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LIFE&FAMILY
152
October14
as the Australian High Commission’s community liaison
officer. In that role, I had supported the diplomats and
their families, advising them on practical matters such
as schooling, how to make the most of the many social
opportunities here, arranging exploratory walks and
helping them to settle in.
Tell us more about your work.
As a cross-cultural and daily living training consultant,
I provide many of the services I used to provide to the
Australian diplomats and their families.
Before my clients even get here, I need to assess their
family situation to see where they’re most likely to need
help. For some, it’s schooling; and for a jet-lagged parent
who is visiting for a couple of days just to look at schools,
it’s a boon to have someone like me drive them around,
put what they hear and see into a context that they will
understand, even help to interpret a strong accent.
Talking about the hiring of a helper can be a
big conversation. I often recommend a pre-arrival
teleconference on the practical and personal aspects of
this decision.
You probably know as much as anyone about
schooling in Singapore. How did that happen?
Again, part of my Australian High Commission role was
to develop and maintain a schools register. That opened
the way for me to write the chapter on education for the
comprehensive Living in Singapore guide (published
every two years by the American Association): in 2010, in
2012 and for the recently published 2014 edition.
Its focus changes over time, as circumstances here
change. The latest edition, for example, has a new section
on local school education for expat children, much more
information on special needs education and support, and
also a section on training and empowerment courses
for helpers.
What is your best advice to newcomers?
Join an organisation! Don’t just rely on your or your working
partner’s business colleagues, or on the school network, for
friends and activities. Have something for yourself, something
that excites you and that you could become passionate about.
Connect with like-minded people, ones you can call on when
the going gets tough. Practice and, if necessary, relearn the skill
of making friends. You may have lost it, especially if you’ve lived
for many years in the same community, surrounded by family
and your old school friends.
Finally, become a volunteer – that’s the
kaya
on the toast!