Hey international educators, are you ready for the day when you go “unglobal”?
We decided once again to gaze into our crystal ball, this time to learn how to transition out of international education. Fortunately, our all-star panel of Amy Hunt, David Ross, and Rob Howe were ready once again to share their experiences.
David Ross is a retired 58-year-old international educator. He began teaching elementary school in Los Angeles, then moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with his family to teach at ISKL for six years. He then took a one-year sabbatical with his family to bike across Europe and ended up in Saigon, Vietnam. He taught for nine years at SSIS and coached middle and high school men’s volleyball. He enjoys SCUBA diving, free diving, playing in a band, pickleball, staying fit, and cooking. He has also been a proactive investor and proponent of financial literacy.
Rob Howe is a 56-year-old business professional and international educator. He began his career in the technology industry. After a 1.5-year sabbatical from work, he met his wife, an international teacher, and decided to become one. His first opportunity was in Jakarta, Indonesia, for two years at NJIS. He then returned to the USA, started a new career in sustainability consulting, and adopted two children from India. In 2014, he returned to overseas teaching. Posts included Beirut, Lebanon, Harare, Zimbabwe, and Saigon, Vietnam.
Amy Hunt is currently teaching Psychology and Science of Mind at Nueva School in the San Francisco Bay Area. After spending a year in outdoor education in 1987, Amy left the US at age 25 to teach IB English in Addis Ababa, where she met her husband, Lee Fertig. They moved together to Rio, where Amy also began teaching IB Theory of Knowledge, then back to the U.S., followed by stints in Barcelona, São Paulo, and Brussels before returning to the US in 2020. A curious risk-taker and boundary-stretcher, Amy is also a yoga therapist. She reads a lot, loves murder shows and pickleball, takes hikes and cold plunges, and tries to coax her three 20-something children to fly the nest.
Our Guiding Question was, “What are some of your takeaways and advice from transitioning out of international teaching?”
Each panelist shared their experiences making the move out of international education returning to their home country which for all is the US. Here are a few of the topics covered:
Finding a new “tribe” leaving your old one behind
The character strengths and skills that international educators have that help with transitions
Applying the RAFT approach to transitions> Reconciliation: Resolving conflicts and mending relationships before leaving | Affirmation: Expressing appreciation and acknowledging the impact of people and experiences | Farewells: Saying proper goodbyes to people, places, and experiences | Think Destination: Preparing mentally for the next phase or location
Letting go of the many perks that come with international teaching including medical insurance
Unpacking the Affordable Care Marketplace health insurance system
Personal finances planning for retirement
How their children made the transition to the US and high school/college
What seems to be a two-year transition process
Resources Mentioned:
The poem Ithaca
The Edgar Suit (from Men in Black)
The show was recorded on January 15, 2025.
Categories: Parenting | School Life | Transitions | Finances | Travel
