TIPS FOR TEACHERS MOVING ABROAD

You’ve landed your dream job at an international school, and after the initial excitement has worn off you realize you are about to start a whole new life in a different country and have no idea what your living situation will be or what you should bring with you. From having worked and lived in Qatar, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Indonesia – here is what I have learned:

Food

Connect with other expats who have lived or are living in the country to find out what items you should bring with you. From my experience, even though you can find grocery stores carrying imported items, they tend to miss a few comforts from home and these items can range from certain spices you love to cook with, to gluten-free products, to your favorite candy bars or coffee, etc.

Health and Hygiene

It’s also a good idea to find out what health and hygiene products are available and to stock up on your favorite brands from home, including deodorant, shaving gel, creams, shampoos, razors, etc. Although you will find such products in the local pharmacies and salons, the quality isn’t always up to par. Also, ladies, make sure to bring a year’s supply of tampons as these cannot always be easily found.

Medicine

Again, you can find locally made pain killers, cough medicines, etc. in the pharmacies; however, given that the product descriptions aren’t always in English and the quality isn’t always the same as back home, make sure to stock up on your favorite brands – Tylenol, Advil, Buckley’s etc. The last thing you want is to get sick and have to guess which medicine to take. If you have school-aged children it’s also recommended that you bring lice shampoo – you never know when an outbreak may occur and I have learned it is better to be prepared.

Cosmetics

Do your homework on what makeup products and brands the country you will be moving to carries. Even if you find your brand, it’s worth checking to see if they carry the colors you like. As I came to realize, although you can find MAC in South East Asia, the colors they offer cater to the Asian market so the eyeshadow colors I like to use were not available.

Clothing

Bring as much as you can! From my experience, your favorite clothing brands will cater to the local market; therefore, you might not find products that suit your taste. Additionally, prices tend to be more expensive than what you would pay back home.

Teaching Supplies

Before going, make sure to check what teaching supplies are missing at the school. There may be certain materials or resources you love to use in your classroom that you may not find in the country. Best to stock up on these items before you go.

Electrical Plugs

Remember to research what the electrical sockets and voltage are before going so you can stock up on adaptors; otherwise, you may arrive and realize you can’t charge your phone or your laptop!

Bedding

If you are shipping furniture, make sure to bring enough linens as the bed sizing abroad often differs from that back home. King, queen, single, etc. mattresses are often different measurements; therefore, local sheets will not fit mattresses you bring with you.

These are the lessons I have learned from my travels abroad. Are you an international educator? Any other tips you would like to share for those about to embark on their journey?

Other Tips for Teachers

Is the Expat Teacher Life for You?
Things to Consider Before Signing an International Teaching Contract
​How to Focus on the Big Picture in Education
​How to Run a Successful Brainstorming Session
​Using Classroom Walls to Extend Student Learning