Hey! Meet Jessica!
The fact that Jessica moved abroad after college didn’t come as much of a surprise–we both caught the travel bug when we studied abroad in London for a semester, after all. Jessica just finished a few years teaching in the Philippines (and used that home base for quite a bit of traveling: Hong Kong, South Korea, and New Zealand are just a few examples!) And now, she’s headed off to start a new adventure in China! Learn what it’s like to run a classroom, fight homesickness, and find community abroad below!
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
1. Why the Philippines? Why China?
I really wanted to find a country with a lot of outdoor activities and a completely different culture, and the Philippines sounded perfect for that! I was looking forward to the warm weather, beaches, and friendly people. I have a lot of Filipino friends and they always had good things to say. My grandma also taught in the Philippines when she was my age, so it sounded like it was just meant to be! The school that offered me a job also had similar values to me, allowed me to teach the grade I wanted and had opportunities for me to grow.
China is my next adventure, after three years in the Philippines. My fiance and I really wanted to move to a country that would give us a whole new cultural experience and be a new adventure for us to start on together. I was very interested in the history of China, and I also had family friends that taught there and loved it. After being in the super-hot Philippines, I’m very excited to have more seasons and be in a connected city like Shanghai.
2. Can you tell us about finding a teaching program?
I got my first job through International School Services, and a job fair they ran in Seattle. My second job came through Search Associates and their Bangkok job fair. I have many friends that got jobs through the online portals with both agencies, but for me, I am a very face to face person. I enjoy meeting lots of people and networking at these job fairs, and it just worked out for me that way. Many people have job interviews through Skype, or fly to meet up in other cities. The most important advice I have is network, make connections, and remember names. The international teaching world is so small! You start to make connections instantly, and it always helps to make more friends who can let you know about different job openings at different schools.
3. What do you look forward to during the week/how do you find community abroad?
I really enjoy being active, and I’ve built a lot of friendships around those activities. I have a good community of friends who I practice yoga with, and we go to yoga classes twice a week. I also love meeting up with friends to go for walks, bike rides, or hikes. When you find people with similar interests and hobbies as you, it makes things abroad a lot easier! I also really enjoy sharing meals with people, and my fiance and I like to host BBQ’s. We like to have weekend brunches, BBQ’s when a game is on, and go out to try new restaurants. Meals and food have become a great time to chat, catch up, and a build friendships and communities. People like to be invited to things and are happy to be included. When you are abroad, it is important to say yes to things and join clubs. We have a book club, bible study, game nights, and girls nights. It is very important to just give things a try because it is a great way to feel like you are a part of something in your community!
4. What’s a typical teaching day like for you?
A typical teaching day begins with me getting a coffee, it is very important! Usually, before the day, I stop by the classrooms of my teaching team to say good morning and just hang out before the kids come. When my kids come in we have a morning meeting and little classroom chat before starting everything. We have 4 blocks, Language Arts, Math, Science/ Social Studies, and Specials, with lunch and recess mixed in. I love doing read alouds, brain breaks, and giving my kids time to move around and talk in between more challenging and demanding tasks. At my school, all teachers have to also do an after school club, so I would have Zumba Club in my classroom on Mondays. After clubs, I’ll usually have meetings or I just get the classroom ready for the next day.
5. What were your fears/hesitations before moving?
I was very nervous about not fulfilling expectations as a teacher, or not feeling ready to take on my own classroom. I received so much support though, not only for academics but socially too! I was nervous I wouldn’t fit in or find people who could be my friends, but it was actually the opposite of that. When you are abroad I feel like friendships actually happen faster, because no one has a lot of families or other friends there, and they are searching for the same community you are. I also always get nervous about new cultures, making sure I am respectful and open, and just trying my best to not get lost! It turns out though that the new cultures and experiences are some of the most exciting things about living abroad. What I’ve realized is some of the hesitations and fears we have that make us nervous most of the time end up being the things that help us grow into better versions of ourselves.
6. Any advice for those looking to teach abroad?
DO IT! I recommend it to everyone, and it is definitely the best thing I ever did. I found so many like-minded people, made some of the best friends I could’ve asked for, and I grew so much. I’m still growing every day because great things happen when you move out of your comfort zone. If you are nervous about losing touch with friends from home or being so far away from family, please know that technology makes it so easy now! I talk to my parents almost every day, and I skype everyone on Saturday mornings. I talk to my family more than I would if I lived in the USA. Also, professionally, working at international schools is amazing, with so many resources, great Professional Development, and a lot of freedom to put your creativity into your teaching. I say to anyone who is thinking about it, do it!
Pin it for later!
Leave a Comment