Comparing the Schools

I've been back for a few months and I think now I am ready to make a comparison between the 3 schools I've been talking about the most: The American School Foundation (ASF) in Mexico City, The Graded School ( Graded) in Sao Paulo, and my kids school here in Florida. The reason why I am not talking about Westhill is that I don't know of any expats with kids there and there were no kids from Westhill attending the Graded until the time that I left the school nor attending the school here in Florida. So I feel like I can only express my opinion on the schools above. I also have 2 friends whose children attended ASF help me with this post so I don't mislead anyone. Once again, this is only my opinion, based on my personal experience and my friends experiences. 

So here we go. Which one is the best? If we're just talking academics, there is no doubt, the school in Florida is the best one by far! They are easily, at least one year ahead of the Graded. And the Graded is ahead of ASF by far too. Athletics? ASF is number one. They do have a very strong athletic program, followed by the Graded and then school in Florida. For whatever reason the school in Florida does not have a strong athletic program. And the Graded program is ok. They substituted a bad teacher with another at the lower school and their after school athletic program is really bad, but the kids are exposed to lots of different sports. Arts? Now this is where the Graded excels. The music teachers are amazing! To hear the children there singing  is unbelievable! They sound great! And the art work the kids bring home is also really good. They have a state of the art Art Center. And the kids learn how to draw, paint and sculpt at an early age. Creativity is highly encouraged. During middle and high school they start with drama, video, photography and design classes.  There is a tie for number 2: ASF and the school in Florida. They both have very good programs, but they're not the Graded. Diversity? Tied for the first place: Graded and the school in Florida. Well, it is Florida, so the population is very diverse. Same with the Graded. Both schools have kids from all over the world. ASF has mostly mexican kids. Both my american friend and my mexican friend feel like there is a separation between the majority of mexicans and the minority of foreigners at ASF. For some reason the groups don't mix much. Bullying? Number one: School in Florida. Hands down. They have a strong anti-bullying policy and they enforce it. Number 2: Graded. They still overlook the atrocities some teachers do - like yelling and disrespecting children, but they are changing - kudos to the new Superintendent and Lower School Co-Principal. They started a new anti-bullying policy and the new co-principal of the lower school is enforcing it. Even with the teachers. He fired at least one already.  Number 3: ASF. They don't have a bullying policy in place as of today. So when things happen you don't know what the outcome will be. According to my friends it depends on the kids and teachers involved. Some kids and teachers are more equal than others. We really hope this changes by next year.

So overall, what is my opinion? I would put the school in Florida as number one. Not only it is the best one academically and with the anti-bullying issue but it also has other good things to offer, in spite of what you'll read bellow. Number 2 is the Graded. What it lacks in academic it has on art and in making our kids global citizens. It does teach them non-academic important skills. Graded is also a fully accredited international school, it is on the top 5 list. Number 3 is ASF due to poor academics and falling short on other categories. Maybe this is also the reason why they are not fully accredited. I don't know.


My side note here is about teachers here in Florida. I still don't understand why the teachers at the school here are so serious. My kids call them angry. And angry is how I call the administration at the school here. Luckily my kids are very nice and don't get in trouble often but the teachers here are always yelling at kids telling them not to run, not to yell (hello! what kind of example are you setting?). I rarely see them smiling at school and the kids notice it too. They asked me about it. Most teachers and administration have been at this school for years. The Graded had the same issues with its older teachers. They all seem to have a sense of entitlement. They seem to think that they can do no wrong and even if they do they know that nothing will happen. Besides my first year at the Graded when my kids had the worse teachers in the world, my kids were fortunate enough to get awesome teachers. They would smile all the time, the were very kind and loving. And the kids had a great deal of respect for them. Here my son has a great teacher but my daughter's teacher is not that good - the never smile, angry type. Apparently she used to be a good 4th Grade teacher and switched to a different grade that she is not too fond of. She'll be switching again next year. The kids will be better off.  ASF also has its share of bad teachers. Unfortunately, bad teachers happen everywhere, my problem is the administration enabling this behavior on them. They should be fired. I can't wait for the day when schools are not only going to enforce discipline but also take advantage of positive reinforcement. Praising the kids goes a long way. 


I also believe that the reason why the Graded is academically behind is because it would be unfair with the kids who come from all over the world to have a strong academic curriculum. Every year there are kids from several different countries, who can't speak english, joining the school. Or kids who can speak a little bit of english but can't read or write in english. How would they be able to accommodate this kids if the academics were strong? It would be extremely hard on these kids. I've seen in my kids class, kids from Japan, Korea and all over Latin America that join the school without speaking a word of english and in 6 months are speaking as natives. But I mean speaking, because when it comes to writing and spelling... But they are catering to the international community and I need to give them credit for it. There is also a great deal of stress on the kids during the relocation's first months. The Graded sees it. On the plus side, as the kids reach high school the standards are higher and the kids have access to the best universities in the world.


Just to put this whole academic talk in perspective, I considered the schools perform on the National Ranking. The school in Florida is on the 90%. Graded is on the 70%. I could not find the data about ASF, but my friends told me they were told, last year while their kids were attending that they were on the 60%.


So am I happy with the school here? Yes, I am. Would I go back to the Graded? Yes, I would. Would I still consider ASF? No, not at this moment. But if they get their full accreditation I will. I really hope someday all the international schools will have high standards and cater to the growing global community so no matter where we go we will be able to provide the best education to our children.

P.S. Some people are not happy about me saying that ASF is not fully accredited. But they are not and here is the proof. Here is the link to the AdvancED page stating their accreditation status. AdvancED is linked to the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges and they accredit schools worldwide.

http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=12526

And here is proof the Graded is fully accredited:

http://www.advanc-ed.org/oasis2/u/par/accreditation/summary?institutionId=31959

Just so you can see the difference.

Apartment For Sale or Rent

Well, if any of you is thinking about buying or renting an apartment in Sao Paulo, in a gated community near the Graded School, let me know. I may just have the right place for you! 
Here is the link:
http://www.c21premier.com.br/imovel-detalhes.aspx?ref=AP5495

Transferring Money

When you're living abroad you may have to eventually transfer money from the country you're working in to a different country. And how can you get this done? 


Let me tell you,if you're in Brazil it is not easy! And it doesn't matter where you're trying to send the money to. It makes no difference. It's your money, right? You've paid your taxes, right? Then why is it so difficult? One word: Bureaucracy! Every penny that leaves Brazil need to go thru the Central Bank and they demand a lot of paperwork to get this done. It can be very frustrating. In our case, bringing money back has been a nightmare. We worked there for a while. We always paid our taxes. We brought money in to invest in the country. But now we can not get it out! And it makes no difference whether it is a lot of money or just a little bit. The bureaucracy is the same. So can you imagine having a relative in a different country who needs money for an emergency and you, having the money, not being able to help? Even if you have an account on Citibank, or Bank of Scotia, or Santander, it won't help. Period. 


In Mexico it is much easier to send money to the US. I don't know how it is to transfer money to other countries. Because of the NAFTA Agreement, the free trade agreement, it is very easy to wire money between these 2 countries. Small amounts, large sums, it doesn't matter. As long as you pay your taxes you can do whatever you want with your money. And I really believe this is how things should be. 

Gay Relocation

We're still struggling with gay rights here in the US. Some states recognize gay marriage and some don't. Some companies are more acceptable than others, specially when we talk about relocation. So what can you expect if you're moving to Mexico or Brazil?


Let me start with Mexico. It is funny, but I haven't seem that many open gays in Mexico City. There's one in my husband's company, but still in the closet afraid that coming out here will ruin his reputation. It doesn't seem like mexicans are very accepting of gays. I find it very contradictory because same-sex marriages and civil unions can be performed in Mexico City. Mexico has the "macho" culture and in my opinion this is why it is so hard for people to be open there.


Now, Brazil. It is just the opposite of Mexico. People are not afraid to come out of the closet and be openly gay. There is not much prejudice at all. But the government won't legalize gay marriage. The Supreme Court will accept civil unions but not marriage. A little bit hypocrite, if you ask me. But if one partner is sick the other does have the right to stay at the hospital and have rights to inheritance. The right to pension is still being discussed.  At most company's function the partner will be welcome. The "macho" culture is still big in  a few companies, but not in most companies.


I hope the day when everyone will be treated equally is not far from us. We're all equal and should have the same rights, no matter what country we live in.


UPDATE:
Last week the Brazilian Supreme Court started recognizing same-sex civil unions. What a great step towards equality for all. Way to go, Brazil!


UPDATE 2:
As of this Monday, The Brazilian Supreme Court started granting Permanent Resident Visas to the same sex partner of a brazilian citizen. Another step!

Comcast Sucks!!

Oh my God!!
Can you believe I am still having issues with Comcast?? Now they are charging me for the installation that was supposed to have been free. So far I had poor costumer service and misleading advertisement. Directv here I come!! Before we moved to Brazil we had Directv for 10 years and never had a problem. Why did I try Comcast now?? seriously, what was I thinking?? That they would care about losing a costumer? They don't. Because they know there is only one other option here in Florida.
Getting Net in Brazil and Cablevision in Mexico was a breeze compared to this! Right charge, check. Installation on the day scheduled, check. Yes, they were late, but they were polite and got the job done at the price agreed upon.
I am going to cancel it now!! I rather have no TV, Cable and Internet than have to deal with them.
Just had to vent!! Some times we get frustrated with this things while overseas but unfortunately they happen at home too.


Update: Problem Solved! Thanks to Mike, I got a call and the issue is resolved. I really hope not to have any more problems...

Where To Relocate To??

Don't you also have the feeling that bad things are happening all over the world? Middle-East crisis, tsunami and earthquake in Japan, mudslide and floods in Brazil, drug cartel wars in Mexico, Chavez taking away the rights of the people in Venezuela, economic crisis in the US and Europe...


And then the company asks us to relocate? So where can and should we move to? Tough questions to answer. We never know what wait for us. We will have to up route our whole lives which is already something difficult to do but putting our families in an unsafe situation is every expat worse nightmare!


I had to draw the line a couple of times. There are some countries I would never move to. They may be exactly what other people would want but they are not for me. It's not that some countries are better than others. It's just that I know I can adapt to certain cultures better than others. 


Staying within the americas seems like it's been the best for us. I can speak portuguese and some spanish. My husband learned both languages very easily. He is fluent in both. Brazil and Mexico are also not too far from the US. There are daily flights between these countries. There isn't a big cultural difference. It was easy to adapt.


There are some countries in Europe I would like to move to. I would also like to move to Hong Kong. Or to New Zealand. My dream relocation would be to Australia. But there are some countries I would never, ever move to. I really don't think I would adapt to the culture. Same for my husband. So why bother?


We were once offered an assignment in a country we had no desire to move to. We were in Brazil, during our first expat assignment when we were offered two possibilities. Moving back to the US and getting a normal job or moving to this other country and getting a bigger promotion. We took the first option. And we don't regret it. Neither one of us think we could have been happy in that country. And we were ready to start our family. And recently there were talks about a future assignment for us that I am not interested in. So as I was asked, in a casual conversation, how did I feel about that particular country I answered with a joke that got my point across. Everybody laughed and I know that this particular country won't be in our future anymore. 


So you really need to weight your possibilities. Not taking an assignment may be better than taking one that you're not going to enjoy. I already mentioned the family who only stayed in Brazil for 9 months and the cost it had. Think about it. Now mix it with the world uncertainties and come up with your answer. You're the one relocating, after all. 

Wife Working Abroad

Another difficult topic. This varies from country to country and from corporation to corporation. If you're thinking of working as an expat spouse you'll have to do lots of research before you can figure out if it will be possible. All I can tell you is that it is possible but it won't be easy. So where do we get started?


First and foremost you have to find out what kind of visa you're getting. Many countries limit the amount of work visas.  You will probably get the family visa. Governments don't want foreign companies bringing an unlimited number of employees to take the job of their local people. Therefore they will only allow one work visa per household. If you apply for a permanent visa the rules may change. But most companies will aply for a temporary work visa for its employee and the family will have the visa by association. It is easier to get the visa this way and it's also cheaper. If your spouse is on an expat assignment long enough you may qualify for a work visa.


That being said, some companies have policies that support working expat spouses and will hire good lawyers to try to get them the work visa. If there is this possibility in the country you're moving to. And if this is agreed up front. 


If you want to open your own business and invest in that particular country your chances of getting a work visa will improve a lot. Lots of countries welcome foreign investment and will reward the investors with the visa. But be prepared to deal with all the bureaucracy to open the business and to get the visa. I know this is not easy in Brazil and in Mexico. Not only there is the bureaucracy but there's also the corruption. And you can find yourself in a catch 22: If you give in to corruption you may risk not opening the business, if you get caught you won't get the visa. And if you don't pay off you risk not opening the business. I know for a fact that this is not easy.


Another option: you can work illegally. But once agin, you're taking a big risk. And this one can also cost your spouse his or her visa. Not likely, but a possibility. One way to succeed this way is if you're a photographer, a tutor, a personal trainer or have any kind of job that doesn't require an employer. This could be something to consider. You can work for other expats and locals without the need to establish a company or provide receipts. I am not advising anyone to take the illegal route, I am just keeping it real. I have a friend who's a great cook and she started catering dinners to friends. It is working out really well.


Or you can keep you job abroad. I have another friend who's a journalist and she kept her job. But she has to split her time between 2 countries and she spends a lot of time away from her family. This is not the best solution if you have small children. But this is not her case. Still, she's very happy with her decision and travel schedule. She talked to her boss and they agreed on the flexible schedule. And she also gets to do some work as a correspondent when she's in Brazil.


Maybe you can get your employer to transfer you. This would qualify you for a work visa. If you think your company would do it, this would be your best bet. But this is expensive for the company and many employers won't agree to do it. The problem is not only the cost of the visa but also all the labor laws in foreign countries. But I've seen this happen. It it worked out really well not only for the companies but also for the couples.


And you can also consider a sabbatical. It may not be too bad. Or do some volunteer work. There's a lot to choose from. The Newcomer's Club and The American Society can help you find a volunteer opportunity.

The bottom line is, if you want to work abroad you will need to do your homework before you agree with your husband to take the expat assignment. Talk to HR of your company and of your husband's and find out if they will help you. Get this answer in writing. Go to the embassy or consulate of the country you're considering and ask questions. Talk to your colleagues working in that country. Talk to your husband. Ask everyone what can be done. Find out who can help you. Decide what you really want. This will avoid lots of frustration later on. And if you're a reader of this blog you know there'll be plenty of frustrating times...

Libya and Iran

I have a few readers from Libya and Iran. And I extend to you my wishes for better days. My thoughts and prayers are with you too.


I lived in Brazil when I was a teenager and there was a dictature there too. So I know how it feels to live under these circumstances. I know I need to be careful with the words I choose not to have my blog blocked. There were things we were not allowed to talk on the phone because the phone could be taped. You're likely going thru a lot more. But I really hope that the issues you're having will be done soon and that the people's will will prevail. There will be better days ahead. I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart.

Japan Update

Just like other companies, our company just told the expats to evacuate Tokyo and is also offering help to their local employees. I know Apple is doing the same. And I also know most people are being taken care of, either by the government or by local charities.


But as a pet lover cant help but wonder: what's happening to all the animals victims of this catastrophe? Where are they going to? Who's caring for them? How can I help them?


If anyone have this information please let me know. I would love to help out with the pet efforts.


All of my friends know that I am not a believer in donating money to big charities, like the Red Cross. I think that most of the money donated to them goes to pay the large salaries of their executives. Remember what happened to all the money donated on 9/11? So my approach is to help individuals or donating food and other supplies to the local animal shelters. But I do like to help and I am looking forward to do something for these pets who are going thru so much - radiation, losing their families, their homes, their food... They also need our help.

Japan Expats

Our friends, who are expats in Tokyo, just arrived in the U.S. safe and sound. I hope more expats have the same chance to get back to their countries soon. It is really sad to see what's happening now but we're lucky enough to be able to leave and go to a place we call home. I know must flights are completely booked and there are wait lists for flights to the U.S. and Europe. Some companies are using their private jets to bring their expats back. I think they should extend the courtesy to their japanese employees and fly them to a safe place.


But I keep on hoping that the situation there will get better. Once again my thoughts and prayers are with the people from and in Japan.