Ella Hopkins’ Post

𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. I often get the question what inspires Expat Valley's 52 stories series. 📕 Some stories are written by experts in our network, sharing from their experiences in working with international families. 📗 Some stories are told by the person that experienced it first-hand. 📘 Some stories were written based on industry best-practices, inspired by one of our workshops. 📚 And some stories, like the one below, are inspired by my personal experience of living and working in a foreign country. I've been trained as a therapist in the Netherlands, learning about various mental health diagnoses was part of my coursework. 'Selective Mutism' is just a small chapter in a big book. I had never worked with a child that experienced it until I moved to Shanghai. I met four children that displayed symptoms of selective mutism within my first three months of working in an international environment. The prevalence of (unrecognized/undiagnosed) anxiety problems amongst internationally mobile children became one of my (many) pet peeves. Since writing the story below, it has been shared with many families that recognize their own child's experience in it: Children that do not talk for weeks, sometimes months, in school. Initially, their parents and teachers think it is due to learning a new language. Over time, it becomes clear there is a different reason why a child does not speak. Speech therapy is often recommended by the international health care insurer, which usually does not actually make a difference. Fortunately, most children overcome their fear over time, and the problem disappears. I believe that this is one of the many Family Relocation Experiences that should run a different course. Children, their parents, and their teachers should have access to information that helps them prepare, provides comfort, guidance, and support when encountering hurdles on their international adventures. _ _ _ 🌍 I am the global expert on successful international family relocations. Contact me today to ensure your family relocation experience is worry-free and empowering! 👨👩👧👦📦✈️🏡❤️ #GlobalMobility #FamilyRelocation #ExpatLife

As a long-term resident of Madrid, Spain, I used to be frustrated by these things about my adopted country... 👉 The second question I thought I left behind in the US. "No, where are you 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 from?" from growing up in LA... Was swapped for... "Pero... ¿de dónde vienen tus padres?" I've since come to realize that: This second question will follow me no matter where I go or how long I live here. So now, I use it as an opportunity to tell my story... And, hopefully, change hearts and minds in the process. 👉 Here you're judged on your appearance and your country of origin. I worked my @-double-dollar-sign off to learn the ins and outs of the language. I didn't want to be the typical English speaker who — ten years later — could still barely manage a conversation! But I realized that no matter how fluent I sounded when I spoke... It didn't stop me from facing: Snap judgments (𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘰... 𝘯𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘢...), Misplaced attempts at connection (𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢!), Backhanded compliments (𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘪 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘰...) Or worse, straight-up harassment on the street (𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘢...). ===== You will never shed your role of ambassador of the cultures or countries you come from. Which meant I could spend the rest of my time in my adopted country: Letting each interaction rile me up or spark outrage; Or... Approach my interactions with locals as a privilege — not a burden. Now I embrace the opportunity to challenge what others may have thought to be true — and channel frustration into our team's mission to create workplaces that better represent the world we live in. Have you been challenged by your experience living abroad? What have you learned? ----------------------------------------------- If you liked this post: 👆 Hit "Follow" on my LinkedIn profile. ♻ Share with someone who'd benefit. #immigrantstories #leadershiplessons #diversityandinclusion #lifeabroad #hybridwork #crossculturalteams

🚨 Expat Families, It's Time to Face the Hard Truth 🚨   Let's cut through the noise. Moving across the world isn't just an adventure—it's a rollercoaster, especially for our kids. Beyond the excitement lies a challenge we can't ignore: the real, raw struggle our children face as they try to make sense of their new environment.   I've been there, both as an expat and as someone who's dedicated two decades to helping families like ours. I've seen the confusion, the loneliness, and the tears. But here's what I've learned—we can turn this around.   This Workshop Is Your Wake-Up Call:   The Unspoken Reality: We're diving deep into what our kids are actually going through. No sugar-coating, just the truth. Actionable Insights: Armed with experience and expertise, I'm here to hand you the strategies that work. Simple, effective, and real solutions to support your kids. Your New Community: You're not in this alone. Connect with parents who get it, share your stories, and find strength in numbers.   And There's More - A Special Giveaway Tools and resources ready for you to take home. This isn't just another workshop. It's about facing the tough parts of the expat journey head-on and coming out stronger on the other side.   DM to Secure Your Spot It's about making a real difference in our children's expat experience. #expatlife #thrive #connection #expatchildsyndrome

"You are not part of any of these groups, not the mothers and not the expat working women. You feel alone." This is often the reality for accompanying partners who move abroad and who do not have children. Most expat couples either have children, plan to have children or both partners are working. But what about the small minority who are accompanying partners without children? I had the chance to interview Annette Jall about her expat experience and in this interview we talked about the challenges but also the hidden treasures of living abroad without children, what life lessons Annette has learned and what advice she would give other women who are in her shoes. What advice would you add when it comes to living abroad with or without children? #expatlife #interview #globalmobility https://lnkd.in/eKPjRrCv

🌏 Life Abroad: It's not always this easy magical adventure, but rather it can be quite a challenge. I have lived in New Zealand, the US, UK and now Germany. It's been quite a ride, with its fair share of ups and downs. Leaving behind friends and family and getting used to a whole new place each time - it's tough. But what makes it easier? Finding awesome people wherever you go. Whether it's other expats or locals, building a small community around you is a game-changer. 👫🌍 That’s why we started this meetup in Leipzig with other internationals. To share stories, experiences and have a support group that understands you. If you are abroad or considering moving abroad this are some of the tips I would consider: Find Your People: Look for local groups or meetups, or even start your own! Learn the Local Ways: Understanding local culture and work etiquette goes a long way. Keep an Open Mind: Be ready to adapt and try new things. It can be challenging at the beginning but believe me there is always something to learn. Help Out: Sharing your skills and learning from others is super rewarding. Stay in Touch: Keep up with friends and colleagues back home for support and opportunities. Nowadays it’s easier than ever. But that’s not all! Today with Daniel Ding Aum Ravi Alejandro Estrella we are officially launching our initiative My Expat Life. Our aim? Create a community of internationals/Expats living in Germany. Started from my Instagram (20 K followers) now is time to create more value for the international community in Germany! If you are a company or person that also works with the expat community in Germany, you can of course reach out! Website: myexpatlife.eu Follow us on our socials and be part of the community! #LifeAbroad #ExpatCommunity #NewBeginnings

EXPATABILITY® is now my official Registered Trademark 🥳🥰 But what does it mean? I've always had a thing about playing with words... my first official blog when I lived in Tokyo was called 'Japanory' (and it's still there if you want to look). Then I created another couple of half-hearted blogs, when I was in Germany and South Africa with similar wordplay. So to me, it was only natural to play with words when it came to my 'new baby', born in 2017. I wanted to convey how important it is to be well prepared for expat life, so that your dreams of a new and better life in another country do come true. So, we have 'EXPAT', which I know winds people up for some reason. In my world I use it for these simple reasons: 1) It's short! 2) It ties into my original site, Expat Child 3) Many of my clients move abroad on a temporary basis. I also help those who emigrate! So, I will continue to use 'expat' mainly for the first two points. 🤷🏻♀️ Then we have 'ABILITY'. It takes a certain kind of personality to 'do' expat life successfully. You need a lot of skills, especially when you move overseas with your children. And even more if you're giving up your career to become a trailing spouse (😈 yes, I know, we hate this phrase too, but again, I use it for a purpose 😉). Accompanying expat partners often must change their entire world view and cope with more than you can imagine, in a different country, with a different culture, sometimes in a different language, and without a solid support network, at least at first. I want YOU to have the ability to live your best expat life. And can share that ability with you. I have the talent, skill and proficiency to help you gain your own Expatability®. Check out the links in the comments below for where you can find me and how I can help you create your fabulous new life overseas. #globalmobility #expatlife #expat

Navigating Homesickness Abroad: Tips for Finding Your Comfort Zone in France. Discover how to ease feelings of homesickness and create a new sense of belonging in our clinic's guide below.

Attention expat partners moving to Germany! 📣 Join Get In Expat & The Eltern Hub on June 11th for an insightful webinar: "Life as an Expat Spouse in Germany | Challenges & Opportunities." Moving abroad impacts the entire family - especially the accompanying spouse who may be seeking their own purpose in a new country. In our webinar, we will provide valuable tips to help expat partners thrive abroad, including: 🌎 Strategies for finding meaningful work 🌎 Navigating cultural adjustments 🌎 Building a supportive community 📅 Save the date! Link to register in the comments below ⬇️ We look forward to connecting with you and answering your questions! #TheElternHub #ExpatsinGermany #Moveabroad