Expat Teens Talk goes global

Having returned from five weeks of traveling to Washington D.C., USA, Geneva, Switzerland and all over Holland, Expat Teens Talk authors, Diana and Lisa, are happy to share that our book has officially 'gone global'. Responses continue to be positive and exciting with people jumping on board wanting to support the international promotion of Expat Teens Talk.

We want to thank FIGT-Families in Global Transition-which proved to be an exciting, stimulating and inspirational experience being surrounded by 'like minded' enthusiastic and passionate 'Expat Experts'.

The conference provides a wonderful, global opportunity for individuals to share their work, research, programmes and resources to increase awareness and further understanding of the global expat populations.

Learn more about FIGT at www.figt.org

What our readers/reviewers say....Thank you!!

Our readers and reviewers say it better than we ever could

http://www.expatarrivals.com/ Reviews Expat Teens Talk...Thank you!!

Book Review: Expat Teens Talk

As a mother of two expatriate teenagers, I was very curious about “Expat Teens Talk”. Dr Lisa Pittman and Diana Smit, by writing this book, have filled a gap in the market. 

 

They have talked to expat teens from around the world about the challenges and issues they face in their transitional lives. Next they presented these issues to three different groups of people and documented their answers. The result was this resourceful book. In “Expat Teens Talk”, Lisa and Diana provide a wealth of ideas, advice and solutions to the challenges facing expatriate teens:  Firstly, from the perspective of expat peers, secondly, from a parental perspective, and thirdly, from a professional perspective. 

 

This book brings to the reader’s awareness that for an expat teen there is no simple answer to questions like “Where is home?” and “Where are you from?”. These issues, plus a host of others, such as not being able to fit in, pressures of adapting to new schools, worrying about being able to make friends, learning a new language, as well as sex, drugs and alcohol are discussed in this book. The authors added an interactive dimension to the book by having a blank page at the end of each chapter to allow the reader to note down their personal reflections. 

 

Reading “Expat Teens Talk” has spurred a number of useful and interesting discussions in our household. My 18-year-old daughter, who is leaving to go to university next academic year found the advice particularly valuable. More importantly, it made her realise that there are so many teens around the world just like her.

 

I recommend this book to all families, whether they live a life in transition or not. Perhaps, on reading this book, local teens can have a better understanding of what life is like for an expat teen, and therefore be less judgemental and dismissive. 

 

I think a copy of this book should be in every international school library’s collection.

A Book Review in Expat Living Magazine-Singapore

Expat Teens Talk wants to thank Expat Living Magazine, Singapore, for the great review in the 'Arts and Leisure-on the page' section on page 194 in the May 2012 issue. 
It gives us great pleasure to see our work promoted in such a valuable and well read Expat resource.
See link below:
http://www.expatliving.sg/currentissue/online-magazine/2012/may/index.html#/194/

Excellent book for Expat families! An AMAZON review

 March 13, 2012

By 

Erin Little - See all my reviews

This review is from: Expat Teens Talk, Peers, Parents and Professionals offer support, advice and solutions in response to Expat Life challenges as shared by Expat Teens (Paperback)

This book is a MUST for expatriate families. The layout makes it so easy to use, you can find the issue at hand in seconds. The chapters cover all facets of the teen expat experience with first hand stories from teens who have lived it. There is also clear and well-balanced advice from parents and professionals. Being a teen is difficult regardless of where you are living, Expat Teens Talk will help teens and parents navigate the teenage years in a foreign country. Personally, I found the entire book to be a huge help as I am in the process of applying to teach overseas. I know that I will use this reference regularly as we get ready to move and find ourselves in a new place.

Expat Teens Talk is out there…and people are talking

Going public with a book is an amazing experience. You realise when you hold the first copy of your work that you are exposing yourself to the big, wide world. You are sharing something that is near and dear to you with others that may love it, or not. The response to ‘Expat Teens Talk’, so far, has been extremely positive. People are expressing admiration about the fact that we finished what we set out to do, they appreciate the enormity of what it means to commit and complete such a task. We are enjoying the current  new chapter that we are working on, learning how to market, promote and support our target audience with our communicative resource, ‘Expat Teens Talk’.

What have we learnt from our own experience?? We have learnt the value and importance of doing what you believe in. We found a gap in the market and we felt we could, with our combined professional knowledge and personal experiences, that we could attempt to fill it. We are now working towards the next ‘chapter’ reaching our target audience to support them in navigating their way through the teenage years with the support, advice and solutions to make it an easier and less lonely route.

The powers of Social Networking

Everybody seems to have a point of view about the internet.  Since releasing ‘Expat Teens Talk’, our point of view about Social Networking has really changed. At first, we felt it was burdensome and did not see the value in investing the time and energy to engage and invest in facebook, twitter and even blogging was an effort……now, having been ‘found’ and ‘connected’ and ‘discovered’ by interesting, motivating, supportive people who understand the powers of networking we find ourselves ‘hooked’. We have been contacted by the most interesting people who want to know more about us and or point of view as a result of what we have shared through the medians of using Social Networking.

Learning more about 'why' it is important and 'how' it all really works is what converted us. We hope more people learn about the value of using 'Expat Teens Talk' as a supportive, communication tool through Social Networking.

Good reference for teens on the move, their parents and professionals,Another Amazon review...thank you!!

 March 11, 2012

By 

Santina Hovanessian - See all my reviews

This review is from: Expat Teens Talk, Peers, Parents and Professionals offer support, advice and solutions in response to Expat Life challenges as shared by Expat Teens (Paperback)

The authors involved expat teens, expat parents and expat professionals to create a valuable resource for all those who experience change in their formative years of life. In my work as an expat lecturer and a psychologist I often come across to the groups described in the book, and can relate to most stories. Although expat teenagers for whom change may be the only constant, gain important experiences, broader vision on world and life, they often need lots of support in the journey. I really liked the use of expat peer stories and advice. These stories will give to expat teens the sense that they are not alone, and the advice coming from people who are in their shoes will be most appreciated. This book is a good source, which will hopefully serve as a reference to many expat teens and their parents as they pass through the challenging process of change.

Families in Global Transition (FIGT)

There is nothing more inspiring and motivating than being together with a group of like minded individuals. FIGT brings together names like Ruth Van Reken (co authour of ‘Third Culture Kids, Growing up Among Worlds’, Tina Quick (author of ‘A Global Nomads Guide to Unversity Transition’), Anne Copeland, Jo Parfitt (Summertime Publishing, author of many books her latest being ‘Sunshine Soup, Nourishing the Global Soul’), and many other names. Anyone who is passionate and working, reasearching, reading about or interested in Expats and their way of life is there. Discussions, workshops, lectures, panel discusions are all presented to an audience who ‘gets it’. The pioneers and ‘newbies’ to Expat life sit around tables sharing stories, adventures, experiences and challenges and really feel like everyone around them understands how and why their life is different than the lives of those who do not move around and experience so much change.

It is a refreshing experience and one that we certainly look forwards to. This year we will formaly present our own work, ‘Expat Teens Talk’ is going to Washington to be introduced and shared at FIGT. 

Have you heard about FIGT???

Families in Global Transition, an annual conference where everyone who is working, studying, researching, or passionate about living, or even learning about Expatriate life comes together. This year the conference will be held in Washington. Learn more, see details below.

Register now for the 2012 FIGT Conference!

Date: March 29-31, 2012

Location: The Westin Alexandria | Alexandria, VA

The 2012 Families in Global Transition Conference will be held for the second year in a row in Washington, DC. The conference provides a forum where members of internationally mobile families, e.g. corporate, military, diplomatic, missionary, gather with those who assist them: human resource personnel, relocation experts, educators and counselors. Together we develop strategies for dealing with challenges of cross-cultural living.

REGISTER HERE!

For over 10 years, Families in Global Transition, Incorporated (FIGT) has been the global leader in cross cultural education and training to support the entire expat family. FIGT offers information-packed conferences and year-round benefits through its Associates Program and expanding educational web site.

As the leader of a global network, FIGT promotes the positive value of the international experience, and empowers the family unit and those who serve it before, during and after international transitions.

FIGT believes in the capacity of the expatriate and repatriate family to transition successfully, and to leverage the international experience for all of its human and global potential.

To learn more about FIGT, or watch a short video with FIGT's founder, Ruth van Reken, click here.

Review of Expat Teens Talk from a 'non' Expat

"I am not an expat teen but I am someone who moved around a lot as a child and a teen and as such I can relate to many of the stories written in this book. The inherent difficulties of being a teenager weave through these stories spoken in the first person by the teenagers themselves. In our global village and with the traditional nuclear family dynamic the exception rather than the norm, the ways to develop and maintain lasting relationships and the sense of having a 'home' are two clear themes that we all, as human beings, struggle with - whether we grow up in one house, one country or move constantly around the world. This book can help inform these struggles whether you are a teenager, a parent, or a professional. The wisdom within the chapters clearly identifies the various points of view so that conversations can begin and creates realistic, actionable pathways for those in trouble and those trying to help them. It is a wonderful resource for all teenagers - particularly expat teens, their parents and the professionals they encounter and fills a deep void in literature in this area."