A Fair Question

by Robert E. "", President
ExpatRepat Services


"Why Should I Consider Using Your Services?" That's a fair question. The caller had returned to the U.S. with his wife after they had completed a multiyear international assignment. After all, they had adjusted well to their host country, and he had served with distinction as the country manager.

A manager of International HR in this executive's company thought assistance with resources for repatriation would be useful to these veteran expats. After all, it has been noted widely that those who adjust well to a host culture and perform their expat roles with proficiency tend to be challenged more in cultural readjustment to home than expats who complete a less noteworthy assignment. Strange as it may seem, those who may have merely "endured" an expatriate assignment, and perhaps under performed there when compared with their last domestic assignment, often have less difficulty in repatriation than expats who excelled as expatriates.

I began to answer this caller's question by saying: "It is possible you should not consider using our services in repatriation. That will be a decision for you to make."

After summarizing why effective expats often need additional resources to readjust culturally to home, he asked a second question: "How do we sign up for your services?"

We began immediately to communicate in depth using the telephone and e-mail. This executive and his wife were completely open about their experiences. From those exchanges, a syllabus was prepared which guided a two-day workshop experience at a place of their selection. We explored thoroughly what had occurred in their successful adjustment to a host culture. Then with the help of worksheets, in-depth discussions, and PowerPoint presentations we examined how one can go through the process of repatriation more desirably, and with less trauma, to enhance and even make long-term use of things learned as an expatriate.

The learning experiences for this repatriating couple proved to be enlightening and stimulating. In evaluating the workshop experiences, this veteran expatriate wrote these words:

"I fully support offering a similar experience to all returning families. . .The successful repatriation of existing repatriates is critically important to (our company). It is not only important to maximize the benefit of the experiences that these individuals have had. . .but also as an example to other potential expatriates of the care and attention that they can expect from a similar assignment."

Should you, or one of your employees, consider using our repatriation resources?

For more information, contact us.

Read more articles about repatriation.