Imagine the feeling of moving out for the first time. You’ve lived in this family's culture your whole life, and now you’re getting ready to do something vastly different. Your family helps you pack up your life and shove everything into your way-too-small-for-this car. Then your sister hops in the front seat and drives with you across the country to your new home to help you settle in.
This story isn’t everyone’s experience, but it’s a good example of something we want to emulate at ELIC. We strive to care for our teachers like family, and while part of that means equipping you well to start your journey, for most, living overseas is a season. And when the seasons change and it’s time for you to pursue something new, we want to be there for you as you transition back into your passport country.
It doesn’t take decades to establish a life somewhere. Three years or thirty are enough to find yourself flourishing in life’s rhythms and relationships, its flavors and traditions, its habits and limits and joys, and even the occasional longing for an old home far away. Returning to that home means leaving the new one and the now-familiar people and places you love there. You’re returning to the world of another community you love, but they don’t share those experiences. It’s a huge shift to return from living overseas.
So, to help our family get settled in their new place, we started the Alumni Bridge—a period of time when teachers leaving service with us have access to continued support and resources designed to soften the landing back into their passport country and set them up for success in their next season.
The resources in Alumni Bridge fall into three main categories
1. Transition Coaching
To allow the teacher to focus on the transition without the added complication of a coach who works for the organization you’re leaving, we partner with professional coaches outside of ELIC to help you navigate logistics and plans for the future.
2. Transition To Alumni Classroom
This online classroom is the hub for a wealth of resources to support individuals and families. Among other tools, returning teachers have access to the Navigating Transition video series along with interactive workbooks and guides. The classroom also features an updated list of the available options for counseling, debriefing, and retreats.
3. Renewal Debriefing Retreats
These retreats offer a chance for meaningful and encouraging time with a group of people navigating similar situations. It gives the mind, body, and soul space to rest and process the transition. Small group and individual creative processing activities structure the experience to help teachers get as much out of the time as possible.
Once you’ve lived in multiple cultures, the idea of “home” is complicated. For all its challenges, this is a beautiful thing! You have an overabundance of home and community—an experience that gives you valuable perspective that will benefit the people around you.
So if you’re considering a season of teaching overseas, know this right from the start: You’ll have a friend to walk with you when the seasons change. In the meantime, we can’t wait to get to know you!
