Living Abroad: #ISSedu Twitter Chat
#Twitterchat in 2 days! Join us Wed, 7am Eastern/8pm China Standard using #ISSedu for an hour of sharing reflections & advice with other educators #livingabroad. Can’t wait to hear your unique experiences and help you connect with others finding home away from home! #teachabroad pic.twitter.com/5pIJgv2Cd3
— International Schools Services (ISS) (@ISSCommunity) January 22, 2019
(Inspired by the topic and ready to find your own teach abroad journey? There’s still time to register for the San Francisco February 7-10, 2019 job fair. It’s the last in-person recruiting event of the season and a wonderful opportunity to interview with school recruiters and take your teaching career abroad! More info about our fairs here.)
In the meantime, enjoy highlights from Wednesday’s chat. We really appreciate all who joined in, and we wish we could include all the posts and delightful tangents in the following recap. To keep this resource a little more streamlined, this will just be a little taste of the reflections and helpful advice shared. You can still find the questions on our page and scroll through #ISSedu to see the posts in their entiriety. Though the official hour is over, we’d love for you to respond and carry the discussion onwards.
On to the recap!
our educators came from a great mix of background, location, and years abroad
Hi! I’m from Virginia and have taught in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and Sofia, Bulgaria before coming to Nansha, China! 23 years teaching in total, with 13 of those years #livingabroad #ISSedu
— Rebecca Battistoni (@rbattistoni72) January 23, 2019
Hi Everyone , I am originally from Pakistan, worked in the US and this is my first international teaching job in # Bahrain . I love it here! #issedu #livingabroad
— Huda Hassan (@Huda0829) January 23, 2019
From: Kemptville, Ontario / Longmont, Colorado. Living in Nansha, Guangzhou, China. Year 11 abroad- 5 years at The American School of Kuwait, 2 years at the American International School of Bamako, and so far, 4 years at Nansha College Preparatory Academy #issedu
— ChelseaKelsey (@ChelseaKelsey3) January 23, 2019
Hey everyone! I am Blake and I am the learning specialist at Chadwick international School in South Korea. I have been abroad for 2 years so far and am enjoying my time abroad #livingabroad #ISSedu
— Blake Roberts (@BlakeRobertsVa) January 23, 2019
A1: Being able to grow as an educator while filling up my personal life with new people, new passport stamps, and new life perspectives. I do love Dubai. #livingabroad #issedu https://t.co/YLnqgYcKMn
— Mary (@teachthenbeach) January 23, 2019
#livingabroad #twitterchat #issedu Living and working internationally has expanded my heart and deepened my sense of connectedness with all people around the world. You gain friends who become family living abroad, a special closeness that is hard to describe.
— Laura Benson (@LBopenbook) January 23, 2019
A1 #livingabroad #twitterchat #ISSedu We love receiving new students and families!
— Ambatovy Int School (@AmbatovyIS) January 23, 2019
A1: Walking into a new school and country is exciting – figuring out culture, trying to assess where you can help make a positive change, meeting new people, seeing new places… #issedu
— Keith Cincotta (@kcincotta) January 23, 2019
@ISSCommunity Q1: What excites me most about living abroad is the opportunity to explore so many places that I never thought I would see #livingabroad #issedu
— Yosef Tewolde (@YosefTewolde) January 23, 2019
A1 @ChelseaKelsey3 and I have always moved for the professional opportunities rather than the place. That being said, learning and mastering the rhythms of new urban areas is super cool – especially in a dynamic place like China. #issedu #livingabroad pic.twitter.com/qtLsl6sB43
— Matt Kelsey (@mbkkelsey) January 23, 2019
Q1 Ah yes – food. How could I forget that. #issedu
— David Randall (@DavidRandall131) January 23, 2019
A2: Learned a new language (Portuguese). Ran my first 1/2 marathon on the Great Wall. Joined Twitter and formed a #PLN Cliff dove into the ocean. The list is endless. What’s yours @PDamroth ? #issedu #livingabroad https://t.co/DkUdlGvlbE
— Megan Kuemmerlin (@megankuemmerlin) January 23, 2019
A2 So many things! #issedu pic.twitter.com/hf9yyBfEI6
— john burns (@j0hnburns) January 23, 2019
A2: Our son Atreus was born here in China 3 weeks ago. I never pictured starting a family abroad; great experience. @mbkkelsey #issedu pic.twitter.com/oLsp7Zm52k
— ChelseaKelsey (@ChelseaKelsey3) January 23, 2019
Q2 Love learning new languages. Really helps to assimilate into your new environment and makes your host country colleagues really appreciate that you’re making an effort to learn their language. Even just a few words makes a world of difference! #issedu
— Beth Pfannl (@BKPfannl) January 23, 2019
I went desert camping in Egypt in the middle of The Great Sand Sea. The beauty was beyond belief! Coming from a small town in Wisconsin, I know I would never have done anything like it had I not moved abroad. #issedu
— Luke Meinen (@luke_meinen_) January 23, 2019
Q2 Cooking! Wonderful to learn about a culture by taking local cooking classes & also by sharing food of my home culture w/ new international friends & colleagues. I hosted many dinner parties & these ended up being great cultural exchanges! #livingabroad #issedu #Twitterchat
— Laura Benson (@LBopenbook) January 23, 2019
A2: I joined an Ultimate Frisbee team in China. Played in 3 tournaments and made great new friends in the past year. Red bandana holding disc. #ISSedu #livingabroad #twitterchat #TeachersTravelers pic.twitter.com/2MMXimxmUP
— Teachers Travelers (@Ana_MarioArana) January 23, 2019
Q3: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced moving to a new country and international school?
A3: Biggest challenges for me have been learning a new language (though I won’t give up), navigating a different healthcare system, and missing loved ones back home. Still totally worth the move though ❤️🌏 #ISSedu #LivingAbroad #TwitterChat https://t.co/lZkh8lD2h0
— Mr. Peter Damroth (@PDamroth) January 23, 2019
A3 I think just relearning things you take for granted – buying groceries, getting around, paying bills, how to order supplies at school, new schedules, etc. #ISSedu #livingabroad
— Nicki Ruthaivilavan (@nnruthai) January 23, 2019
A3: Maintaining regular contact with a far-flung network of friends is a challenge of #livingabroad, even with the convenience of social media #issedu
— Matt Kelsey (@mbkkelsey) January 23, 2019
A3: The obvious – not being present for major events in the family back home (both daughters back in the US had babies recently). Not as obvious – finding a “non-work” social group/connecting with locals “off teacher street.” #issedu #livingabroad
— Callie BushMiller (@SciGeeksRule) January 23, 2019
A3 Nearly 11 years overseas, with challenges every year Just like those mentioned, but being single, flexible and having a community had helped massively. However, experiencing overseas life with kids trying to identify with their home is huge #issedu #TwitterChat #livingabroad
— David Lloyd (@dlloydcoach) January 23, 2019
A3 Driving 😬#issedu #Bahrain #livingabroad
— Huda Hassan (@Huda0829) January 23, 2019
Q4: Have you experienced culture shock after moving abroad? If so, what did that look like for you?
A4: Ditto, the most culture shock I ever had was moving back to the States for college #issedu #livingabroad
— Matt Kelsey (@mbkkelsey) January 23, 2019
A4 My first culture shock was my first traditional Taiwanese dinner seeing all the food they eat being brought to the table. Never thought I would eat a meal where a whole chicken with the head and everything was still connected, and then see people eat that part. #ISSedu
— Aaron Foster (@Foster012) January 23, 2019
A4: Moving to Bolivia with NO Spanish AT ALL was a culture shock, especially when I got sick within days of arriving and had no idea how to get the help I needed! Luckily my colleagues were there for me. #livingabroad #twitterchat #ISSedu
— Rebecca Battistoni (@rbattistoni72) January 23, 2019
A4: For me, one major surprise was seeing how the privilege I have as a white American carries over across the world. I did not expect it to the extent I’ve experienced it both in Bahrain and other places we’ve traveled. #issedu #livingabroad
— Callie BushMiller (@SciGeeksRule) January 23, 2019
Having a place of your own makes a big difference. Hopping from place to place and living out of suitcases is a nightmare.
— David Randall (@DavidRandall131) January 23, 2019
A4 It doesn’t hit you right away.Once the excitement wears off, then you start feeling a bit lonely. That stage subsides though. Its important to stay connected with your school community. Most important- give yourself time.
#issedu #livingabroad— Huda Hassan (@Huda0829) January 23, 2019
Q5: What helps you feel “at home” in a new country? How have you found community in unfamiliar places?
A5: I feel at home when I’m comfortable and confident with just being me… and that comes with finding genuine friends that allow you to do so. So thankful to have fabulous individuals in my life that have helped transform Shekou into home for me #ISSedu #LivingAbroad https://t.co/rPThUK861v
— Mr. Peter Damroth (@PDamroth) January 23, 2019
A5: Finding a good game of basketball. Played all around the world with different people. It is a game that changes a bit in every place you play, but still great fun! #ISSedu
— Luke Meinen (@luke_meinen_) January 23, 2019
A5 Get together w friends and positive people you enjoy spending time with, make sure you balance your life, try not to think constantly about the past or the future & instead enjoy where you are, you won’t be there forever #issedu #twitterchat
— Leticia Carino (@leticarino) January 23, 2019
A5: Feeling at “home” happens when things stop feeling so new and crazy, when you stop being surprised by the new and it becomes routine…plus, having a few “things” that are from home to help when you are homesick! #livingabroad #twitterchat #ISSedu
— Rebecca Battistoni (@rbattistoni72) January 23, 2019
A5: Getting our living space set up and having folks over for a meal. Hosting makes me feel like I really live somewhere and the easiest way to make new friends is through food #issedu
— ChelseaKelsey (@ChelseaKelsey3) January 23, 2019
Q6: How did someone help you when you moved abroad? Give them a shoutout if they’re on Twitter!
(Note: there were many more personal shoutouts than we can include here. This is a community full of gratitude, and we love it!)
A6 Angela Ke Lee & @neyanzi & Jessie made all the difference in giving me a home in China. @BKPfannl helped me so much in the Netherlands 💙💗❤️ #livingabroad #ISSedu #twitterchat
— Laura Benson (@LBopenbook) January 23, 2019
A6: the interpreter who got me through the Chinese DMV. Would never have gotten my license without her. And Paul Chandler in Mali for showing me basically everything about living in Bamako. #ISSedu #livingabroad
— Matt Kelsey (@mbkkelsey) January 23, 2019
A6: Fortunate to have had several great mentors while #livingabroad and too many “behind the scenes” colleagues to name, but I’m fondly remembering the HR, Finance, and Local staff who have been invaluable! #twitterchat #ISSedu
— Rebecca Battistoni (@rbattistoni72) January 23, 2019
Q7. What advice do you have for first-timers moving abroad to a new country and international school?
A7: Take it all in, but pace yourself. Don’t judge anyone on their first month. Be yourself. Be prepared for a little homesickness. #issedu #livingabroad https://t.co/jKVXtqwRFP
— Megan Kuemmerlin (@megankuemmerlin) January 23, 2019
A7 Take your time and be gentle with yourself. Invest in culture and relationships. #issedu #livingabroad
— Scott Langston (@scottasaigon) January 23, 2019
Q7 high tolerance of ambiguity and lots of flexibility #issedu #livingabroad
— Gina Ballesteros (@G1naTeachLearn) January 23, 2019
A7 – Know it will be hard and there will be times you will wonder if you made the right decision. It is normal. And it will pass. Remember the second year is so much easier. Struggles are worth it. May be miserable at times, but will be memorable in a very good way. #issedu
— David Randall (@DavidRandall131) January 23, 2019
A7 keep pushing yourself outside your comfort zone and go out ready to mingle. Remember you are a guest and respect the local cultures. #issedu #livingabroad #TwitterChat
— David Lloyd (@dlloydcoach) January 23, 2019
A7 ” Never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience. And if it hurts, you know what? It’s probably worth it.” – Alex Garland. #issedu
— john burns (@j0hnburns) January 23, 2019
A7 Rollercoaster. You will be amazed by how fast your 1st feeling of wow, this is amazing, goes away brushed by things that u need to fix, resolve, overcome. It’s worth it, different, special. Inquiry about what are u doing there,selftalk & gratitude for the opportunities #issedu
— Leticia Carino (@leticarino) January 23, 2019
Be present. Slow and steady. Take time to adjust. Get to know people and let people get to know you. Take walks around your neighborhood and get lost! Try one new thing each week or day. Talk to family once a week. Meet new people. #issedu #livingabroad https://t.co/AzliXttYcA
— AlejandraCruzMilano (@TeacherMsAle) January 24, 2019
A7: Americans, open a @Vanguard_Group brokerage account for retirement & @CharlesSchwab account for no-fee foreign transactions before you leave. And keep the originals of your birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc with you because you’ll need them. #ISSedu #livingabroad
— Matt Kelsey (@mbkkelsey) January 23, 2019
A7 – Know it will be hard and there will be times you will wonder if you made the right decision. It is normal. And it will pass. Remember the second year is so much easier. Struggles are worth it. May be miserable at times, but will be memorable in a very good way. #issedu
— David Randall (@DavidRandall131) January 23, 2019
We closed the chat with an open call for any last questions about living abroad. You are still more than welcome to ask away on that thread! The #ISSedu family is ready to jump in and help. And remember, the San Francisco February 2019 international job fair is just around the corner — learn more and register today.
Thanks again to all who joined us in the chat today, and to all considering life abroad, we hope this has been helpful!
Q8: Last but not least, one for newbies and old-timers alike: what question(s) do you still have about living abroad? Ask away! And keep an eye out for others’ questions on #ISSedu to see if you have any answers or advice to give #livingabroad pic.twitter.com/2t6QhscUGL
— International Schools Services (ISS) (@ISSCommunity) January 23, 2019