On being part of the furniture…

When you someone who teaches overseas it can easy to develop a ‘grass is always greener’ mentality.  There’s always another country and there’s always another school just over the horizon.

Those who tend to be wanderers often have no fixed schedule, or timeline for how long is too long to stay in place. It’s a gut reaction. It’s hearing the roar of jets in the distance. 

Yet there are also virtues to staying put.

One of the children in my class is finding the adjustment to moving countries challenging. I know this too will pass, but when you are 8 it can be hard to see past there here and now.

As I was chatting with my colleagues about the progress one of my ex students had made from an anxious Year 5 on the first overseas experience to a confident Year 7 world citizen, it struck me that I wasn’t the person to be delivering the message for coping strategies for adjustment.

Maybe someone who made the journey from newcomer to was the best.

I happened to pass my Year 7 in the hall and my two pupils, past and present, got to know each other. I passed along contact details to the families so they could arrange time  to hang out . The best part was talking older pupil’s family about the progress the older child had made since arriving at school.  The child had now become a role model and being a mentor will be a further opportunity to learn and grow.

This sort of interaction wouldn’t have taken place if I hadn’t really known the kids. Known who would make a good pair.

These sort of interactions only come from being part of the community.