Nate Prior EDU 533

Presentation Rubric for Book Reviews

Part 1: Professional Reading Assignment

Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an On-Demand World by Robin Pascoe Published 2006,1st ed. Robin Pascoe, known throughout the expatriate community as the Expat Expert, is the author of six books about adjusting to life abroad. In addition to Raising Global Nomads (2006), she wrote A Broad Abroad (2009), A Movable Marriage: Relocate Your Relationship without Breaking It (2003), Homeward Bound: A Spouses Guide to Repatriation (2000), Culture Shock! A Parents Guide (1993), and Culture Shock! A Wifes Guide (1992). She is renowned for her ability to weave humor and insight in with her wise and practical advice, whether she is writing a book or giving a presentation to members of the international community. In addition to experiencing the expatriate lifestyle in Bangkok, Taipei, Beijing, and Seoul, she and her husband, Rodney, have raised two global nomads themselves. Her work can be further explored on her website, expatexpert.com, and her YouTube channel (youtube.com/robinpascoe) contains 20 self-made videos that discuss expatriate issues in greater depth. She is of Canadian descent and currently resides in North Vancouver, Canada.
Task
Select 2-3 key areas or points made by the author that add to your professional learning and synthesize the ideas by making connections to other relevant research and current information to support the validity of the book content.

Response
Point 1: Be sensitive to your childrens and spouses needs before, during, and after your overseas assignment. (Ch. 2, 3 & 4) When the decision to move overseas is made, everyone in the family feels the magnitude of the changes that are about to occur, and they all experience a variety of emotions. The father (most commonly) may feel excitement about his new career opportunity and the undertaking of a new challenge; the mother may share some of the excitement, but may be concerned about the upcoming losses of certain freedoms or the ways in which it will affect the children or the marriage. The children will undoubtedly begin to see the losses of their friends, their school, their pets, and all that is familiar. Pollock and Van Reken (2009) concur that children may begin to distance themselves from close relationships prematurely, stating, We begin loosening emotional ties, backing away from the relationships and responsibilities we have had. While it may be normal and perhaps necessaryto begin detaching at some level during this stage, it is often confusing as well to both our friends and ourselves (p. 67). In addition to deciding when and how to tell the children about the move, parents must be prepared to deal with the emotions of their children while managing their own feelings and the logistics of the move. Once the move has been completed, children will have a new set of needs, including adapting the new culture, building new relationships, and discovering their sense of self in an unfamiliar setting. When life settles down and regains some stability, childrens needs become those of children in any situation; the only abnormality is that they occur in a different cultural setting than the one they came from. Repatriation brings a whole new set of challenges that parents and children must prepare for, and parents knowledge of their growing TCKs will become very practical at this point. Parenting is, of course, a team effort. Therefore, spouses must remain attentive to each others needs so that their team can operate as effectively and lovingly as possible. Many marriages crumble during overseas assignments due to a lack of stability in the marriage, which commonly stems from poor communication, unrealistic expectations, or the losses of identity

adults may experience in their new setting. Children who are raised in an intercultural setting need their parents to be sources of strength for them, more so than if they were being raised in their home culture, because parents represent their strongest connection to their own culture and a constant in the midst of frequent change. These changes, which often manifest as the presence of many different cultures and in a highly mobile lifestyle, can be too intense for some TCKs and CCKs to handle if their parents are not a stable, reliable presence in their lives. Point 2: Always seek to maintain a healthy work-life balance. (Ch. 5) The notion that interdependence of work, life, and family is enhanced for expatriate families is communicated explicitly in chapter 5, but it is also implicitly present throughout much of the book. For the breadwinner of the family (typically the father in expat families), balancing time between work life and home life is crucial to family stability. The ability to manage the stress that inevitably comes through culture shock and other normal frustrations has an important role in determining how effectively the parents can respond to their childrens needs. Whether those needs are emotional (homesickness, loneliness, or anger), physical (illness, injury, or fatigue), or relational (rebellion, interpersonal conflict, or quality time) a healthy work-life balance dramatically increases the likelihood that those needs will be effectively met. One reason the childrens needs may go unmet for a period is that their parents feel exhausted or helpless. Dad might feel the stress of his new roles and responsibilities too draining, and that he cannot escape the constant pressures of work. As a result, he works on vacation, he works when he comes home, and he essentially develops workaholism. Pascoe (2006) contends that many mens identities are rooted so firmly in their occupations that asking a man to switch off his gender imperative is like asking him to turn off his identity (p. 109). Moms, on the other hand, may find themselves feeling stuck in their new role as stay-at-home mom, and often encounter grief or anger at their supposed loss of freedom. The presence and attentiveness of her husband certainly plays a role in this; regardless of his stress level, he has the choice to refrain from unloading his problems onto his wife and to tend to her needs instead. Husbands who believe that their time is so limited because of work obligations may cite a lack of free time as a justification for not engaging with the family while at home. However, Pascoe cites leadership expert Susan Cramm as saying, Work -life balance isnt about having more free time. Its about devoting your life and the hours within it, [in a way] consistent with your values and passions. Work-life balance in personal (p. 106). Implicit in this quote is that men who have clearly defined values and who are willing to devote themselves to familial leadership are more likely to strike that delicate balance of work life and home life. When this is the case, no family needs will go unnoticed. Point 3: Be attentive to the ways that culture shock a normal, healthy experience uniquely affects each family member. (Ch. 3, 9) Virtually every book written on the topic of expatriation contains a chapter or two on culture shock, and Raising Global Nomads is no different. The difference in this book is that the focus shifts from the expat employees feelings of shock to that of the familys. Expats preparing to work overseas might learn to prepare themselves for culture shock, as might their spouses, but it is unlikely that many know how to prepare their children. As Pascoe (200 6) cautions, Do be aware [that] everyone feels culture shock in one way or another, and every family member will experience it differently (p. 54). At some point during every expats journey abroad, things that were once considered exotic eventually become foreign. This is when culture shock has begun to set in, and negative feelings toward the culture or other family members abound. As Pascoe writes, Youre mad that things are so different, but its not always clear where to direct your anger (p . 53). Kohls (2001) describes this phenomenon further: Gradually, your focus turns from the similarities to the differences, and these differences, which suddenly seem to be everywhere, are troubling. You blow up little, seemingly insignificant difficulties into major catastrophes (p. 98). However, personality factors into the expected responses people choose when frustration sets in. Kohls concurs with Pascoe, noting that no two people experience culture shock in exactly the same way{y}ou may notice that either you have a tendency to withdraw from the unpleasant situation or you may become aggressive and strike back (p. 95). The connection to raising children is that every child is unique, and each will interpret and react to their experiences in different ways.

Regardless of how feelings of culture shock manifest in behavior, children should be taught not to be ashamed of their shocked state. Confessing to culture shock is somehow seen as admitting to failure rather than as a validation of the normal, healthy experience it is (Pascoe, 2006, p. 59). Parents can become the source of validation their children need by affirming them in their struggle while recognizing the difficulty of the situation. The ability to do so begins with awareness of and attentiveness to each childs needs as they reveal themselves.
Elaborate on these key ideas (in previous task) by evaluating the ideas and applying the ideas to your understanding of intercultural competence.

Idea 1: Sensitivity to the needs of family members at all phases of the journey This is absolutely an important concept for any families making an overseas move. Some members of the family will adapt more easily than others, perhaps because they like the food better, take more interest in the language, or enjoy the local culture more. Therefore it cannot safely be assumed that everyone will adapt at the same pace. I know this to be true from experience: when our team of four teachers started working in China, a sort of unofficial competition began to see who could accumulate the most knowledge about Chinese culture or who could learn the most Mandarin words the fastest. We never would have acknowledged this competition, and were generally extremely helpful to one another. But the discreet competitiveness lingered on as we became more accustomed to the ways of Chinese culture. By the end of our two years, our team had undergone several changes, and I, as the new team leader, exuded the most confidence in my cultural competency. I was enjoying my status and my friendships so much that I was not fully aware of the fact that my wife was experiencing symptoms of depression. I had noticed that she did not quite seem herself, but I was too inexperienced in life and in marriage to be able to apply the appropriate labels to her moods and behaviors. After we returned home, I was the one having similar experiences to hers, simply because I had adjusted so well. As Kohls (2001) states, Those who have done the best job of adjusting to and fitting into the foreign culturehave the hardest time readjusting upon arrival back home (p. 128). Now, having engaged in further study and having welcomed our first child into the world, we both know more of what to expect from living overseas and how to communicate our needs to each other more clearly. Should we end up overseas again, we will know how to identify and respond to the needs of each member of our family in the phases of going, adjusting, and coming home again. Idea 2: Maintenance of work-life balance Work-life balance is critical to intercultural competence because it involves more than just the spending of ones time. The concept of cultural identity, described in Lustig and Koester (2010, Ch. 6), explains why many men feel the need to bury themselves in their work during their overseas assignment. An American expat who has been highly successful and highly regarded for his initiative and work ethic is likely to see those traits magnified overseas. Because those values are typical of American professionals, an expat employee who is aware of this might feel the need to represent other Americans by perpetuating these norms and values. Otherwise, it could be a less conscious representation of the prototypical, hard-working American; the employee could cling to his time is money ethos in the midst of a culture that does not profess the same belief in an effort to preserve himself and his values. However, Kohls (2001) recognizes that such clinging is unhealthy. As you adjust to and function more comfortably within the value system of your host country, dont worry that you may lose your own valuesYour values are much deeper and more permanent than that (p. 106). With this stress-inducing element out of the way, expat employees may feel freer to devote time and energy to their home lives. Effective work-life balance involves breaking down obstacles, such as fear, frustration, or uncertainty, between the drive to succeed and the desire for a stable and healthy home. Idea 3: Attentiveness to effects of culture shock Based on my own experiences with culture shock, I believe that all the cited authors are correct in their assertions about the most likely reactions to culture shock, namely anger and withdrawal. The commonness of these reactions is well documented, and my own personal history confirms it for me. In fact, my wife and I an introvert and an extrovert, respectively had these exact responses to culture shock in China. I remember (though not fondly) several violent outbursts to minor incidents or miscommunications; my wife remembers taking an inordinate number of naps. I would distract myself with entertainment to avoid confronting issues that may have upset me,

while she delved inward to explore and process her own feelings. We have yet to know which way our son will trend, but we at least know the warning signs of culture shock and the extremes to which it can take a persons behavior. As it pertains to intercultural competence, the experience of culture shock can dramatically affect ones motivations and intentions toward their host culture. When I felt shocked by Chinese culture, I often directed my anger toward the offender in this case, a system of beliefs or ideas that influenced the behavior of nearly everyone around me. Sometimes, it was directed toward the people themselves and their different ways of doing and thinking about things. In such times, I did not feel highly motivated to engage with the culture, or even to act kindly toward its members. I also was less likely, at those times, to want to behave appropriately and effectively; why bother giving them my best or being sensitive when they make me so angry? I wondered. Most times, however, I felt extremely motivated to build relationships, to learn the language, and to teach them well. Ultimately, the ability to recognize and evaluate my intentions as they were forming could have saved me a lot of grief, but these learning experiences have built in me a foundation for greater intercultural competence in the future.
Evaluate the content in relationship to your belief system/worldview. Describe and explain areas of compatibility and areas of differences.

Pascoe is a highly effective communicator, conveying her wisdom in a concise yet thorough manner, and includes perspectives of other authors, therapists, and leaders in the expatriate community. However, one perspective that is absent both implicitly and explicitly is the Biblical perspective, which is the foundation of my worldview. As I read Raising Global Nomads, I often thought of Bible verses or elements of the Christian life that would complete or enhance her recommendations. In a sense, the Biblical perspective represented the final piece to the puzzle she was assembling. One of these puzzles was the emphasis on happiness. Near the end of the book, Pascoe (2006) writes, Global nomads need to emerge form the childhoods happy and healthy, tho ugh, in order to put the benefits of a childhood abroad to use for the advantage of everyone (p. 198). While that would certainly be a nice outcome, I would prefer for my global nomads to have the joy of the Lord and to be able to rest in the knowledge that they are Gods children no matter where they live. Indeed, I want my children to find happiness and fulfillment in where they live and what they do, but I hope that it is rooted in their identity as children of God more than in their circumstances. Furthermore, an unshakeable identity in Christ will allow them to more effectively put their spiritual gifts to use for the advantage of everyone as they serve the Lord wherever they are called. This is not to say that Pascoes advice is not useful or irr elevant; rather it is to say that her advice is a springboard that will lift them higher once Gods truth has been integrated. However, given that all truth is Gods truth, Pascoes enlightening words are compatible with a Biblical worldview in some respects. For example, her advocacy for the confession of culture shock is a call to receive grace in times of struggle. She opposes the use of material things to soothe a child in favor of loving kindness toward them (p. 80). She also recognizes the hopelessness of attempting to find true identity outside of Christ, though not in those words (p. 109). Overall, the depth and breadth of Pascoes wisdom and experience lends credibility to its truth, and a sense of mission and centeredness on God will help to fill in the gaps. One of the recurring themes in both this book and in theories of intercultural communication is the importance of being aware of how your actions affect others. In Raising Global Nomads, there is a consistent focus on how your actions and emotions influence those of your children. This can occur before the move, when tensions are higher and the kids are aware that something is up. After the move, when everything is new and confusing, parents feelings of culture shock can intensify the childrens own culture shock. As time goes on, Pascoe highlights the fact that mothers encounter the most intense emotional shifts, since they are typically unable to work if their husbands job has brought them overseas, and these mood swings can easily disrupt the rhythm a child has found or keep them from finding it. These applications are comparable to the aspects of communicative competence as outlined in Lustig and Koester (2010), Chapter 3. Appropriate and effective behavior, which involves knowing how to act toward others in a specific cultural context, is just as important within a family. How parents react and respond to certain situations will determine how well the children are able to cope with them. Families have norms that are established by the behavior and attitudes of the parents, and it is especially important to continue to observe those norms even in the midst of culture shock. Furthermore, parents must evaluate their intentions as they act in and react to

Link the book content to one/several of the theories we are studying in this course. Provide a comprehensive overview of how the content of this book supports the development of intercultural competence.

situations that arise in their new cultural setting, upholding their childrens wellness as their foremost priority. Robert Kohls (2001) also stresses an important aspect of family life that Pascoe illuminates in chapter 5: work-life balance. On the tendencies of working husbands to become workaholics, he writes, The result, of course, is that he spends less time than usual with h is wife and children who, because of their own adjustment difficulties, probably need more, not less, of his presence (p. 114). This is consistent with one the recurring themes in Raising Global Nomads: attention to family needs is crucial, whether the breadwinner is at home or on a business trip. A culturally competent employee and family leader will remain aware of their own needs (and their familys) throughout the adjustment period and the duration of the overseas assignment.
How has this reading helped you personally develop a deeper conceptual knowledge for understanding yourself and others in a culturally competent manner?

As I have recently become a parent, and will likely once again venture overseas with my family, the ideas discussed in Raising Global Nomads are now more relevant for me than ever. One of the greatest gifts Pascoe her readers is an extensive collection of practical knowledge for overseas living. The concept present in these recommendations, guidelines, and cautions is that expats, especially those with children, must be careful to consider the aspects of decisions they typically take for granted. For example, she warns that when seeking medical attention in a foreign country, a Westerner must ask specifically for an itemized bill; otherwise the cost for medical services will likely be presented as a lump sum. She also urges expats to take a tour of their nearest hospital so that they are not surprised by its facilities when a need arises. These specific examples all point to the notion that culturally competent people consider aspects of their host culture that would go unnoticed or ignored by those with little competence. A culturally competent traveler acknowledges that things are done differently in their host culture, and investigates those differences with an open mind in order to prevent or lessen frustration in their inevitable time of need. In times of crisis, expats (and parents) would be better served by a solid, gradually built foundation of knowledge than by a crash course in the moment. Therefore, those new to their host cultures must ask themselves, Am I the type of person to carefully examine things before I need them, or do I prefer spontaneity and living in the moment? Which of those approaches will work better in my new surroundings? Cultural competence necessitates this kind of self-reflection, which is aided through time spent away from ones home culture and engaged in another. Raising Global Nomads has helped me to prepare for the more logistical aspects of moving and living overseas with children, and to be culturally competent through all the changes. Because Pascoe drew from her own wealth of experiences (and mistakes), I can avoid some of the troubles and enjoy more of the triumphs. Certainly, my experiences will be unique from hers, but there are enough experiences universally shared by all expats that her wisdom would be relevant in any context of living abroad. When I was a novice world traveler in college, participating in a couple of short-term mission trips, I found myself more concerned with my own experience than with the experiences of my team members or our hosts. Certainly, I listened to those around me, built great relationships with people from both cultures, and served as well as I knew how. But I was still a new traveler, and therefore spent more time being shocked and/or entertained than I did being attentive to the various elements of culture surrounding me. This is somewhat understandable, considering the iceberg theory that only about 10% of the culture itself is visible to those outside of it but a more seasoned traveler has learned how to look for the more hidden elements and how to demonstrate respect, empathy, and socially appropriate behaviors in a foreign environment. They are also acutely aware of their own feelings, perceptions, prejudices, and motives when engaging with host nationals, and are willing to engage in self-reflection to produce the best intercultural experience possible for all parties involved. Reading Raising Global Nomads heightened my awareness of issues that parents and children will inevitably face when approaching and experiencing an international assignment. Now that I am no longer a solo traveler, my awareness level must be elevated to include not only my needs, but also those of every family member. I now know the right kinds of questions to ask my wife, my children, my employers, and my hosts when faced with challenges, uncertainty, or difficult decisions. I am also more aware of the fact that some questions should be asked before they need asking; in other words, I must be able to discern my family members needs from their nonverbal communication and contextual clues, and to approach them sensitively before the

How has this study helped move you from novice to the expert /professional level as a sojourner?

situation escalates. These situations can become especially tense while traveling or settling into a new home, so part of being an expert traveler is knowing how to manage the temperaments of your traveling companions and being a source of strength for them in times of shock or distress.
Attach any additional pictures, video clips, web links or resources that you found that would support the content of this book.

Robin Pascoes YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/robinpascoe Relevant video topics include: o Why is loss of identity one of the biggest challenges for an expat spouse? o Why is loss of a traditional career among the biggest challenges for an expat spouse? o Why are anger and resentment challenges for expat spouses? o Why is Raising Global Nomads about parenting in an on-demand world? o Why is the subject of raising global nomads more urgent now? o How resilient are children who are located abroad? o What is family culture shock? o How can expat parents not transfer their fears onto their children? o How can I prepare my family for repatriation from abroad? Robin Pascoes website: http://expatexpert.com Any of her books mentioned at the top of this review would qualify as a valuable resource. Families in Global Transition website: http://www.figt.org Expat Exchange: http://www.expatexchange.com/index.cfm Musings of a Third Culture Kid: A Global Nomads Blog: http://third-culture-kid.com