As a child, Kris Feroleto faced challenges in school, often feeling out of sync with traditional learning methods. She always believed she learned differently-by doing, experiencing, and engaging with those she admired for their knowledge and insight. Kris absorbed information like a sponge, leading to the ironic and transformative journey of becoming a lifelong learner. She later channeled her experiences back into education as an educator, helping students who, like her younger self, struggled to fit the mold.
Education
Undergraduate Degree: Human Growth and Development
Master’s Degrees:
Education: Special Education
School Counseling
School Administration
Career Highlights
Kris has held multiple roles in education, including:
Special Education Teacher
School Counselor
Head of an Alternative Education Team
School Administrator (Middle and High School)
Fun Facts
Kris is a certified yoga teacher, a licensed boat operator, and a passionate beach lover with dreams of embarking on a world cruise.
Becoming an Expat
Despite a wealth of experience and educational credentials, Kris found the transition to life as an expat unexpectedly challenging. The first time she moved to Switzerland with her wife, the adjustment proved so difficult that she returned to the United States before her wife’s contract was complete.
When life brought her back to Switzerland-this time to Geneva-Kris was determined to approach the experience differently.
She contacted Angie Weinberger, an "Expat Coach" whose guidance transformed Kris’s expat journey. Through weekly coaching, Kris learned valuable strategies for adapting to life abroad.
Lessons Learned
Preparation Begins Before the Move
Closing up a home
Establishing support systems stateside
Organizing paperwork: bills, taxes, voting, medical insurance, postal mail
Scheduling doctor’s appointments: physicals, medication, vision, dental, dermatology
Spending quality time with family, friends, and neighbors
Arrival
Finding a suitable home, preferably with a garden for her dog
Avoiding the mistake of waiting too long to secure housing, which previously led to three months in a hotel and four moves
Stages of Expat Life
Honeymoon Stage: Exploring the excitement of a new country, city, and neighborhood
Assimilation: Integrating into the new environment by:
Building a network and community
Establishing routines
Navigating local transportation
Finding essential services: grocery stores, pharmacies, vets, doctors, and more
Understanding city regulations: garbage and recycling days, dog registration
Self-Care and Resilience
Practicing patience, self-kindness, and compassion
Engaging in positive self-talk
Developing independence and resilience
Staying connected with loved ones
Embracing self-care: massages, reading, walking, planning adventures
Cultivating a sense of humor
Key Takeaways
Kris learned that it’s okay to:
Make mistakes
Experience ups and downs
Navigate the emotional push and pull of enjoying a new home while missing the old one
Laugh, cry, and embrace the full range of emotions
Outcomes of Her Expat Journey
A deep passion for learning about new cultures and forging connections
A love for travel and meeting new people
The creation of a new community and support network
Trusting the process and following her heart
Slowing down to appreciate small joys
Remarkable personal and relationship growth
Embracing the life-changing nature of being an expat
Lastly, Kris emphasizes the critical role of having an outstanding expat coach, like Angie Weinberger, to guide and support the journey.
The #RedCouchTalks
The #RedCouchTalks promote thought leaders, expats, and entrepreneurs in the Global Mobility sector. We use a red couch as a backdrop for a deeper conversation, almost like a coaching session. It’s the only furniture we‘ve had since I was eight. It’s been around the block and travelled with me from place to place. It’s almost falling apart, but it's my happy place to chill.
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