Voices of the Community
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Embracing uncertainty: the serendipity of diplomatic life
No amount of positive framing substitutes for support, but tolerance for uncertainty allows life to happen.
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Ex Pat Expectations
Reflexion on the challenges and identity shifts faced as a diplomatic spouse.
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Goers, Stayers, and Newbies
Expat life involves cycles of goodbyes and arrivals, with constant transitions and adjustments.
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Driving abroad: Tips, tricks and risks
Driving abroad involves risks, cultural adaptation, and knowledge of local rules.
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Breaking the Non-Person Shell
Diplomat spouses often face isolation and joblessness abroad, sacrificing careers and independence. Lack of support, language barriers, and limited opportunities confine them to a “non-person” role, far from their ambitions…
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When home stops understanding you
After years abroad, you return with stories worth telling, only to find that home listens kindly, but not closely.
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Tackling the Diplomatic Move
The CDFN offers strategies for diplomatic families to manage relocation challenges effectively and confidently.
Guides and resources
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What I wish I’d known: Wisdom from partners
Four founding CDFN members share the hard-won lessons they wish someone had told them before their first posting.
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Need help with your FSD claims? Try this!
Create your FSD-GPT AI assistant in 2 minutes to quickly search and summarize the complex government directives.
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Employment Guide for Canadian Diplomatic Spouses Abroad
Whether you’re a teacher, consultant, nurse, software developer, the question is the same: how do I keep working?
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Getting Your Telework Approved (hopefully)
Best practices to navigate and prepare your telework arrangement.
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Security Clearance Made Simple!
Family members accompanying Canada-Based Staff (CBS) can easily apply for their security clearance to work at mission.
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Navigating Your Taxes Abroad
Based on our research, here are your tax obligations as a Canadian diplomats’ spouse abroad.
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Leaving Things Behind (On Purpose)
Navigating relocations as a diplomatic family reveals emotional challenges, possessions’ significance, and lessons learned.
Books and Podcasts
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Behind the curtain : Spouses of the World
A great book that shares candid experiences of diplomatic spouses
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What if ‘Where are you from?’ had no easy answer?
Carissa Gobble’s book explores Third Culture Kids.
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Globe-Trotter Academy Podcast
Each episode dives into groundbreaking studies that uncover the hidden dynamics of living and working across cultures.
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CDFN book of the month : Living Abroad
A comprehensive, empathetic guide to the psychological and relational realities of expatriate life.
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CDFN Book of the Month : Diplomatic Baggage
Living abroad as part of Canada’s diplomatic community is a unique journey – one filled with incredible opportunities, cross-cultural adventures, and the privilege of representing our country. But as members…
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Lean on Me: The Importance of Intercultural Personality
Expatriate couples’ personality traits impact successful adjustment abroad.
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The diplomatic spouse: Relationships between adjustment, social support and satisfaction with life
Gudmundsdottir, S., Gudlaugsson, T.O., & Adalsteinsson, G.D. (2019). The diplomatic spouse: Relationships between adjustment, social support and satisfaction with life. Journal of Global Mobility: The Home of Expatriate Management Research,…
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