Resources tagged with: Friendships

In today’s globally mobile world, some families find themselves navigating a social reality far richer and more complex than anything they have imagined. Their children attend international schools or integrate into local systems, learning to switch languages mid-sentence and pick up subtle cues from cultures that aren't their own. These...
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When the Kim family landed in South Korea after six years in the Netherlands, they expected the transition to feel smooth. They had planned well, prepared their children, and returned to the same neighborhood where Jiho grew up. Relatives welcomed them with open arms. The move was, in many ways,...
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Picture this: You’ve just picked up your child from their new international school. They slam the car door, toss their backpack to the floor, and mutter “I hate it here.” When you ask what happened, they shrug and stare out the window. After a long pause, they add, “No one...
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Kento, an eleven-year-old from Tokyo, had always been cheerful and adaptable. Four months ago, when his family relocated to the UK for his father’s job, he was curious and hopeful about making new friends at his international school. However, over the last few weeks, his demeanor shifted. He stopped talking...
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I moved to the Netherlands for university, and have stayed ever since. I speak the language fluently, and my appearance does not make me stand out from locals. Some people still recognize my accent though. And of course, my friends all know of my German descent. In their eyes, I’m...
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The first day of school is often filled with a mix of emotions when it is experienced in one’s passport culture, but the mental, emotional and even academic complexity can often be significantly magnified when it is experienced internationally. Students living abroad have the normal first day nerves, along with...
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