The goal of re-entry training is to provide helpful tools which prepare an individual for transition back into an their passport country. A kind teacher at ICS gave me some probing questions from Pollock and Reken's Third Culture Kids book to discuss with our children prior to returning to Australia. I took the kids one at a time on a special date to McDonalds where they could choose any dessert they liked while they articulated some of their feelings about moving. During our conversation, I emphasized the following points from the book:
There are many things you will miss from Hong Kong which are special to you. When you get to your next home there will be new things to treasure. You can remember some of your old treasures and look out for new treasures.
Your family is with you here in Hong Kong and will be with you at your new home. Moving will not change that.
You should treasure God. He was with you here in Hong Kong. God is with you everywhere. Nothing can change that.
I recorded our three children's answers to the questions below.
Who are you? Tirzah!
Where are you from? Australia, well, I was born in Perth.
When I think of leaving I feel... excited about a new place.
My experience here has been... just perfect, I think.
For me, Hong Kong means... where we are.
The things I will miss are... Aunty Celine and my class friends.
The things I will be happy to leave behind are... sins and bad stuff.
When I talk to others about leaving they… say, "We will miss you."
When leaving a place I am usually… excited.
The easiest part of leaving will be... sending postcards to my friends.
The most stressful part of leaving will be... doing hard jobs Mum and Dad ask me to do.
Before I leave I really want to... say good-bye to my friends.
Some of my special friends in Hong Kong are…Daisy, Nichole, Hannah, Audrey, Duncan, Anna, Rachel and Miriam.
At my school in Hong Kong... I had very nice teachers. I liked playing with my friends at recess. We played princesses and doggies and families.
At my church in Hong Kong... I liked singing "Blessed be the name of the Lord". The aunties in Sunday School will miss me when I am gone.
When I think about returning to Australia I feel... happy.
I will be going back to… Australia!
I think my family will expect me to... have a good time.
I think the hardest part of going back to Australia for me will be... finding a new house.
I am really looking forward to...seeing my cousins, having a bathtub and a rainbow bedroom.
When I talk to my family about leaving they…say, "Have a good time."
Some things that my family likes to do together in Hong Kong are... playing games like Uno and doggies and Jungle Speed.
We are moving because…I don't know why.
I treasure my home here in Tai Po because…it has security guards.
I think my new home in Australia will be…huge and clean and I will have my own room but I will probably climb into my sister's bed and sleep there.
Who are you? Keegan Harvey, nearly nine years old, cricket legend.
Where are you from? I was born in Australia, lived in Hong Kong for four years, now returning to Australia.
When I think of leaving I feel... happy and sad.
My experience here has been... enough to tell my friends what Hong Kong was like.
For me, Hong Kong means... skyscrapers.
The things I will miss are... Cayden and Gavin.
The things I will be happy to leave behind are... Chinese signs, Chinese shop people, and fish balls.
When I talk to others about leaving they… feel sad.
When leaving a place I am usually… excited about seeing new things.
The easiest part of leaving will be... getting on a plane.
The most stressful part of leaving will be... not seeing my friends ever again.
Before I leave I really want to... go to Disneyland with Dad.
Some of my special frineds in Hong Kong are… Cayden, Gavin, Lucas and Sebastian
At my school in Hong Kong...I made lots of friends. My favourite teacher was Mr Tan. I liked the gyms and the big theatre.
At my church in Hong Kong… we got biscuits or crackers during every Sunday School lesson.
When I think about returning to Australia I feel... happy about being able to play more cricket.
I will be going back to… the place where I was born.
I think my family will expect me to... be more active in Australia.
I think the hardest part of going back to Australia for me will be... leaving behind good friends.
I am really looking forward to... playing cricket on real grass.
When I talk to my family about leaving they…like to answer my questions about Australia.
Some things that my family likes to do together in Hong Kong are... go to church, go on outings, eat meals together, have devotions.
We are moving because… my Dad got a new job that he likes.
I treasure my home here in Tai Po because … it is near HKIEd where I can play soccer.
I think my new home in Australia will be… big, near a cricket pitch, have a back yard, but not have a lift.
Who are you? A fun-loving, outgoing girl who loves to read, write, talk and act.
Where are you from? Australia, but I lived part of my life in Hong Kong.
When I think of leaving I feel... sad and excited.
My experience here has been... interesting.
For me, Hong Kong means... my second home.
The things I will miss are... my friends, cheap restaurants, and shops like Log-On.
The things I will be happy to leave behind are... squat toilets, fish markets, public transport, humidity and bugs.
When I talk to others about leaving they… say they will miss me a lot.
When leaving a place I am usually… feeling excited becaus I like flying on planes.
The easiest part of leaving will be... saying good-bye to the negative things that I want to leave behind.
The most stressful part of leaving will be... whether everything is packed or not.
Before I leave I really want to... go on a junk boat ride, go to the Flying Pan, look in the shops again.
Some of my special frineds in Hong Kong are… Michael, Yat Sum, Steffany, Stephanie, Sum Yi, Erin, Claudia, and Adele.
At my school in Hong Kong... my classroom was on the sixth floor. We had a lot of fun projects.I liked hanging out with my friends at recess.
At my church in Hong Kong… there were lots of stairs! I liked the Sunday School classes.
When I think about returning to Australia I feel... excited because I've had so many nice experiences there.
I will be going back to… the Central Coast.
I think my family will expect me to... help with packing and unpacking and look after my little sister.
I think the hardest part of going back to Australia for me will be... changing our lifestyle, like having a car again.
I am really looking forward to... hearing English everywhere and being able to communicate with everyone.
When I talk to my family about leaving they… smile because they know I am excited about going back.
Some things that my family likes to do together in Hong Kong are... going out to eat together, going to the beach, watching movies, and playing games.
We are moving because… we finished the work we needed to do in Hong Kong.
I treasure my home here in Tai Po because … it's unique.
I think my new home in Australia will be… big and have a back yard with real grass. I will have my own bedroom with a double bed and lots of PINK everywhere!
