The path to living and working overseas is rarely a straight line. And the road can twist and turn even more once you’ve made it to a career in a host country! Overseas teaching is inherently difficult, but the opportunity for a deep, rooted experience of the power of cross-cultural community is more than worth the challenge. This theme came up several times as we asked Hannah—a teacher in ELIC’s Global Ambassador Program (GAP)—about her journey to overseas work and her experience with GAP so far.
GAP is a hands-on training and mentoring program for recent college graduates. Participants spend nine months gaining classroom experience and training, traveling to other ELIC host countries, and being mentored by experienced overseas teachers, all in the context of cross-cultural living overseas.
Hannah’s experience leading up to and participating in the GAP program in Thailand sheds light on how tackling the hard parts of overseas life can be worth the challenge, even when things don’t go as planned.
Hannah predicted living overseas long before she had ever heard of ELIC.
Ever since I was a young girl, hearing stories of international workers abroad I had a sense that might be what I would be doing as well... [In college] I studied Spanish and Linguistics as a double major.
And she put that education to use when she studied abroad in Honduras.
It definitely impacted my journey to starting GAP, though not in the way you might expect. After getting home from Honduras, I struggled severely with reverse culture shock, and I didn't have a way to communicate or explain to friends and family what I had seen or experienced. I was really concerned about going abroad again to the point where I never thought I would, but despite this, the tug to serve abroad was still there, so I filled out the interest form online. I'm so glad I did, it has ended up being one of the most meaningful and formative seasons of my life.
Reverse culture shock is a genuine struggle for many international workers when they return to their passport country. This is one reason ELIC provides an Alumni Bridge including debriefing retreats and resources. The value of cross-cultural living is worth the challenges that come with returning, so easing that difficulty is an important element in long-term sustainability overseas.
There are GAP programs in Thailand, Tunisia, and Uzbekistan. While Hannah said it was never on her radar when she thought about where she might work one day, “every step that I took towards Thailand, I felt peace in my decision.”
Since her plane touched down in Chiang Mai last summer, she’s explored her city’s culture and been both surprised and delighted by what she’s found.
What has most surprised me is the high level of safety in Thailand—I have often felt that I am more safe here than in the States! [Equally surprising] is the truly gentle pace of life. I have realized how much we value productivity (at just about any cost) in the United States. But in Thailand, the cultural values of peacefulness and well-being are extremely important, and they are brought into consideration when trying to accomplish something.
It might also be surprising to know that in Thailand, it is completely normal to never, ever cook food. It is often less expensive to eat out than to prepare your own food—and so we go to markets almost daily for lunch or dinner.
I have discovered this soup called Mi Kiaw... and obsessed is an understatement. I would have it every meal for the rest of my life if I could. It's a chicken broth soup with cilantro, green onions, bok choi, and garlic, with noodles and dumplings inside. It is my Thai comfort food.
As much as she enjoys the food, Hannah says her favorite part of the program in general has been her team.
They are absolutely incredible, and they walk alongside you through the tough things and celebrate the joys with you. While it is true as a baseline that intercultural experiences bond you, the intentionality that the team takes to grow and support each other is incredibly special.
Beyond the beautiful friendships within her team, Hannah has been able to participate in the local community as well.
The GAP program is set up to put you in [places where you can connect] with people through things like English corners and free time where you can go to gyms, rock climbing, etc. I think the most important thing while connecting with people is to remember that connections don't happen instantly, but that being intentional is such a beautiful way to form friendships.
The most challenging part for me is the language barrier. It's so hard to not be able to express oneself fully in a new context, but I am learning more every day, and that process is intrinsically rewarding.
In all of the cultural whirlwind, discovery, and making new friends, Hannah says that the most rewarding thing of all has been how she has grown, both relationally and personally, from her experience.
While it is true that you get out what you put in, this program is set up so that you can get so much out of it. I'm sure this is different for everyone, but it has been so rewarding to engage internally and relationally—it has given me so much clarity and direction in my life…
To anyone who is considering this, if you are willing to be flexible and open to what life in a very different context might hold, I would say that this program might just be one of the most valuable experiences you could have.
