Andrew Stegmann

Relocating a child with special educational needs

4194_relocating-a-child-with-special-educational-needs_2251_t12Rebecca Marriage takes a look at recent changes to provision for special educational needs in England, and suggests points to consider when helping a family to make an international relocation with a child with special needs.

Parents of children with special educational needs (SEN) often have to battle to get the support they need for their child. When moving between areas in the UK, the process becomes even more challenging. The UK government recognises this, and is updating its system of support in England.

For families moving overseas, the situation becomes even more uncertain, with little to no regulation and consistency of integrated support in some international schools.

According to recent statistics, more than a fifth of children in England have some form of special educational need. The government considers children to have SEN if they have a learning difficulty that calls for special educational provision to be made for them. All state schools in England are required by law to ensure that help is provided for children with SEN, and every local authority has a responsibility to support the children living in its area.

Source

Andrew Stegmann

From the Horse’s Mouth – Nigeria

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH **

Contributions by Deji Sijuwade
Facts you did not know about Nigeria – “Naija” in the local vernacular (Nigeria, an African country on the Gulf of Guinea, is known for its natural landmarks and wildlife reserves. Safari destinations such as Cross River National Park and Yankari National Park showcase waterfalls, dense rainforest, savanna and rare primate habitats. One of its most recognizable sites is Zuma Rock, a 725m-tall monolith outside the capital of Abuja that’s pictured on the national currency.)

1. How are birthdays celebrated?
In the European way but we do go big on birthdays. Milestone birthdays such as a 40th can be quite extravagant with a 100+ guests.

2. When you first meet someone, how do you greet them?
Both women and men shake hands. The traditional way of greeting elders is prostration for men and bowing down on one or both knees for women. It is a sign of respect.

3. What languages are spoken in your country?
There are said to be over 521 local languages spoken in Nigeria with the main three being Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba but the official language of communication is English.

4. Do you use a twelve hour clock, or a twenty-four hour clock?
We use the 12 hour clock.

5. What side of the road to people drive on?
We drive on the right side of the road. It is said that ‘if you can drive in Nigeria you can drive anywhere in the world!’ It is a question of survival of the fittest and expats should only do it with an experienced driver. The traffic is truly insane.
Watch

6. How important is punctuality?
Nigerians are not generally punctual (traffic does not help) however, if it is a business meeting they are more likely to be punctual. There is still the culture of African time.

7. What types of music are popular?
Very much a R&B, Hip Hop, and European music taste in most of the country. A couple of our popular local musicians are:
D’banj – Watch
2Face – Watch

8. Are there any Traditional Dances?
Yes there are traditional dances performed at weddings and festivals.
However, over the years, dance styles have evolved from one dance step to the other. Here are a few dance steps we know in Nigeria :
Galala – Watch
The Galala dance is like the official dance for the Nigerian ghetto community. The dance is promoted by musicians who are products of the ghetto hood such as Daddy Showkey, African China, Baba Fryo and even Burna Boy in ‘Run My Race’. The Galala dance involves the legs being moved backward with hands forward.
Etighi – Watch
Etighi is one of the new-school dances brought from the Calabar/Akwa Ibom part of Nigeria. It involves the hips being carried up and alternated in left and right direction. It also can be mixed with azonto as you can have the hips up and the hands doing the azonto. It’s popular in songs like ‘Kukere’ amongst others.

9. What traditional festivals are celebrated in your community?
The Eyo Festival, is a Yoruba festival unique to Lagos, Nigeria. In modern times, it is presented by the people of Lagos as a tourist event and, due to its history, is traditionally performed on Lagos Island.
The word “Eyo” also refers to the costumed dancers, known as the masquerades that come out during the festival. It is widely believed that the Eyo Festival is the forerunner of the modern day Carnival in Brazil.

10. What are your seasons like?
There are really only two seasons; the Rainy Season (May – August) and the Dusty and Cool at Night Season (August to April)

11. Tell us an interesting fact about your President?
On 29 May 2015, Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the 15th head of state after winning the general election. He is a retired Nigerian Army major general and was also Head of State of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d’état.
In December 1989, Buhari married his second and current wife Aisha Buhari (née Halilu). They have five children together, a boy and four girls.

12. What do we need to know about schooling in Lagos? Is it easy to get your children into a school of your choice as an expat?
It is getting more and more difficult to get children into the International Schools and there can be waiting lists of up to two years therefore it is essential to start planning two to three years ahead if possible.

13. Is the housing market still ‘tight and fast-moving’ or is new development changing the situation?
There are limited good properties available in popular expat areas and they go quickly as some agents and landlords tend to work on a first come first served basis. Nigeria has large families so finding 2-bedroom properties can be quite rare and properties are still mostly unfurnished. Due to the traffic it is important to first be accepted into a school and then find accommodation as close as possible to the school.

14. What types of industry do you find other than oil?
The telecommunications sector is growing, and there has been a resurgence in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

15. How do people spend their free time?
It is very much a social culture, so clubs, gyms, bars, are popular and going out to restaurants and cinemas is also popular. People go to the beach but this is usually a day trip as there are no resorts as such. Shopping malls are a new and growing phenomenon.

16. What do people drink?
Beer – Heineken and Guinness There is a Guinness brewery in Nigeria so Nigerians like Guinness a lot. Also spirits.

17. What is a popular local dish?
Jollof Rice which is a hot and spicy meal. The dish consists of easy cook or basmati rice, tomatoes and tomato paste, onion, salt, spices (such as nutmeg, ginger, pepper, cumin) and chili pepper; optional ingredients can be added such as vegetables, meats and fish.
It is often served with fried plantain and salad.
Suya which is skewered beef (like a shish kebab) that has been spiced and marinated then put on to the fire on the local Bri stands, fried and heated up in front of you, and then sprinkled with hot ground pepper.

18. What do you pay for? (USD1 = approx. Naira199)
In a restaurant…
A cup of coffee – NGN 850
A Coca-cola – NGN 250
A 2-Course meal for 2 people – nothing extravagant – NGN 19,000
From a shop… A loaf of bread – NGN 300

19. Security – in general?
It is moderately safe in the day in the areas such as Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki where the middle class and higher live and also the expat community. We tend to have a lot of security there but it is advisable to put your windows up in the car in traffic and not go on leisurely walks out on the road in the late evenings after 10pm as this would definitely be a bit of a security risk.

** Meaning: From the highest authority. From the source.
Origin: In horse racing circles tips on which horse is a likely winner circulate amongst punters. The most trusted authorities are considered to be those in closest touch with the recent form of the horse, that is, stable lads, trainers etc. The notional ‘from the horse’s mouth’ is supposed to indicate one step better than even that inner circle, that is, the horse itself

Andrew Stegmann

From the Horse’s Mouth – Angola

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH **

Contributions by Inyene Udoyen
Facts you did not know about Angola (Angola is a southern African nation whose varied terrain encompasses tropical Atlantic beaches, a labyrinthine system of rivers and Sub-Saharan desert that extends across the border into Namibia. The country’s colonial history is reflected in its Portuguese-influenced cuisine and its landmarks including Fortaleza de São Miguel, built by the Portuguese in 1576 to defend the capital, Luanda.)

1. How are birthdays celebrated?
We celebrate birthdays by getting together for lunch or dinner. Very similar to the Mediterranean way of celebration.
‘Parabéns’ – Congratulations!

2. When you first meet someone, how do you greet them?
Men shake hands and Women and opposite sexes kiss once on both cheeks.

3. What languages are spoken in your country?
Predominantly Portuguese. Angola does, however, have 6 local languages and English and French are also spoken within the Oil Industry.

4. Do you use a twelve hour clock, or a twenty-four hour clock?
We use the 24 hour clock.

5. What side of the road to people drive on?
We drive on the right-hand side of the road. Driving in Luanda: Watch

6. How important is punctuality?
This is very important to foreigners; locals, however, operate on African Time (TIA).

7. What types of music are popular?
Kizomba, Kuduro, Semba, and others. Some popular musicians are Mestre Dangue – Watch
Ary – Watch.
and Matias Damasio – Watch

8. Are there any Traditional Dances?
Kizomba is native to Angola. It is a genre of music with a romantic flow mixed with African rhythms. The Kizomba dancing style is also known to be very sensual – Watch
Kuduro is a type of music and dance developed in Angola in the 1980’s. It is described as uptempo, energetic and danceable – check this out – Watch

9. What traditional festivals are celebrated in your community?
Carnival is one of the biggest – Read this link to understand the celebration around Carnival. http://www.our-africa.org/angola/carnival

10. What are your seasons like?
Very Mediterranean – Summer is also the rainy Season from Oct – March and Winter never drops below 18 degrees Celsius. July is the coldest and January the hottest.

11. Tell us an interesting fact about your President – Jose Eduardo dos Santos?
José Eduardo dos Santos (born 1942) was a leader of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the second president of Angola following independence in 1975. He guided the country from a Marxist to a democratic socialist form of government.
President Dos Santos (nickname “Zedu”) was one of Africa’s youngest when he became President at just 37 years of age in 1979.

12. What types of industry do you find other than oil?
Diamonds, Coffee, and Agriculture

13. How do people spend their free time?
Luanda has great night life and lovely beaches.

14. What do people drink?
Local beer – Cuca – and Portuguese wine.

15. What is a popular local dish?
Fish Calulu, or Calulu de Peixe, is a traditional recipe made in Angola and São Tomé e Príncipe for a signature fish stew which combines delicious vegetables cooked in red palm oil with okra and sweet potato leaves. Typically served with funje, a mashed potato like substance made from cassava flour. It is unbelievably rich in different flavours and spices, and is one of the most popular dishes in Angolan cuisine for good reason.

16. Security – in General?
Security is usually pretty good with upswings during the end of year holiday period, but currently there has been an increase in petty crime due to the worsening economic situation.

** Meaning: From the highest authority. From the source.
Origin: In horse racing circles tips on which horse is a likely winner circulate amongst punters. The most trusted authorities are considered to be those in closest touch with the recent form of the horse, that is, stable lads, trainers etc. The notional ‘from the horse’s mouth’ is supposed to indicate one step better than even that inner circle, that is, the horse itself

René Stegmann

Top strategies to identify and deal with “expat fatigue”

Camel fatigue

Expat fatigue isn’t one of those things like the stomach flu, where you know it when you’ve got it. If it were, it would be fairly obvious how to identify and deal with it. Instead expat fatigue has this sneaky habit of flying under the radar.

If your excitement for being in a new place has ever taken a nose dive into intense frustration or listless exasperation, you may be experiencing expat fatigue.

Sure, expat fatigue is expected and natural outcome of adapting to a new place. Left unchecked, however, this may be a form of self-sabotage. When you allow yourself or your loved ones to get consumed by expat fatigue, you hijack the very sense of adventure that inspired your expatriate life in the first place. What is really at risk? The expatriate assignment, important relationships and one´s own happiness. These are high stakes.

I don´t want this to happen to you. That is why I am going to share with you the ins and outs of expat fatigue so you can know what it is, be able to spot when it starts creeping in and have a handful of strategies at your fingertips to be able to deal with it successfully.

Name the Beast

Road rage on the way home from work. Refusal to learn the local language. Religiously stirring up evening cocktails. Gut-wrenching homesickness. On their own, none seem to point in an obvious direction, but when you recognize the name of the beast you are facing, you are better able to cope with it. Dr. Dan Siegel of Mindsight calls this strategy, “Name it to tame it.” By knowing the signs of expat fatigue, you are better positioned to get out of it.

Let me share with you my “name” for expat fatigue so you can get on with taming the beast.

Expat fatigue is intimately woven with the process of adapting to a new culture. It may begin with culture shock, that initial discomfort or disorientation when you are in unfamiliar waters. This initial blow to the system is just one of the many steps along the winding and bumpy road of adaptation. After the jolt of the unfamiliar fades, cultural fatigue may set in. You can think of it as the long-term impact of being in a culturally different environment. David L. Szanton’s often quoted definition gets at the heart of this:

Cultural Fatigue is the physical and emotional exhaustion that almost invariably results from the infinite series of minute adjustments required for long-term survival in an alien culture. (1)


David Szanton goes on to name the demanding nature of suspending our default responses, including how we evaluate something, and the tiring effort required to constantly adapt our approach. Szanton is straightforward, “conscious or unconscious, successful, or unsuccessful [this process] consumes an enormous amount of energy leaving the individual decidedly fatigued.”

Throw this hefty extension of energy upon a layer of fatigue from the cyclical nature of expat life (i.e. prepare to leave, say painful good byes, pack, leave, arrive, unpack, meet new people, adjust, find a routine – rinse and repeat), and voilà! You´ve got expat fatigue.

Tame the Beast

If you want to deal with expat fatigue effectively, you will want to have laser-like focus. Cross-cultural psychologists Ward, Bochner, and Furnham (2) help us simplify the complex process of adapting to a new or unfamiliar cultural environment by breaking it down to the ABCs (Affect, Behaviour, and Cognition).

A is for Affect: Pay attention to your feelings.

What to look out for: Take note when you feel confused, anxious or feel isolated. You might experience the overwhelming desire to simply be somewhere else or catch yourself flipping out at relatively minor incidents. Be careful if you notice these red flags appearing at an increasing frequency. Pay attention if your body is screaming at you in the form of sleep or digestive problems, or a dramatic loss of appetite. Letting any of these tendencies go may lead down a dangerous path to depression.

Try this: I hate to state the obvious but taking care of your health and well-being should be your top priority. This means enough rest, exercise and excellent nutrition. Seems simple enough, right? It’s not. Think of how many people struggle with eating well and sleeping enough in a non-expat context!

• Focus on your health so you can regain strength and clarity. It is imperative.
• Try slowing down how quickly or intensely you dive into the unfamiliar.
• Be creative in building “safe havens” of familiarity once a week.

Who knows! Adding in time to eat comfort foods on the sofa with a feel-good movie may be just what you need.

B is for Behaviour: Pay attention to your actions.

What to look out for: When we are in a new cultural context our “natural” behaviour may not always fit in. You know this when you come across as awkward or even inappropriate. (Arg…I hate it when that happens!). This can be draining on so many levels. What is simple for the locals (say, driving in erratic traffic and waiting in line at the bank or even greeting people) ends up requiring a huge extension of your patience or effort. Going through your days feeling like you are always “messing up” or that everything you do is a momentous challenge takes a toll.

It is time to take note when you notice a dramatic change in your self-confidence or assertiveness. Maybe your leadership style suddenly includes “giving up” or “giving in.” You may even find yourself privately making insulting comments about the locals (especially in the car!). A downslide in work performance, refusal to speak the local language or a gradual yet increasing dependency on alcohol are all signs to watch out for.

Try this:

  • Seek to understand the “whys” behind local practices
  • Seek out credible resources to increase your cultural understanding.
  • Identify low-risk opportunities for you to try out new behaviours and get feedback.
  • Take detailed notes of what you are learning (such as new words in the local language or the best way to negotiate at the market). Refer to these often to celebrate your progress.


C is for Cognition: Pay attention to your thoughts.

This is hands down the most complex and least straightforward aspect. You may start feeling worn down and not be able to identify exactly why. Keep in mind that when you are in the middle of adapting to a place that is significantly different from your familiar stomping grounds, you may discover that the way you see the world, how you see yourself or the groups that you belong is being challenged.

What to look out for: You suddenly notice that how you have typically seen yourself is not how others see you – and it troubles you. Maybe you go from thinking of yourself as middle-class to being seen as rich, from being an American to called a “foreigner”, from a colleague on equal footing to someone of lower (or higher) status.

Shifts like these can spur emotions like guilt, shock, confusion or even frustration.

Try this: Know that when you start grappling with big topics like identity, nationality, poverty, injustice, equality, and generally “what is right and wrong”, it is a sign that you are developing.

• When something new is being presented to you, find out how you can learn from it.
• Take the opportunity to learn more about your own culture. What are my main values? My core assumptions? What did I see as “normal” that isn’t shared by my new community?

Expat fatigue is a mirror of resilience

If you are feeling the effects of expat fatigue, it is time to seriously think about your current level of resiliency. Don´t get close to the breaking point.

Instead, ask yourself these 3 important questions:

• What isn’t working anymore that needs to change?
• What strategies am I using right now that are unhealthy in the long run?
• What is one small thing I can do this week to make things a bit better?

Now it is your turn. What is the number one thing that brings you down the most about expat life? Share it in the comments section of my blog.

Sundae Schneider-Bean is an intercultural specialist, coach and trainer based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (West Africa) who helps individuals and organizations meet their toughest intercultural challenges with clarity, strength and wisdom.

Living Abroad News Articles