Page 21 - FIS World May 2019

SIEs are a diverse bunch motivated by a variety of individual factors, including starting a transnational career sooner than later, a drive to explore other cul- tures, having family ties with the host country, wish- ing to give back foreign-acquired expertise to their home country, or as in the case of third culture people, feeling at home in a transnational community rather than any one particular country or culture. They tend to share a few things in common: a global mindset and a preference for autonomy over corporate safety.
What makes FIS a hard place to leave is the same thing that makes it such an easy place for anyone to arrive, be it SIEs, AEs, or local families: the uniquely open-armed heart of the FIS community.
SIEs typically face bigger adjustment challenges than AEs, however. They cross both borders and organi- zations, and are not typically offered relocation ser- vices by host country employers. That’s where a fam- ily-oriented school like FIS plays an important role. In the case of the Stothard family, FIS provided for services in line with top notch international school standards, including an allowance for shipping their belongings to Germany and among other perks, a teacher induction week offering cross-cultural and practical training before the start of the school year. “Relocation perks are not what this is about for me,” said Mr. Stothard. “I want to be part of an interna- tional community and give that to my children – the ease of getting jobs, finding new friends and being at home anywhere in the world.”
For newly arrived expat families, FIS offers a“Welcome to Germany Workshop” in the beginning of each ac- ademic year. Additional events and services to help newcomers adjust to Germany include: summer gath- erings before the start of the school year; contact with relevant country representatives; a tour of the Rhine river; and welcome BBQs on both campuses. Multiple social events and activities are also organized by FIS and the Parent Teacher Groups (PTG) for fam- ilies and parents throughout the year, typically, but not only, related to local German culture, for exam- ple the visit to a Christmas market, an Oktoberfest evening, FISW’s International Festival, and the ev- er-popular Worldfest celebration in May.
Traditional expatriation literature has shown that failure to successfully adjust is likely to reflect neg- atively on the personal and professional life. These practical and social FIS events help the wellbeing of FIS families arriving in Germany from other countries
that may have wildly different hacultures, customs – and even climates.
“Any move can take a period of adjustment,” says FIS parent, Kelly Sweet. “But that’s especially true when it’s an international one. This is our family’s third in- ternational assignment and although each has come with a significant learning curve, there’s always some comfort in knowing that we’re far from alone. We were warmly welcomed into the school and now we can extend the same support we received to those arriv- ing at FIS.” It’s this special resource at FIS that helps ease the transition of new expat arrivals: the individ- uals in our community.
This goes to the core of Mr. Stothard’s observation as we looked around the faculty lounge in Oberursel during lunch time, having just reflected that the turn- over of teachers at FIS is “really low.” “It’s a difficult place to leave,” he said “We have it great here.” What makes FIS a hard place to leave is the same thing that makes it such an easy place for anyone to arrive, be it SIEs, AEs, or local families: the uniquely open-armed heart of the FIS community.
Maria Monteiro FIS Parent
May 2019 FIS World 19