Hey

I cannot find any info, other than brief online-profiles of the school, on Advanced Learning Schools in Riyadh.

Anyone have anything to offer??

thanks in advance.

My family moved overseas 12 years ago. It was hard for us at first. It was more difficult for family and friends to accept out new lifestyle. For many years we brought home, every summer holiday, gifts for people from all the places we traveled that year. Friends and family enjoyed receiving our gifts, listening to our stories and looking at our pictures, for a time--15 minutes. The gifts have stopped and we rarely share pictures. Occasionally, I send picture of my kids to the inner-family because that's a doable thing--as well as updates on our life, even those have been shortened over the years because I got fed up with people's 2 line replies.

I am not bitter, nor are my spouse and kids, we've adjusted to life overseas because we've made the choice. We do love it!!! And reading the news today about ice-storms etc...just firms up our decision.

After the years passed we lost touch with some friends but made wonderful new ones overseas. Our two children, one left Canada when he was 2 years of age and our daughter, born in Saudi Arabia, have a fabulous life, attend excellent schools and live quite safely. As Third Cultured Kids (TCK's) I am proud of who they are becoming.

We do have a summer home in Canada that we usually return to for our summer holidays but we've begun to question that objective and cost factor. Our home is where we live now. It is where our kids do their homework. It is where we sleep 11 months of the year. Home is where we eat, prepare food and socialize. Home is where we hang out together. When people ask,"are you going home this holiday or for the summer." I reply, "I am home but no, I am not traveling to Canada."

With the Internet there are so many ways to stay in intimate contact with people i.e., emails, blogs, personal web sites, video phone, online stores for gifts or gift certificates, e-cards and on and on it goes. Relationships are a two way road. You can make efforts, do all the keeping in touch but a time will come when you will be tired of the one who does it all. It is a normal expatriate-cycle.

People are as busy as they choose to be. Letting go will be a decision that falls naturally into the expatriate life. Family or friends, we love them but they too must put an effort toward cultivating the relationship --that should be done whether you're living down the street or on the other side of the planet. Agreed? They could save their pennies, book a flight and visit you. There is an odd amount of expectation for the expatriate family to return "home" once or twice a year. Why?

I think when you decide to live as an expatriate you must learn to tweak your lenses more often that if you were living in your birth or passport country. Seeing things differently, when overseas, is one of the key elements for not suffering. That being said, if you are suffering or continue to suffer, then perhaps expatriate life is not for you--despite all the great things and terrific lifestyle living abroad offers, if you continue to see things through narrow colored lenses you will miss "home", feel guilty and begin booking your flights "home" the day after you land.

hello,

This is my first time posting on the forum.

Does anyone have experience with Shekou International School in Shenzhen, China??? NOT the QSI school.

There are not any ISR reviews. I also tried many Expatriate blogs and or web sites and the News Week article but it's all rather secondary data.

Anything: opinions, stuff you may have heard, personal connections and or actual work experience...

I am an experienced Int'l school educator of 12 years but cannot get a feel for ISS- Shenzhen.

thanks