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Chris Westphal is the author of the novel, Echo Valley, and has worked as a writer in journalism, network television, and public relations. He now lives in Southern California with his wife, Stephanie, and their two children, Drew and Kelsey. Chris says, "I moved with my family to Prague, Czech Republic, where we lived for a year. We did this entirely on our own--no corporation or government paying our way." This article is for potential expats, telling them some of the lessons they learned. Chris Westphal has also authored a second book, A Family Year Abroad: How to Live Outside the Borders. The book offers tips, checklists, and practical advice for families considering, or currently living abroad. Additional Resources Living Overseas  Order the Book  Contact Chris Westphal

It was only after our airplane touched down at Prague's Ruzyne airport, starting my family's life as expatriates in that far-off and beautiful city, that my wife and I fully grasped the magnitude of what we had begun ... we had rented out our home, put almost everything we owned in storage, and left the U.S.A. And we didn't know a soul in Prague. Sure, millions of U.S. citizens live abroad. However, almost all of them fall into one of two categories. First, there are single people getting a taste of adventure while teaching English abroad. Second, there are career expatriates, such as diplomatic, military, and corporate transfers. We fit neither of these categories. What's more, we had no family ties and no cultural ties to the Czech Republic. In fact, we had never even visited the country. Because for close to a year we had studied, made arrangements, sought job leads, and even learned a bit of the language, we thought we were pretty well prepared.

How wrong we were. We learned the lessons below the hard way. If you've ever considered living abroad with your family, here are some of the most important things to keep in mind before you go, while you're there, and when you return.

Sell your car before you go. By the time we returned, our car had depreciated by thousands of dollars and needed significant repairs, which were fortunately covered by the warranty. Before you leave, sell your car or cars and put the money in a CD: you'll probably be able to buy the same type of car on your return, and bank some money besides.

To ship or not to ship? We left the U.S. with just the luggage our family of four could take on the plane ... eight suitcases and four carry-ons. While this was a terrific exercise in paring down our belongings, I sure got tired of the same three outfits, week after week. If your employer is sending you abroad, you'll probably have a generous shipping allowance. If you're going on your own, as we did, plan to rent a fully furnished apartment, and ship bulky items, such as pots and pans, linens, sports equipment, and hobby materials, as well as clothes that you won't need for your first couple of months.

Get an apartment close to school and work. For the first four months of our year in Prague, the children had to take a taxi more than an hour each way to and from school. After we took a new apartment closer to their school, they could at last have friends over, and we could participate in many of the family activities offered by the school. If you can't find a place prior to arrival, plan to stay in a guesthouse or pension for four to six weeks while you search.

Bring a laptop computer, printer and scanner. E-mail alone is worth lugging a laptop overseas. We also used computers to do freelance work over the Internet, keep track of finances online, and send and receive faxes. Okay, the kids and I played computer games, too. Most laptops are compatible with overseas current, but be sure your peripheral devices are, too.

Expect to suffer from culture shock. For a couple of months, enchanted by the city, we thought we'd escape the scourge of culture shock. Then, the inconvenience of living in a tiny apartment, dealing with surly clerks and not having a car ceased to be charming.

Culture shock often hits the non-working spouse hardest. To fight it, get involved in the children's school, or with a volunteer organization. Take the initiative and set up social engagements, and spend time with expatriates who know and understand the culture in which you're living. Expatriates are used to making friends quickly, so if an offer is made, accept it and reciprocate!

Get a car. A car is often a nuisance in a big city, and Prague is no exception, and for our first eight months, we did without. However, we finally got tired of lugging grocery sacks home from the supermarket. We rented an old Czech Škoda, for just $11 per day. It was good enough to take the children to school, go shopping, and take short trips. Best of all, though, we didn't have to pay to maintain it, or to insure it, since we had used a credit card to rent it.

Plan on traveling as much as possible. For the first couple of months, you'll probably want to remain in your new home and get acquainted. However, sooner or later, the isolation will get to you, and one good way to fight it is to get out to see and experience new things. We visited eight countries while we were overseas, all with our children.

Plan to live abroad for two to four years. Sure, at the outset, two years will seem like an eternity. However, for us and for many expatriates I contacted when writing my book, A Family Year Abroad: How to Live Outside the Borders, it really takes a year to adjust to life overseas.
 

For us, it was very difficult to leave Prague. The children were very happy at the International School of Prague. We had begun to make good friends, and to enjoy visits from U.S. friends, because we felt we really knew the city. We would have liked to spent another year and really take advantage of our familiarity with the city. Don't expect coming home to be easy: In many ways, it was harder to return home than it was to leave. Unconsciously, we expected everything to be the way it was when we left, and that wasn't the case. Many expatriates feel that the folks back home don't want to hear about their lives overseas, as though they're bragging about what they've done, when in fact they're just talking about their lives as they'd lived them.

The best route to adjusting to life back home is to get involved, and bring to new undertakings the resourcefulness, perspective, and energy that you will have developed while living overseas.
 

A Family Year Abroad: How to Live Outside the Borders Book Description  Have you ever dreamed of living abroad? And taking your family with you? Chris and Stephanie Westphal wanted to travel, but their responsibilities with jobs and kids kept them at home. Finally, they decided to go anyway. They rented their house, put bank accounts on hold, and moved the whole family to Prague, Czech Republic, for an entire year. Funny, insightful, and inspiring, this book tells how that year abroad changed their outlook on life, and also explains how others thinking of making a change can do it, too. Amazon.com . "...Chris Westphal covers everything you need to know about moving to, living in, and returning home from another land." Jerry Camarillo Dunn, Jr., travel writer/editor for the National Geographic Society Order the book from Amazon.com - Click Here -