Repatriating....!

Repatriation, or returning home from an overseas assignment involves just as many factors to be considered just as one has to consider when deciding before going abroad.

I have left Malaysia for nine years and so have been my wife and three of our children. For me, it means that I have been out of the local network amongst peers and compatriots. I may no longer know the 'Who is Who!'' For my wife, she has made new friends abroad and may have got used to a certain way of living - away from home. For my three children, all of their formal education have been experienced out of Malaysia. These summaries are over simplistic however do represent some of the factors we have to consider when repatriating home.
On top of that, there are financial factors. For me, having been in the Middle East means that it has been a while since I last pay tax for my income. And having been an international assignee, I have used to certain perks associated with the job, such as company paid car and accomodation, paid holiday and more.

The question of "Hujan emas di negeri orang dan hujan batu di negeri sendiri - baik lagi negeri sendiri!" does come in every now and again. There are times we miss home...so acute we feel like packing and taking the next flight home. There are times too, we become dissappointed and disillusioned after having been home for a few weeks - people at home have got used to not having us around that their lives do not revolve around us any more. Once the novelty of 'coming home' subsides, we begin to miss our home away from home. We miss our new found friends in those faraway land. We miss the smell of our own kitchen, even without the belacan smell. We miss our foreign neighbours whom we hardly talk, far less gossip with. We begin to feel excited again as soon as we board the plane at the KLIA - yes, we miss home ~ home away from home!
It is not only the hujan batu or the hujan emas that influence us to be where we want to be. Life is more than a pile of gravels or a pot of gold. Life is ... about waking up in the morning and feel that we belong!

The whole of my paragraph above is a digression from what I wanted to write. However, it helps to illustrate the need to offer our returning friends and family members with emotional support besides physical or financial support. At work, it is important to consider providing repatriation orientation and support just as what we do when we welcome foreign expats.

Examples of things a company can do for their repatriating expats are:
- Offer help in looking for new schools and accomodation.
- Offer information on new malls, restaurents, hospitals, etc.
- Provide with a temporary car and driver.
- Help with red-tapes; installing telephone lines and utilities.
- Organize morning coffees for the spouse with spouses of other managers / staffs.

The government has taken positive steps in encouraging Malaysians expats to return home with a few financial incentives and priviledges on offer. Caring and considerate gestures from families, friends and work colleagues can add to the joy of coming home!