in their expatriate bubble.

“Reverse culture shock: the psychological, physical and emotional symptoms of feeling like foreigners in their own country; developing coping strategies; dealing with change and readjusting to the UK” (HURN, 1999)

Brian Hurn, a researcher into repatriation (1999) argues that there are two types of characteristics expats develop from returning home . Alienation and Reversion. Alienation is the process of experiencing negative feelings developed about their home country once they have moved back. This is resulted by experiencing a reverse culture shock from living two very different lifestyles (Hurn, 1999, p.224-228). The idea of culture shock beholds the concept that the individual is holding onto a pre perceived idea of their home, resulting in disappointment on their return. Reversion is experiencing denial that an individual’s home country has changed since they left and due to personality change from wider world experiencers. The research model subject to the repatriation adjustment process was developed by Black et al (1992) and contains three valuable facets of repatriation to explain the process of re-entry shock. Work, interaction with nationals and general adjustment (refer to appendix 1).

The model distinguishes between anticipatory adjustment and current adjustment stages. S.Hyder comments that the responsibility lies within the organisation to offer complete support and transition training and most importantly, are educated beforehand about the implications of reverse culture shock. Two comparative journals by Akmal S. Hyder and Brian J. Hurn, both argue similar points. However Hurn exaggerates his point about expatriates developing culture shock from them being operated with more responsibility and as a result of greater autonomy have developed their confidence and in some cases, often experience home staff such as drivers, personal chefs, home help and having larger houses (Hurn, 1999, p,224-228). As researched, the development of reverse culture shock is often down to the adaption of the individual. Mentioned by Hurn (1999) the development can particularly be enhanced within children as they can initially find difficulty acquiring new popular culture. Results of such experiences has been argued whether or not this helps the outcome of children’s persona having grown up in an international environment. In a survey targeting third culture kids by Denizen in 2011, results show that the majority of the 200 participants had University degrees, 30% had masters and 85% spoke two or more languages (Denizen, 2011). The results from the third culture kids were uncomparable and the statistics soared over those who were not. As a result, children who experience frequent movement, multiple education platforms and contrasting cultures and religions, have the benefit of being able to adapt in any environment or situation.

02.3.1

“A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The TCK frequently builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership of any.”

THIRD CULTURE KIDS

(Van Reken, et al. 2009)

Researchers have called upon the need to study Third Culture Kids since the 1950’s. American sociologists, John and Ruth Useem were the first people to discover the term by travelling to India to study American families of missionaries and businessmen living outside the US as expatriates. The Useem’s successfully developed a theory of three subgroups, which collectively labelled one as a third culture kid. The three subgroups are consisted of the history of parents’ culture, the host country one is from or once lived in and the expatriate community, meaning the experiences and lifestyle they share with other internationally mobile families (Pogosyan, 2016). Van Reken and Pollock explain the model by clarifying that the third culture element is derived from the child’s need to explain their identity, which is often different from that of the host country or parents’ home country (EspadaCampos, 2019). Gene H. Bell-Villada and Nina Sichel present ten examples of different groupings that examine shared and unshared experiences.

Third culture kids, Bicultural kids, Biracial kids, Children of Immigrants, Educational cross culture kids, Children of refugees, Children of Border-landers, International Adoptees, Children of Minorities and Domestic Third Culture Kids. (Bell-Villada, G,H. 2011, p.34). These subgroups are relevant for further analysis into which group has had the most positive or negative impact and are also examples of groupings of demographics that may have to move (refer to appendix 2).

02.4

cultural identity changes

One’s identity is being conscious of who one is, both as a person and as a part of society (Erikson, 1980), however when migration is involved it is easy to become unaware of your identity. (Meneses, L. 2011). Although identity is subjective, language is a standard pattern that takes up a large part of adapting to a new country. When an individual does not speak that language they may experience feelings of alienation when surrounded by groups that are communicating in that language. Sociologist, Robert Park, introduced the concept of the ‘marginal man’ in the 1920’s. “One who lives in two worlds, both of which he is more or less a stranger” (Park, 1928). Park used this concept to help understand a revolutionary worldview of change in which social change comes abruptly. This may be from war, invasion or migration. Much of what Park discovered back in the 1920’s is true today for the third culture kid. The experience of being a global nomad has been described as an experience in fragmentation or marginality. This theory has helped shaped the concept of contrasting ideologies that is an integrated or fragmented identity.

“Language is the mechanism by which a culture-group members communicate and share meaning, and for the sojourner, language is a means of entry into the culture”

(Paige, 1993)

The Integrated Identity is the foundation of the theoretical concept developed by Erikson in 1968 called ‘The Theory of lifespan development’. Integrated identity generally corresponds from the continuity of sameness and that is often a hallmark for a healthy identity (Syed and McLean, 2016). Modern fragmented lives have been derived from uncertain and unsettled areas and people that surround individuals. Fragmented identities can become an issue due to rational patterns third culture kids experience and being unable to rely on consistent external sources to confirm who they are. Whilst the feelings of discomfort are often exceptionally felt and described among third culture kids, there is no evidence that expatriation does hinder identity or self development (Meneses, et al, 2011). However, identity can be extremely subjective so there may be no academic research into finding this hindrance nevertheless may still be felt among expats. In argument, it has been researched by Akmal S. Hyder (2007) that for global nomads or global identifiers, facing new cultures is not really a huge deal, however it has been researched that integrated cultural identities are anticipated positives of better mental health and functional physical health upon the return to their home country (Akmal S, et al, 2007, p.273-275).

02.6

research gap Throughout this literature review, numerous research gaps and opportunities for further evaluation and exploration have been acknowledged. However it is evident that the research is lacking information on the specifics of what anxieties occur when initially moving and why. This was stressed from the common responses of feeling like an “outsider” but with limited answers and information as to why. Highlighting the need for deeper insights into what aspects about relocation causes said anxieties will help guide the finer details into primary research methods that will distinctly bring together these gaps. The literature review shows that an extremely common experience is the reverse culture shock. It is built on the basis of anticipation that the country one is returning to will be the same as when they left (Hurn, 1999, p.224228), this usually has a bigger impact on an individual if their international secondment is static. Furthermore, the length of time also has an impact on the effect of relationships. This was pinpointed through secondary research briefly, however is an interesting topic that would benefit this study to invest more research into. This research gap identified is to further determine whether or not the length of time spent away from home has an impact on a person’s relationships with family and friends. The other impact that the assignments timeframe has is the impact on one’s sense of instability. Using this information in primary methods will strengthen the understanding for richer perceptions.

02.5

Additionally, a research gap that has been emphasised is the difficulties that third culture kids face once having to leave. A traditional third culture kid is a child who moves into another culture with family due to a parental career choice (Bell-Villada, G,H. 2011, p.34). Academic literature reviews the contradictions between positive assumptions and negative outlooks on their living situations. Therefore through quantitative research methods, this study will be able to underpin true perceptions of being a third culture kid, bringing children up in this environment and what proves to be difficult that impacts life after an international assignment. This is going to be researched into by using industry and expert interviews and focus groups.

conclusion

While often people relocate and digest new cultures by choice, this report has looked less into that and investigated more into the implications of moving to unfamiliar environments by more forceful reasoning. The findings of this literature review has helped shape and develop research gaps in groupings of themes. It specifically helped to source out the characteristics that are particularly developed through the process of becoming an expat and repat. Emotional support explicitly through organisations appears to be a crucial aspect of helping support the expat with their return. Therefore builds on the point of implications within instability. Through the findings of this literature review it is evident that there is a strong correlation between the anxieties and stress that are built from the process of expatriation and repatriation. Even argued that repatriation can be labelled as “the toughest assignment of all” (Hurn, 1999). The extensive knowledge gained through literature aided to undertake research gap analysis. These clear themes helped to surface common issues that enabled the beginning of primary research.

m e t h o d o l o g y

03.1

research approach

In order to ascertain an extensive understanding to be able to answer the research question, it was paramount to ensure various research routes were used. Chosen methods varying between primary and secondary research were applied to a select sample and following this the information was aided by Creswell and Clark’s (2011) Concurrent Triangulation Design (refer to appendix 3). The model provided a base where both qualitative and quantitative data was analysed both separately and then combined, which then provided results of solid debate platforms that highlighted specific recurring themes throughout the data. The research topic chosen is based on long-term lifestyle changes. Therefore only specific wider breadth primary research methods were applicable to the study to gain opinions, thoughts and an emotional connection into one’s life instead of a daily tracking method or any short-term changes. In order to answer the question stated in the rationale regarding what exactly does drive individuals to want to make change, a ‘Conceptual model of influences on multinational decision-making’ (Thomas et al. 2015) will be applied throughout research (refer to appendix 2). This framework helps to pinpoint which factor has an influence on the decision of the lifestyle change. Highlighted factors that are most relevant to this study is cultural competency, personality and social traits and multinational decision making, in terms of employment. This theory specifically partners with the advantages of using qualitative research, which works hand in hand with understanding the stretch of identity loss within expatriation and repatriation.

SECONDARY RESEARCH

03.3

For the purpose of attaining comprehensive research it was paramount to the topical foundations that an understanding was gained about the comparable implications of expatriation and repatriation. To do so, it was necessary to cover a breadth of academic and non-academic sources such as published books, journals, articles, expert TED talks and podcasts. A wide range of theoretical concepts and models were researched into by experts to understand the backbone of the psychology behind feelings of instability when moving countries. Specifically, the model ‘The Repatriation Process’ (Black et al, 1992) and the concept of ‘The Marginal Man’ (Park, 1928) aided development into the academic viewpoint that underpins this report’s objectives. Retrospectively, this acquired knowledge helped build evaluative arguments towards how unfamiliar environments and cultural change impacts a sense of instability.

The age range chosen for research was from 18 to 65 plus. The broad age range allowed a maximum level of expertise in diverse personal opinions, from how the younger generation deals with cultural changes to how an older generation has. Generational differences derive from modifications in values, beliefs and opinions (McManara, 2018). It was important to understand the average age of expatriates is 66 (InterNations, 2020) and the median living retiree leaves work at 62 years old (DQYDJ, 2019). Therefore, it was vital to recognise this research project was not to gain insight into retiree’s lives, but those who have moved abroad for pushed reasoning. Participants in this research were selected using the theoretical sampling procedure, based and described by Glaser and Strauss (1967). Today’s international diversity within recruitment actions (Vaiman, V. and Haslberger, A, 2013) provide a connection between the type of assignment and one’s repatriation emotional support.

The findings of the research are not to be re-discovered whether they are statistically significant or due to chance (Atieno, 2009). In terms of being specific to this research the main limitation faced was the lack of available depthful research gone into such topics. Expatriates, repatriation, third culture kids, and people who experience this is a niche subject as a whole.

03.2

03.4

sample

The inclusion of different reasoning for relocation assignments is theoretically important as it helps to create a clear line between the similarities and differences between alternate types of expatriation and repatriation experiences. More specifically, for further one to one industry interviews and focus groups, it was ascertained that the interviewee needed a certain level of experience being an expat or third culture kid. Participants in this research project had a range and different level of professional profiles. This was to gain an insight into different perspectives from having their employment relocated compared to their employment from their home country. Geographically, the interviews took place came from the UK, USA, Thailand, China, Belgium and the Netherlands.

PRIMARY RESEARCH Quantitative research is a method of research that is empirical in nature; it is known as the scientific research paradigm in which, measures validity by the process of explanation, definition and clarification (Atieno, 2009). Quantitative research allows generalisations of results by measuring from a sample population (Saunders et al. 2009). Qualitative research focuses on understanding humanistic approaches, in these terms it is reliable due to the fact it gathers people’s beliefs, experiences, attitudes and behaviours (Pathak, 2013). Though a quantitative approach may be more reliable as it is based upon numerical data, this study requires gathering a sense of personal opinions. Additionally. Studies show that qualitative research is being recognised for its advantage in adding a new and deeper dimension to research. Thus being relevant for this investigation to highlight key insights for further recommendations (Gibson, 2004).

03.6

03.5

industry interviews

0bectives 1.4.3

quantitative survey

It was key to interview a range of people with different backgrounds and industry experience. The sample of the 6 industry interviews were taken from authors, entry and re-entry coaches, teachers, a CEO, reflexologist and a company director. All interviewees have worked abroad for at least a minimum of 2 years and most have also experienced returning back to their home country. Interviews began with a set of structured questions that ensured no bias was input. Then a discussion took place with semistructured questions in which the interviewee’s gave more personal and honest responses. This mainly enabled analysis into how much personal emotional support was needed in order for repatriates to feel more at ease when returning to their home.

0bectives 1.3.4.5 The survey was created to help gain an insight into the way new countries and culture change impacts the mental state of expatriates. The sample of the survey was 181 individuals, 22.1% male and 77.9% female being of all ages. Respondents expressed a wide variety of reasoning as to why they had to relocate to a new country. Reasons included, employment, lifestyle change, better climate, cost of living or parental decision. Most importantly the respondents gave a diverse plethora of reasons for their original anxieties about relocating and if they experienced any culture shock returning to their home. The structure of the questions was aided by multiple literature sources but especially the journal “The Toughest Assignment of All” by Brian J. Hurn, 1999. These questions aided the research with a holistic view on those who built up a sense of loss within themselves, identity or family and friends from relocating.

It was decided that the most successful way to gain the best results, face-to-face interviews would take place with those possible and the other interviews would take place via email. Both forms of responses would be recorded on the same interview record sheet to remain fair and easy. Face-to-face interviews would allow more extensive responses through conversation and is easy to truly understand their opinions and emotions through their expressions and voice tone.

LIMITATI0NS: The limitations of quantitative research lie within the level of reliability and the inability to represent the target population and control the environment. It has been argued that using surveys as a research method can be adaptable and flexible from being able to ask any number of questions about any topic and not having a limit on what is asked (to an extent). However, when it comes to analysing said results it is in-fact not malleable. (Blackstone, 2014). Participants are unable to ask for any explanation or depth in a question and more often than not just given a set of results to choose from. This results to this method being one-dimensional and only being able to provide a small and brief insight into the respondents’ life (Phillips, 2002).

LIMITATI0NS: Due to how niche the research topic is, some of the participants in industry contacted for responses live in different countries. Therefore, interviews had to be done via email. Though emails were effective in achieving a widespread variety of participants, the limitation of emails lies in how short and brief the answers may be, possibly due to lack of time for participation. The depth of answers varied between respondents and although all questions were open ended, interviews sent via email meant there was no room for further discussion.

However to overcome this, open ended questions were also asked. Non-numerical data helps to allow individuals to express their feelings and engage with the study. Using both methods within the survey assists scoping out an all rounded set of data, which was used as supporting evidence to theories made in the literature review.

03.6

discussion

FOCUS GROUPS 0bectives 1.2.5

Working with a wide dynamic of individuals in a focus group is beneficial to gain a deep insight because it provides an open discussion to topics without having any barriers. Individuals involved in the focus group were mainly millennials and mostly students that have moved back to their home country to study. Some who have moved to new countries and some who have remained. This helped emphasise the objectives regarding how third culture kids are impacted by cultural change and the forceful need to move for their education and employment. Krueger and Casey’s practical guide to applied research for focus groups (1988) explains that they usually only work if participants feel comfortable, respected and content enough to express their opinions without being judged. Accordingly, to overcome this the focus group environment shadowed the correct format but was systemised to follow interview style questions. This allowed deeper personal responses as well as avoiding bias, which is a possible drawback.

“A focus group is a special type of group in terms of purpose, size, composition, and procedures. The purpose of conducting a focus group is to better understand how people feel or think about an issue, idea, product, or service. Focus groups are used to gather opinions.” (Krueger & Casey, 2014). LIMITATI0NS: A limitation Krueger and Carey (1988) explained is that dominant participants may risk influencing results. This is a limitation that this focus group experienced and to ensure no bias or one-way discussions took place it was important to stay on track to the structured set of questions aligned for this focus group. Additionally, it was important to note that focus group research may not be the most reliable source of information. Focus groups may produce trivial results from complicated topics and this may lead to participants being dishonest with their responses.

04 31

CHAPTER 1: ATTITUDES TOWARDS EXPATRIATION & REPATRIATION

future & established apprehensions

04.1.1

The literature review revealed a copiousness amount of data that suggested expatriates suffer from anticipated anxieties prior to moving to an unfamiliar country. Additionally, suffer from pre-existing stresses about having to move back after a long-term international secondment. Whilst these discussion points have been developed from the literature review findings, the survey supports these in a more complex approach. Regarding future apprehensions about having to internationally relocate, the question was asked concerning what percentage of respondents feel stressed about the thought of having to move. With the majority agreeing that the them and stresses do arise from 24% however disagreed. Those their reasoning with explanations

Do you or did you feel stressed by the thought of having to move back to your home country?

yes no maybe

62%

theory resonates with the initial big move, that disagree shared being as drastic as,

24% “I don’t feel don’t believe country of the such a great

any stress due to the fact I I will return back to my home UK for a long while after living lifestyle.” (participant 167).

14%

The knowledge obtained across the board for primary research along with the literature review supporting evidence, indicates sufficient proof that repatriation can be extremely difficult after experiencing an extreme culture difference. Primary results made it clear that individuals do sufficiently experience one of the two characteristics explained by Hurn (1999) mentioned in the literature review. Accordingly, in this case, the feeling of reversion, the process of personality changes from wider world experiences resulting in viewing one’s home country differently. To

further

back

this

up,

participant

138

from

the

quantitative

survey

answered,

“Yes. I wasn’t emotionally ready to move back. I felt family pressures to return to Canada. If I had the choice to return to Poland or return to Europe somewhere, I would definitely go back.” Explicitly explaining their guilt for moving away from family despite if it may be for a better quality of life, resulting to existing stresses about having to move back for subconscious forceful reasoning. Referring back the literature review findings, it is apparent that there is no academic research proving that living as an expat has a hindrance on one’s identity. However, primary research for this study proves otherwise. Participant 153 from the survey commented,

“Moved back due to husbands’ job - Feeling of being an ‘outsider’ - very difficult to find employment as experience overseas not valued - very difficult to get state benefit entitlement as have to prove Habitual Residence.” This provides first-hand evidence to support the research gap of feeling like an ‘outsider’. The gap highlighted was due to the fact there was limited secondary research as to why feeling like an outsider occured. Data collected from primary methods will be further discussed in section 4, 1.2 to analyse why this is felt.

04.1.2

outsiders & unstable identity Do are

you you

A common reason for expatriates having anticipated anxiety derives from the feeling of being an ‘outsider’ in one’s own country. There is no denying that this is a shared feeling between the expat community from the results collected during primary research. The gap in research explains that there is no clarification as to why this occurs. Participant C expressed opinions that supports this by commenting,

“Personally, I feel like an outsider when I go back to my home country now as I never grew up with the culture. I think the best way to ‘fit in’, regardless of the place, is to understand the culture. Which is why I struggle to fit in, in the Netherlands.”

feel from?”

the is

question hard to

“where answer?

Qualitative data shows that some participants in the survey have moved up to 19 different countries. Although this means those who move are exposed to different countries and cultures, there is a drastic difference between the positives of that and faced difficulties. Also meaning their secondment is long-term. Primary research data has revealed that returning home and becoming re-employed after an international secondment proves difficult. Participant 17 from the survey commented,

yes no maybe

49.8%

43%

Showing that a reason for this occurrence of feeling isolated is down to culture are lucky enough to fall under the category of global identifiers and are it appears that often they lack understanding and knowledge of their own culture Resulting in feeling disconnected to their home. Moreover, to further support

Nevertheless, the quantitative survey data shows that a larger percentage of respondents do not find it hard to answer the question “where are you from?” exhibiting that there is a huge line between simply understanding where you are from and where you can call ‘home’.

transient & static timeframes

7.8% obstruction. Though expatriates exposed to various cultures, after not growing up around it. this, participant D expressed,

“I still feel anxious leaving home to come to university as I do really miss being so far from my family.

“I just did not know how everything worked anymore. I was gone for 27 years and just felt out of the loop.”

Showing that these drastic life changes can impact one’s mental state and create worries that expatriates have to endure.

1-19

number of people moved amount of times moved

29 22 16 10 5 1

Often the case for trailing spouses, it creates an extreme lifestyle change when initially moving and being able to stop working. However creates an even bigger reverse shock when returning and having to deal with the economic and employment changes, resulting it finding it hard to be re-employed. Dealing with the realisation that it can become hard to find employment in your own country can be damaging to your esteem and well-being. After being away for a long period of time a country deals with many political and economic changes. Relevant to today’s world issues, Brexit has played a huge part in the terms that impact employment (refer to appendix figure 8). This is evidently bound to cause a sense of stress and frustration that affects a family’s financial stability and puts a strain on an individual’s well-being, both mentally and physically. Lastly, a static assignment can instigate a personal issue as big as simply forgetting the general lifestyle in your home country. Being away for so long and embracing different cultures can reinvent personal beliefs and attitudes towards daily occurrences. Returning back and feeling ‘out of the loop’ can build disheartening opinions from those who have not experienced the same lifestyle difference. Supporting this is participant 158 who affirms that,

It is evident that the misconception between where is home and where to call home may cause a sense of a fragmented identity and therefore create a hindrance on one’s well being. Supporting more evidence for Erikson’s theory regarding fragmented identities (1980) mentioned in the literature review. When asked, 40% of respondents admitted to feeling that yes, their mental and physical wellbeing has suffered from having to move around the world. With evidence from participant E from the focus group admitting,

How many times have you moved to a different country that is not your birthplace?

“It was very, very difficult to get a job after 5 years of being unemployed (I was not allowed to work a trailing spouse)”.

“I feel like I didn’t know a lot of popular culture that you would if you grew up here. Tv shows, music, celebrities so I felt it was difficult to make conversation a lot of the time with people my age.” And participate 10 from the survey said, “Yes, I found the dress culture a massive shock and the culture in general was different at social events”. This demonstrates how apparent culture is in everyday environments that often may just be so subconsciously consumed. It appears that it is extremely easy to get wrapped in different cultures and forgetting your own that it creates a sense of identity loss.

04.1.3

The research gap identities that the secondment timeframe may affect the process of moving home, the sense of losing one’s personal individual identity and the impact on relationships mentioned in section 2.1. Humans are programmed to automatically lack an appeal into change. It often causes frustration and confusion (MacLachlan, 2018). The pace of a standard life is sometimes difficult to keep up with, nevertheless keeping up with the pace of moving around the world for unknown lengths of times during each move.

These findings provide supporting evidence for Park’s concept of the Marginal Man (1928) discussed in the literature review explaining that “One who lives in two worlds, both of which he is more or less a stranger” (Park, 1928). Moreover, the impact that static or even transient assignments have on relationships has noticeably been a common and repetitive ideology through this research.

04.2.1

CHAPTER 2:

Impact on relationships & personal emotions

Impact on RELATIONSHIPS Relationships can be deeply affected when the luxury of frequently visiting friends and family is stripped away. It can put a strain on friendships specifically by the concern of not being able to stay in contact. Even though that is argued in a point from an industry expert interview. Helena Valstar explains her opinion stating,

“When I moved abroad, I had more time to call, email and chat with my friends in my home country. Now that I am back, I have less time!” International organisations that do offer support with repatriation explain that it is vital to remain in contact with home life as best as possible. However, disregarding the obvious about being in different countries, the findings show that one may have more time to call and email home due to the lack of domestic responsibilities many have living as an expat. There is more often than not having ‘home help’ included in expatriate packages, leaving domesticating tasks out of one’s daily routine.

“My family were supportive, but I'd lost all of my friends. I felt that I'd changed and grown but life seemed to have stopped at home, I miss my life abroad” “Friends were bitter friendships were

“The loneliness of the expatriate is of an odd and complicated kind, for it is inseparable from the feeling of being free, of having escaped.” (gopnik, 2019)

about me leaving, some irreparably damaged.”

Both having experienced a major loss of friendships can only evidentially damage a sense of one’s mental well-being. Expats suffering this kind of loss will be experiencing the feeling of alienation, explained by Hurn (1999). It is also difficult to ignore the sense of ‘bitterness’ that is felt about a situation that should be life-changing. It is apparent that this is quite common within friends and families of expatriates and quite possibly driven from a place of selfishness. Supporting this is explained throughout an interview with Helen Watts, a life coach specialising in repatriation processing.

“We did feel we came back nitely felt dren. We felt

a lot of grief though each time for a visit. Our parents defithe loss of their grandchilthis for our children as well.”

Not only does this support findings for the research gap, it also answers the second objective for this report regarding how different age groups are impacted by the sense of loss. There is a large difference between genuine loss and the feeling of loss by not being able to persist close relationships with family. Some argue that this is the worsened option and actually results in damaging relationships. On the other hand. Helen Watts defends this by explaining

“They had many other surrogate parents and grandparents in the expat community, so in some ways it didn’t matter.” Justifying the attachment in the close-knit community that brings expats together. Supporting this is a comment from a participant D in the focus group that states,

“I met some great people and created really strong friendships because you are all in the same boat and therefore appreciate where you are more because you know it won’t be forever.” Validating that the expat life is a life-changing experience that does not just positively create a bigger an outlook on life, but builds strong friendships that actually shadow family.

04.2.2

overall outlook & tck perceptions

Would you classify yourself as a THIRD CULTURE KID?

Within the primary research, strong outlooks on life from third culture kids were intensely saturated throughout the primary research. Quantitative data shows the percentage of 47.5% people choosing ‘no’ to associating themselves with being a third culture kid and a 44.1% choosing yes. To this reports surprise, those that chose no may be due to the fact that the majority of the survey was taken by adults and misunderstood the concept. Nevertheless this did not have any effect of the answers given to help this study.

yes no

47.5%

maybe

44.1%

critical reflections

A third culture kids life revolves around having a high degree of mobility in many cultural worlds (Bell-Villada, 2011). A focus group targeting third culture kids helped to make sense of their perceptions of life on the go. Interestingly, despite the positive assumptions made about immersing oneself in new cultures and living a highly mobile life, findings within this research showed that third culture kids actually find it difficult to open up about.

8.4%

When asked “Did you find it hard to explain your lifestyle to people that have not experienced the same thing? How did they respond?” during the focus group every single participant responded by explaining they find it difficult and often even avoid it. Participant A explained,

“Yeah people

ask

very rarely say anything from seeing my social

other than I media. People

am ask

from too

Nottingham unless many questions.”

“I of

have a friend me having to

that fly

has 12

never hours

even been on a plane to go ‘home’ was a

so the thought myth to him.”

These statements create contradictions to the hypothesis that third culture kids boast about their life. When actually, the bringing up these children had was just a constant reminder to be humble about their experience. Industry expert, Elizabeth McDermott uses the quote.

“You might not be able to give them roots, but you give them wings instead” To perfectly describe how expatriate lifestyle highly benefits the developmental ages of third culture kids in terms of their personality and attitudes. Further demonstrating this comes from Participant E explaining she found it difficult due to the fact her upbringing was in Dubai and resulting in people mocking her about “rich kid” ideologies. She explains,

“In first year of University I was very hesitant to tell people where I lived exactly because coming back to the UKi after living in Dubai, people used the ‘rich kid’ ideology to label us as.” Not only does this create a false pretence about third culture kids but it also creates extreme struggle to explain the lifestyle to someone well enough so they understand. Arriving back in one’s home country has even been labelled as feeling like you are a “hidden immigrant” in an answer from participant 122. This participant explains people did not understand the struggle repatriates go through during transition after living abroad because of them still sounding and looking like a local.

05 39

key insights &

recommendations

05.1

critical relfection

In conclusion, after a widespread collection of data through primary and secondary research aiding investigation, this report has provided a systematic insight into shifting perceptions about expatriation, repatriation and third culture kids. Research findings helped to create a deep understanding into how lifestyles outside the ‘norm’ creates a hindrance on well-being, mentally and physically. Throughout there has been a plethora of findings that instigate whether or not living outside one’s home country for long-term lengths of time creates an overall sense of loss, disconnection and identity damage. Overall, subjectivity plays a huge role in determining whether or not expatriation is the lifestyle suited best. After reflecting on the primary and secondary research undertaken it would have been beneficial to have gathered more quantitative data to aid deeper comparisons that could have been analysed statistically. It is clear that after reflecting on the objectives for this study, the majority have been touched on and deeply researched into. However a great deal of research laid focus on objectives that favour others in which could have been expanded on if there was access to more quantitative data. Within the process of stage two, additional investigation is noted to be compulsory into the logistics that follow the future recommendations. As the execution of ideas will need additional primary research to successfully understand concept development, it will be vital to note the mentioned limitations and overcome these for the best accurate results. Secondary research for stage two will aid to provide an understanding into financial difficulties and restrictions on the proposed ideas. Finally, this report has underpinned key insights which will help to provide extensive opportunities in order to be used as a springboard within the lifestyle industry going forward.

05.2

Throughout analysing and comparing a quantity of secondary resources and conducting primary research to fill the research gaps identified, there are a number of key insights that can be further built on to construct future recommendations. In particular, primary research discovered that although the process of expatriation can be extremely stimulating and beneficial to third culture kids specifically in terms of their developmental attitudes. There is an array of reasons that surfaced to explain the implications it has on third culture kids and adults on return. It is apparent that a person’s well-being is even more so important to them when becoming an expatriate and is vital that a clear pathway from transition preparation will help maintain a good quality of health. The collection of data has successfully helped to answer and pinpoint the issues and discussions risen from the question “An exploration into if living in an unfamiliar environment and experiencing culture change can create a feeling of instability, loss and implicate well-being.” Though the literature review uncovered a breadth of broader topics and theories that highlight unstable wellbeing and identity, insights within chapters 1 and 2 from the discussions revealed that an extensive amount of the sample group expressed profound complications of experiencing re-entry culture shock. This being intensified by the lack of support and return training offered through the organisation dealing with the international assignments. Not only has this proved to cause an obstruction to identity but also to well-being. Going forward it is fundamental to understand the following 3 areas that could be examined into for the next stage:

01 02 03

Explore a way in which using social environments affiliated with communication in technology will help to alleviate the pressures and anxieties from the process of approaching into unfamiliar environments. Additionally, meet the needs for all generational expatriates, including third culture kids to form new relationships that improve the routine of moving countries. Discover the importance of creating shared experiences, together and through virtual technology that encourage expatriation but also repatriation too. Helping to alleviate hostile environments created through the loss of relationships and the sense of loss as to where one’s self belongs.

Consider a business concept that draws together a community of expatriates and professional organisations, in an experiential environment, to help reduce negativity and regain a sense of self, identity, individualism and well-being.

APPENDIX 42

06 06.1

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06.2

Glaser, B. and Strauss, A. The discovery of grounded theory. P, 45.

bibliography

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affect A

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06.4

3. Bell-Villada, G. and Sichel, N. (2012). Writing out of limbo. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars, p.34.

appendix 1.

Akmal, S. et al, (2007) The repatriation process - A Realistic Approach. P.269

2. Thomas, D et al. (2015). Cultural intelligence: A theory-based, short form measure. Journal of International Business Studies, pp.1099-1118.

4. Creswell W. J. (2003) Research Design: Qualitative and Quantitative, and Mixed Apprpaches. P5.

7. If you have moved back, did you face any difficulties and a feeling of reverse culture shock? If so, what were the difficulties? *Long Answer Text*

quantitative survey 5.

8. Do you feel that your mental and/or physical health has suffered from having to move places? (including having to move back to your home country) Yes No 9. If yes, what aspects of having to move do you think has caused this? *Long Answer Text*

5.1

10. Do you feel the question “where are you from?” is hard to answer? Yes No Maybe

BLANK SURVEY QUESTIONS: 1. What is your gender? Male Female Prefer not to say

11. “A Third Culture Kid is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The TCK builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having fulll ownership of any.” - Would you classify yourself as a THIRD CULTURE KID? Yes No Maybe

2. What age category do you come under? 18-24 25-31 32-38 39-45 46-52 53-59 60-65 65+

5.2 SURVEY RESULTS:

3.What is the reason for you moving country? Employment/parental employment Lifestyle Change Retirement Cost of living Better Climate 4. How many times have you moved to a different country? *Short Answer Text* 5. Are you still a current expat or have you moved back to your home country? Still an expat Moved back 6. Do you or did you feel stressed by the thought of having to move back to your home country? Yes No Maybe

- The fact that I can speak Thai but not my home language of being Maori. - The weather, being able to understand the language, the culture. - Felt as though I was back where I started. Didn’t feel as though I had any forward steps. - Yes, I found the dress culture was a massive shock as well as the open display of pda, also - Found that the culture was completely different as well as social events. - Haven’t moved back to the place I was born. - Definitely the feeling of reverse culture shock, I’d never lived in my home country, so it was all very new to me. - Yes, people expecting me to understand and know things. - Yes, I did. I found that in moving home I felt the most out of place then in any other country - I'd lived in. It was harder to settle in in my "home" country then anywhere I'd lived aboard. - Moving back to Europe after 10 years in Asia felt very good. No difficulties at all. - Yes, different culture: the differences between moving from Asia back to Europe and dealing with the changing attitudes etc. - It was very, very difficult to get a job after 5 years of being unemployed (I was not allowed to work as a trailing spouse). - Yes, I found it difficult to speak to anyone for a few days, especially given language barriers or the abrupt removal of such, and the difficulty of readjusting expectations of return. - I was young at the time, but schooling was different and a shock to get use to. - Having moved around a lot and being half Australian, it was easy to adapt when I moved back for my final two years of school. There was a big sort of reality check that I experienced, where I finally got to see what normal responsibilities the teenagers had compared to expat kids that live overseas. Difficulties I experienced were obviously having to integrate myself into a group of all girls (rather than co-ed) that have known each other ever since they were born as no one moved around like I did. Another difficulty was experiencing a certain level of ignorance to do with my upbringing. I didn’t look full Asian as I’m half, yet because I lived in a certain place I was assumed to be from that certain place and had been asked “how is your English so good”. - Experience bullying due to stereotypes of the country i moved back from. Adapting to close mindedness of people who had been in the same place their entire life. - Worried that I wouldn’t know enough about relevant pop culture to fit in with new peers - Uncertainty living condition, no friends, have to start all over again. - Weather, difference in people and culture, living far away from immediate family, having to explain life story to everyone and people being confused or judgemental. - Yes, everything was so different. Most of my childhood memories are different to all those of my friends now. - I don’t speak the language. - No - Settling back in. Everything being different. Having to make social opportunities to meet people. - Student finance and home status for university. - It felt like I had an image of what it was like to move back, but that didn’t quite reflect reality. - People had moved on with their lives, while I was expecting to find everything as it was. - No difficulties at all. Was ready to move home and that made a huge difference. It’s where I wanted to be so I 55 embraced everything.

- School curriculum was dramatically different - Cost of living increase. Social isolation. - Much cooler climate, less relaxed working/living environment. Understanding the tube in London - how / who to ask a question. No staff available - Reverse culture shock. - Difficulties -general life style, -Cost of living Climate/Weather loss of friendship beaurocracy of Uk None - N/A - Attitude, lack of service, weather - School was stricter and I struggled to understand why all the strict rules existed. - Culture shock and lack of opportunities - Different culture and environment to where I lived back in Shanghai -Going back to a state school how badly behaved people are, how bland and fatty the food is in the UK, how hard it is to get around where I live. - N/a - Making friends, isolation, weather, transport, lack of staff - Reverse culture shock and trouble adapting to the western lifestyle and mentality - Yes, I found it hard to get along with many English people, and I felt they viewed me as an outsider. I found people quite cold. Strangely, you also aren’t given the same lee-way someone who is from another country is. There was maybe a tinge of jealousy even, from people who lived in the same area all their lives, who maybe wrongly perceived an insinuation that being well travelled you were ‘more open minded’ etc. However, reverse culture shock was helped by moving to a European country before going back to England, which was culturally more similar to the UK than the asian countries I lived in before that, and where I didn’t live in an expat bubble. -People assumed I was English, I had no grasp of slang, customs and cultural references - N/a - None - No, only the pleasure of being back with family, friends and familiar territory. - Moving back to my home country for University only made me realise what I had missed out on by living away for so long. - People assumed I was English, I had no grasp of slang, customs and cultural references - people to go back to move on with their lives and are busy with their own stuff - Not fitting in - No - When I moved back to England, I did not experience any difficulties, maybe apart from the school I changed to were covering different topics in my GCSE’s, making it harder to catch up. The shocks were quite large however, a lot of the shops in England I had never seen or heard of before (Primark), much to everyone’s shock and dismay (I would be the same now). In addition to this, the fact all the shop keepers spoke English and I could actually speak my native language was really weird for me. There were also a lot of popular sports here that I had not played before so I had to learn them as they were a key part of sports at that school (rowing, netball etc.) - I struggled to adapt to British school culture...I did not understand British humour/jokes so avoided making friends. - Not moved back - I moved to study and stayed. I occasionally come back to visit my parents and every time I realize leaving my country of origin was a good idea. - I felt like the culture I moved back to was the culture that I was more comfortable with and more used too, therefore no shock. My difficulty is I still feel like a part of me wants to go back, not really being able to appreciate the country I live in at the moment. - No - Yeah. Re- aclimatising - No culture shock - ’ve lived away from my home country for 5 years, and my biggest shock was realising how much has changed in that time. Even small things like grocery stores, paperwork or cultural stuff. - difficulties in employment - Yes. I moved to back for 2 years and moved out. Super cold, people are not that nice, country is not as developed. - Differences in educational approach, difference in values, different consumerism everything back home was the same, but I changed

- No - I have not moved back - Changes -Yes. Fitting in - we weren’t the same people that left. Social Changes - TV programmes were different. Parenting- different style. Security - don’t feel safe. - Feeling that the world became so much smaller when I moved back. I no longer had daily interactions with people from all over the world. I lost my identity as an expatriate who spoke the local language. People in my home country didn’t know the expatriate me and there is little connection in my homeland to the foreign culture that became home. - No - Not being able to identify with some of my friends like I did before I moved away. Suddenly being surrounded by the English language. - It was made easier because I hated the last expat country I was in. Also my husband is still overseas so we’re not 100% moved back. Generally quite easy but I find everyone so zombie like. So feeble. Always going on about mental health etc everyone sounds so spoilt and flimsy, but I’ve lived in tough countries where people have very little but still smile and joke and talk to their neighbours. Honestly I feel like telling everyone to toughen up. - Miss the sunshine abroad! - Feeling like a “hidden immigrant” (ie people around me not understanding that was was struggling with transition and adjustment, because I looked and sounded like a local) Homesickness, missing friends, missing favourite products in shops. Struggling to adjust to extreme change of climate. Feeling odd not being surrounded by people of a different culture. - Isolation and beginning again - Not really, no. - Fatigue, stress about buying cars, shopping, choosing schools; boredom, loneliness, feeling like I don’t fit in, - Yes. As a parent of school-aged children, I struggled with parenting philosophies and stresses in my home culture. As an expat, I had been free of some cultural expectations from both my home and host cultures. - Everyone thinking you should be happy to be back in your home country, not having any social connections (expat life is very social) and it’s difficult to make friends in a non expat setting. Not so much reverse culture shock just an overall feeling of loss. - Yes. I moved from 2 very big multicultural cities to a suburb where most people have never left the country. - Yes. I was in middle school, and everything was different. From people to fashion to the actual schools. It was so difficult. I came home and cried my first day back. - Yes - see below; career was a major issue. - My family were supportive but I’d lost all of my friends. I felt that I’d changed and grown but life seemed to have stopped here, it was boring. I missed my old life abroad. - Yes so many in my home country never even travel and are rather closed minded - Yes. I wasn’t emotionally ready to move back. I felt family pressures to return to Canada. If I had the choice to return to Poland or return to Europe somewhere, I would definitely go back. Some of my experiences cannot be understood by others that have not been overseas. This is sometimes hard to filter what you understand is the norm and what the others understand as very foreign. - I missed my expat life but ultimately Houston was very diverse location and we looked at it as another expatriate posting since our family had never been to Texas before - Definitely suffered reverse culture shock and still do. I miss different things everyday including, foods, hearing people speak a different language, celebrations and cultures. - Finding my “place”. Not wanting to only relate to people superficially, which seems the norm. Miss some of bthe challenges of cross-cultural life. Closest friends live in another country. - Friends were bitter about me leaving, some friendships were irreparably damaged. - Lack of shared experiences, different views and interests. - Hugely. Moving from a warm culture back home to a cold culture there was a big sense of isolation. Also a Huge socioeconomic gap, moving from one of the poorest to richest countries in the world. It was very difficult to connect with people because it felt like we had nothing in common and impossible to explain the world I was coming from that was so different. What was a simple $10 lunch to someone else was a heart wrenching/ ethically conflicting decision for me coming from a world where a lot of my friends lived on $1 a day and $10 could be the difference of life and death for affording medical care in an emergency. But how do you explain that? It was a rough adjustment. - Yes, just learning how to do everything from scratch, having left routines, friends and a sense of knowing how to live. Coming back feels like when we first went over - so much is new & tiring. - No one really cares about your time out of country - Feeling trapped. Feeling I should understand everything as it’s my home country, yet so many things have changed. My persona has grown with lots of new impressions and experience while feeling home country hasn’t changed at all, or at least at a much lesser speed and intensity than my own growth.

- Yes, very much! I was mildly depressed for about five years after moving back, really missed my last expat country and the work, felt different from everyone in my home country and misunderstood. - Moved back due to husbands job - Feeling of being an ‘outsider’ - very difficult to find employment as experience overseas not valued - very difficult to get state benefit entitlement as have to prove Habitual Residence. - Moving back “home” after 19 years away was the hardest transition of all - we had to make pretty much all new friends, had trouble finding jobs, were dissatisfied with our living environment. After 3+ years we finally feel settled but it’s been difficult! - I had reverse culture shock. I took for granted language and cultural barriers such as those to do with customer service, government bureaucracy, the amount of paperwork needed to do anything and the fact that I was always forever explaining my background. When I came back, I thought that my knowledge of how to do things such as go to the bank, withdraw money, buy shopping, navigate around suburbs in which I spent my childhood etc would all come back to me. They didn’t. It felt like I was in a coma for the first two months having to remember everything again as if I were a tourist. - I hadnt lived in my birth country for over 16 years and we didn’t holiday there so many things had changed. I had never experienced life as a parent so things like schools, after school clubs and health like doctors and dentists were completely new to me. I look and sound like I have lived there my entire life so everyone around me expects me to just know how things work. - Just not knowing how everything worked. Was gone for 27 years. - Yes. Feeling like an outsider, my native country has changed in a direction that makes me embarrassed to call this home, not in the friend loop, which means that despite friends telling us how much they appreciate us being back they forget us. And I miss my local/expat friends from abroad. - No - Missing the high standard of living in Asia. No maids. No delivery. No fixing things with money etc. - Yes, people have limited knowledge of the places I’ve been and I’m forever educating them or ignoring stupid comments. I’ve got great local friends but my best friends are the same as me... So of course live abroad - Yes - the noise, the cultural mindsets, expectations - My parents tried to move me back to my country of birth once but the process of getting to attend school could take up to a year (legalizing the diploma and doing the national exam) so we moved with my dad again - Reverse culture shock was miserable. I moved back after a two year working commitment. Reconciling my new self with what others thought I should be (or what I once was) was very difficult. - Feeling misunderstood by family; not understanding the way people did things any more; materialism; lack of deep friendships; busy-ness making it hard to get to know people - I was not able to adapt back into the society. Yes, too many to list. I wish I could move back overseas - Difficulty fitting in and felt like a stranger - I moved back as I became widowed so I had this to contend with rather than thinking about my repatriation. - Re-establishing friendships/family relationships. Adjusting to narrow world view/lack of global scope. Physical isolation - distance to travel after repatriating to Australia - I came back from Santa Cruz, CA to Dijon, France in times of big struggle with terrorists. As I lived in an area with a lot of different nationalities living together in peace and where diversity and love for your neighbor was encouraged, I came back to a shocked country that was starting to live in the fear of communities. It felt like I grew as a person and as I had a better understanding of the world, while all my loved ones and the society has not evolved at all and has on the contrary grew to be more pessimistic and wary. - From studying in English in Australia, to German in Germany, my teacher in year 5 told me I wasn’t good enough for primary school at my current level so kept me back and I had to repeat year 4 and 5 in Germany. I was born there! - Culture shock, how people interact with each other and the slight language barriers - Sadness, feeling of loss (of expat life style, friends, freedom). German rules and regulations (too many) and lack of friendliness in my home country (Germany) - Living in a culture I wasn’t part of, being unable to make friends, no longer being part of an ex-pat community... - N/A - Not that i didnt feel welcomed but there’s a barrier between me and the local people there as they dont think im “one of them” in a sense - Haven’t moved back

- Feeling unhappy that I could not stick it out. - Yes and no, the only time I felt stressed about moving country was when I was 12, I’d just settled in to secondary school and then 6 months later moved to Germany, so was really stressed about the idea about making friends again, which I think is really pivotal at that age. - N/A - Sectarianism - Mental health from not fitting in or fulfilling expectations - I’m sure its affected me in some ways but I’m not sure how. - Away from family and friends, culture shock, having to quit work in home country because following spouse - Living far from all family, feeling as though nobody understands my sense of identity/lack thereof, reinterpreting my concept of “home” as abstract and airborne rather than a family house or town which can lead to intense loneliness - I think when I was younger, I started off so comfortably in Thailand with lots of friends and a lot going for me at that age(gymnastics ballet swimming etc). Then dad got a new job in Jakarta, and when I moved, I found it so hard to make friends. I stuck out because I didn’t look like a full ethnicity, and everyone had already formed their groups of friends And I experienced bullying for no reason for years after this. Change in culture & weather -Not having solid foundation - I have few friends from primary school as they are all now in different countries. When I first moved back I completely lost my support system of all my friends and went to boarding school so my family as well - I have loved living in other countries, but moving is stressful, and I struggle to express my cultural identity to people who often ask. - Organising the move - Stress/ anxiety of leaving friends/ family - Loss of income.loss of social network - None. - Losing friends who are like minded as myself. - It is not necessarily the moving but rather the company not being clear about their intention. They intentionally try to put pressure and influence you to reduce your benefits and at the same time tell you that their are no suitable opportunities to return home in regards to career development. This I found affected my mental state through unnecessary pressures. - I do not feel fully adapted to where I am living even after years of living where I do. It is also stressful to think about where I will live in the future if I ever wanted to move back “home” because I do not feel I have a home country. - Isolation, - Losing friends, having to mske all new friends every few years is very isolating, as is being away from extended family. - Leaving friends - The stress of being in another non-English speaking environment, having to find schools, a home and make new friends. This is all exciting but very stressful at the same time.

- Moving away from home when youre a pubescent, closeted, creative, weird boy just sets you up for a lot of bullying and few friends to begin with - Seasonal depression -Being exposed to many different realities at a young age can be unsettling, loss of interpersonal connections and feeling homeless - I think that lacking stability in social groups and environment made me change often to feel accepted. As a result, I struggle with a sense of self-continuity and ‘knowing who I am’. - Sense of place. Relationships. - Yes but not always in a negative way. I think at the time, it affected my mental health having to leave my friends and go to a new country, knowing it will be extremely difficult to see them again. In addition to this, knowing that I would move roughly every 4 years meant I never felt truly settled as it was my temporary home until we moved again. On the other hand, it has changed my mental mindset and has made me stronger as a person. As an adult, I am not fazed about having to move for a new job or meet new people, because I know I can do it. - Sense of place. Relationships. - Nowhere feels like home anymore which makes me feel much less stable and I’m lacking my safe, truly cozy place as something is always missing; attachment issues (difficulty to create new friendships and to maintain the ones from the home country / hesitant about involving in a romantic relationship as I don’t know where I’m gonna be next and if the other person will also be there) - Not knowing many people; Dealing with certain communication issues because of language barriers; Coming from a country where you can everywhere to a country where you for the most part have to take public transport or drive, made me more isolated to my home and less physically fit to some extent. - Loss of immune system strength - Having to move out of my comfort zone, leaving my father in my birthplace/expat country. - Being in a new country by myself was challenging for the first few weeks/months due to a lack in support and relationships. - Actually it helped me, my overall mental health improved a lot. - Stress - Moving from all familiarity, family, friends - Feeling like i don’t fit in anywhere - Leaving friends behind every time, causing feelings of loneliness- being a temporary part of everyone else’s permanent existence. - I built my life somewhere else and I felt that it was all a waste. - Losing current friends - Missing family - Change in sleeping patterns and digestion - Losing friends - Stress, loneliness - None - We weren’t ready to repatriate. - The changing values and ways I’ve grown haven’t been appreciated in the home country. I’ve lost my very close knit expat community and it’s harder to form close community in my home country. - Uncertainty, no house/home - Depression. Unhappiness. Homesickness. Not being able to understand the language or the people. The rudeness of the people and their negative and closed dispositions of the people in the country I lived in overseas. Diminished standard of living in new country. The nature of the politics of the country I moved to. - Break in routine means I drop exercise, looking after everyone else, long stretches without childcare, harsh climates, street hassle makes outdoor exercise impossible, terrible air quality and environment pollution. - The process, the uncertainty, holding do much information in my head - n/a - Found that people from my home culture didn’t know how to relate with me now that I’d had new/different experiences, my mental health is worse as I don’t have many friends that understand - We moved a lot in our host country and loss of community, along with he general stress of transition and learning new cities and new ways of doing things, led to burnout. - Kids having difficulty with the changes, blaming you and the expat lifestyle for their unhappiness. Lack of social connections and even if you do make friends you just don’t have that same connection you had with your expat friends. - Not as good medical care in the countries I was living in. And I suffered kidney stones and several other female problems. - It’s so hard being in middle school to begin with, let alone moving from another country. It was just a lot for me back then. - (With reference to repatriation) At the time, there was a strong sense of isolation and not fitting in anymore which was very difficult - no longer feeling at home in my birth country; my career suffered - felt like I went 4-5 steps back. Sense of self worth took a hit. (Home country is Australia)

- I lived abroad 4 times in my twenties. In each country I enjoyed settling in and getting established. But when I left, saying goodbye was heartbreaking. I’ll never get over that. - I had a lot more friends when I lived abroad, and a lot more freedom to travel between countries. I miss this immensely. I’ve also suffered financially being back because I think I had more financial freedom in Europe. - I was a lot more active as a I walked everywhere when we lived in Singapore and we were much more social while living one the UAE and Oman as expats tend to come together a lot more freely and easily. - Friendships lost, stress of husband still traveling and now having to work, drive kids everywhere and take care of the house alone. - Inability to fit in back in home country -Excessive isolation of dealing with culture stressors in a second language without a good support system, food borne illnesses, high stress levels - Loss of important relationships and sense of belonging - Loosing my self confidence which affects areas like jobmarket. - I answered no, because it had no permanent effect on my health, but in the end made me stronger, once I embraced the fact that all my life experience abroad are part of my bio and make me who I am, including the fact that I am still missing it. It‘s who I am and it‘s good. I must also say that moving back was much harder than moving abroad abd it took me about five years to come to terms with it, after having been abroad for 13 years. - Frustrations of dealing with state agencies, of every service such as insurance, mortgage companies etc penalizing you with extra costs due to being newly back and having no record with them. - Lack of network in trying to get jobs. - Uncertainty, stress, fear of change, transition to new foods and routines. - The physical act of moving is stressful because I had to make sure all my stuff got to Australia. I was not mentally ready for not having the lifestyle to which I was accustomed eg ease of traveling around the world, the emotional ease with which I moved country, the feeling of being important and special as an administrator inside schools in a high powered position of importance. I went from being an important person to being a poor student living at home with mum because the Masters was so expensive to do. - The feeling of being a stranger in a strange land, the isolation of not understanding social norms and expectations and the constant anxiety when you are learning the language of the country you now live in. All of these are very stressful and with little to no support network the effect is magnified. - The uncertainties around hubby’s job situation and as a result our financial situation. Has been the most difficult part of repatriation. Added to this is the fact that my home country has made all kinds of restrictions, which means that people who have lived abroad for a number of years have different and inferior rights compared to those that never have left. - I never thought it had until I realised how hard it is to find find compatible friends and partners... - Trying to understand expectations - Well, I am seriously considering that the problem of my on/off relationship was my behavior which could have been toxic since my then boyfriend and I brought out the worst in each other. We have been doing so much better when we have parted ways. I don’t know if he is happier now but I definitely am. - Physically, I believe I picked up some parasites while abroad. It took almost two years but I believe I am back to “normal.” Mentally, I believe that I am now in a much better place than I was before living abroad. - Stress; events of childhood triggered through the move leading to mental health issues - Having to start building relationships from scratch, it get tiring and I find myself lonely - Not having a steady friendship group and history with people - Every aspect as my situation is unique. Mainly the bereavement, then having to find a home, work, schools quickly upon my arrival in the UK. Then 3 years on I’m now starting to deal with the repatriation and saying my thank yous and goodbyes to close expat friends. - Mental stress - It’s the fact of leaving something I created - this little world that I have created for myself. These friends, habits and memories that I was leaving behind. It hurt to think that next time that I will come back, nothing will be the same anymore. - In addition to this, the fact of coming back to “old me”, to my “old life”, where nothing has changed while I did evolve greatly, the fear of not being understood, all of this was a stressful thought. - Always finding new friends and trying to adapt to the culture had me struggle a lot. - Leaving everything and everyone I knew behind was very difficult. It’s similar to the loss of a loved one in my opinion and hurts just as much. Also, I have found that I still have a hard time knowing how to act in any given situation as I moved a lot at the time in your teens where most people learn the intricacies of interaction in their culture. I always feel out of place and, even when I do something that’s culturally appropriate in the country I live in, I know I will never really be FROM this country, and the thought that I will never be able to call it my own is somewhat depressing. I do not fit in in the USA, where I was born, and I do not feel ownership over it or any other place I’ve lived. I know that some of the anxiety I have is caused by always wondering if what I’m doing is good, or if it will let me fit in. But then again, there is always the question weighing on me of how much I want to fit in and how much I want to stand out.

- Feeling of isolation, not wanting to form friendships, difficulty relating to people. - Administrative stress, no friend or family around - Being used to being in a diverse community when i was growing up and then having to move to a place which are with people who havent had the same upbringing and cutural exposed were really hard. People werent as welcoming and it was hard to get to know and become apart of something. - Being a hidden immigrant in my own home country.

FOCUS GROUP: 5 PARTICIPANTS. PARTICIPANT A: Born and lived in the UK until 12 years of age. Moved to Thailand until 18 before moving back to UK for university. PARTICIPANT B: Born in Malaysia, Moved to Philippines and Thailand aged 3. Moved back to UK aged 18. PARTICIPANT C: Born in the Netherlands, moved to Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Moved back to UK for University. PARTICIPANT D: Born in UK, moved to Indonenia, China, Spain and back to England for 6th Form. PARTICIPANT E: Born in England, moved to Dubai and then back to England for univeristy. 1. Did any of you feel like an ‘outsider’ in your home country when you moved back? And if so, why do you think you felt like this? PARTICIPANT A: Yes, because I went to an international school where the environment is extremely different. I adapted super quick and then almost forgot the culture in the UK PARTICIPANT B:: I thought it was really easy to blend back in so I didn’t really feel like an outsider. But I think that might be due to how my bringing up has taught me to be confident and easy going. PARTICIPANT C: Personally, I feel like an outsider when I go back to my home country now as I never grew up with the culture. I think the best way to “fit in”, regardless of the place, is to understand the culture. Which is why I struggle to fit in, in the Netherlands. PARTICIPANT E:: I didn’t feel like an outsider as such, there were obviously differences of lifestyles and experiences, for me personally i didn’t go out drinking when i was 14/15 because that wasn’t allowed back in Dubai. I felt that everyone was easy to get along with because we were all essentially away from home and put into a new unknown environment. PARTICIPANT A: I feel like the biggest shock as to why I didn’t feel completely comfortable is because of the differences you experience as an expat regarding your privileges, eg, having home help. PARTICIPANT D: Yes, I feel like I didn’t know a lot of popular culture that you would if you grew up here. Tv shows, music, celebrities so I felt it was difficult to make conversation a lot of the time with people my age 2. If you can remember moving to a new country, what anxieties did you have? Alternatively, what anxieties did you have during your time away from your home country? Eg, thinking about moving back, applying to university, banking, leaving family...

PARTICIPANT E: I still feel anxious leaving home as i do miss my family being so far apart but i think that being in university and having the friends and support i do has made it a lot easier than i expected it to be. PARTICIPANT A: I moved when I was 12 so leaving my friends and family was really hard. I didn’t really understand why we have to move to be honest. But now, I prefer my life back in the UK. PARTICIPANT B: was really stressed during my application to university as I was unsure if I was going to receive home status fee’s. Learning about taxes and council tax was difficult. It was new to me, but I wouldn’t necessarily say it was anxiety inducing. PARTICIPANT C:: I didn’t know what side of the road to drive on! I didn’t have any real anxieties per say but now that I am in my final year of Uni I’m starting to feel unsure of my direction. The thought of having to go back to Holland stresses me. I don’t want to go.

PARTICIPANT D: Sort of felt stresses but I was so used to moving that I didn’t think too much into it, moving home was just another place to me. PARTICIPANT E: : When i moved back i was anxious i wasn’t going to make new friends, everyone will and does in their own way but it was always a worry what if i dont get along with the people i have to share a flat with or the people on my course but as soon as i realised everyone was in the same position it made me relax a lot more and enjoy getting to know people. 3. Do you feel that living outside your home country as a ‘third culture kid’ has bettered your quality of life and why? PARTICIPANT C : Yes! Growing up in Asia was amazing. I was given so many opportunities I wouldn’t have got living in Europe. Not only does living in a country other than you know create new perspectives, in terms of the people you meet, the places you see and the food you eat. It increases your engagement globally! Comparing my family and friends who live in Holland still, they seem so much more ‘depressed’ than me. Fair enough they don’t have maids, drivers, amazing private schools and affordable things to do all the time. PARTICIPANT B: Yes, I agree. I feel the benefit of the economic privileges we have in Thailand. Better job opportunities for expats especially when compared to standards of living in developing countries. The exposure to different cultures is something I classify as a privilege. PARTICIPANT E:: Im not as sensitive to people coming and going from my life as its something you get used to in an expat community people leave and come all the time its just one of the norms. I dont expect the same level of intensity from friendships, ive noticed people in the UK have different perspectives when it comes to being friends such as if you dont speak or message for a few days then you arent considered ‘close’ PARTICIPANT A: It has opened my eyes to more things but wouldn’t necessarily say its bettered my quality of life as such. PARTICIPANT D: Overall yes I think it was benefited me in some ways. I’m really happy I was able to have the life I had when I was younger and wouldn’t change it. 4. What has been your favourite thing about living abroad and what do you miss the most now you don’t live there? PARTICIPANT C: Being privileged enough to have a driver that helped with the ease of my life. I miss authentic Asian food and being able to go out so cheaply. PARTICIPANT A: I miss my friends and how easy it was to do whatever I wanted, whenever I want to. PARTICIPANT E: Definitely the lifestyle and experiences out there, i love being at uni and everyone i have met but the lifestyle back home is just amazing, that could be going out on a night out or just in the day there’s always something to do its never ‘repetitive’, PARTICIPANT C: I miss my international school and having such a good relationship with my teachers as university lectures don’t really get to know you on a personal level. I also miss having cool places to go to like taking my dog to the ‘barkyard’. PARTICIPANT B: The ease of an expat life, your life is super liberal and laid back. This is probably mainly due to the fact that as a family who has moved together, I have less responsibility than I would have if I lived in England (id be able to work…) PARTICIPANT D: my favourite thing was being able to live somewhere really interesting and different. I met some great people and created really strong friendships because you are all in the same boat and therefore appreciate where you are more because you know it won’t be forever. PARTICIPANT E: The people you meet and interact with as well, from all across the globe, you’d never be able to meet those people if you were to live in your home country all of your life.

5. Did you find it hard to explain your lifestyle to people that have not experienced the same thing? How did they respond? PARTICIPANT B: Sometimes I find it so difficult to explain that I just say I’m from York, even though I’ve never even lived there. It’s just where my parents are from. It makes it easier. PARTICIPANT C: Yeah at first when I moved to England it was really difficult. PARTICIPANT A: Yeah I very rarely say anything other than I am from Nottingham unless people ask from seeing my social media. People ask too many questions. PARTICIPANT C: No one really understood it and I think people just pretend the understand now. I’ve got an American accent so living in England is always going to cause confusion. PARTICIPANT A: yeah, I have a friend that has never even been on a plane so the thought of me having to fly 12 hours to go ‘home’ was a myth to him. PARTICIPANT D: I kind of find it a bit awkward as I didn’t want it to come across that I was bragging and showing off. It was hard to answer where I went to school prior to where I was. PARTICIPANT E: “In first year of uni I was very hesitant to tell people where I lived exactly because coming back to the UK for Uni after living in Dubai, people used the ‘rich kid’ ideology to label us as” 6. Would you ever consider moving back overseas to work? Or would you stay in your home country? PARTICIPANT A: Yes, but probably not Asia. I have no relationship or connection to it, if my mum and dad weren’t here, I probably would not come back at all. Maybe for a holiday once I have my own family. PARTICIPANT E: I would never say no, growing up overseas has opened me up to a lot of opportunities and people and if i was to start a life back home or in a different country i feel that i would have the same level of enjoyment i did growing up because its almost what you make it out to be & how you chose to experience the place your living in. PARTICIPANT C: I would like to start my career in England, so technically that is still ‘overseas’ for me and I am not against going back to Asia in the future it just depends on my circumstances and if it benefited my career. Id want the same opportunities for my children that I had though. And they don’t have schools like Patana in the UK or Holland. PARTICIPANT B: Yes definitely open to moving overseas in the future. Not necessarily to Asia as I don’t know if I would like to come back to Bangkok because it would be so different to my childhood. PARTICIPANT D: I want to move back overseas! I feel like it is a better quality of life. I don’t feel any attachment to being in England and having an experience living overseas has just made me realise how small the world is. I also think id be bored in England! 7.

Why did you move away from your home country initially?

PARTICIPANT A: My dad took a job in Thailand. I think it could have been avoided but my mum really wanted to live abroad the opportunity was there. PARTICIPANT C: Same, my dad’s job. PARTICIPANT E: Dad’s job. PARTICIPANT B: Either me nor my sister was born in England so I don’t really know to be honest, that’s just where I lived. Obviously, my parents did work there though. PARTICIPANT D: Because of my dad’s job, my mum did work once we got overseas but initially moved for my dad’s.

7. INDSUTRY INTERVIEWS: INDUSTRY INTERVEW 1. ELIZABETH MCDERMOTT - REPATRIATION STRESS MANAGER & REFLEXOLOGIST. QUESTION 1: If you have moved away to a new country that is NOT your birthplace or country of citizenship in your lifetime, what are the reasons for this move? Please answer here: Firstly for my husband’s work – however I now work. QUESTION 1 a) How did you initially feel about moving and what were your concerns/anxieties? Please answer here: I was excited about moving to a new country . I did have a 1 year old son so my main concern was for him and how I would access health care and find a doctor. How I would communicate as I did not for our first country speak Dutch and the second country I moved to I did not speak Japanese. QUESTION 2: In your opinion, do you think either growing up yourself as a ‘Third Culture Kid’ or bringing your own children up in this environment has helped you or them have a better quality of life? Please explain your reasoning for your opinion. Please answer here: Having third culture kids I feel has given then a better quality a life and a fantastic, openminded out look on life. A saying that I like is “you might not be able to give them roots, but you give them wings instead QUESTION 2 a) What factors about relocating do you think have positively or negatively impacted your life since moving and why? Eg, employment, healthcare, education… Please answer here: Positive factors about relocating are – experiencing a different way of life, expanding your mind, opinions and view on life, being exposed to our ideas, scenery , cultures all enrich your thought’s and feelings about life. Better Healthcare than the UK, better education even though it is not how I was educated or what I am used to it is a very international education. Negative things are – missing family and friends, as I was a “trailing spouse” I had to stop my career, having language problems, not being 100% understood QUESTION 3: Have you relocated to a different country for employment purposes? If yes, what are the differences between working in your home country to the country you moved to? Please answer here: It was my husband who relocated because of his work, there have not been that many differences with working in the UK and Belgium and Japan, only the language. QUESTION 4: Please answer one: If you have moved back to your home country after living abroad, how did you find it? Please answer here: we have not moved back yet. If you still live abroad, how do you find visiting your home country? Has your opinions and outlook changed on your home country since experiencing a new lifestyle/culture etc... Please answer here: Yes, we still live abroad and enjoy visiting the UK but our opinions have changed over the years towards the UK. You can look at things as a bit of an outsider and have experience of different systems so you can sometimes see the flaws or positive things in lots of situations

QUESTION 5: Do you feel that moving away from your home country has left you with any sense of loss? Please answer here: I would not say a sense of loss exactly but you do feel that there are many things you have missed out on from home – mostly family/ friend occasions And do you feel you are in any way less connected with friends and family since leaving? If yes, what aspects about expatriation has made you feel this way? Please answer here: Sometimes feel less connected because you do not experience those every day situations together, but then on the other hand you tend to talk more deeply with friends and family as you do not have long with them when you visit them. INDUSTRY INTERVIEW 2 RUTH VAN REKEN - AUTHOR OF PUBLISHED EXPATRIATION BOOKS & SPEAKER QUESTION 1: If you have moved away to a new country that is NOT your birthplace or country of citizenship in your lifetime, what are the reasons for this move? Please answer here: 1. I was born ‘overseas’ in Nigeria so my first move was to land of my citizenship, USA, at age 3. Went back and forth between them every four years until age of 13 when I “repatriated” to USA. Each back and forth was a cultural shift for sure. Biggest one was the ‘reentry’ at age 13. 2. Moved to Liberia with 3 daughters and husband in 1976, when I was 31 years. Back and forth to USA until 1985 when we permanently repatriated 3.

Moved to Kenya in 1993-1994 for husband’s job

4. Live now in Indianapolis, IN QUESTION 1 a) How did you initially feel about moving and what were your concerns/anxieties? Please answer here: Because cross-cultural/international mobility was part of my lifestyle growing up, I definitely assumed I would ‘make it’ in any and each new place. And I did. But I did have unexpected reactions related to unrealistici expectations that fellow adult expats would be like fellow TCK expats I grew up with. In other words, we were all TCKs in that community so understood and related well without thinking. I presumed the entire expat community saw the world the way I did but had to realize in the end, many had grown up with very different world views on race, political matters, and unease about living overseas than I thought about so it was almost like being a ‘hidden immigrant’ to return as an adult to a world I thought I knew as a child but experienced a bit differently as an adult. qUESTION 2: In your opinion, do you think either growing up yourself as a ‘Third Culture Kid’ or bringing your own children up in this environment has helped you or them have a better quality of life? Please explain your reasoning for your opinion. Please answer here: I believe this is an incredibly paradoxical lifestyle…rich, rich, rich with experiences of interacting with people of other cultures and races being primary. Seeing the world in both its beauty and also its sorrow is impacting in positive ways to spur us on to make a difference. But is that “quality of life”? I guess maybe so..it has made me realize the competition for “stuff’ in the USA is fairly shortsighted given it transitory nature and how investing in other people in other places can add lasting value to our world as well as theirs, at least I hope so!

QUESTION 2 a) What factors about relocating do you think have positively or negatively impacted your life since moving and why? Eg, employment, healthcare, education… Please answer here: Positive is experiencing and living in other cultures and seeing how life is there..and seeing the likeness of folks from every culture and place along with the uniqueness..that is positive and because of that I am not afraid to make friends with people from any background…at least that’s what I think..maybe I am naïve but that feels like what I believe. Certainly that adds greatly to my perception of the world and a confidence to move out into it rather than hiding in shadows and missing the ‘show’ of life. Negatively, however, are the separations from family and friends I love…whichever place I am in, I can never gather all I love into that place! And many friends precious to me have no awareness of others in other places who are equally precious..so in that sense, life is a bit disconnected QUESTION 3: Have you relocated to a different country for employment purposes? If yes, what are the differences between working in your home country to the country you moved to? Please answer here: I thought I would do nursing when I moved to Liberia but that had hired local nurses for all their positions and didn’t want to have expats take those places. If I had workd, the difference in cleanliness, capacity for lab tests, availability of supplies would dhave been a new challenge. QUESTION 4: Please answer one: If you have moved back to your home country after living abroad, how did you find it? Please answer here: For awhile ‘gray”…not bad but it seemed so monochromatic. I moved to a then fairly homogenous community and I was seen as arrogant if I talked about my international self so I tried hard to become the good suburban housewife! QUESTION 5: Do you feel that moving away from your home country has left you with any sense of loss? Please answer here: At times I did …when I realized there were things like family gatherings I had missed or cultural awareness other had and I didn’t, or opportunities my children wouildn’t have living in Libera…yet all of that also balanced for me when I stopped to realize no child anywhere can do and be everything and while they had lost some of these things, they had gained an awareness of the world through travel and life that other friends may not have had… so each person can enjoy their present and where they live even while accepting they can never have every experience others have in different circumstances And do you feel you are in any way less connected with friends and family since leaving? If yes, what aspects about expatriation has made you feel this way? Please answer here: There are some friends I have kept since high school.meaning for over 60 years now..but most are wonderful memories but just an occasional Christmas card or email…but then, unless someone grows up in a totally monocultural environment and the community stays the same as well, likely this is partly due to life stages..on the other hand, I have to make a conscious effort for the family and friends I want to stay really connected to in terms of intentionally connecting in letter or text or email as it is easy for me to simple cut them off as I have cut so many off in moving through the years..it is simply not possible to keep up with everyone. On the other hand, each relationship in its time and way, has added to my life and the results are embedded in me and shape me for how I see life and the future…in other words, even when I can’t actively keep up with every relationship, none of them were a waste of time because of that!

INDUSTRY INTERVIEW 3 TINEKE VALSTAR - LIFE COACH QUESTION 4: Please answer one: If you have moved back to your home country after living abroad, how did you find it? Please answer here: I found it really hard in some ways : cold climate, having a career gap of 18 years, friends and family having their routine and assuming that you know the drill and the life as you are from her. “fitting back in” is a struggle and excepting that you probably never will again is after a while ok. Easy in terms of language and explaining myself and living close to my family an friends from my homecountry. But then again missing my friends from my expat life. If you still live abroad, how do you find visiting your home country? Has your opinions and outlook changed on your home country since experiencing a new lifestyle/culture etc... Please answer here: QUESTION 5: Do you feel that moving away from your home country has left you with any sense of loss? Please answer here: Looking back, I see now that an expat life is a life of non-stop” goodbyes and hello’s again”. The sense of loss is that I have built less memories with family and friends in our home country. School routines and how sport was part of school life and how going out felt for my children will be hard to imagen by the children of my friends and vice versa. Although we kept Dutch traditions going with fellow Dutch people it feels different in a tropical environment. And do you feel you are in any way less connected with friends and family since leaving? If yes, what aspects about expatriation has made you feel this way? Please answer here: Absolutely not when I moved abroad I had more time to call email and chat with my friends in my home country. Now that I am back in my home country I have less time ! The amount of quality time and thus to really connect with friends and meeting new people was way better living abroad. INDUSTRY INTERVIEW 4 HELEN WATTS - RE-ENTRY COACH & QUESTION 1: If you have moved away to a new country that is NOT your birthplace or country of citizenship in your lifetime, what are the reasons for this move? Please answer here: I lived in Germany for a year as part of my degree course; I moved to Kyrgyzstan and lived there with my husband and two young children over a period of 10 years. This was for development / mission work because we wanted to do something more meaningful with our lives than just being part of the “rat race” in the UK QUESTION 1 a) How did you initially feel about moving and what were your concerns/anxieties? Please answer here: both times I was excited by the adventure and looking forward to seeing how it would be. Concerns were about language and being able to learn enough, but I think that was pretty minor both times as I had confidence that I could do it. QUESTION 2: In your opinion, do you think either growing up yourself as a ‘Third Culture Kid’ or bringing your own children up in this environment has helped you or them have a better quality of life? Please explain your reasoning for your opinion.

Please answer here: we brought our children up in Kyrgyzstan until they were 4 and 7. It was tough going, as we wanted to bring them up in a very different way to the prevailing culture. Being there made us ask ourselves big questions about how we were parenting, what was important, and where we wanted to do the same as the culture dictated and where we wanted to do something different. I believe this made us better parents because it was such conscious parenting. I also believe it was a good start in life for the children, as they were exposed to many things that children in the UK are not; they had experiences that others couldn’t because of being in a foreign, developing country; and the culture was much more laid back and based on relationships not busy-ness, so we were able to spend more time together as a family than we would have done here. Doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult for them at times – my oldest has sometimes struggled to belong since returning to the UK, but her maturity because of all she’s been through has really helped her. QUESTION 2 a) What factors about relocating do you think have positively or negatively impacted your life since moving and why? Eg, employment, healthcare, education… Please answer here: I’ll answer the question as if we were still there. Healthcare was tricky as there basically wasn’t any to western standards. We were reliant on American doctors being on the end of the phone to advise us. We worked for a local NGO, so employment was part of being there Education – I had to home-school my eldest child in order to keep her up with the school system here for when we returned. Not easy, not something I’d choose to do. She also attended a local kindergarten along with my son, which wasn’t without stressors. Local culture was always a struggle for us, particularly after we had children, as we didn’t always like the way things were done or approached. Basic living was also incredibly hard work as it took a lot of time and energy. All these things were part of the challenge of living in a very different culture – I don’t think of them in terms of positive and negative, just what was and what we needed to relate to. QUESTION 3: Have you relocated to a different country for employment purposes? If yes, what are the differences between working in your home country to the country you moved to? Please answer here: not exactly – it was a completely different way of being employed which we wouldn’t have done had we been in the UK. QUESTION 4: Please answer one: If you have moved back to your home country after living abroad, how did you find it? Please answer here: It took about 18 months to start feeling more settled once we came back. It was hard re-establishing ourselves, finding a place of belonging and working out how to do things again. But we knew it was the right decision and the right place to be, so we just needed to be patient and let it take the time it needed. QUESTION 5: Do you feel that moving away from your home country has left you with any sense of loss? Please answer here: not as much as leaving our host country! We did feel a lot of grief though each time we came back for a visit and had to say goodbyes again at the end. Our parents definitely felt the loss of their grandchildren and in some ways we felt that for the children too, but they had many other surrogate parents and grandparents in the expat community, so in some ways it didn’t matter. Many friends we had before moving abroad are not people we now have as friends since returning as we and they moved on. So that was a sense of loss. And do you feel you are in any way less connected with friends and family since leaving? If yes, what aspects about expatriation has made you feel this way? Please answer here: yes. Friends, as I mentioned above, move on. Some people stay in touch while you’re away, and it’s not always those you think will stay in touch. Some you just can’t relate to when you come back. Family. We did fairly well at staying in touch with family, but since returning we always feel a little different to the rest of my family, like there’s shared history for them which is not there for us. 70

INTERVIEW 5 KRISTEN MEADOWS - HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IN THAILAND

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8. pestle analysis

Political: Brexit is making it extremely difficult for expatriates living in Europe to exchange their British driving license from the UK card to an international driving permit, to ensure those Britons living in the EU can continue to drive legally. (1st Move International, 202(McCarthy, 2020) Stricter paperwork regulations to ensure expats are staying fully legalised (only applicable if in Europe) (1st Move International, 2020) Several nations have given their green light to allow British citizens to live in their countries. However this may become a stressful level of uncertainty for the issue of visas and work permits. (1st Move International, 2020) 25% of the British are living abroad as pensioners. However issues risen from brexit are proving to impact the privilege of healthcare and therefore the EU is expecting a rise of British expats to move back to the UK to protect healthcare and pensions. (McCarthy, 2018). Economic: The expense of sending an expat on an international assignment is huge for any organization and the expat. On average an expatriates cost 2 to 3 times what would usually be spent on an equivalent position at home. (Black, J. et al, 1999). A fully loaded expatriate package including benefits of living costs start from $300,000 (ÂŁ230,494) to $1 million (ÂŁ768,314). Between 10%-20% of all US managers sent abroad returned earlier than expected due to lack of settling in and job satisfaction. - the process of choosing the correct expats to send abroad is one of those important factors to undertake, and for the right reasons too. Ensuring no one has to go through the process for no reason. (Black, J. et al, 1999) The most remote jobs are not as highly paid as on-site employment, therefore expats are known to jump from country to country and overstay their visas in developing countries where their salaries are not enough to provide but do provide a good lifestyle. (Pajaro, 2018) Social : Social interactions with the host, home and third-country nationals is a source of accepting cultural norms that reduced uncertainties associated with work and non-work situations. (Caligiuri, P. and Lazarova, M, 2002). Social attitudes and social arrangements impact the trend of health and well-being significantly. Social factors such as race, age, social class and/or socioeconomic status also majorly impact the process of expatriation. These can also allegedly result to attitudes changes from expats themselves or family/friends. (Greckla, 2016) Role of stigma - mental health. Technology: The USA (especially) are the global leader of science and technology. The rise of technological advancements are growing rapidly. 79.2 million international employees were made expats in 2018 (Lock, 2019). This due to the vast amount of jobs becoming globalised for the best outcome, therefore having to send out employees for expatriation. Legal: Legal regulations and laws may complicate the process of expatriation, let alone the impacts it has on health and wellbeing. Work visas and rights are implicated through partnership with political factors (Your Europe - Citizens, 2020). In terms of expatriation into Europe, EU nationals will remain enjoying free movement to live and work in the UK. As do UK citizens under the Withdrawal Agreement. However, if and when Brexit occurs, this will change and therefore leave many unemployed and possibly homeless - essentially widely impacting their mental and physical well-being (CIPD,2020).

10. consent forms

focus group

industry interviews: