Chrisby's Next Stage

At least, I get to find out what happened next!!!

Chrisby’s next stage…

I’ve just read Juan’s post about Culture Shock and it reminded me of the advice given when I started work in the USA ‘Most people get homesick at Thanksgiving’ and I was thinking ‘Why would I get homesick at Thanksgiving’ when it is not a cultural celebration for me. That being said, there was a lot of homesickness going around at Thanksgiving and I really think it is to do with the timing not the celebration.

The first thing that happens in the International situation is that you get on the treadmill and work hard to learn how to live in your new setting, find accommodation, furniture, understand the language, shop and find food products that you understand, and of course you are in a new work situation with all that it requires. It is exciting and you are on full alert all the time, constantly reminding you that this is a dream come true!

Then reality sets in, this is actually your life on a daily basis. That was about 9 weeks into the experience, after a hurricane had rendered the state a State of Emergency, but that was exciting too, right!? It was Thanksgiving vacation and time to get out and travel. At this time in my school district there was a parade of teachers leaving, not all international teachers.

For me the important thing was to make it to January as then the return flight was paid for by the sponsoring program! Jokes aside, the important consideration for an international teacher is to persevere as the planning and costs associated with the initial move are significant, there may not be a home to return to as it is rented, the projected income of the first year away is already committed.

It was about Thanksgiving (9 weeks into the school year) when I really started to be able to deal with the teaching requirements of my role and I then wanted to follow through to see if I could experience success. It was the end of the third quarter (March) when I saw that my efforts were starting to work and it was then I decided I needed a second year to really ‘get it’. I felt that I would start right the second year rather than spend time finding my way!

The first year in the International setting was MAJOR. I was very excited as I was reflecting on all that I knew intrinsically about my field and I was processing it with relation to the new setting and talking about it with my colleagues. That lead to being invited to attend the Leadership Academy during the summer and then allowed me to work as a Leader in my school in the second year. By my 4 th year in the USA I gained my dream job as ‘Instructional Leader’ of my school. By that time I was in a different state and different school system, so again in two years I had become a leader in my school.

How it changed my life was that I started my career in a system that had employed a 30 year workforce before I had graduated. So, gaining work, gaining permanent status, gaining promotion had been a 16 year struggle and had impacted my professional confidence. Then, within 4 years I had had success twice in this process. I felt valued by the school systems that had employed me in the USA. This really gave me confidence and my career has not looked back since.

Chrisby

Another big thank you Chrisby, I love the fact that experienced expat teachers are willing to share their stories and that we get to read them. Such a privilege, thank you.

Cheers,

HB