Take a Chance, Go Abroad!

My experiences teaching and living abroad in Thailand through the TravelBud agency are continuing to shape who I am with each day! I have been working and living here since July 2023, am still here until at least March 2024, and would want to be no where else in this world. Want a sure way to test your grit, expand your mind, and build your mental capacity to understand and appreciate cultural differences? Go teach and live abroad!

I embarked on my journey with the TravelBud agency. They seem to only hire people who have had experiences living and working abroad, which is very helpful. My support manager, Kim (South Africa), has been nothing but a true gem for me in my experience. As black women, our experiences through life abroad are VERY different from those of other races. It continues to be comforting that I have Kim to relate to as I tackle the day-to-day challenges that arise. We have developed a life-long connection thanks to Travel Bud!

Through this agency, I was connected to an “on-site” company. I’m guaranteed a job placement, although job security in Thailand is very loose. Schools have the liberty to hire and fire at will! The in country partner has done a beautiful job of leading the hiring process, handling logistics, and keeping up with visa needs. The partner also assists with housing arrangements—- paid through your monthly salary. Most schools pay you a salary in which you can afford to live generously off of. It’s a pretty solid program that’s being run, although I do question the legality of hiring teachers and allowing them to work before they receive official work permits (perhaps some under the table actions happening—- *wink* *wink*).

Please understand that living and working abroad is not all of what it may be cracked up to be. Agencies will show you ALL of the good in what could come with this type of lifestyle, for there is in fact much good in these experiences. However, you must be willing to do a lot of introspective work in order to truly thrive in this type of environment. There will be ups and downs. If you develop the skills needed to turn the “downs” into “ups”, however, you’re sure to have a life-changing experience. You won’t know what it’s like until you’re in your new city, in your new school, and living out the truth of what it is to be abroad. I can honestly say, however, that I’ve received ample support through everything.

If teaching and living abroad sounds like something you’d be into (even if there’s just a small ounce of curiosity), I say go for it!