Quarterly Newsletter - Summer 2018
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For the latest news and updates
Check out the Military Family Services (Europe)
Facebook
page or view one of our many information briefs on
YouTube
.
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As the next Newsletter will be published after Remembrance day, here is a link to an online store that can provide you with several poppy related items.
http://www.poppystore.ca
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A Warm Welcome to Our New Families!
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To all our new arrivals, welcome to Europe!
By
Sue Goddard, Senior Manager for Military Family Services (Europe)
Living in Europe can be amazing, rewarding and a life changing experience. But it can also sometimes be frustrating, challenging and a little difficult. While you are posted to Europe, Military Family Services (MFS) is here to help
you
and your
family
make the transition to your new community as smoothly as possible. Our goal is to provide you and your family with whatever support and information we can to help make this posting an amazing experience for your family.
Our programs and services have been developed to meet the needs of CAF families posted to Europe. Some of these services include:
- Welcome packages and activities
- Information and referral services
- Personal development and community integration activities
- Child and Youth Programs
- Separation and Reunion
- Mental Health Support and Services
- Employment and Education
- A robust virtual program providing book clubs, coffee mornings, seminars and workshops.
Hopefully you have already visited your local Military Family Service Centre to pick up your welcome bag and meet your MFS(E) team members. If you live remotely, your welcome bag will be delivered to you. The welcome bag contains various items for your transition as well as a flash drive that has very useful information, such as your local Thriving In Guide and important Canada Revenue Agency information on filing your income taxes while in Europe.
MFS(E) staff will be in touch with each family shortly after arrival, but in the meantime, if you need information or have a concern, visit
this website
to get contact information for staff that support families in your area.
Remember that your personal attitude and expectations will also directly impact your experience. Things will be different in Europe. Keep your attitude positive, your expectations realistic and be prepared to practice patience when necessary. Most importantly, open your mind and embrace this wonderful new opportunity! But if you do find yourself or a family member struggling to adapt, please do not hesitate to contact any of our team members.
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Your 2018 Military Family Services Team
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Military Family Services Team Symposium, March 2018 (Maastricht, The Netherlands)
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We are your voice to the Military Family Services (Europe) (MFS(E))
By Alice Prince, Advisory Committee representative for Canadian Defence Attaché Office/ Military Police Security Service and Bill Robinson is the Advisory Committee representative for Niederheid
As a group of volunteers, the
MFS(E)
Advisory Committee’s primary role is to provide advice to the Senior Manager MFS Program Europe about the needs of the community and to enhance the effectiveness of the program, regardless of where families are posted throughout Europe. The Advisory Commitee meets virtually on a bi-monthly basis and in person annually.
Your Advisory Committee has hosted Community Forums at centres across Europe, and virtual community forums were conducted for remote locations. The Advisory Committee representative for your area will be able to provide you and your community members with a report.
We are developing an action plan to address the identified challenges and opportunities.
The plan addresses each comment that our community members have made
.
It focuses on improving
outreach to the community and having
more regular contact with dependents
. The plan also addresses
creating in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities and recognizing volunteers.
Volunteering can be an important opportunity for families to integrate into their new community in Europe and to develop new friendships and skills.
The Advisory Committee warmly welcomes Ms. Myriam Chebat. She is a new social worker who is able to provide mental health services and supports, including counselling, to Canadian Armed Forces dependents in Europe. She will work closely and collaboratively with Canadian Forces Health Services Group to ensure that MFS(E) complements services already available.
We also welcome all our new families posted to Europe! Please be sure to visit or contact your MFS(E) team for help facing the challenging task of integrating into your new community, and please be sure to check out the Thriving In Guide for your new country.
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MFS(E) now has a new Social Worker!
Welcome to Europe! Moving to a new country has its fair share of mixed emotions. From the excitement of discovering a new environment and culture to sheer exhaustion from all the preparation, especially if you are moving away with children. The change can be quite abrupt and scary for children and as they may lack the vocabulary or emotional maturity to express how they feel, they may instead ‘’act out’’ how they are feeling. Remember that this is all very normal and we would like to offer some tips on how to deal with this transitory stress.
- Help your children recognize and verbalize their emotions through dialogue, drawings and play. Emotions Charts[1] can serve as a visual aid.
- Maintain usual house rules and routines as much as possible. Familiar books, objects and bedtime rituals can help them feel secure in this transition.
- Try to unpack and arrange your children’s rooms first. Engage your children in the process, allowing them to participate and decorate according to their age and interests.
- Schedule individual, couple and family time. Set aside some “me time” for relaxation, exercise and leisure, “date nights” and family fun time.
- Create a to-do list, prioritize and delegate. Several good smartphone applications[2] out there can help and can allow you to set up reoccurring tasks and to ‘’dispatch’’ tasks between family members. Try to break down tasks into small, easily achievable goals and set realistic time frames. Remember to reward yourself for accomplished goals!
- Accept help. CAF and MFS have several resources and programs available to you that can help ease this transition.
- Speak to a counsellor. Both a military and a MFS social worker are available to support you. You can reach the new MFS(E) Social Worker Myriam Chebat at +49.2451.717.206 or by email at myriam.chebat@forces.gc.ca or CF H Svc (O) Det GK Social Worker Martin Laferrière-Simard gkmedicalclinic@forces.gc.ca or by phone at +49.2451.717.301
[2]
for example: Any.do, Remember the Milk, Todoist, Wunderlist, etc.
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Ongoing Emotional Support
Are you having issues accessing mental health support services due to geographic location or language barriers i
n your communities? The Family Information Line (FIL) team is happy to share an important initiative: ongoing emotional support.
Families of military members and veterans are able to seek emotional support with the same FIL team member at a predetermined time using the point of access of their choice: phone or via Webex.
Stephanie and Lisa are experienced team members at the FIL who are currently providing this extended service. If you require emotional support, please do not hesitate to reach them by email at
FIL@CAFConnection.ca
or at 1-800-866-4546. They are looking forward to serving the families together.
If you would like more information on the ongoing emotional support service,
click here
.
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MFS(E) Programs and Services
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Check out our new document describing our programs and services! Click on it to download as a PDF!
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Emergency/Respite Child Care
Guidelines and Provisions
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Do you want to know more about our Emergency/Respite Child Care in Europe?
Look no further! We have a new document explaining our guidelines and provisions. Click on the document to download it as a PDF.
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Children's Education Management
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Children’s Education Management (CEM) supports the educational needs of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) families both inside and outside of Canada. Our team works to ease the impact of frequent relocation on the education of military children and its impact on their education through Guidance Counselling Services, Educational Screenings, Education Allowances and Benefits, and the operation of the CAF Overseas Schools.
Our
website
offers resources and information for members.
Educational Tools
. These tools offer information for education in different provinces:
a Starting Kindergarten Map, a Graduation Requirements Map, and a School Transition Portfolio.
Outside Canada
. This section offers resources for Outside Canada postings, including Educational Screening instructions and forms, and lists of compatible schools worldwide.
Inside Canada
. Members may be eligible for tutoring and other benefits related to a move between provinces.
CAF Overseas Schools
. CAF operates 2 schools outside of Canada: SHAPE in Belgium and AFNORTH in the Netherlands.
Need to talk with someone?
Our team is here to help. The CEM Guidance Counsellors are available to talk with you about your children’s elementary and secondary school transitions. Contact your CEM guidance counselor today to set up an appointment:
Families with last names from A – K should contact
Andrea Smith
General inquiries or questions about educational screenings can be directed to
CEMGEE@forces.gc.ca
.
One of our team members will respond promptly.
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Personnel Support Program (PSP)
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The Chalet Program offers accommodation options in various parts of Europe at a 40% subsidy by the European Fund. Whether you decide to stay put and relax, explore the neighborhood or venture a little further, this program will allow you to stay in a chalet, an apartment or a villa located in a very interesting region of Europe. All accommodations are fully furnished and well equipped.
The Chalet Program also offers Full-Flex vouchers. This part of the program provides European Fund members the flexibility to choose their holiday destination at a time that is convenient for them. The Full Flex vouchers can be used to offset the cost associated with accommodations such as hotel rooms, RV rentals, vacation apartments, as well as cruises.
The program is divided in two seasons: summer and winter. Chalet weeks, as well as the Full Flex vouchers, are awarded in the form of a lottery. To participate members are to send an application form to the Chalet Coordinator. The information regarding the application process for the Winter Program is sent to members in an email in September of each year while the information about the Summer Program is sent in February. Members have two weeks to send in their application form once the draw information has been released. Should you wish for your email address to be added to the distribution list, please contact the Chalet Coordinator at
+PSPEurope@forces.gc.ca
.
Visit
our website for more information about the program and the chalets available.
New!!
A blog has been added to the
Chalet Program’s webpages
.
You can now share your experiences or read about the experiences of other families for each chalet in the program.
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The European Fund (EF) Academic Program is established to recognize the academic achievements of students graduating from high school who are dependants of members of the European Fund and to encourage the students to continue towards post-secondary education.
All students accepted and attending a recognized post-secondary establishment will receive € 500.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Be a dependant of a member of the EF according to the definition in the EF Constitution. (The students do not need to be EF members)
- Attend an establishment full-time and be in the graduation year of their secondary education.
- Be accepted to full-time studies at any post-secondary level establishment for the month of September following graduation from high school.
Requirements:
- By Sept. 30th at the latest: A letter or e-mail from the EF member must be forwarded to the Senior Manager PSP, declaring that their child has graduated from high school (school’s name and date of graduation are required), and has received an acceptance letter from a recognized post-secondary establishment (name of the establishment is required) and will attend this establishment (date and name, city and country of the establishment are required).
- By Oct. 31st at the latest: EF awarded funds will be transferred to the beneficiary.
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The European Fund provides its hospitalized members, with the exception of CAF members, with hospital comfort.
EF members hospitalized in excess of 48 hrs are entitled to a maximum of 10 euros (without receipts) per day of hospitalization towards amenities, up to a maximum of 300 euros per case. The following is a list of the types of items that would qualify under this benefit:
- Newspapers, magazines and books;
- DVDs;
- Electronic games;
- Snacks and beverages;
- Toiletries;
- Calling cards (where applicable); and
- Small toys for children (cars, dolls, etc).
In addition, to amenities suggested above and with receipts, hospitalized EF members may be reimbursed for basic TV, phone and Internet services. Parking expenses up to a maximum of 50 euros a month are claimable as well. For long-term care, loan items such as DVD players and lap-tops may be considered.
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The European Fund (EF) provides families of military members on deployments, temporary duty or course with funding in order to procure wellness items/services.
EF family members whose military spouses are away on deployment, TD or course for at least 30 consecutive days are entitled to an amount not exceeding €100 monthly for wellness services. This financial benefit is cumulative for each month the EF member is deployed (ie. 6 month deployment X €100 = €600). The following list provides some examples of the types of items/services that would qualify under this benefit:
- Childcare Services;
- Wellness (spa treatments, hair/manicures/pedicures, massage);
- Restaurant Meals (no alcohol);
- Movie Passes
Reimbursement request are to be submitted to the Sr Manager PSP and must be accompanied of a copy of the attached posting/TD/course message and scanned receipts.
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The RCPO, CFSU(E) has launched an inventory of work vacancies, posted on the
CAF Connection website
. Dependents and spouses may browse this website if they are interested in working and submit their applications. As the inventory remains open, applications can be updated as dependents gain new qualifications or find new interests.
This inventory is open to dependents of Canadian civilian component and CAF members stationed in Europe. It will be used to staff positions within CFSU(E) locations in Europe and Turkey (Germany, Turkey, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and UK).
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For Global Affairs Canada local employment opportunities in Europe
click here.
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My Summer as a YEP Student
By Brynna Hone,
Youth Employment Program Student
This summer I had the amazing opportunity to find work as a YEP Summer Student. The YEP program provides Military Dependants the opportunity to be employed with meaningful work in their community.
I was lucky enough to work as part of the Military Community in Brussels at the Canadian Support Facility.
It’s always scary starting a new job in a new place, let alone in a new country!! I thought I had no qualifications or business working in such an important hub for the community. Little did I know it would be the perfect fit.
First day on the job, my brand new supervisor offers to give me a lift home. Picturing a car I say yes, only to arrive outside to a bike with a giant bucket on the front!! “Hop in!” she says.
Reluctantly I do… on route home we pass by local who chuckles and calls me a “Big Baby” (fair enough I’m sure we looked hilarious going down the side of the road☺)
This was just the start of the fond memories I would make from working with such lovely ladies. Whether we had lost internet (which happened a LOT) and took to filling out birthday cards (for those with birthdays in August – full disclosure, Katelin is responsible for the rhyming), being restrained in a musty carpet, or was just doing computer work we always found an enjoyable way to complete every task (while still being productive and efficient of course! ☺)
While most of my friends back in Canada have been working at Tim Hortons, McDonalds, or a retail job to scrape by, I am thankful to have the opportunity to work in such a fulfilling job alongside other people that experience all the same rewards and stresses that comes with being a military family member. As well I was able to provide information and support for new families about to experience the same roller coaster that is moving to Brussels.
Overall I couldn’t be more pleased with this opportunity and the amazing people I have met who I am sure to never forget (couldn’t even if I tried ;-) ). Saying goodbye will be hard – but I know in the Military world we can always meet again. And remember, for anyone leaving or arriving again this year… if we were meant to stay in one place we’d have roots not legs…
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Shopping in Belgium: where to go?
By Joany Beauregard, Community Services Manager for MFS(E) Casteau
I would like to share my favourite shopping experiences in Belgium, especially in our region, Wallonia, because on arrival at SHAPE, it does take some time to find the shops and to know where to go to do some shopping (or “faire du shopping”, as the Belgians say)!
My favourite store since my arrival to SHAPE has been
A.S. Adventure (located in the annex of the shopping centre “
Les Grands Prés”). It’s a store that mixes the outdoors, sporting equipment and ready-to-wear clothes, an ideal place for all who, like me, love hiking, camping and nice quality clothes. From my first visit, I was charmed by the vast choices of products and brands (my favourites are:
Icebreaker,
Jack Wolfskin,
Esprit and
Vero Moda) and by the excellent customer service (a quite rare thing in Europe, especially in Belgium). Also, they often have sales during the year, so it’s possible to find all kinds of treasures at a cheaper price! As an added bonus, the company has many stores across Belgium and a whole website that offers the possibility of having things home delivered or delivered to a pick-up point!
If your family has a four-legged friend, you probably want to find the pet store that meets all your needs. Here are some that I recommend based on their wide variety of products and their quality of service:
- Poils et Plumes: http://www.poilsetplumes.be/ (located near Les Grands Prés and near SHAPE). You will find a vast selection of items for your doggy or kitty (Their website is only available in French or Dutch).
- Jardiland (I go to the one in Soignies). To buy plants and products for your furry companions.
Here are also my favourite cities for a day of intensive shopping (Well, it’s good for morale every now and then ;-)) :
Finally, I advise you to grocery shop on the French side, not far from Mons, and to visit the big Auchan chain
https://www.auchan.fr/ (website is in French). A little trip that is really worth it, as products are cheaper in France and because their selection of wine is rather impressive!
Have a great time shopping!
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Arriving in Belgium with Kids
By Daphne Brake, Child and Youth Community Services Provider in Casteau
So you’ve arrived in Belgium! I hope you were as excited about this posting as I was! My husband told our family we were moving to Belgium at a crowded Wendy’s restaurant. I shouted out in glee and the whole place stared at us like we were crazy.
So you’ve made it. Boots are on the ground! Well in my case, all 10 of them. We moved with 3 kids, ages 6 years and under. Traveling with kids is exhausting. Take a piece of advice from me, relax, sleep, and pretend you have a newborn (sleep when your kids do)! I felt like I was in a haze for the first few days because of the jet lag. My SHAPE ID picture portrays a very tired mom of three. It’s ok, I’ll just have to look at that picture almost every day for the next three years.
Ok, Ok, enough of that, a few days have gone by, the fog has lifted and you feel “normal” again. Time to start having fun! There is lots to see and do in this area. But first, let me tell you about the services and activities on base that I found most useful in the what we so fondly refer to as the “Hotel Days”.
Our MFS(E) Centre in Casteau is great. We found it very useful in the first few weeks. Drop by, have a coffee in between the many appointments you will have. Let the kids play in the back yard or the craft and toy room. It beats the hotel any day. Ask the staff one of the many burning questions you will have. They are full of useful information. Remember, they have all been in your shoes and know what you are going through. They've all thought about and dealt with the same issues and stresses and have lived to tell the tale.
On SHAPE, there is a movie theater and bowling alley. They usually show a kids movie on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The library has a great summer reading program for the kids with a morning story time for each age group and prizes for amount of time logged reading. There is an arts and craft center that runs kid craft activities at least once a week. There is a well-equipped playground next to the American school that is open to all and a smaller playground next to the former Canadian school. When you’re living in a hotel and have no “play” space, the base (SHAPE) becomes your playground. The American base also has a great playground, also useful when you need your Burger King fix.
The local area is full of things to discover. I will name a few we used and still use to keep our kids happy and healthy in our European adventure. The zoo, Paira Daiza, is amazing! It has a playground that the kids won’t want to leave and days and days of exploring the grounds. There are a couple of indoor play places we frequent. Imagipark, which is very close to Mons, and Bubble Jump, out in Ath. It tends to rain a lot in the “winter” months and a good indoor play place is a staple. To kick it up a notch, we sometimes travel to Plopsaland parks in de Panne (large, outdoor, minutes from the coast/beach) or Hasselt (smaller, indoor, in the north of Belgium). Both amusement parks are about 1.5 hours away and include rides, roller coasters, mini shows, which our kids love. It’s a whole day of fun. Belgium and the surrounding area is full of amusement parks and water parks and let’s not forget, Disney Paris!!
Let your interests drive you. Don’t be afraid to try new things and explore your surroundings. You never know what you will find around the next corner. If I can survive moving here with three kids and live to tell the tale, so can you. Keep an open mind and it will all come together.
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What it’s like being a Canadian Youth in Europe
By Catherine Schwab, Youth Employment Program Student
There are countless articles all over the internet talking about how amazing it is to travel and yes, traveling across the world is amazing. Many people use traveling for different reasons, either to educate themselves on another part of the world, to go on an incredible adventure and scale a mountain or simply for a vacation. Traveling can be whatever you want. But what people fail to realize is that there is a big difference between traveling and moving, especially when you’re moving to another continent.
Most people see moving to a new continent as a really long vacation. In some cases, that may be true, but it’s certainly no vacation trying to deal with the level of stress created by an OUTCAN move. It’s a pain to have to strip the house clean, load it all into a van, garage, and not to mention the amount of paperwork that comes with it! This does not include saying goodbye to family and friends, changing schools which is all very difficult. However, trust me when I say it’s worth it! At first, it may not seem like it, but once the jet lag wears off and you’ve finally gotten used to the way people drive you’ll find that it’s really not so bad.
I remember when my family and I first moved in Europe we slept for 16 hours on the first night. We ended up missing the free breakfast offered by the hotel and had to go venture off for food. I assumed since we already spoke French, any language barrier wouldn't be a problem, but it turns out people in Brussels have a lot of trouble understanding Québec accents. Oh well, we got our food in the end so it was alright.
After waiting for nearly 7 weeks for our cargo to arrive, we were finally able to properly move into our house. It took a little while to be able to call it home, but we got there eventually.
One thing that did take a while to get used to was school, even if both my younger siblings were enrolled in the Canadian school. Things were still very different from what we were used to. For one, school started in August, so by the time we properly moved into our house, it was our second week of school. Personally, I didn't like the American school very much, I had to negotiate with the counselors who were in charge of my schedule to take the classes I wanted, but since I didn't have ‘proper course description’ they insisted I take courses that were a grade below what I needed. There wasn’t much I could do about the situation, so I took the classes I was given and just stuck through it for 2 years. One thing I did enjoy at the American High School was how different it was being around so many countries at once. Since there are only two High Schools on base (one Belgian and one American), you get a variety of nationalities in each. It may seem a bit overwhelming at first, being introduced to so many things at once, but it gets easier.
The key to a smooth transition is to first get comfortable with your surroundings. For many of us, military kids, Europe is a completely new environment and we tend to just throw ourselves head first into something we aren't used to. Once you're comfortable in your new environment, it will be a lot easier to appreciate your new life. There are a lot of other things to be aware of, like asking for help when needed. The MFS(E) Centre was an enormous help to us when we first moved, so if you have any question or problems, there's always someone willing to help!
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Celebrating our Nation’s Birthday around our Host Nation of Italy
By Luraine Graham, Community Services Provider, MFS(E ) Naples
It was a hot day across the nation of Italy on June 30
th and July 1, 2018. Poggio Renatico, Rome and Sigonella took the opportunity to gather and celebrate the 151th birthday of Canada. All the locations of Poggio Renatico, Rome and Sigonella enjoyed their respective Canadian Community gatherings. There was great food, fun and community integration.
A huge thank you from MFS(E) Naples to the volunteers of each location, Stephanie, Kelly and Tammy who stepped up to give of their time spending numerous hours planning and preparing and then executing the event on the day. As well, thank you to all the additional volunteers. MFS (E) Naples reached out to the communities to see if anyone would like to spear head a Canada Day event. The response from each community was a delight for the staff in Naples. Each location had already been thinking and planning something so it made for a good fit to have MFS(E) Naples able to assist.
We hope you were able to celebrate Canada Day and had a fabulous time wherever you were just like our communities.
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Kids Club as a YEP Student
By Jeremy Quang Minh Nguyen. Youth Employment Program student
This summer I was fortunate enough to get a job working for MFS(E) at the Canadian villa in Naples. This job has given me the opportunity to gain experience in a field, from small maintenance work, to welcoming new families, and recently,
I had the chance to test my leadership skills. I was required to run the Kids Club that was held on July 12
th 2018. Although the MSF(E) staff had provided me with an activity (kite making) to entertain the kids, the task still seemed a bit daunting to me. It would be the first time that I would be in charge of a large group of kids. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to “control” the kids or if they would even listen to me seeing as I myself am still a “child”. Leading up to the event, I didn’t feel as if there was much to do, we had already made the frames for the kids, and in my head all that was left to do was cut a bit of string.
The morning of the event, I arrived at work and started to prepare the missing material, as the day went on I slowly realized the big mistake I had made: leaving everything to the last minute! While preparing for the event it seemed as if problem, after problem kept arriving: there wasn’t enough string, the frames weren’t solid enough, and the strings didn’t fit into the frame. At the time it felt a bit overwhelming. With this being said the amazing team at Villa Maple Leaf helped me get everything done in time, all that was left was to run the event. As this was my first time running a Kids Club, I was not too sure how it was supposed to function, I was still very nervous and having all the parents sit so close to the area where the event was held only made the task more nerve racking.
During the event itself, I found myself to be more confident in what I was doing, as time passed, it felt easier to be in front and helping the kids. Towards the end it started to feel natural. Overall, I have to say that this experience was eye opening, prior to this event I was able to attend similar Youth Clubs with my peers and at that time, it didn’t seem like much work was required.
I am very happy that I had the opportunity to run a Kids Club as there are two major lessons that I took out of this experience. The first is that things aren’t always as simple as they seem, sometimes we don’t manage our time properly because we assume the task is easier than we imagine. And the second lesson is that often times we misjudge the amount of work that is put into seemingly simple activities, we take for granted what is offered to us without taking the time to consider how much work and effort others have put into organizing and running events.
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Be a Good Neighbour
By a member of our MFS(E) Niederheid community
Posting Season is once again in full swing with new members and families arriving daily. This is a very turbulent time for all Units and especially for its new members.
Moving to Europe, although very exciting for most of us, can also create extreme pressure for these members and their families, by turning familiar everyday tasks into struggles.
One of the most difficult issues faced with moving to Europe, is leaving behind friends and loved ones.
Newcomers can feel isolated due to language barriers, and building new social circles can take time. Whether it’s local customs, driving regulations or simply buying groceries, newly posted-in members and their families face the same daunting tasks most of us have gone through in order to adjust to European society quickly.
As an example: Do you recall the difficulties you encountered trying to do your grocery shopping in an unfamiliar store? Simple things such as shopping for your favorite food brands, trying to understand what was written on labels, or even trying to shop at outdoor markets where you encountered food and vegetables you had never seen before, let alone being able to find the prices on anything or being able to ask the price in a foreign language.
Take a few moments to reflect on your first year at post… were you lucky enough to have someone who took the time to help you and your family adjust…someone who had been in Europe for some time and understood the difficulties you and your family would encounter and willingly provided their knowledge and assistance? Or were you left to fend for yourself and adjust to European society the hard way?
Regardless of which situation you encountered, which situation would you rather be in?
This time of year provides all of us with the opportunity to enhance our community by helping new members to adjust and feel welcomed.
As community members, we should go out of our way, to greet new members and offer our assistance/knowledge with any issues they may have, (When I grew up, this was called being a good neighbour). Here are a few suggestions on approaching this issue:
- Ask questions and listen, understand their issues and provide your personal experiences on resolution or place them in contact with someone who can assist.
- Be willing and interested in incorporating new things into your community to create a welcoming, all-inclusive community, for everyone to live, play and work.
- Recommend new programs and events based on assisting and welcoming newcomers.
- Bring a small gift of homemade food to the home of a newcomer, introduce yourself and offer to help if and when the newcomer family has any questions about the community
- Most importantly, be assertive and take the first step to welcome newcomers and offer assistance (Don’t wait for them to approach you).
If you are a new member, some of the more popular and successful ways of integrating are:
- Learning about and participating in popular community events; join community groups; take part in sports or popular recreation activity.
- Keep in contact with your MFS(E) for upcoming events/activities, www.CAFconnection.ca/Europe, or make recommendations to MFS(E), on developing activities that may be of interest to you and your family…you may even be an expert on a specific activity and could offer your services on the development of a program for the benefit of all.
- Find out about some of the Canadian and local community groups and projects…volunteer to help with one or 2 of these events or projects in order to become acquainted with members within your community. Observing the community for a few months will better allow you to decide where/how, you can get involved/help out.
- Visit your local library. Read as much as you can about local customs and culture.
- Take language training courses to assist with communicating.
- Ask questions and listen…most importantly, be willing to adopt a new culture and lifestyle
Once newcomers are somewhat settled in their new home, figuring out what to do for fun becomes the next high priority on their list. Many of us have heard the words, “We don’t know what to do on the weekends”, or “We have children and don’t know where to go”.
As a community member, (and good neighbour), you could assist by hosting a BBQ, or just having a coffee with the new family and introducing them to local activities such as zoos, parks, museums and art galleries in the area. Be sure to include such things as transportation to these activities like train travel or where to park once at location. Be inquisitive, ask them what the family used to enjoy doing for fun at their last Post. Provide them with the Link to the MFS(E), (as per above), and direct them to the Settle/Thrive section, which provides links for “Making the most of their time in Europe”. Who knows, you may even find a common interest to enjoy.
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A Quick Guide to Successful High School Years in Europe
By Mackenzie LeVernois Youth Employment Program student
Boxes and suitcases are (almost) unpacked, the wind is cooling off and the sweet sound of silence as the kids head off to school is just around the corner. Living in Europe can be quite the transition for children and youth, especially for those entering high school. Choosing the right courses, getting a job and applying for university can be a bit more challenging, nonetheless MFS(E) has some great resources to help teens thrive in Europe.
The first major step in the European adventure for teenagers is choosing the right curriculum and courses. Depending on your location, your family may be able to choose between multiple schools that have been approved by Children’s Education Management (CEM). These schools may offer different curriculums and it is important to research each option to ensure your child with thrive and that the credits they earn will be acknowledged in their future endeavours. Please be sure to check the websites of your local schools and inquire about the courses they offer. Links which explain the most common curriculums can be found at the bottom of this article.
For older students who would like to learn about applying to post-secondary education in Canada, MFS(E) offers an online interactive session where plenty of information on different institutions, the application process and scholarships is shared. Students and parents are welcome to attend to gain valuable information for the next steps after high school and to learn some of the tips and tricks of applying from Europe. This program is offered in both English and French in October, so please contact your local MFS(E) centre for more information.
Getting a job and learning the valuable application and interview skills is a key part of high school but can be a challenge for teens in Europe, especially if there are strong language barriers and work visas involved. MFS(E) offers a great opportunity for students aged 16-24 to participate in the Youth Employment Program (YEP) where students learn valuable professional skills through online training and have the chance to obtain summer employment with Military Family Serices (MFS).
A great way to gain work experience and assist the CAF community in Europe. For more information on this free program, you can contact Caroline Couture at
Couture.Caroline@cfmws.com.
Last but not least, it is important for your teens to have enriching experiences and to have fun! Joining teams, going on trips, and connecting with different communities are some of the greatest aspects of living abroad during your high school years. Teenagers can connect with other Canadians in Europe at the Youth Leadership Conference (YLC); a 3 day event organized and run by MFS(E) that takes place in the Netherlands for Canadian teenagers 13-18 who are posted to Europe. Teens get the chance to meet others in similar situations and gain valuable leadership skills at the same time! The conference is held annually in November, so please contact your local MFS(E) centre for more information.
Moving to Europe is exciting, but can surely seem like a daunting task. To help teens transition and make the most out of their time in Europe, please take advantage of the programs and events MFS(E) offers. They are ultimately here to help. Wishing a successful school year to all the children and youth!
ENGLISH
For more information about the YEP program, please take a look at the MFS(E) website.
You can also find further details about the Youth Leadership Conference at:
FRENCH
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No cucumber for you...come back one year!
By Amanda Ager, Community Services Provider, UK Remote, currently living in Bucharest, Romania
Dear European fruit and vegetable Authorities,
I am a confused Canadian presently living in Eastern Europe, and the crisper in my fridge has been bare for days. Every time I try to acquire some of your beautiful veg from my local market, I encounter a lovely older Eastern European woman who seems to make up her own rules about how to sell her nutritious fruits and veggies. Where are the prices? Why is everyone eating nature's candies straight from the display baskets? Are these sold individually or as a bundle? Who's in charge here?
I cannot tell you how many times I have had my broccoli, pineapple or cucumber taken from my grocery cart because I have not yet learned the strange local purchasing etiquette. Is it normal to be anxious about buying parsley?
I try to buy local fresh produce, but I do not believe my poor fragile Canadian disposition can bear to hear "no cucumber for you!" in broken English one more time. Please help me learn the local art of trading money for food, as my fridge and my appetite are yearning for fresh colourful produce.
Yours truly,
The confused and vitamin deprived Canuck
If you have experienced similar situations while buying local fruits and vegetables, take a look at the following resources to become better acquainted with the world of fresh fruits and vegetables in Europe!
A guide to the fresh fruits and vegetables produce laws in Europe:
Food safety regulations in the EU:
My bottom line recommendation remains to try and understand the rules and regulations that apply to the country where you are presently living. There may also be the possibility that how you buy fruits and vegetables is different depending on the market and/or store you choose. For example, some market stalls insist that the produce is picked and handed to you (you are literally not allowed to touch the products), others may require you to weigh and print your own labels, or you may simply have to scan the items at the cash register. I have learned to see this as a produce adventure. It is a roll of the dice as to whether my salad will have cucumber this evening.
The other solution of course, is to simply have your own garden! Happy planting!
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