Overseas Living

L. Robert Kohls opens his book, Survival Kit for Overseas Living, with a preface that reminds its reader that even if you have chosen to live your life up until now within your own culture and/or social groups people in today’s world are expected to know and be able to function within society at an intercultural level of acceptance and unity. The purpose of this book is help Americans to see what intercultural skills we already have, those that must be developed to ‘survive’, and to become aware/more aware of the biases and cultural norms we cannot expect when traveling/living abroad.
In the first chapter of this book Kohls shows the transparent nature of this book by letting us know that without help “your chances of having a really satisfying
Chapter twelve says to visualize yourself in your new home, and find the things that comfort you the most within it, learn the words necessary for survival on street signs and grocery stores, identify the differences from ‘home’ and try to find others who can help you learn the new landscape and culture. Next, the reader needs to learn all they can before and after arrival about the culture, tradition, and sights that are ‘must sees’. But also to make sure you are well aware of the ‘must know’ about government, your place in society, and how you should act/react in various common situations,. Such as dinner parties (59-74).
Chapter fifteen is one of the most important steps, if possible, to accomplish before moving to another country long term: learn the language. Kohls stresses the invaluable knowledge and ease one will get from really knowing the language, but also that this is difficult and states that even a few key phrases/pleasantries show respect to the host and helps to break the American stereotype of egocentrism while allowing you a greater sense of confidence in your own abilities to succeed abroad
Kohls then moves to how life overseas will affect the entire family unit. Several well know ‘rules’ in most countries are pointed out, such as males have preferential treatment in almost all areas of culture, and women are often seen as the possession of a male (father if single, husband/sons if married) and children must learn to study, play, and survive in a culture that is as good as an alien world or sci-fi novel to them. He warns against just expecting the family to come along, and the resentment that could follow if you bring them and then leave them to find their own way. Kohls states this will leave them feeling left without a foothold to enter the culture and they will be left to flounder into despair with a feeling of abandonment that can be prevented by simply helping them learn the new world along with you