Issue 3 2008 > Looking Beyond the Move
Looking Beyond the Move
Thousands of people move every year, it can’t be that difficult. Or can it? Pragmatically speaking, no; you hire a capable moving company and in a short time, your house is packed and you move to your new location. Spend some time in a plush serviced accommodation at destination, and before you know it, your capable moving company comes back to unpack your belongings in your new home. But, does it really end there?
As those of you who have moved can relate, changing homes is the easy part, but what follows is the most challenging, certainly the most important, and sadly, the most overlooked. Especially when moving internationally, it is imperative to look beyond the physical aspect of moving and into the emotional. An international relocation has, at times, been compared to the loss of a loved one or an acrimonious divorce; the by-products are similar:
- Loss of a person’s support network
- Loss of familiar places/foods/language/culture
- Pressure to start a new life with new friends and new traditions
- Pressure to create a new home with basic necessities such as utilities while also recreating the feeling of comfort from the last home
These losses and pressures are characteristic of any separation (in varying degrees) and should be treated with the same level of importance and care as when these feelings are associated with more mainstream ideas of loss. As with most experiences, couples and members of the same family will experience the change differently.
For some it is harder on the working spouse who is thrown into a new cultural environment yet expected to perform at peak performance. For others, it is more stressful for the accompanying spouse who is usually tasked with creating the sense of home and family in an alien environment and, add to that, days that may be less busy than usual with the addition of home help and/or the loss of their career.
Top relocation companies address these needs with programs such as orientation tours, home search assistance, school search assistance, cultural training and ongoing family support. The level of need will differ from family to family depending on the level of difference between the home country and host country and their personal experience with relocating. Some people need constant support for the first few days/weeks and others, just the basics, but the importance of having at least some support cannot be underestimated. Offering this kind of support will undoubtedly help families settle in quicker, not offering it can lead to a failed assignment.
When we are prepared for differences and challenges around every turn, we can better appreciate them and find the amusement and enjoyment in the experience; however, caught off guard, the same experiences can be frustrating, disappointing and overwhelming. Having a relocation consultant during an adjustment provides perspective on housing options, school options, cultural norms and, very importantly, when the consultant is an expat himself, provides a sounding board for the family when making the usual settling-in decisions. Increasingly, companies are beginning to regard international moves as a wholistic experience comprised of more than just moving a household. Competitive relocation packages increasingly include allowances for settling-in services and are found to be beneficial in increasing the success rates of overseas assignments.
In Crown’s experience, families who are provided with these services feel well-looked after from the moment they arrive until the end of the assignment. In the scheme of things, it is a fairly inexpensive way for a company to let their overseas employees know that they are supported, cared for and appreciated.
Written by:
Camilla Brooks
Country Manager
Crown Philippines
Email: cbrooks@crownrelo.com