on TAIPEI Kil'n time in Taipei - Community Services Center
on TAIPEI Kil'n time in Taipei - Community Services Center
on TAIPEI Kil'n time in Taipei - Community Services Center
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their new home. Tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>time</strong> to say<br />
goodbye to the people and places<br />
that have been important to you<br />
while <strong>in</strong> Taiwan will assist with your<br />
transiti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
If your next dest<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> is a return<br />
to your home country, remember<br />
that repatriati<strong>on</strong> requires special<br />
plann<strong>in</strong>g and c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>. It is<br />
important to remember that go<strong>in</strong>g<br />
home after a l<strong>on</strong>g <strong>time</strong> away is<br />
often a very stressful experience.<br />
Encourage each family member to<br />
share feel<strong>in</strong>gs and thoughts about<br />
go<strong>in</strong>g home. Remember that friends<br />
and family who were left beh<strong>in</strong>d<br />
when you went overseas may have<br />
been through many changes, just as<br />
experience a sense of loss for not<br />
<strong>on</strong>ly the friendships you developed,<br />
but also the unique opportunities<br />
available to you <strong>in</strong> your daily life.<br />
Just as you eventually adjusted to<br />
life <strong>in</strong> Taiwan, you will f<strong>in</strong>d that<br />
adjust<strong>in</strong>g to your new locati<strong>on</strong> or<br />
“home” will happen <strong>in</strong> <strong>time</strong>.<br />
While much is said and written<br />
about prepar<strong>in</strong>g to “leave well” it is<br />
critical not to overlook those who<br />
are left beh<strong>in</strong>d. As expatriates we<br />
all experience the <strong>in</strong>evitable, often<br />
pa<strong>in</strong>ful, transiti<strong>on</strong> of watch<strong>in</strong>g<br />
friends leave. We may have the<br />
tendency to rati<strong>on</strong>alize this process<br />
as simply be<strong>in</strong>g “part of the ex-pat<br />
life” and m<strong>in</strong>imize the emoti<strong>on</strong>al<br />
importance of these relati<strong>on</strong>ships<br />
will assist with your ability to<br />
create new relati<strong>on</strong>ships <strong>in</strong> the<br />
future. Thankfully, technology has<br />
made keep<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> touch with friends<br />
easier. Email and <strong>in</strong>stant messag<strong>in</strong>g<br />
can assist kids and adults alike <strong>in</strong><br />
ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g mean<strong>in</strong>gful c<strong>on</strong>tact with<br />
close friends around the globe.<br />
Is leav<strong>in</strong>g (both leav<strong>in</strong>g and be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
left beh<strong>in</strong>d) a reality of expatriate<br />
life? Yes. Is deal<strong>in</strong>g with it through<br />
avoidance and m<strong>in</strong>imiz<strong>in</strong>g necessary?<br />
No. Change is <strong>in</strong>evitable, yet if<br />
we <strong>in</strong>crease our awareness of our<br />
feel<strong>in</strong>gs we can become better<br />
equipped with the ability to navigate<br />
these transiti<strong>on</strong>s successfully.<br />
you may have changed significantly toll that it can take. Just as we<br />
This article was first published <strong>in</strong> a<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g your expatriate experience. encourage those who are depart<strong>in</strong>g<br />
2007 issue of <strong>Center</strong>ed <strong>on</strong> <strong>Taipei</strong>.<br />
Once you have returned home it will to work <strong>on</strong> leav<strong>in</strong>g well we can<br />
14 june 2010<br />
be a k<strong>in</strong>dness to give yourself <strong>time</strong> to<br />
adjust - refra<strong>in</strong> from the <strong>in</strong>itial urge<br />
to dive <strong>in</strong>. Remember the myriad<br />
feel<strong>in</strong>gs you had when you <strong>in</strong>itially<br />
arrived <strong>in</strong> Taiwan and recognize<br />
that just as you grieved for your<br />
“home” when you came to Taiwan<br />
you may be griev<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>. You may<br />
also pay attenti<strong>on</strong> to our own<br />
emoti<strong>on</strong>s and feel<strong>in</strong>gs as we watch<br />
our friends go. Take the <strong>time</strong> to<br />
acknowledge the feel<strong>in</strong>gs you have<br />
about your friends’ departure<br />
and c<strong>on</strong>sider tell<strong>in</strong>g them what<br />
k<strong>in</strong>d of impact they have had <strong>on</strong><br />
your life. Acknowledg<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
Cynthia Teeters has a M.S <strong>in</strong> Social<br />
Work and works with <strong>in</strong>dividuals,<br />
couples and families at The <strong>Center</strong>.<br />
Orig<strong>in</strong>ally from the U.S, she has<br />
lived <strong>in</strong> Asia for the past eight<br />
years and dur<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>time</strong> has said<br />
farewell to many friends and places.