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lifeandchildren–andthelatterfinancedit:familyvacations,travels,
andmostofmychildren’sinternationaleducation.Despiteallthis,some-
timesIstillfeelguiltyforputtingmythreebundlesofjoythroughso
manyrelocations;thatis,forcingthemtochangeschoolsandfriendsand
surroundingseverytwoorthreeyears.Thepricetheypaidwashigh,but
atthesametime,theyreceivedsomethingthatnotmanyoftheirpeers
have,astheyarewhatisknownasGthirdculturekids”–multilingualand
well-educated.Whiletheyhavenoproblemgettingintoaplaneandflying
toanothercontinent,completingabanalerrandinthelocaltownhallis
outsideoftheirscopeofcapabilities.
I’vededicatedafairbitofthisbooktomyfamily.Thedivorcerate
amongstexpatsisincrediblyhigh,andnotwithoutreason.Managerswho
leavethecountrybecauseoftheirworkoftenlackanappropriatework-life
balance.Theyareusuallysoinovertheirheadsdealingwithnewchal-
lengesinnewenvironmentsthattheirfamilyfallstothebackburner.Their
partnersareforcedtomakedoontheirown,creatingnewconnections
andfindinganothermeaningtotheirlife,asusually,inaccordancetotheir
visaspecifications,they’reunabletoundertakeanypayingwork.Moving
toanewcountryundersuchcircumstancesisnoteasy–butontheother
hand,splittingupfortherestofthefamilytostayintheirhomecountryis
notanyeasier,andleadstolonelinessanduncertaintyintherelationship.
Itisnosurprisethatsomanyfamiliesfallapartunderthesecircumstances.
So,itisimportanttorememberthatthepotentialpriceforone’scareer
successcouldbetheconcomitantdestructionofone’sfamilylife.I’m
trulyaluckyman–mywonderfulwifetookchargeofoureverydaylife
throughoutthesetwentyyearsofrelocationsandinfusedthemwithlove
andstabilityandunderstanding.Wearestilltogether–andcelebrating,
thisyear,thirtyyearsofadventures.
Throughoutmycorporatelife,myfamilyandIlivedthroughnine
relocations,includingtworeturnstoPoland–thefirstaftereightyears
abroad,andthesecondafteranothersix.Contrarytowhatonemight
think,returningtoone’sfatherlandisoftenthemostdifficultchallenge:
