Working abroad equips you with valuable professional experience and personal development opportunities. Plus, it’s an exciting adventure - if you choose to teach English abroad, not only will you be positively contributing to local communities, you’ll also get an immersive, authentic experience of your chosen location.
However, working abroad can be tricky if you have a family, and of course, family life always comes first. To help you make the most of your work experience abroad without sacrificing your family commitments, here are our top tips.
Note: TravelBud’s teach abroad programs are designed for individual teachers or couples and don’t accommodate bringing children or other dependents to live with you in-country. The ideas below focus on staying connected with family at home, and on short visits they may make while you’re abroad.
Choose a short-term or flexible program
Teaching English abroad allows you to engage with a short-term program, over a number of weeks or months, although you can choose a longer one if you wish. This is an excellent option for people with families who don’t want to be away from home for too long, but still want to reap the benefits and overall experience of working abroad.
Unlike a corporate job, a teaching role usually means shorter, term-time hours - so once school is out, you’re off the clock, and have time to connect with your family.
Make the most of your free time
Knowing how to make the most of your time out of work can be tricky. There will be lots to see and experience in your new location - but staying in the loop with your family is always a priority.
On most structured teach abroad programs, including those offered through TravelBud, your partner and children will usually remain at home while you’re teaching abroad. With that in mind, you may want to dedicate some of your free time to catching up over the phone or video call. It can be really hard staying connected with younger children this way, so think about planning some games you can play over a video call (FaceTime hide-and-seek is a great option), or sharing life updates in a way that feels fun and interactive. You could also use this time to pick up some presents for your children and other family members, or to send postcards that’ll help them to feel more involved in your time away.
Embrace multi-generational travel
If you’re able to, inviting your family to visit you for a short holiday can be a lovely way for them to experience a small part of your journey. Even a brief visit, arranged independently of your teaching program and accommodation, can be great for keeping you connected and may even strengthen your bond.
Think about how you can make this multi-generational travel experience work for you. It’s important to think about whether your destination is accommodating for your family, to prioritize safety and travel insurance, and to think about the logistics of your loved ones travelling to visit you - bearing in mind that, with TravelBud, they would be visiting as tourists on a separate trip, not as part of your teach abroad placement.
Working abroad can be a real adventure, allowing you to diversify your experience and opening you up to new career opportunities. However, leaving your family behind can be difficult, both logistically and emotionally. Make family life work in harmony with your career abroad by choosing a role, schedule, and location that support you as a parent while your family remains at home - teaching English abroad is an excellent option for devoted parents looking to broaden their professional experience, even when they travel solo.
Author bio: Caitlin Nicholson
Caitlin is a mum of two who enjoys spending time abroad. Having worked in a number of different countries around the world, she knows just how tricky it can be to manage both family and work life seamlessly.
