PERspective: Pros and Cons of Expat Life - Experiences from 25 years and 84 countries - Paperback

by Per Ostberg (Author)

Part memoir, part guidebook, PERspective takes the reader along Per Ostberg's uneven path of self-discovery as he lays bare the life of the expat and the challenges that lie ahead. He combines his own candid personal stories from 25 years of expat life in 84 countries with formal research such as Professor Geert Hofstede's intercultural management perspectives. PERspective answers questions about dealing with "culture crash", building and managing multicultural teams, and avoiding the many traps that await the unsuspecting expat, like alcohol, drugs, infidelity, evacuations and corruption. It offers practical techniques for trouble-shooting, cultural intelligence, mindfulness, stress management, and knowing when to leave. It explains the reality of expatriate life as opposed to common perceptions and dreams and provides a fascinating insight into the workings of the mysterious multinational companies that are such a huge part of our lives today. Per Ostberg's experience will encourage other young expats to embrace the opportunities and challenges of an overseas assignment while holding on to the personal fulfilment they need to succeed.

Author Biography

Per Ostberg has been to 84 countries, taken more than 650 flights, lapped the Earth 54 times in air miles and spent over 7 years in hotel rooms the last 25 years. He has climbed mountains in the Himalayas, Africa and Argentina and sailed a dugout canoe up and down the Kinabatangan River in Borneo. The co-founder of Starfish Mobile, one of Sub-Saharan Africa's largest Mobile Value Added Services companies, lives in South Africa with his girlfriend and their four cats.