My husband and I dreamed of moving overseas to teach.

We envisaged living an international lifestyle filled with new and exciting adventures, meeting new people and making friends.

We would give away basically everything to start over in a new place with delicious new cuisines, and learn from some of the best educators in the world.

International teaching: the challenges

Then we moved to Korea and reality hit.

I missed my friends. Communicating with people whose language you don’t speak is hard. We didn’t pack enough clothing and finding sizes, especially shoes, was a challenge.

It was hot and then cold, and it took us months to figure out our floor heating. We were told, “Don’t drink from the tap and always toss your toilet paper in the rubbish.”

This was not the international life I had imagined.

Moving to Brazil four years later was also tough. I knew teaching here would be different, but I had no idea how far the pendulum would swing.

We didn’t have central heating or hot water to wash dishes, and sometimes the water was shut off completely in the middle of a drought.

And yet, through these hardships, I came to realise so many profound things that helped me to grow, both as a teacher and as a person.

1. Growth happens in discomfort

Finding time to study and learn the language is challenging.

I struggle my way through most conversations, but I’ve realised how little language is actually needed if you smile, are patient and use lots of non-verbal gestures.

I also understand just how hard it is to be a student learning subjects when you don’t fully understand the language. Every student learning English is incredibly resilient and hard-working.

Discomfort is accelerated and appreciated in the international setting. Eventually, I used these opportunities to build up my own resilience.

When I met someone who was excited to practise English, they became an unexpected friend.

Leaning into discomfort makes you appreciate the things you once took for granted.

2. Appreciation

Many families at our schools were eager to help us navigate living in a new country because they understood how challenging this transition can be.

We had people offer to help us buy a car and walk us through the steps to get a licence.

The kindness we were shown not only surprised me, it also inspired me to look out for others when they arrived in a new country.

Having a stranger give me a hairdryer, or another offering to drive me to the store to buy groceries, was such a blessing.

3. Connection

When we left our family and friends to move overseas, something unexpected also happened. We found new ways to connect with those we loved.

Our children video-call to chat with their grandparents. Every vacation home, we spent more quality time with close friends than ever before.

While living overseas, we planned mini-vacations with other families to different countries. We found new ways to connect as we explored new cultures together.

The international school community bonds quickly, and the relationships we developed with people all over the world have become friendships for life. 

4. Embracing minimalism

Less is more and, in this situation, it’s true both professionally and personally.

I didn’t need the newest technology, curriculum or educational materials to become an effective educator. I needed less so I could focus my time and energy building relationships with students.

I also learned that you don’t need much to live a happy life. The things that made our house feel like home weren’t the items we brought with us or even things you could buy.

They were the values and beliefs we learned to embrace while living in another culture.

5. Values

Taking risks and facing fears has incredible power. I was terrified to move overseas and it took us almost four years to actually do it.

Every culture and country has its own problems.

Learning more about my own biases and privileges opened me up to become more accepting of others, myself included. I learned how to have courage, compassion and build connections with people I never would have before.

Being uncomfortable was an opportunity to reflect on who I am as a teacher, parent, wife and, ultimately, as a human being.

The more mistakes I made, the more I learned. My international life is now filled with consistent discomfort and constant growth. And by no means do I have everything figured out. However, this has become one of the greatest experiences of my life.

After living in two very different countries, I have learned to expect the unexpected. And those who dream about moving overseas? Definitely take the leap.

Crystal Godsiff is a learning support teacher in an international school in Brazil. She has been teaching internationally for six years. She tweets @mrsgodsiff