Crossing Cultures in a Global Community: Thriving in Cultural Mobility

“Crossing Cultures in a Global Community: Thriving in Cultural Mobility”

Mr. Glenn C. Taylor and Ms. María Rosa Egüez

Glenn C. Taylor and María Rosa Egüez shared their cross-cultural learnings and experiences with diplomats and business leaders representing various nations. This insightful and interactive seminar provided an opportunity to gain understanding, not only of the transition process, but also of how to thrive in the midst of it.

Crossing Cultures in a Global Community: Thriving in Cultural Mobility

Glenn C. Taylor

• The Gifts and Adventure of Multicultural Experience
• Change and Stress Go Together

The Transition Experience – Glenn C. Taylor

• The Tapestry of Your Culture
• Exploring and Honouring Other Cultures
• Personal and Family Impact of Living Among Cultures

Thriving in Cultural Mobility: Family and Spousal Impact

Ms. María Rosa Egüez

• Transitioning from an independent life to becoming “the spousal of” can create confusion of personal identity and low elf-esteem.
• You are responsible for your choices and decision.
• ATTITUDE is what really matters in building a new life.
• Setting new goals and expectations is necessary.
  • Challenge yourself to reach these goals.
• Adjust to changes, embrace the challenges of new responsibilities and view them as opportunities for personal enrichment.
  • Use your skills and develop new abilities.
• Move not only physically, but also mentally. Do not compare or miss what you have left behind, it is a waste of time and energy.
• Go out and meet people, discover your new city and engage in interesting activities.
• Validate your role as a spouse of a diplomat. We make a unique and valuable contribution to our spouse’s work and success.
• Be supportive to the family in the process of transition.
• Reassure your children: HOME is not a physical structure, but an emotional location.
• Expat children need to keep their roots.
  • The native language is a link between the child and their roots.
• Learning the hosting country’s language is important for integration and adjustment.
• Encourage interest in the setting by gathering and sharing information with your family prior to departure.
• Value your children’s opinion and participation when packing their possessions.
• Be aware that excessive internet communication with friends elsewhere can hinder children from building relationship in your new setting.

Resources: Exploring Cultural Mobility

Andrews (ed), The Family in Mission: Understanding and Caring for Those Who Serve, (CO: MTI, 2004)

Ang, Soon & Linn Van Dyne (eds) Handbook of Cultural Intelligence: Theory, Measurement, and Applications (NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2008)

Bridges, Wm., Managing Transitions: Making the most of Change, (2009) PDF summary

Collins, Jim, Good to Great, (NY: HarperCollins, 2001)

Covey, Stephen R., The Speed of Trust, (NY: Free Press, 2006)

Duncombe, Kristin Louise, Trailing: A Memoir, (Create Space, United Statates, 2012)

Earley, Ang, Tan, CQ: Developing Cultural Intelligence at Work, (CA: Stanford Business Books, 2006)

Elmer, Duane, Cross-Cultural Servanthood, (IL: IVP, 2006)

Everley & Mitchell, Critical Incident Stress Management, (MD: Chevron Publishing, 1997)

Frankl, Victor, Man’s Search for Meaning, (Beacon Press, Boston, 2006)

Jansen, Linda A., The Emotionally Resilient Expat, Engage, Adapt and Thrive Across Cultures, (Great Britain, 2013, Kindle Edition)

Livermore, David, Cultural Intelligence: Improving your CQ to Engage Our Multi-cultural World, (MI:Baker Academic Press, 2009) PDF

Livermore, David, The Cultural Intelligence Difference, (NY:American Management Association, 2011)

Owen, Jordon, Turner, Davis, Hook & Griffin, “Therapists’ Multicultural Orientation: Client Perceptions and Cultural Humility, Spiritual/Religious Commitment, and Therapy Outcomes”, (Journal of Psychology & Theology, spring 2014, Vol. 42, #1, CA: Biola University)

Pascoe, Robin, A Broad Abroad: The Expat Wife’s Guide to Successful Living Abroad, (Expatriate Press Limited, North Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Pollock & Van Reken, Third Culture Kids: The Experience Growing Up Among Worlds, (MN: Intercultural Press, 2001)

Salerno & Brock, The Change Cycle: How people can survive and thrive in Organizational Change, (2008)

Schaefer & Schaefer, Trauma and Resilience, (Condeo Press, 2012)

Taylor, Glenn C., Pastors in Transition: Navigating the Turbulence of Change, (MB: Word Alive Press, 2013)

Websites

Expat Expert: Resources and support from Canadian expatriate guru and culture shock author, Robin Pascoe

Mr. Glenn C. Taylor

Glenn C. Taylor has provided counselling, consultation, and seminars in over 80 countries. He has also engaged in similar roles for scores of churches, charitable organizations, pastors and individuals in North American. His training in theology and counselling provides a holistic approach, as evidenced in his books. His international ministry provides services to charitable organizations, denominational leaders and many individuals.

Prior to the five decades of providing counselling services, he pioneered three churches in Ontario, Canada. The reader will find help in addressing transitional issues, conflict, spiritual concerns and relational tension we all experience in life. Read more.

Mrs. María Rosa Egüez

María Rosa Egüez is the spouse of a career diplomat, the former Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to Canada, and has learned to thrive as she has raised her family during multiple postings world wide.

The opinions expressed by the speakers and commentators at our events and posted on our website are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Christian Embassy.