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Culture Shock for Families |
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 The expatriates' partners and children suffer particularly from the
cultural shock of their foreign surroundings: unlike the expatriates
who are cushioned
by their job, they have to come to terms with
everyday life in the new country from the very first day.
Many expatriates experience an emotional chaos when they finally arrive
in the foreign country: the initial wave of euphoria is soon followed
by a psychological dip as life settles down to the everyday routine.
According to Merten, this is the main cause - along with serious illness - for ending such missions abroad prematurely.
DKV consequently offers additional services, as well as an advisory
hotline, especially for small and medium-sized companies without their
own expatriates programme: so-called pre-departure and cross-culture
training sessions prepare the future expatriates for their new cultural
environment and its stumbling blocks before they set out. Assistance is
also available for finding accommodation and moving house, as well as
with regard to obtaining visas and residence permits. Competent advice
is also offered if legal problems should ever arise.
Expatriates not uncommonly face a very special surprise when they
return to Germany: in unfortunate cases, they may be barred from
obtaining further health insurance after returning from the foreign
country. The situation is particularly tricky, for instance, for those
infected with malaria or other infectious diseases and for those above
a certain age limit. DKV consequently offers its Globality clients a
special "safety net": they can continue their health insurance with DKV
- without a renewed health check.
Even without these surprises, expatriates returning after several
successful years abroad often face a rude awakening. As 37-year-old
Peter Schoof explains after returning from South Africa, "after three
years as the "big boss", in a position of responsibility, with many
exciting experiences and eight months of summer per year, it is not
easy to fit in again in Germany and find an appropriate new post." That
is something of which every expatriate should be aware from the very
beginning.
 Peter Kunz
DKV
source: "bild der wissenschaft plus" 2003, pp. 38-39 / author: Anja Scholzen
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First Steps 
