Settling into a New Country

Each summer sees many international educators moving to a new job in a new country. It is part of our cycle in the international circuit, sometimes it's every two years, sometimes longer, but it is inevitable and also part of the major draw of teaching overseas. We love the adventure of discovering a new culture, meeting new people, and perhaps even learning a new language. But uprooting to a new place is not all sunshine and rainbows - there's a big learning curve and huge adjustments to be made.

Let's explore some of the challenges of settling into a new country:

• Once all the paperwork is submitted to your new school and you have received your work visa, then comes the preparation for moving households. I recommend taking a look at this article I wrote on shipping, selling, donating or trashing your stuff before you end up moving 55 boxes overseas (like I did from China to Mexico...!).

• There are a lot of moving parts & considerations when transitioning from one country to the next. I wrote The Seven Logistical Steps to Moving Overseas to help you organize yourself before your big move.

• Next comes the emotional transition of saying goodbye to one place and hello to your new home. Have a look at the article I wrote about making a successful move emotionally.

• After you have landed in your new city, I hope there is someone from the school, greeting you at the airport, ready to take you to your new home or a comfortable hotel for the first few days. If an apartment or house isn't already provided for you, your first priority will be finding a place to live. Some of your considerations in choosing a new neighbourhood will be: the distance from your school, how you will make your daily commute, what amenities & activities are available nearby, and where do other teachers live.

• Next step will be working on your local paperwork that might include a Resident permit, a local health check, a local bank account, and a driver's license. Again my hope is that your school's HR department walks all new teachers step by step through this process, especially if there is a language barrier. Just remember that bureaucracy overseas can be very different from what you're used to in your own home country. This is part of the adventure of living internationally, and can make for some great stories and bonding between new incoming teachers. I'm reminded of the 8 hours sixteen new teachers and I spent on an air-conditioned bus in Oman, waiting for our blood test results. We really got to know each other well in that time!

• At some point in your first week, your new school will start your on-boarding training. This can be anything from a brief tour of the school campus, to a week or two of activities & meetings organized to introduce you to the school, the curriculum, the local culture, as well as meeting the returning staff.

• Be patient with yourself & others, as those first few weeks may feel like information overload and that you're wasting precious time that could be used to prepare your classroom and lessons. Just know that part of settling into a new school is the grace you give yourself and others to not be perfect. Things always have a way of working out in the end, whether it's finishing up with classroom decor, creating seating plans, or even finally learning what classes you'll be teaching. Knowing that there will be hiccups and bumps at the beginning will help you keep your cool and save yourself a lot of stress.

In the end, I believe flexibility and adaptability will be key to settling successfully into your new country. Having a good sense of humour, a support system, and the perspective that "this too shall pass" for any difficulties you encounter will help you create a new and rewarding life in your new country. Ultimately, we move abroad to experience new cultures, new ways of doing things, and new challenges, all the while learning, growing, and thriving in the process. There's nothing like living overseas!

Does this all sound like the Adventure of a Lifetime to you? After 25 years of living internationally, I can attest it truly is an adventure every day and totally worth all the ups & downs! If you're looking to make a jump into a new job abroad, the International Recruitment Season starts soon. Now is the perfect time to get your candidacy profile ready: I will create for you a new CV and cover letter at international standards, help you hone your interview skills,

and prepare you to apply for all the new & exciting job postings this Fall.

Take a look at the services I offer and choose the right ones for you!