A Family Year Abroad: How to Live Outside the

Is your family stuck in a rut? Chris Westphal and his family were. Instead of a vacation, he and his wife, Stephanie, packed up and moved with their two bright, school-aged children to Prague, Czech Republic, for an entire year! The effect on the family was profound. Both children later went on exchange programs to France and have a new appreciation for the world and their place in it. Funny, insightful, and inspiring, this book is for anyone wanting to learn from others' life experiences abroad or wanting to make a life change. "Part diary, part practical guide...everything you need to know about moving to, living in, and returning home from another land." -Jerry Camarillo Dunn, Jr, National Geographic Society Features include: -Picking a country and convincing the kids -What to bring and how to pack -Finding a job, a school, and a place to live -Surviving culture shock--both abroad and back home -Sending your children on a student exchange program--or hosting your own foreign exchange student. Chris Westphal is the author of one novel, Echo Valley, and has worked as a writer in journalism, network television, and public relations. He lives in Southern California with his wife, Stephanie, and their two gifted children, Drew and Kelsey.

Preface About This Book... and More

xiii

Introduction Living Outside the Borders

1

(6)

What's wrong with this picture? We're moving to a country We've never even visited. We embark with high expectations, minimal plans, and lots of romance. So the question really is, what's right with this picture?

It Must Be a British Thing

7

(10)

Evaluating different countries as to their suitability for one's family. Resources to consider when starting the initial planning process

A Ramblin' Kind of Family

17

(18)

How to make preliminary plans for expatriate living, including deciding whether to sell, rent, or leave your house vacant, and tips on how to do so with minimal risk

Hobnobbing with the Foreign Police

35

(8)

What to bring and what not to bring for the early part of your trip, including over-the-counter medications. What to consider regarding computers and electrical equipment

Who Put the Klutz in Kludsky?

43

(8)

Travel is broadening in its own right, but unless you're devoted to home-schooling, you'll probably want your school-aged children in some sort of school program. Here's what to think about when considering various options for educating your children while you live abroad. And have you considered getting a graduate degree while abroad? Distance learning programs make it possible.

Use the Good China

51

(16)

What to look out for and what to do when you realize you're not in Kansas anymore

`Carp' Diem

67

(14)

How to find a place to live-things to consider, things to avoid.

Flying the Coop

81

(10)

How to set up your life back in the States so that it will run easily while you're away. Managing money via electronic banking, automatic bill payment, and wire transfers

A Night at (what we thought was) the Opera

91

(12)

Health concerns while living abroad. Health insurance and medical care considerations while abroad. Notes about other types of insurance to think about for your family. Information on how to rent a car, how to bring your car with you, and auto insurance considerations

A Giraffe at the Window

103

(14)

Some basic steps to setting up a Web site

Defying Gravity

117

(16)

Traveling with children can be a chore-or not. Here are some ways to make everyone's life easier while on the road

The Long Road Back

133

(10)

In the beginning, a year seemed like an eternity. Near the end, it seemed to short

I Said Goodbye, You Say Hello

143

(8)

In Some Ways, coming back home is more difficult than settling into a new country. What to look out for, and how to cope

I Do Declare! I Have Nothing to Declare

151

(6)

U.S. Customs rules, and tips and ideas about shipping

Expat Light: House Exchanges

157

(6)

If living abroad for a year or more is impractical for your family, house exchanges offer a non-touristy opportunity to experience another country

A Host of Student Exchange Programs

163

(12)

If an extended period abroad is impossible for the whole family, your child may be interested in spending a semester, six months, or a year abroad living with a host family. Or you may want to invite a foreign student to live with your family

Appendix I Your Bags Are Packed, Your Days Are Numbered

175

(14)

For the order-minded reader, here are lists of what to do and when to do it to make your departure and your return go as smoothly as possible

Appendix II It's All in the Web... Somewhere

189

(12)

Listings of Web sites highlighted in this book

Notes

201

(2)

Acknowledgements

203

(2)

Index

205

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A Family Year Abroad: How to Live Outside the Borders

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials