We have created this blog to document and share our adventure as we begin a new phase of our lives and leap into international education!
Jeff and I decided we wanted to learn more about and possibly pursue a career change into this realm in the spring/summer of 2016. We started reading all we could online, and quickly realized you really have to make a small investment into some sites in order to truly learn about this work. We paid to join TIE Online and International Schools Review. We were able to develop at least a foundational level of knowledge through these sites. There were also some free sites like Teacher Horizons and CIS (basic info only) that helped us to learn more.
We initially had this mental image of raising our kids on a beautiful tropical island, sipping fruity beverages after school while the kids splashed around in the ocean. Fast forward to our reality check: Not all international schools/locations are created equally. And not all benefit packages are equal. We decided we needed to create our basic list of requirements. Making such a huge change for our family of five, we decided, was only going to happen if it were a great opportunity all around. So we made a list that included:
We initially had this mental image of raising our kids on a beautiful tropical island, sipping fruity beverages after school while the kids splashed around in the ocean. Fast forward to our reality check: Not all international schools/locations are created equally. And not all benefit packages are equal. We decided we needed to create our basic list of requirements. Making such a huge change for our family of five, we decided, was only going to happen if it were a great opportunity all around. So we made a list that included:
- A generally safe location
- A not-for-profit school
- A school that was rated well by both parents and employees
- A country that allowed basic freedoms, such as internet access, etc...
- A school with true diversity and multiculturalism
- 100% tuition/fees covered for all 3 kids
- Housing provided
- Airfare for all 5 of us, including trips home to KC in the summer
- Ability to travel on breaks AND save some money
When we found QSI, we discovered a system of schools that had locations that could and a benefit package that would fulfill all of our wish list. In fact, we also saw the potential for the bonus of a really different educational philosophy that truly resonated with us, both as educators and parents. As we had for a few other schools with early openings, we applied.
When we heard back from QSI, they sounded really interested in meeting with us. We set up an appointment with a recruiter, and met over lunch. We had read that it was often difficult to get your foot in the door, and that many educators found employment in their second year of looking for international positions. Because of this we were not expecting our recruiter to actually offer us jobs that day!
Kyiv, Ukraine had been on our short list of QSI locations we were very interested in, so we were delighted to have an offer for that school! That said, it was suddenly really real. For real. We were considering leaving the US with our kids to start what could be the biggest adventure of our lives. A big, scary, adventure with a lot of unknowns. What was an exciting idea became very scary when it was a real option.
We went into full research mode, learning everything we could about the city. While there is no such thing as a perfect place, everything we learned just excited us more. We discussed it with our kids, and decided as a family that this was an adventure that we just couldn’t pass up! So we signed contracts, and committed to moving literally halfway around the world to serve as a counselor and curriculum coordinator in an amazing international school. Our children will all attend the school where we work, making our jobs also our family-like community in Kyiv.
Some days I find myself daydreaming, or dreaming at night about all of the wonderful opportunities and possibilities out there for us. I fantasize about what it is going to be like, and imagine just how much we will experience and learn. You know, unicorns and rainbows. Other times I feel terrified when I think of all of the unknowns. Every negative possibility that has been mentioned to us (and there have been a lot from those who don’t want us to go) weighs me down to the point I’m not sure I can breathe. It’s going to be so hard to leave great, secure jobs in a community where we have built a life for ourselves & our kids. We will miss our family and friends. I’m sure I can’t even imagine how hard that will hit us until we are half a world away.
We will spend the next several months liquidating most of our belongings, while narrowing the list of items that we will keep here. We are selling the house and cars, and only keeping those most important items that we can squeeze into a storage unit. We will have a furnished apartment in Kyiv, and will take very little with us beyond the clothing we will need for the next year and a few favorite and/or sentimental items. August seems like it is forever away, and yet also seems like it will be here before we can possibly be ready.
We went into full research mode, learning everything we could about the city. While there is no such thing as a perfect place, everything we learned just excited us more. We discussed it with our kids, and decided as a family that this was an adventure that we just couldn’t pass up! So we signed contracts, and committed to moving literally halfway around the world to serve as a counselor and curriculum coordinator in an amazing international school. Our children will all attend the school where we work, making our jobs also our family-like community in Kyiv.
Some days I find myself daydreaming, or dreaming at night about all of the wonderful opportunities and possibilities out there for us. I fantasize about what it is going to be like, and imagine just how much we will experience and learn. You know, unicorns and rainbows. Other times I feel terrified when I think of all of the unknowns. Every negative possibility that has been mentioned to us (and there have been a lot from those who don’t want us to go) weighs me down to the point I’m not sure I can breathe. It’s going to be so hard to leave great, secure jobs in a community where we have built a life for ourselves & our kids. We will miss our family and friends. I’m sure I can’t even imagine how hard that will hit us until we are half a world away.
We will spend the next several months liquidating most of our belongings, while narrowing the list of items that we will keep here. We are selling the house and cars, and only keeping those most important items that we can squeeze into a storage unit. We will have a furnished apartment in Kyiv, and will take very little with us beyond the clothing we will need for the next year and a few favorite and/or sentimental items. August seems like it is forever away, and yet also seems like it will be here before we can possibly be ready.
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