Tagged With: preparation

If by “waiting” you mean “feverishly preparing”…

“You must be getting excited for your exchange!” “Bet you can’t wait to go Australia for a year!” “Are you counting down the days until you leave?” Yes, yes, and yes! We are excited, but anxious at the same time. Right, we can’t “wait” to go. We are feverishly “preparing” to go. We count down … Continue reading »

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Here, take my job and live in my house…

Consider the trust implied in the somewhat flippant title. With a teacher exchange, you’re establishing that level of trust with a complete stranger on the other side of the planet in the few months before the exchange takes place. My home insurance provider said to me, “oh, not to worry… you have reciprocal collateral.” That … Continue reading »

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Where is Home

I found this insightful post at “A Year On” sharing experiences of a sabbatical year in Jerusalem: If community-building is centripetal, pulling together, this year is all about the centrifuge. Our little family unit is being spun all around, getting to interact with all different kinds of people and communities. It’s confusing but not lonely, … Continue reading »

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Budgeting for an International Teacher Exchange

Visitors to expatistan.com and numbeo.com enter known prices for items in their location forming the basis from which cost of living comparisons are made. Making a budget is reasonably easy; holding to a budget is much more challenging. Digital money management tools quickly reveal where the money goes, and from there, where to staunch the … Continue reading »

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How do You Even Start Preparing for a Year-long International Teaching Exchange

Swapping jobs and homes is more involved than you might think. Factor in not knowing the exchange partner, and there are a million concerns and questions with not so many answers yet. Here are some: Transportation there: Buy? Lease? Public transport? Insurance rates? Driving on the other side of the road! Pets here: Anyone want … Continue reading »

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