Survival Kit for Overseas Living: For Americans Planning to Live and Work Abroad [Paperback]

L. Robert Kohls (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 13, 2001

With over 300,000 copies in print, Survival Kit for Overseas Living: For Americans Planning to Live and Work Abroad remains one of the most popular books ever published on an intercultural subject. This indispensable handbook provides the reader with straightforward information about the challenges of moving to a new country: culture shock, stereotyping, misperceptions, misunderstandings, and the tools needed to overcome obstacles and prepare for a rewarding and successful experience. Readers learn how to set objectives for an overseas experience, how to become foreigners with style and understanding, how to combat culture shock, and how to prepare for and deal with reentry. Written in a fast-paced format with do-it-yourself instructions, Survival Kit for Overseas Living is ideal for everyone, from businesspeople moving to Japan to college students visiting Europe for the first time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Survival Kit For Overseas Living: For Americans Planning To Live And Work Abroad is now in a revised and updated third addition. Fast-paced, practical, offering straightforward information and penetrating insights into the process of cross-cultural adaptation combine with hands-on suggestions for coping with the overseas experience. Readers learn how to avoid stereotypes, how to explore the mysteries of culture, and how values and different ways of thinking influence behavior. Readers are provided with basic strategies for getting to know their hosts, managing culture shock, and developing intercultural communication skills. Readers will find guidelines on how to deal with reverse culture shock when returning home! Survival Kit For Overseas Living provides the tools needed to overcome cultural obstacles and prepare the way for a rewarding and successful experience whether traveling as an individual or a family. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

L. Robert Kohls is also the author of Learning to Think Korean and coauthor of two other titles, Developing Intercultural Awareness, with John Knight, and Training Know How for Cross-Cultural and Diversity Trainers with Herb Brussow.

Product Details

• Paperback: 197 pages
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing; 4th edition (March 13, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185788292X
• ISBN-13: 978-1857882926
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Information, July 10, 2001

By 

Rachael Anconetani (Peoples Republic of China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Survival Kit for Overseas Living: For Americans Planning to Live and Work Abroad (Paperback)

I have lived overseas for a year now and this book has been a wonderful help. It clearly and practically explains what it is to be an American and how that effects how others see us. I would recommend this book for every American planning to work or study outside the United States.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!, August 3, 2004

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Survival Kit for Overseas Living: For Americans Planning to Live and Work Abroad (Paperback)

This book, first published in 1979, is still timely and useful, though it shows a few signs of age. It's hard to believe that any Americans in the CNN age are quite as ignorant of the world abroad as they were in the 1970s. However, diversity training and exposure to Thai and Mexican cuisine only goes so far to inoculate Americans against their own inherent cultural assumptions. Yes, this is written for people from the United States and addressed to them directly, but it would be useful to any sojourner trying to shake off hometown assumptions and adapt to life abroad. This volume treats every reader as a neophyte, a Dorothy in the Land of Oz. Author L. Robert Kohls offers a useful series of self-tests and questionnaires, psychological and anthropological frameworks, and practical guidance on routine matters. The book, which is engagingly written, with a wry and sometimes ironic touch, also contains useful appendices. We believe that it merits a place in the library of anyone, particularly any American, who is taking an overseas assignment, however brief.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Former Peace Corps Volunteer, January 20, 2004

By 

B. Davis "bongela" (Remington, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Survival Kit for Overseas Living: For Americans Planning to Live and Work Abroad (Paperback)

This book was a gift given before my overseas service with the US Peace Corps. It ended up being the most valuable resource I had in my overseas experience. Over the years I've referred back to it (even in moving across the US) to deal with cultural changes.