Tag Archives: international

Three Global Designs for Baths

International design is becoming domestic style with the clean simple lines, the classic features and the new to us innovations that have been around in other countries for quite some time. Let’s take some bathroom ideas from three well-proven styles and adapt them to our modern sensibility for beautiful, functional and innovative bathrooms. Middle Eastern Flair A bathroom that adapts the flair of the middle east is full of interesting texture and design, from exotic tile patterns that echo the ancient past to bright and vibrant oranges, blues and reds that spice up a space. A focus on seating areas … Continue reading →

Working Internationally—Expect More Holidays

No, I do not mean that you should expect more holidays for yourself if your home business takes on a more international twist, but that you will need to keep in mind that other countries and cultures have different holidays than we do and they tend to take much more time off on the whole. I have been working to get the initial planning stages of an international conference in Spain off the ground. The conference won’t be for a couple years, but it can take that long to pull off a successful event such as a conference. I was … Continue reading →

Try Thinking Globally

I am not going to advocate that we all try to take our small home-based businesses to an international level. I am, however, going to suggest that by thinking of ourselves as part of a world-wide or global economy, we might be better able to plan and steer our home-based businesses to success. Gone are the days of the small cottage industry that only does business with customers within a 20-mile radius. Many of us may “look” like a traditional tiny home-based business, but our customers and clients are all over the world. We may even find that we are … Continue reading →

Mastering the International Fax

I have written recently about how I have been doing more and more work internationally. There are definitely some inspiring things about expanding my work world in such a way—but there are some challenges too. Besides language barriers and time differences, I have had to learn how to master the international fax… It really is not a big deal—as many of you know—but I did have a bit of a block around it. After all, different countries have different quantity of numbers in their telephone numbers. Some of them can me so long and smooshed together that it looks more … Continue reading →

Would Learning Another Language Help Your Business?

I do some work on an international level. When I decided to take on this challenge, I anticipated that there would be a bit of a learning curve and I would have to adjust to cultural differences, time zones and other details. I even rightfully imagined I would have to learn something about currency exchange rates (and I have)–but I didn’t really think on whether or not I would need anything other than my decent command of the English language in order to communicate with all the people I would need to communicate with. The truth is, I’ve found that … Continue reading →

The International Soundex Reunion Registry

The first place to start in any search, is with a reunion registry. You need to register first, because it is something you can do without much information! What is a reunion registry? It is a system for matching persons who desire contact with lost relatives, family members or their next of kin-by-birth. Anyone can register, so long as they meet the following requirements: Must be a member of the adoption triad in some way. Every one registering must be at least 18 years of age or older. An adoptive parent of an adoptee who is under the age of … Continue reading →

The International Adoption Wait – Enjoying the Moment

I will admit that this one is the hardest for me. I almost didn’t write on this one because I feel a little hypocritical. It is so hard to live in the moment and to enjoy what is happening right now, when all you can think about is that moment in the future when you will hold your adopted child in your arms. However, I am trying a little more each day to appreciate the little things and to take joy in the process, instead of just waiting for the end of the journey. Here are a few things that … Continue reading →

The International Adoption Wait – Keep a Record

Many adoptive parents-to-be find that it is helpful to write during the wait. It provides the chance to vent about your feelings, to rejoice in small victories and mostly just to memorialize this special time in your life. There are a number of different ways to keep a record of your adoption, but here are a few of my favorites: Keep A Journal For Your Child There is an awesome novel by James Patterson that is called “Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas”. The entire book is a diary that a mother wrote for her son from the moment she found out … Continue reading →

The International Adoption Wait – Learn All You Can

As adoptive parents, we already realize that we will encounter a unique set of challenges. Besides the normal responsibilities of child rearing, we need to be prepared to help our child through the issues that are inherent with being adopted. If you are adopting transracially or transculturally, then you have an added responsibility to help your child develop a strong sense of self and a pride in their heritage. During the wait to bring your child home, it is vital that you take the time to read about all of these issues and to talk to those who have been … Continue reading →

Why Write About the International Adoption Wait?

One of the most difficult things in any adoption is all of the waiting that you have to do. However, I believe that the wait in international adoption is especially hard, although certainly every parent who adopts will experience the wait to some degree. You see, when you are waiting during an international adoption, a lot of that waiting happens after your child has already been identified. You know who your child is and you know that they are growing up without you. Each day that passes, you wonder what your child is doing. Is she happy? Are they taking … Continue reading →