An American in London (or Paris or Rome…)
Many college students choose to spend a semester or more of their education living and studying abroad. It’s a natural transition period in a young person’s life—and a great time for change and new experiences. However, as we establish careers and home lives, it becomes more challenging to simply pick up and move to a new city—let alone a new country.
Karen Jensen experienced this challenge when her husband, Brian, was offered a chance to move to England for his job at Caterpillar Inc. in August 2003. As a child, Jensen had been accustomed to moving periodically for her father’s position in the Air Force. However, this would be the first major move she’d make with her own family.
Jensen and her husband discussed all of the factors surrounding the potential international move and finally decided it would not only be a great opportunity for her husband, but also a good learning experience for the whole family. “The opportunity for my husband to broaden his professional career coupled with being able to experience—as a family—something new and unique were the primary drivers for us,” Jensen said. “Also, our children were young enough that we felt the timing was good for relocation.”
At the time of the move, Jensen’s three children, Taylor, Andrew, and Lara, were 10, 8, and 4 years old, respectively. “The idea seemed pretty dramatic to them when we first told them, even though we tried our best with discussions of castles, Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, and kings and queens,” she said. “But flying in the face of all parenting guidance, we resorted to promising a dog when we returned to America.”
Among the many details the family had to work out was what to do with their empty home. For the year and a half they spent in England, Jensen and her husband decided to rent out their house in Peoria.
Not only did Jensen have to leave her home, but she also had to revise her responsibilities as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Farnsworth Group, Inc. “When I went abroad, my job duties were modified from technical line responsibilities to lead the administrative functions for Farnsworth Group,” Jensen said. “These responsibilities were more conducive to the remote working situation and also the time differences. I traveled back to America every few weeks to work a week or two in Illinois.”
The Jensens moved into a barn conversion called Drovers Barn located in Carlton, a village with a population of approximately 300 people in the midlands of England. Fortunately, their home was only a short distance from the facility where Jensen’s husband worked and the school they selected for their children.
The family members experienced many changes from their ordinary lives in America. Even though they were in an English-speaking country, Jensen said it was difficult to understand the accents and learn new phrases unique to the country.
She also had to adjust to the driving situation—including how to drive a manual car on the opposite side of the road. The family had only one vehicle for a short period while they shopped for another and until Jensen had taken driving lessons. She eventually received her “hard-earned U.K. driver’s license.”
Her children also went through many changes as they entered a new school. “The children went from backpacks and tennis shoes to blazers, briefcases, and satchels; from pencil and multiple choice tests to fountain pens and booklets; from studying about Columbus to Henry VIII’s wives and how they died; and from basketball and baseball to rugby, cricket, and football (soccer),” Jensen said.
However, even though the family was in unfamiliar surroundings, other Caterpillar families joined them in England, easing them into the adjustment. “The other Caterpillar families who’d already relocated to England and knew firsthand the challenges we’d be facing made the adjustment easier,” Jensen said. “Since most of them had no relatives or friends in England when they moved, either, we all had the experience in common. Our new friends there did more than could be imagined to get us settled in and comfortable.”
Jensen and her family returned to their home in Peoria in January 2005. They’d kept in touch with many of their friends and neighbors, making the move home much easier. “We all miss friends in England, the time we had there, and the castles, cathedrals, estate homes, and museums we left unseen,” Jensen said. “But we also truly appreciate what we have in Peoria and look forward to what the future holds.”
Living Abroad Checklist
According to Rachel Skrlac of Transitions Abroad magazine, you should consider this checklist in deciding whether an international move is right for you and your family:
• Careers: Have you considered how important career development is for both spouses?
• Relationship: Have you discussed how the dynamics of your relationship may change?
• Home comforts: What products or services are essential for you?
• Cost of living: What’s the cost of living at the destination and what could eat up potential income?
• Isolation: Can both of you handle leaving friends and family behind?
• Health care: Are you aware of potential health risks and how existing conditions will be affected (e.g. allergies, asthma)? Get necessary inoculations beforehand and stock up on recommended medicine. Be prepared for the physical side effects of the new location, and check the availability/affordability of necessities.
• Sports and hobbies: Are there facilities for your current activities? Are you willing to take up new ones? Prevent overdependence on your spouse by seeking out diverse activities that involve members of the local community.
• Pets: Have you made appropriate arrangements for moving your pets to new homes?
• Religious practices: Will you have access to your choice of affiliations?
• Transportation: Have you determined the most efficient mode of transportation?
• Making a new home: Have you investigated how to do things such as open a bank account? To help you feel more settled, buy a map and explore your community. Also, find out about normal business hours.
• Community involvement: Are you ready to be active in a new community? Go to the library or other public institution to discover ways to do so.
• Family planning: Have you considered how an international move may affect starting—or expanding—your family? Consider things like isolation from family and social networks, medical coverage and facilities, schooling, and daycare.
• Keeping in touch: How important is keeping in touch with friends and family to you? If it’s very important, weigh this into your decision.
Once a decision is reached to live abroad, there are many resources for expatriates to keep in touch with their home countries. Web sites such as www.transitionsabroad.com and www.womenlivingabroad.com offer advice to women living abroad, along with general safety tips for the whole family. The Global Citizen (www.the-global-citizen.com) also offers expat coaching to help guide and support women through the expatriate process. TPW
Karen Jensen experienced this challenge when her husband, Brian, was offered a chance to move to England for his job at Caterpillar Inc. in August 2003. As a child, Jensen had been accustomed to moving periodically for her father’s position in the Air Force. However, this would be the first major move she’d make with her own family.
Jensen and her husband discussed all of the factors surrounding the potential international move and finally decided it would not only be a great opportunity for her husband, but also a good learning experience for the whole family. “The opportunity for my husband to broaden his professional career coupled with being able to experience—as a family—something new and unique were the primary drivers for us,” Jensen said. “Also, our children were young enough that we felt the timing was good for relocation.”
At the time of the move, Jensen’s three children, Taylor, Andrew, and Lara, were 10, 8, and 4 years old, respectively. “The idea seemed pretty dramatic to them when we first told them, even though we tried our best with discussions of castles, Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, and kings and queens,” she said. “But flying in the face of all parenting guidance, we resorted to promising a dog when we returned to America.”
Among the many details the family had to work out was what to do with their empty home. For the year and a half they spent in England, Jensen and her husband decided to rent out their house in Peoria.
Not only did Jensen have to leave her home, but she also had to revise her responsibilities as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Farnsworth Group, Inc. “When I went abroad, my job duties were modified from technical line responsibilities to lead the administrative functions for Farnsworth Group,” Jensen said. “These responsibilities were more conducive to the remote working situation and also the time differences. I traveled back to America every few weeks to work a week or two in Illinois.”
The Jensens moved into a barn conversion called Drovers Barn located in Carlton, a village with a population of approximately 300 people in the midlands of England. Fortunately, their home was only a short distance from the facility where Jensen’s husband worked and the school they selected for their children.
The family members experienced many changes from their ordinary lives in America. Even though they were in an English-speaking country, Jensen said it was difficult to understand the accents and learn new phrases unique to the country.
She also had to adjust to the driving situation—including how to drive a manual car on the opposite side of the road. The family had only one vehicle for a short period while they shopped for another and until Jensen had taken driving lessons. She eventually received her “hard-earned U.K. driver’s license.”
Her children also went through many changes as they entered a new school. “The children went from backpacks and tennis shoes to blazers, briefcases, and satchels; from pencil and multiple choice tests to fountain pens and booklets; from studying about Columbus to Henry VIII’s wives and how they died; and from basketball and baseball to rugby, cricket, and football (soccer),” Jensen said.
However, even though the family was in unfamiliar surroundings, other Caterpillar families joined them in England, easing them into the adjustment. “The other Caterpillar families who’d already relocated to England and knew firsthand the challenges we’d be facing made the adjustment easier,” Jensen said. “Since most of them had no relatives or friends in England when they moved, either, we all had the experience in common. Our new friends there did more than could be imagined to get us settled in and comfortable.”
Jensen and her family returned to their home in Peoria in January 2005. They’d kept in touch with many of their friends and neighbors, making the move home much easier. “We all miss friends in England, the time we had there, and the castles, cathedrals, estate homes, and museums we left unseen,” Jensen said. “But we also truly appreciate what we have in Peoria and look forward to what the future holds.”
Living Abroad Checklist
According to Rachel Skrlac of Transitions Abroad magazine, you should consider this checklist in deciding whether an international move is right for you and your family:
• Careers: Have you considered how important career development is for both spouses?
• Relationship: Have you discussed how the dynamics of your relationship may change?
• Home comforts: What products or services are essential for you?
• Cost of living: What’s the cost of living at the destination and what could eat up potential income?
• Isolation: Can both of you handle leaving friends and family behind?
• Health care: Are you aware of potential health risks and how existing conditions will be affected (e.g. allergies, asthma)? Get necessary inoculations beforehand and stock up on recommended medicine. Be prepared for the physical side effects of the new location, and check the availability/affordability of necessities.
• Sports and hobbies: Are there facilities for your current activities? Are you willing to take up new ones? Prevent overdependence on your spouse by seeking out diverse activities that involve members of the local community.
• Pets: Have you made appropriate arrangements for moving your pets to new homes?
• Religious practices: Will you have access to your choice of affiliations?
• Transportation: Have you determined the most efficient mode of transportation?
• Making a new home: Have you investigated how to do things such as open a bank account? To help you feel more settled, buy a map and explore your community. Also, find out about normal business hours.
• Community involvement: Are you ready to be active in a new community? Go to the library or other public institution to discover ways to do so.
• Family planning: Have you considered how an international move may affect starting—or expanding—your family? Consider things like isolation from family and social networks, medical coverage and facilities, schooling, and daycare.
• Keeping in touch: How important is keeping in touch with friends and family to you? If it’s very important, weigh this into your decision.
Once a decision is reached to live abroad, there are many resources for expatriates to keep in touch with their home countries. Web sites such as www.transitionsabroad.com and www.womenlivingabroad.com offer advice to women living abroad, along with general safety tips for the whole family. The Global Citizen (www.the-global-citizen.com) also offers expat coaching to help guide and support women through the expatriate process. TPW