The Foreign Service Journal, December 2007

D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 91 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT be fraught with homesickness for stu- dents and anxiety for parents. Planning ahead can make everyone feel more comfortable. Students and families should work with the school to schedule a regular call time that works with the school hours and time-zone differences. Some schools have strict rules about phone usage but may make exceptions for students whose parents are several time zones away. Agree to phone regularly, at least once a week, and keep that commit- ment — on both sides. Of course, you can also use e-mail to touch base regularly. In particular, both students and parents should keep each other advised of any travel plans. Families need to make plans together before school starts for long weekends, parent weekends and Thanksgiving break. It is lonely to be one of only a few students on campus during a holiday weekend. After the first year this may take care of itself, but when your child is starting out, make sure a plan is in place. Parents should also arrange with school staff to facilitate medical or dental care or medication. Such care may be better than that available at post, but adults will need to help with making appointments and transportation. Parents should also purchase tick- ets and arrange for airport transport for travel at winter break well in advance. It may be wise to store trav- el documents such as tickets and passport with the school administra- tion for safekeeping. These logistical arrangements, best done in person, will alert the school staff to the fact that a student is a “global nomad,” a long way from his family for the first time. Under such circumstances, it is not too much to ask that teachers, house-par- ents and counselors be alert for signs of sadness, loneliness or acting out. Still, adjustment typically takes up to a few months, and parents should not be alarmed if things are not immedi- ately perfect. The school may make a special effort to make sure interna- tionally mobile young people meet each other. One school staffer should be in touch regularly with parents to report on social, academic and emo- tional adjustment. Boarding school experiences can provide a great education, lasting friendships and deep roots in an insti- tution. It is a gift that we are privi- leged to be able to offer our children. If students are allowed to participate in the selection of the school and par- ents are aware of the supportive role they need to play, the experience can be important in helping a young per- son maximize his or her academic and social potential. Continued from page 88