here was a 17-year wait for a telephone line and not a McDonald’s in sight,
yet Robert Knuepfer Jr. calls the five years he spent in Budapest, Hungary, with
his family on behalf of international law firm Baker & McKenzie a "defining moment
both personally and professionally."
The 56-year-old partner, now based in Chicago, didn’t speak
the language, and his children had been reluctant to leave family and friends.
Still, from 1992 to 1997, Knuepfer created a nine-office,
350-person law practice in Central and Eastern Europe to assist American investors
doing business in the newly opened markets. The firm served thousands of clients
in the region and fee billings increased by 20 percent each year.
His advice: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
"You need to appreciate the bigger-picture experience," he
says.
While Knuepfer successfully navigated his time abroad, not
every expatriate experience is as positive. Relocating a family to another country,
adapting to a different culture and managing your career from a different side of
the globe can be a personal and political minefield.
According to a study released in May by Woodridge, Illinois-based
GMAC Global Relocation Services, 28 percent of respondents cited family concerns
as the top reason for early returns from international assignments. And 27 percent
said their expatriate employees resigned within one year of completing foreign assignments.
Veterans say it’s best to learn the customs of a new country
before arriving, be flexible and maintain a lifeline to your home office. "You don’t
want to become out of sight, out of mind," Knuepfer says.
There are several steps you can take to help smooth the landing
for yourself and for any family members you’re bringing along:
Learn the language, or at least practice a few key phrases.
"You get a lot of credit for trying," says Erin Peterson, global head of talent
acquisition for Lincolnshire, Illinois-based Hewitt Associates.
Experience the culture of your future home as a family. Read
books, visit restaurants or explore related art and movies. "This builds understanding
and brings the family together for a common purpose," says Nicole Eull, a Milwaukee
psychologist and professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology who
spent two years researching the impact of overseas assignments on families.
Establish routines, especially if one spouse is not working,
to create a purpose and structure. This may include cooking with local foods, practicing
language tapes, jogging or going to the market.
Develop a support network with the local expatriate community.
When Knuepfer was in Budapest, expats and families gathered every Thursday night
at the local American Club. They created a PTA at their school and often traveled
together over spring vacation. "You share the same stresses and anxieties, so you
tend to form bonds very quickly," Knuepfer says.
Workforce Management Online, January 2009 —
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