72. Going "Unglobal": More Stories From Our Trio of Vets --Transitioning Out of International Education

International educators, are you ready for the day when you go “unglobal”?

We gazed into our crystal ball again with our all-star panel of Amy Hunt, David Ross, and Rob Howe, this time to learn how to transition out of international education.

David Ross is a retired international educator. He began teaching in California, then moved to Malaysia with his family to teach at ISKL.  He then took a sabbatical with his family to bike across Europe and ended up in Vietnam. He taught for nine years at SSIS. He enjoys SCUBA diving, playing in a band, pickleball, and cooking. He has also been a proactive investor and proponent of financial literacy.

Rob Howe is a business professional. He began his career in the technology industry. After a 1.5-year sabbatical, he met his wife, an international teacher, and decided to become one. His first position was in Indonesia. He then returned to the US, started a new career in sustainability consulting, and adopted two children from India. In 2014, he returned overseas. Posts included Lebanon, Zimbabwe, and Vietnam. 

Amy Hunt teaches Psychology and Science of Mind at Nueva School in San Francisco. After a year in outdoor education, Amy left the US to teach in Ethiopia, where she met her husband, Lee Fertig. They later moved to Brazil, then back to the US, followed by stints in Spain, Brazil, and Belgium before returning to the US in 2020. A curious risk-taker, Amy is also a yoga therapist. She reads a lot, loves murder shows, pickleball, taking hikes and cold plunges.

Our Guiding Question was, “What are some of your takeaways after transitioning out of international teaching?”

Panelists shared their experiences moving out of international education to return to the US. Here are a few topics covered: 

• Leaving your “tribe” and finding a new one
• Character strengths/skills of international educators that help with transition
• The RAFT approach to transitions> Reconciliation | Affirmation | Farewells | Think Destination (see link below for details)
• Letting go of perks of international teaching
• Unpacking Affordable Care health insurance
• Personal finance 
• Children transitioning to the US
• A "2-year" transition process

Resources Mentioned:

The poem Ithaca

PERMAH Pivot Plan

The Edgar Suit (Men in Black)

RAFT idea

Show was r

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Music: YouTube. (2022). Acoustic Guitar | Folk | No copyright | 2022❤️. YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOEmg_6i7jA.