Immigrating With Kids Check List

As a child I and my family were almost gypsy like in the way that we travelled around the southern half of Africa. Born in the then Southern Rhodesia, I spent only 4 years at junior school before my father took up a job in the then Northern Rhodesia, soon to become Zambia. At that particular time I had three brothers, two younger than me and one older. So my folks were pretty brave Immigrating With Kids and moving relatively far away from their parents and siblings. I still remember how exciting the train journey that took us to our destination was. We were pulled along by a great huffing, puffing steam engine that spat out chunks of coal and thick black smoke! Never mind that our faces were soon as black as our hands, that journey sealed my love for travelling in this way. (Sadly, no longer an option for many destinations in Africa anymore, other than those either too luxurious to afford and those that safety does not permit). However fitting in at the new school for me was fairly unproblematic. The culture in this country, and this is the biggest potential problem for any immigrants emigrating from one country to another, was pretty much the same as it was back in the country of my birth. This was mainly due to the fact that most of the people my parents mixed with were ex-patriots and had come over from Ireland, Scotland and England as had my parents, well mine from England and Scotland. The Black African culture did not change much, other than language because as with most Africans that I know, they did then, and still do now, treat young children with care, humour and lots of vaseline! (Vaseline is the ultimate panacea in Africa, it is kisses, hugs, plasters, a scraped knee fixer-upper and an all round skin ailment remedy.) This of course was from my childish perspective and if you are Immigrating With Kids, especially young children, they will pretty much do what I did, view life simplistically, adapt and adjust into new environments.

(Obvioulsy cultural beliefs and taboos do differ among Africas native tribes and nations, and culture is never as simple as children perceive it to be. I would not and do not as an adult simplify the multitude of differing cultural beliefs that exist in Africa).

It maybe prudent to note that when we emigrated we had both parents. When I too immigrated on my own with two small children I had some back up with friends and extended family members in the country that I emigrated to. This quite obviously made it easier for me.

Immigrating With Kids from one country to another that has a different and new culture is likely to change your kids more than you. The younger they are, the more easily they will adapt to both language and culture changes. I was thirteen when I went to boarding school and the impact of the South African culture and language remains with me today. I fit very neatly into the South African culture as well as the, Zimbabwean and Zambian cultures. It is important to note that once a culture becomes embedded, even when it is a bit of a mixed culture, it is possibly the most difficult thing to change, particularly in older people. (Please note that this may go for older teens as well!) My own two children, stepped seamlessly from a small community Zimbabwean school into a small town community school in South Africa at the ages of nine and eight. They too found themselves in a school that did not have English as it's main language and they too were able to write their exams at the end of their first year there in another language, and pass with flying colours. This is something that young children do very well, do not underestimate the survival instinct! I pause here to remind myself and you that I am talking about fairly young children and not those in their mid teens. Teenagers pose their own problems and where one teen might fit right in another may reject it completely. This is especially difficult when the culture is totally different to what they know and love. Leaving firm friends behind at this age 15-17yrs may pose quite a problem for them. But all is not lost as most young people given time and things to do that keep them occupied whilst integrating them into a new culture can over-come the obstacle.

Immigrating With Kids, means that you should know as much about the country that your family is emigrating to, as possible. If the money is available then visit the country first, take a good look at the schools by visiting them and the Head or principle of each school. Get your kids engaged by doing searches with them about the culture and the places they can visit etc. Find out what the people there do for leisure and fun. This can tell you a lot about the mind set of the people and their culture. For most Africans, leisure means outdoor activities. The top of this list is getting together for a good natter around a braai (barbecue) after swimming, fishing, watching sport and or taking part in one sport or another. The long warm days invite people outside and swimming is a great way to cool down, so most kids know how to swim. Food is also part of the culture and in South Africa you wont get better home prepared meals anywhere. The winters are short, dry and sunny, except for the Cape which gets most of it's rain over winter. This means that kids are mostly outside playing football, rugby and hockey. Most schools encourage sport as well as athletics and most kids stay in the afternoons to participate in one sport or another.

For a lot of Kids in England, who live in and around cities there is not a lot to do after school other than hang about street corners. This means that they get into trouble very early on in life. One of the reasons behind this is that many, (not all) schools here do not play sport in the afternoons or even encourage children into sport, as a lot of them no longer have playing fields. Many youngsters here aspire to be 18 as fast as possible because this means that they can legally get drunk as fast as possible! Sadly the UK has earned itself the worst reputation for holiday makers in Europe, all due to the drinking culture that rules over all. Private schools and Univeristys are still top notch but are very expensive.

However like any country, the UK has it's pro's and cons. Over-all the UK is a peaceful country with very little violent crime in comparison with a lot of African countries. People in general are very friendly and will quite happily start a conversation with strangers at a bus stop. There are plenty of extra curricular activities for adults and children alike if you can afford to pay for them. It is for many reasons not the worst place to be Immigrating With Kids to, but like any country with a massive population and little room to manouver, it needs consideration if your gangs are used to wide open spaces.

I am only able to compare differences in five countries to be Immigrating With Kids to, so cannot claim to be an expert on which countries have the best to offer families and children. Not everyone Immigrating With Kids do this for abstract reasons like a remembered holiday that seemed like it maybe a good place to live. Usually there is some solid reasoning behind it, a lot of thought and sometimes heartbreak that goes into it..

However it is worth noting that the country of choice may have even less to offer spiritually. In order to succeed in Immigrating With Kids, and staying in your new country it is vitally important that the spirit is happy too. By not taking this into account you risk so many things, like health, both mental and physical, marriages can crumble when only one of the partners is happy and the other only longs to go home. Kids may become estranged from their parents culture, which can lead to massive arguments caused by the confusion of both parent and child. To avoid this parents either have to buy into the new culture themselves, or help their children to take a flexible view of both cultures. This means insisting that certain things that are important to you and your culture be respected as well as not trying to force a foreign culture down a reluctant teen throat. It means that you and your partner make way for some of the culture that the kids are being stewed in everyday when they mix with other kids in school and on outings . Choose to let them participate in those cultures that have less importance in the greater scheme of life, like dodgy haircuts, wierd clothing and make-up. Manners are more important than these things, and even if your child looks like something you may consider, has been dragged through a bush, 'respect', sorts the 'good' dodgy looking kid, from the hooligans. Keeping your family close means staying engaged with your gang by insisting on keeping the important things alive; those that are meaningful and have ritual to them: like eating together; spending family time together on a week-end for at least one of the days when your kids are teenagers. Keep tabs on those things that can affect their future, like school work, friends who maybe drinking or taking drugs. Don't take it for granted that all parents care whether or not their kids drink or do drugs, or even where they are at dinner time. Keep listening, keep playing together and keep talking. Immigrating With Kids takes some fighting spirit sometimes.

(1) Culture changes, good or bad. Children latch onto new ones as fast as they do a new language.

(2) Sport if any, and if it is important to certain members of the family.

(3) Weather, this can really affect overall perception and enjoyment. It can also have a profound effect on mood and general well being. Finland has a recorded minnimum length of daylight of 1.33 hr, in January! Fine if you hate sun.

(4) Local Environment changes, eg. town to city, farm to town and so forth. Even these things can affect culture.

(5) Language, kids pick this up quickly, adults don't. Be prepared to learn at least the basics in order to fit in with the culture and the kids.

(6) Laws and cultural rules, both of these can keep you out of trouble. Don't just believe that these two things are automatically the same as the country that you have grown up in. Also make sure that you have every relevant form for customs and immigration filled in and approved.

(7) Safety, take into consideration crime in the area and type of crime.

(8) Check the schools, their curriculum, appearance of the average child attending, success rate and environment within. The general appearance of children and their uniforms can also tell you a lot about the school and it's ethics. Give the same respect to evaluating local creche facilities.

(9) Cost of living. Will the salary you expect to get, allow for a good quality of life, preferably as good or better than the life you led in your home country.

(10) Accomodation, how affordable, can it closely match that of which you live in now, or better it? Garden space for your gang and play areas.

(11)Lastly how important are the family and people that you would leave behind, should you be Immigrating With Kids, and could you afford to go back home if need be?

(12) For older kids reluctant to let go of their heritage and friends, be sympathetic but at the same time get them involved in activities that will help intigrate them into the new community.

For those forced to be Immigrating With Kids or even alone, I wish you plain sailing and happiness, no matter where you come from or where you end up.

Immigrating With Kids Back To Home Page