Repat partner Cristina Velasco and her family lived in the US for four years. Inevitably she noticed that her kids had to do some readjusting but they are also crystal clear on their cultural identity.
An extended stay
“The original plan was to go to the US for two years. But as we were all enjoying life in New York, we happily extended our stay for another two years. I’m Spanish but my husband is from Germany, where we had lived before the assignment, and where we knew we would return,” says Cristina. “That’s why we enrolled them in a German international school in the US.”
Back to (public) school
After repatriating, Cristina and her husband were unsure whether to put their kids back into the public school system, or keep them in an international school: “I’d heard from other expats it was very difficult for repatriating kids to return to a public school system. But we felt that we should give it a try. Of course, it was very different. The school in the US is very small and the teachers know every student as well as their siblings and parents. But in a German public school, it felt like they were just two kids amongst a thousand others.”
Learning to be independent
“My daughter (now 15) had a great onboarding experience at the German international in the US. In Germany, she couldn’t understand why she was being left to her own devices by teachers! My husband and I also had to get used to the difference in culture. In the US, parents are heavily involved in their kids’ schooling and social lives – attending sports practice, taking them to playdates, they’re always around. Back in Germany, we were surprised to see young kids in the neighbourhood wandering around by themselves!”
Good job guys!
“In the US, educators are very positive. They’re always praising kids for doing a ‘good job’. In Germany, however, compliments are less forthcoming! So our kids definitely had to readjust but I think they managed very well. But what I am most proud of is how they view the world after experiencing life in another country. They have told me that they’re not German or Spanish but ‘global citizens’. Through their actions and what they say, I can see they are open-minded and inclusive of others. That’s what is important to us as an international family.”
Photo: Cristina with her children
