{"id":13993,"date":"2023-11-30T16:47:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T16:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/?p=13993"},"modified":"2023-11-30T16:47:26","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T16:47:26","slug":"settling-into-a-new-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/settling-into-a-new-job","title":{"rendered":"And\u2026 Breathe: Settling into a New Job at an International School"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve now taught at three international schools across three different continents. Starting out at each school was a whirlwind of learning for me. In settling into a new job, I had to engage with a new culture, a new language, and a new landscape – as well as the usual things that all teachers meet when starting out at a school: colleagues, students, buildings, (and which mugs in the staffroom are totally off-limits).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also needed to stay the same: to maintain my own particular approach to teaching, to keep my family living our \u2018normal\u2019, and to enjoy the things I\u2019ve always loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, I offer you here some of the most important things I\u2019ve learned as a \u2018newbie\u2019 when teaching in international schools:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take your time<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you turn up in a new community it might feel like you need to rush into everything: meeting new friends, finding the best possible places to visit on the weekend, getting involved with every single social event. I caution against this. I\u2019ve found that the best examples of these for you<\/em> will rise to the surface over time without much effort on your part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I strongly advise that you say \u2018yes\u2019 to things which light a spark within you, and say \u2018no\u2019 to the rest. You\u2019re most likely going to be living in this new place for at least a couple of years. So, let things come to you. Have confidence that you\u2019ll make friends, that you\u2019ll eat the best food, that you\u2019ll slot in just where you belong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the first school I ever taught at, a colleague used to tease me for being in such a hurry all the time. \u2018Slow down Miss!\u2019 he used to shout down the corridor at me. \u2018What\u2019s the rush?\u2019 Kids used to laugh as I scrambled to collect the papers flying in my wake. He was right to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"settling<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prioritise your wellbeing and that of your family<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No matter how much you feel you need to launch yourself into your new life, your wellbeing, and that of the people you live with, should come first. Don\u2019t push yourself to go out for yet another dinner with your new friends if you really need to stay home and relax with your kids. It might be tempting to burn the candle at both ends, but it\u2019s only going to burn you out. Take time to stay healthy. Go on adventures with just your family. Or just do nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep your habits going<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Continue doing the things that work for you. Yes, you might need to adjust your parameters a little. There might not be a glitzy gym in your new home town. There may not be a book club. You might struggle to find that perfect little salon where you used to get your nails done. But there will always be the opportunity to continue what worked before in some form or other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is especially important if you have children. Moving for them is a real shake up. Keep your lives steady as much as possible when settling into a new job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find your space, both in school, and away from it<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Schools are a rich breeding ground for good ideas. If you have an idea for a co-curricular activity you have never tried before, ask about starting it in your new school. Build something from the ground up and you won\u2019t be relying on what has gone before. The same goes for outside of school. If you miss your old book club, start a new one!
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"moving<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Explore<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve decided to move to an entirely new country. You clearly have a great sense of adventure. Pack your bag and get out there! Find some way to travel on your weekends. Go to different places. Even if the first beach you went to ticked all the boxes, head to another one. Getting the lay of the land will help you to settle into your rhythm – you\u2019ll know that you have seen as much as you can whilst you\u2019ve had the chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Almost everyone you encounter will know more than you will. How amazing is that? Ask them stuff! They will know where to buy the best groceries; which restaurant the locals go to; which things you should avoid. Mine the brains of your new community.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a new home\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
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You need a nest to return to at the end of each day. My parents-in-law once gave me an incredibly thoughtful present of a digital photo frame which scrolls through my favourite photos of family. It meant that we could all remain connected to them wherever we were. Get one. Buy plants. Have fun buying local art works for your walls. Yes, get those scatter cushions. Make sure you have a space in which you are comfortable and relaxed. It will make facing all the newness a lot easier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2026and stay in touch with the old one<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your friends and family will be missing you. They will manage – but much more easily if they know you are well and happy. Make time for calling them, ideally booking a regular slot. COVID has a few positive legacies, and the family Zoom call is definitely one of them. Arrange a quiz, watch a TV programme together, just have a chat. Remaining connected to the places and people you know well will fuel your adventures into the unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of all, enjoy it. There will come a day when you\u2019ll be chewing your dentures and remembering these times. They\u2019re good ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Settling into a new job is a daunting task, particularly when it involves moving your entire life abroad. Here are our tips on ways to ease this process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":13997,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":""},"categories":[857],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/image2-2.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5Krhd-3DH","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13993"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13993"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14018,"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13993\/revisions\/14018"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.teacherhorizons.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}