Personal Connections

Living overseas means you won’t see family and friends as often, and you may miss out on birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. Separation from loved ones is certainly a sacrifice international assignees make; it’s a trade-off for the professional and personal advantages of experiencing work and life in another country. The good news is that technology is one of your new best friends when it comes to keeping in touch. Research your options, and then put these tools to work for you:

• Cellular. Talk to your mobile provider about whether or not your phone will work on the network in your host country. Many international assignees find it’s easier and less expensive to cancel their service at home and use a local prepaid service overseas for texts and calls.
• Video Calls. Skype and similar video communication technologies allow you to call, text or video chat for little or no cost. One expat said her kids “saw” and spoke with their grandparents in Korea much more frequently than when they were living just across town.
• Social Media. Use Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Twitter and other social media to share your international experience with friends and family. They will enjoy keeping up to date on your international travels and experiences.