Teaching English Abroad: What You Might Expect

Culture Shock

This is different for everyone. If you are more go with the flow, you might have an easier time adjusting. When you first arrive, it is like being on vacation. You are in this brand new exciting place and you are just gazing around stimulated by all the new and different things you are seeing.I felt that I adjusted very quickly. Now, once you are there for awhile, that is when the differences are no longer fascinating but frustrating, and you can feel out of sorts. I think everyone has that one moment where they just have a good cry or get severely angry about some experience that served as a trigger for the release of all the emotions that have been stirring. That moment for me was trying to open a bank account and let’s just say it did not go well. I walked out of the place and burst into tears right in the middle of the street! Our environment is such a huge part of what defines us and tells us what we need to do. When you are separated from it for an extended time and constantly engaging in the unfamiliar, it can have its stressful moments. Not being able to communicate was very upsetting at times. I urge you to try to learn the language of wherever you are going. It will add so much to your experience. I was able to communicate pretty decently in normal situations and it made things easier and more enjoyable. If you are going somewhere really hoping to learn a language fluently, you might want to go to a smaller town or more rural area. If you are in a major city, you will be using English a lot and it will hinder the advancement of your language skills.

Just go.

One thing to definitely take away from this is that the good will cancel out the bad in the long run. Anything worth doing is never a cakewalk and thinking back on everything that happened, I cannot imagine not having done it. Just embrace everything that comes your way and take things a little less seriously and you will find that fewer things will really get to you. Teaching English in Japan without a doubt shaped the person I am at this moment and the one I am stiving to become everyday of my life. If you are ready for a soul transforming but at times challenging experience that will accelerate your personal development, start planning it all out right after you read this!