The Republic of Kazakhstan emerged from the former USSR as an independent nation in 1991. It is one of the largest countries in the world and Astana, its capital, is one of the youngest (and coldest) capital cities. In this anthology of expatriate experiences in Kazakhstan, 24 authors from 11 countries show us this Central Asian country as they know it. In Drinking Camel's Milk in the Yurt, we travel to the country's bustling, multicultural cities, to its rural homesteads steeped in rich traditions, and to the Kazakh Steppe, the vast open plain that has for centuries been home to a nomadic way of life. During the journey, we come to understand the importance of the yurt, or nomad's tent, we are privy to a powerful reflection on Soviet-era labour camps, and we witness the build-up to a traditional Kazakh wedding. In a variety of cross-cultural exchanges - some bewildering, some funny - we meet locals, try new cuisines, discover the work of a talented local artist, join one man's quest for a unique piece of Kazakh furniture for his wife, and explore the steppe as it deserves to be explored - on horseback. More importantly, we are introduced to the warmth of Kazakh hospitality and we learn it is possible to survive the extreme temperatures of a Kazakh winter. Whether you are an expat, a traveller or just curious about other cultures, Drinking Camel's Milk in the Yurt: Expat stories from Kazakhstan will introduce you to the Kazakh landscape, people and cultures as experienced by its expatriates - both those who are passing through and those who have decided to stay.

Do you want to find a career that is: a) based on what you love to do more than anything; b) created from your strongest skills and best assets; c) will let you work anywhere; d) can be sustained and developed even if you move again? then you need A Career in Your Suitcase. In this fully revised and updated 4th edition, A Career in Your Suitcase enters its 15th year of inspiring, motivating and supporting men and women who want to love what they do for a living. Now packed with over 20 exercises that combine to create your unique Career Passport, the new edition covers everything you need from finding your passion, to developing a brand, networking on and offline and marketing. This time, career consultant, Colleen Reichrath-Smith, joins serial expat entrepreneur, Jo Parfitt, in the latest and most comprehensive incarnation of this best selling book.

Everyone knows that laughter is the best medicine, but Forced to Fly is more than a collection of funny stories about the seeing the funny side of the day to day blunders we all make. It is packed with stories that resonate with anyone who has lived abroad Its opening chapters, written by experts, counsellors and real-life expats who have struggled with culture shock, will provide support and advice to guide you through any dark patches. When the first edition came out I had no idea that it would find its way into corporate goodie bags for relocating employees, nor that people would call me up, saying, "Help, my daughter-in-law has just moved to Dubai and is not doing so well. Can you send her a book, please?" In this second edition, we have added a chapter on emotional resilience in addition to more than 20 new stories for you to enjoy from new writers such as Jack Scott, whose memoir, Perking the Pansies, has been shortlisted for the Polaris prize and the hilarious Debbie Fletcher, author of Bitten by Spain. Blogger contributors AdventuresInExpatland, DisparateHuisvrouw, WordGeyser and IWasAnExpatWife make this a thoroughly modern version of an old favourite. "A must-have book for expats everywhere. A unique mix of practical advice and funny stories that everyone will relate to." Toni Summers-Hargis, author of Rules, Britannia and blogger at Expat Mum - http: //expatmum.blogspot.com 'I would love to have had it with me when I left home ten years ago for the first time." Laura J Stephens, author of An Inconvenient Posting, an expat wife's memoir of lost identity - www.laurajstephens.com "Delightfully relevant. A cleverly crafted collection of expatriate stories and advice, including the good, the bad and the hilarious side of international living. Perfect for global nomads looking to feel connected through shared experiences." Alison Cavatore, Founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Global Living Magazine - www.globallivingmagazine.com

Whether you're visiting Gran Canaria courtesy of picking up a last-minute bargain break or planning to relocate there, Going Local in Gran Canaria is the book for you. Covering everything from places to see on your holiday to property advice and career opportunities, Going Local is much more than a travel guide. New residents will be delighted by its accessible, humorous style and the inside scoop on what's hot and what's not, coming from British journalist and resident of eight years, Matthew Hirtes. "Matthew Hirtes probably knows more about Gran Canaria than many who were born there. Going Local is an engaging and authoritative guide for visitors and new residents alike." Louise Parkin, editor Living Spain magazine "Going Local in Gran Canaria takes us through the background, history, culture, traditions and people at a steady canter that leaves you much better informed than when you started the book, and with a desire to visit and experience the pleasures and attractions yourself. Clearly, there is something for everyone: both in the book and in Gran Canaria." Chris Marshall, Telegraph Expat columnist and blogger at Almerimarlife.com "With a rare depth of insight, Matthew weaves his personal experiences through an engaging narrative to show us a different face to Gran Canaria." Andrea and Jack Montgomery author of Going Native in Tenerife "An extraordinarily honest, detailed, colourfully-written guide that both informs and entertains. Highly recommended." Victoria Twead, author of Chickens, Mules and Two Old Fools, Two Old Fools - Ole and Mouth-Watering Spanish Recipes.

The only thing you can be sure you can move around the world is your child's ability to increase his or her interpersonal skills. In today's global world, each of us is searching for effective tools that can help our children to thrive. Emotional Resilience for the Expat Child provides a step-by-step guide that is designed to increase a child's emotional vocabulary and emotional intelligence. Doing this will enable your child to achieve his or her fullest potential. The bond between an adult and child is key to the psychological health of the child. For the expatriate child, this bond is more vital than ever. This workbook has been created for you to use together and will provide the perfect place to connect for you and your family. With easily understood and practical steps any parent can apply, you can start to create and enjoy your family's 'emotion stories'. This book will help you to develop the mutually respectful and loving relationships with your kids that you've always wanted. Working on these 'emotion stories', all children can develop a strong sense of personal narrative; they will find their own 'voice' and in so doing will grow into confident, happy teenagers. When a child feels happy and confident, he will be more likely to construct and communicate his emotions. The richer his vocabulary is in emotions, the more competent and powerful he will be in reflecting on his behavior and how his actions and interactions are intertwined. Well-written in an engaging, conversational tone, this book is sensible, straightforward and based on the experiences of expat families. It will give your child what he or she needs to understand and express today in order to grow into a caring, emotional intelligent adult tomorrow.

This is a story of survival. It is a story of hope. Niamh was raped inside a wardrobe by the father of a school friend when she was just nine-years-old. An Irish catholic, growing up in Dublin, the nuns called her a Whore of Babylon because she was left-handed. And so began a life of abuse. Niamh is a woman who copes, who gets on with things and who knows how to rise above her past - that is until it resurfaces and becomes an obstacle to the happiness she knows she deserves. Singing saved her life and her sanity. It was her escape from hurt and travesty. Running from her past, Niamh travelled to London, Greece and to the Netherlands, where she found love and a Dutch husband. But it was not until she hit her fiftieth birthday, divorced and living alone with her daughter, that she took her first steps on the road to freedom. This memoir shows how a remarkable woman learned to search for the hero inside herself and began to sing from the rooftops about the joy that can be found in the darkest of times. The author lives in The Hague and is actively involved in both local and expatriate communities. "Courageous in the extreme, Niamh Ni Bhroin takes us on a personal journey that traverses the horrors of the past and the loving embrace of today. Magnificent." Kieron Connolly, novelist

Despite greater harmonization, national cultures and business environments still vary enormously. Whatever the purpose of the visit or length of stay, it is all too easy to arrive uninformed in a country. This French language edition of "Working in Europe" is a comprehensive guide for those seeking employment abroad. It combines hard facts; soft information such as insights into national characteristics, the culture and the fundamental dos and don'ts; and comparative charts, for the important variations that may affect decisions.

What's it really like Living and Working in France? Not surprisingly there's a lot more to life than baguettes, berets and boules! This book is guaranteed to hasten your introduction to la vie francaise, irrespective of whether you're planning to stay for a few months or indefinitely. Adjusting to day-to day-life in France just got a whole lot simpler! The most comprehensive and best-selling book about living in France since it was first published in 1993, containing up to twice as much information as some similar books.

Despite greater harmonization, national cultures and business environments still vary enormously. Whatever the purpose of the visit or length of stay, it is all too easy to arrive uninformed in a country. This German language edition of "Working in Europe" is a comprehensive guide for those seeking employment abroad. It combines hard facts; soft information such as insights into national characteristics, the culture and the fundamental dos and don'ts; and comparative charts, for the important variations that may affect decisions.

Look before Leaping merges court trends and cases, experts' first-hand accounts and recommendations of best practices, currently used risk-averting documents, and essential texts to bring a comprehensive study of the most common risks, liabilities, and needed repair for study abroad in higher education. As the title implies, too often students and program leaders jump into study abroad without adequately knowing the risks involved; the results can be tragic, even deadly. Unfortunately, ill-trained, negligent program leaders contribute to the mayhem, and legal ramifications frequently follow. At present, study abroad is experiencing its greatest growth ever. With this phenomenon more mishaps and lawsuits are occurring, demanding an increasing duty of care to manage programs. This book is produced for experts who design and lead study abroad, and for participants who desire the safest, most educational experiences overseas. Each has a duty to be scrupulous, or to "look before leaping" into study abroad. This book is designed to armor both for possible overseas risks, and give them preparedness to work through potential threats that may be faced.

When Pretoria boy Ted Botha moved to New York City, he was not so much an immigrant as someone on the make – a travelling South African looking to broaden his horizons. In no time he’d lied his way into a job in the New York magazine industry. Then he stumbled upon a small old dilapidated building in Harlem and moved in. Several blocks away, flats were selling for $1 million and more, yet he’d found one he could afford. What seemed like a fantastic opportunity, however, quickly descended into a world of chaos, lies, conspiracies, suspicion, drug dealing, police raids and death threats. Behind much of it slithered that terrible beast Botha thought he had left behind in South Africa, race. And the worse things got in the New World, the more Botha thought of the world he had left behind, Africa. Could he ever reconcile the two and survive the anarchy rampant in his old building? In equal parts memoir, comedy and tragedy – not to mention a travelogue/travelog (with some detours into American spelling along the way) – Flat/White brings to life a cast of characters that you won’t soon forget, in a story you won’t actually believe is true. But it is.

China has become one of the largest study and teach-abroad, travel, and business destinations in the world. Yet few books offer a diversity of perspectives and locales for Westerners considering the leap. This unique collection of letters offers a rarely seen, intimate, and refreshingly honest view of living and working in China. Here, ordinary people recent college graduates, teachers, professors, engineers, lawyers, computer whizzes, and parents recount their experiences in venues ranging from classrooms to marketplaces to holy mountains. The writers are genuine participants in the daily life of their adopted country, and woven throughout their correspondence is the compelling theme of outsiders coping in a culture that is vastly foreign to them and the underlying love-hate struggle it engenders. We follow their initial highs; the shift to general discomfort and then to full-blown culture shock; and slowly, the return of a sense of balance, identity, and normalcy; and finally, the decision to return home or stay. Written in a down-to-earth, personal, often humorous, always authentic style, these tales of trials, successes, and failures offer invaluable insight into a country that remains endlessly fascinating.

Every year, thousands of students participate in study abroad programs located in the United Kingdom. In this book, Holly Carter provides a guide to help ease the mystery, confusion, and frustration associated with studying abroad. Designed for student use, this book contains pre-departure information, tips for students in the first two weeks, advice for studying and living in the UK, and information about returning home and readjusting.

Most individuals agree that it doesn't make sense to have immigrant professionals-doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, and others-in the Washington region, or any other region, working in entry-level service jobs, as many currently do. This guide not only addresses such issues as how to resume the profession you held in your former country and where to find the help to achieve that goal, but it also provides suggestions and sound advice for reaching a middle ground between resuming that profession and moving up from the entry level job you now have. Complete with the first steps for re-careering, for improving their American English, for getting an education that meets their needs and the requirements of the profession, and for finding financial help for additional training and education, this reference provides general information about the American culture and process for improving your American English, developing your career, understanding and working with the American higher education system, and obtaining educational financial aid. Full contact information for federal, state, local, and private resources in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia is provided. Career counselors, social workers, and others who work with immigrant clients will also find this book to be a valuable resource for assisting their clients. This step-by-step guide to developing a career plan and getting the additional training or education, will help any professional who has recently arrived or has been working in the United States achieve their career goals.

Kohls shares a feast of Korean culture: a ricebowl of history and tradition complimented by an array of spicy tidbits that capture the reader's attention like a mouthful of kimchi. Based on personal experience, he provides critical incidents that explore the more puzzling aspects of Korean culture. Kohls explores Korean values-traditional values, value changes over the past forty years and projected values for the early decades of the twenty-first century. He is equally insightful when it comes to discussing the cultural patterns and practices of the workplace. He takes on management style, personal issues, networking and "pull," negotiating style, persistence, key Korean business relations and more. To a greater extent than most other Asisan countries, Korea adheres to the traditional collectivist and Confucian traits of harmony, hierarchy, ingroups/outgroups, status, and proper behavior. According to Kohls, these traits plus the more Westernized values of the younger generations and the veneer of modern urban savvy surface in surprising combinations in personal and workplace relationships-often where they are least expected.

The Chinese are fond of using four-character phrases, known as cheng yu, to improve their writing style. The Chinese characters on the cover spell out one such idiom: pao zhuan yin yu. Translated literally, this would be "throw bricks attract jade." It can also express the idea of throwing out something of little value to induce a potential business partner to offer something more valuable. The authors of Turning Bricks into Jade, a more idiomatic rendering of pao zhuan yin yu, like to think of each critical incident in this collection as a brick, which, when combined with similar bricks, good sense and effort, can be used to construct relationships more valuable even than jade. A critical incident is a story about cross-cultural conflict or misunderstanding. Many of the forty-one incidents are based on actual events that involved one or more of the authors or their acquaintances. Some are a composite of several authors' experiences. You choose one of four or five possible alternatives that explain the misunderstanding. Following each incident is a discussion of possible solutions, based on the authors' experiences and grounded in current research. Misunderstandings between Chinese and American interactants are complicated; there is almost never just one thing going on. One result of this complexity is that many of the incidents have more than one correct explanation. Forty-one Americans and Chinese with considerable experience in both cultures read the collection of incidents for validation. As you work through the incidents, you may feel the need for a more detailed explanation or definition of certain recurring themes. A section on key theoretical concepts in Chinese-American interactions provides such detail. Included are individualism and collectivism, guanxi (interpersonal connections), hierarchies, gender relations in the workplace, regulations, deference to authority, work incentives and ownership. The Index of Incidents According to Themes and Concepts is also helpful.

What if you decided you love your life, no matter what? In times of dramatic change, burn out, fear, and stress, the idea of coming into each day with energy, let alone positivity, seems impossible. However, Adam Markel will give you the tools to do just that. Through his work and his own personal experiences, Adam discovered that choosing to love and be grateful for one's life is critical to staying resilient in business and life. The I Love My Life Challenge dares you to make changes for the better, release outdated beliefs, and push beyond the day-to-day struggles to recognize your purpose—all starting with the simple belief, "I love my life." In addition to inspirational stories and thought-provoking prompts for positive change, this brief book includes simple, repeatable 10-second actions that readers can use personally and professionally to center themselves in the face of change. Challenge yourself to move beyond resilience and truly thrive with easy-to-apply strategies that will help you love your life, no matter what.

The International Student's Survival Guide is a comprehensive and easy-to-use guide to studying and living in the UK. It will be invaluable in preparing international students for the inevitable differences in culture, customs, and academic life, and helps to ensure they get the most out of their time at University. Gareth Davey provides students with all the information needed to make the right choice about where to study and provides valuable advice on how to settle into your new surroundings, including guidance on: Choosing and applying for a course Leaving home and arriving in the UK Managing finances and living costs Academic culture Teaching and assessment methods Health and welfare Life after graduation Throughout the guide there are checklists and self-evaluation forms to help the reader chart their progress. A glossary is included to aid understanding of the topics covered, and directories of additional sources of information make it easy to find out more where necessary. This guide will be a useful resource for students coming to the UK to embark on either undergraduate or graduate study in any subject. SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills hub for tips, resources and videos on study success!

The French are famously enigmatic: fiercely independent yet deeply romantic, conservative yet avant-garde, rational yet emotional. What is it, exactly, that makes the French so... French? Written for anyone interacting with the French-tourists, businesspeople, international students, Francophiles-Au Contraire! offers a perceptive understanding of French cultural beliefs, assumptions and attitudes, along with practical advice on building strong personal and professional relationships with the French. Addressing issues like friendship, politics, work, education and romance, bilingual and bi cultural authors Asselin and Mastron draw upon their own experiences as consultants and trainers, as well as those of students and professionals, giving readers a complete - and compelling - look at French culture. This revised edition of Au Contraire! includes updated information about France's changing social and political climate, advice for succeeding as an expat, information about the French educational system, overviews of France's diverse regions - and more.