GETTING SETTLED IN AUSTIN
LEARN ABOUT AUSTIN, TEXAS
You may find yourself lodged in a hotel or
temporary housing until your belongings
arrive, and that’s a nice opportunity to
become familiar with Austin. Austin
Relocation Guide is the perfect place to
start learning about what this wonderful
city has to offer. You can also find additional information at the Visitor’s Center,
hotels/motels/airports, and real estate
offices (see the Helpful Websites sidebar
on the opposite page).
A walking or bus tour, while fun for the
whole family, actually serves to help you
become acclimated and learn about the
city. You can also visit local points of
interest such as museums, parks and
exhibits; enjoy a concert; and try out
restaurants featuring local cuisine. Check
out any services, activities or organizations
that are of particular interest to your family.
SPOUSE CAREER
CONSIDERATIONS
One of the biggest challenges of moving
is relocating a “second” career. If you, as
a spouse, are transferring your job to a
home office, then a computer, telephone,
e-mail account and fax machine may be
all that you will need to get started.
However, if your job was not “portable,”
you might consider a new career, part-time or
temporary employment, or perhaps even
start your own business.
Evaluate your skills, accomplishments and
greatest strengths when you are planning
your next endeavor. A few resources to tap
are your spouse’s employer, local organizations, real estate offices with “Partner
Career Assistance Programs,” independent
career counselors, your university/college
alma mater and of course the Sunday
edition of the local papers. If you are
searching for a job, start networking by
telling those you meet that you are looking.
If you have chosen to take a break from
your career, consider volunteering your time
and talent. Volunteering to a charitable
organization is a wonderful effort as well as
a way to meet new people and learn more
about the community. Volunteer activities
add depth to résumés, but the experience
needs to be documented so that the service
equates to business expertise. Before you
again become fully employed, use any free
time to enjoy your new community. Refer to
the Advice for Volunteers website for
guidance in selecting a volunteer position
and Monster.com for spouse assistance in
the Helpful Websites sidebar.
SUCCESSFULLY RELOCATING
YOUR SMALLEST MOVERS
The majority of relocating families have
dependent children. If you are moving
with children, you probably researched
schools before moving; however, personal
school visits will transform the unknown
into reality. Visits to new schools to survey
the classrooms and meet teachers will
go a long way to allay your, and your
children’s worries about the new environment.
Listen carefully to each child’s concerns—
every move can bring new issues to the
surface. Encourage your children to
maintain contact with former friends, even
while trying to make new friends.
Exchanging photos, having e-mail access
and possibly a cell phone with a camera
feature can help bridge the gap between
old and new friends during the early
weeks in a new location.
DEALING WITH CHALLENGES
Keep in mind that every stage and
every age can bring new challenges.
Children who sailed through the last
move could be in an entirely different
place emotionally and physically for this
move, so parents cannot assume that a
child will ease into the current move.
Routinely share accomplishments and
challenges with each other and talk
about ways to overcome difficulties.
Children need to know that even though
the parents are responsible for uprooting
them, you both have challenges to face,
and you need to work together as a
family to solve them.
The following signs may indicate that
children are struggling with the adjustment: sudden reading difficulties,
changes in attention span or study habits,
292 AUSTIN RELOCATION GUIDE – WINTER 2012 | SPRING 2013
