Changing Climates

It’s mid winter here, Downunder.  Some of you may not be aware of that fact.  I’ve received a number of emails in the past week wishing me a lovely summer, or helping me to prepare for summer break.  However, while those of you in the Northern hemisphere are thinking of beaches and sunbathing we are thinking of ski fields, central heating and snuggling under the doona  (duvet / quilt). 

I have heard stories from expats and migrants who moved here, unaware that the seasons were in opposition.  They arrived shivering in their summer weight clothing or sweating in their fur coats. 

But aside from getting your packing and shipping clothes in the right order, does moving climates matter?  Does the weather affect us and create another thing we need to adapt to?

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The Smells of Your Relocation

It’s been smoky here lately.  Bushfires surrounding Sydney have caused smoke to sit in the air leaving a haze in the sky and an acrid taste in the mouth.

I hate the smell of a bushfire.  At first awareness of the scent my heart beats faster, my mouth dries and I feel compelled to look around and locate the source of the smell. Past experiences have left me with an automatic threat response to the smell.

Smells, like sounds, are a sensory factor.  They lie in the background but can become strong associations in our psyche with people, places or events. 

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Dancing with uncertainty – a critical skill in cross cultural relocation

Jonathan Fields, is releasing a book tomorrow.  

Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance.  He has challenged people to share their stories of the times they have “danced with uncertainty …and won…where you felt the butterflies, the anxiety and fear, where you thought about turning back, maybe you even did, but then turned back around and ended up creating, or becoming or doing something amazing.”

 My first thought wasn’t of my own dances but of the people I work with who are often stepping out into new lives in very different locations, lives they may not have personally considered but may be going to because of a job or a partner or a parent.  They are often feeling butterflies, anxiety and sometimes fear.  And then I remembered it was my own dance to China with a young family in the early 90s that got me into this work. 

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Manage the stress of moving

So you’re moving! A new location, a new home, new places to explore, new friends, a new job. Exciting and challenging at the same time. Your home is for sale or being prepared to rent. Belongings need to be sorted, discarded, packed or stored. And the do-list with 1000 items is constantly demanding your attention.

Yes, moving can be stressful. Even when you are 100% positive about the move, the things to be done can become overwhelming. And the emotional side of saying goodbye and leaving can be difficult. If you are less than positive about the move, perhaps feeling it is a move that has to be made to meet the needs of a partner or work requirements, then the stress can be even higher.

How can we manage these challenges to relieve some of the stress?

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