COVID-19: A Moment in Time
An usual invitation leads me to reflecting on this moment in time as an educator and global citizen. I share a handful of them here because, as we’re constantly reminded, we are all #inthistogether. You may relate to some and learn from others and it will be helpful to revisit these reflections in the weeks, months and years ahead. Read the full story…
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I Forgot How Much I Love This Place
How a summer that threatened every fibre of our being, helped me reconnect with my land, my people, my way of live, my cultural identity. Read the full story…
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Globally Grounded 2019 Round Up
Oh 2019. Where did you go? Are you like me and struggling to wrap your head around the fact that we are in December already? It’s been quite a year. Although the headlines and realities have often been challenging and confronting in 2019, Globally Grounded has been blessed to have its best year yet…with the notable exception of our blog post regularity (sorry about that). Celebrating family milestones, consulting to schools, presenting seminars, analysing research, serving on the SPAN Board and mentoring families have pushed blogging to the back seat on more than one occasion. As we hurtle towards the end of the year, let’s play catch up. Here is Globally Grounded’s 2019 Round Up. Read the full story…
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Quotable Quotes for a Fulfilled Global Life 
I share words spoken and written at this year’s FIGT Conference with you, in the hope that they may help you to live a fulfilled global life, whether that be abroad or in your ‘home’ culture. Read the full story…
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What Rodin Revealed About Reflection and Revelation: #FIGT17NL Ruminations
Have you ever dreamed of visiting a distant land after seeing it captured in a documentary, cheering on your favourite sporting team in real life or seeing a certain acclaimed artwork or salient sculpture in person? Recently I fulfilled one of those long-held dreams. Viewing Auguste Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’ (Le Penseur) sculpture in Paris has been ticked off my Bucket List!…Quietly studying his features, it struck me how intentionally reflective he appeared and I immediately began making connections… Read the full story...
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Inside the Mind of a Girl on a Train
The train departed Dordrecht Station promptly at 8:37am. Taking her seat beside the rain-spattered window, a silent yawn escaped. She had barely slept a wink the night before, in anticipation of the week ahead. By the time the sun set on today, they would be reunited, in Paris. How did it come to this? Read the full story…
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Ethiopia to The Netherlands: A Ripple Effect
Today, it is a privilege to introduce my special guest, Hannele Secchia, to you. Born in Ethiopia to German and Finnish parents, she lived there for most of her developmental years. Hannele repatriated twice to England at ages six and eleven and spent her high school years at boarding school in Kenya… Here she shares her reflections about the FIGT conference and being part of a very unique sector of our global community. Read the full story…
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Building Our Nest
…This morning I was awoken by the busy sounds of a bird outside my bedroom window. Singing away, she was flitting back and forth, busily building her nest – a twig here, a piece of cotton there. As I watched her work, whilst sipping my morning cup of tea, I was reminded of a theme that ran through many of the presentations at this year’s Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Conference. Home. The word can send shivers down the spine of a globally mobile individual who often lives between worlds. Read the full story…
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Repatriation Reflections: Re-Entry in 5 Words
I have taken up a challenge thrown down by Blogging Abroad to reflect on my re-entry, in the hope that it will help others along their own re-entry journey or bring understanding to their loved ones watching from the sidelines. It’s not all good and it’s not all bad. It is a journey and one I’m pleased to have worked through. In 5 words, I describe my experience of returning home after living abroad. Read the full story…
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How Has Living Abroad Changed You?
Last week I was asked this question: How has living abroad changed you? As with many questions asked of globally mobile people (Where are you from? Are you settled yet? Where is home? etc), I had to pause before answering. Did this person want the short answer or the long answer? The truth is, I could write a blog post the length of a dissertation in answer to this question, but don’t worry, I have plucked 6 ways, that living abroad has changed my family and me, from that very long list. Read the full story…
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Why I’m Excited
I’m delighted to announce that I have been awarded a 2017 Parfitt Pascoe Writing Residency Scholarship, thanks to the Families in Global Transition Organisation…As my readers, I hope You will benefit most from my newfound skills and understandings. Read the full story…
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European Enlightenment: Lesson 1 – Empathy
This blog post has taken shape in the Paediatric Ward of our local hospital. To my right, through the salt splashed window panes, the powerful Pacific Ocean waves crash heavily upon the sand (I do find it intriguing that hospitals and cemeteries so often have the best views!). To my left, amidst the rhythmical beeps and colourful wires of medical instruments, lies my sleeping teenage son, who, through an unfortunate schoolyard accident (boys will be boys!) is the reason I am here. Read the full story…
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Refugee, Asylum Seeker, Migrant, Immigrant, Expat – What’s the Difference? 
I, like so many of you, have been overwhelmed by the images on my screen of the flood of Syrian people pouring into Europe in search of safety and a future…I have noticed variations in terminology to describe these desperate yet amazingly hopeful people so the purpose of this post is to help you understand the difference between a Refugee, an Asylum Seeker, a Migrant, an Immigrant and an Expat. Read the full story…
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Return to Singapore: 9 Months On
I’m in Singapore this week, mixing business with pleasure. It’s been 9 months since we left these shores to return to our passport country. As I sat in the black vinyl chairs at the departure gate on Monday, I was both excited and curious. My mind was filled with questions: What will I feel stepping off the plane and into Changi Airport? What will have changed? What has remained the same? Read the full story…
Globally Grounded 