Finding your community as an international teacher

One of the most rewarding moves a teacher can make is taking their career overseas. It’s a bold step that opens the door to new cultures, classrooms, and ways of thinking. But while this change can be incredibly exciting, venturing far from home can also be lonely. You leave behind familiar colleagues, family, and routines, and it’s not just about adjusting to a new job; it’s about rebuilding a life. The best way to ease that transition is by creating a community around you - one that supports, inspires, and connects you as you find your footing.

Build your first circle at school

For most international teachers, their first sense of community abroad often comes from the workplace. Your school is not only a place where you work but also where you will most probably meet people who have the same kind of experiences and values as you. Getting-to-know-you sessions, staff parties, and team-building exercises are all aimed at this very thing: helping new people find their way.

Moreover, if your school offers staff accommodation, that can become an instant network of familiar faces. Sharing meals, commuting together, or exploring your new surroundings with fellow teachers can quickly turn colleagues into friends - often faster than you’d expect.

In big schools, different departments often seem like separate worlds to each other. Try to find and interact with colleagues from other subjects. Widening your network in the school can give you a sense of belonging to the whole community rather than just your team.

Grow beyond the workplace

When you live overseas, maintaining a healthy work-life balance becomes essential. If all your friendships revolve around school, your world can start to feel small, and it’s easy to find that most conversations circle back to work. By building connections beyond your workplace, you open yourself up to more freedom, perspective, and balance.

What works for you to relax or be happy? It can be running, painting, yoga, cooking, or even learning a new language. Whatever your passion is, the likelihood is that there is a group for it in your new city. Check out local listings, expat forums, or community social pages to find meetups, sports leagues, or hobby classes. Even apps like Meetup or Eventbrite are good tools to find the closest gatherings.

Every relationship you form outside of school helps you grow in new ways. It reminds you that you’re more than your job title - you’re a person with varied interests, passions, and stories that shape who you are.

Balance expat and local friendships

Almost all internationally hired teachers would instinctively associate with other expatriates. These shared experiences of getting used to the new culture, missing home, and getting used to the climate or food help them to understand each other immediately. In most cities, there is a very active network of international teachers who regularly meet through social groups or online communities. These networks can be a source of emotional and practical support, especially during the first few months when one is feeling homesick.

Nevertheless, it’s important not to stay entirely within the expat bubble. The heart of teaching abroad lies in cultural exchange and that can only happen when you connect with the local community. Building relationships with local residents allows you to experience your host country from the inside, not just as an observer.

You can start small. Attend a local language class, visit markets, participate in festivals, or sign up for community workshops. Be genuinely curious—ask questions, listen, and show interest in local traditions. It might take more effort to be included in established social circles, but these friendships often become the most rewarding. They offer insight into customs, humour, and daily life that no guidebook can provide.

Make your new country feel like home

Developing a community requires time. In the first weeks, try to say yes more than no. Discover new places, participate in events, and allow yourself to be a beginner again. Every talk and shared meal will gradually help you feel more at home.

As your confidence grows, you’ll start to notice the rhythms that shape your daily life. You’ll have your favorite cafés, maybe even a local market where the vendors know you by name, and friends who truly understand your story. These small but meaningful details mark the moment when you’ve moved beyond simply surviving - you’re genuinely living abroad.

When your surroundings feel familiar, your friendships feel real, and your days feel balanced, you’ll realise that your host country has become more than just a temporary posting. It’s your community - your home away from home.

Gili is a passionate writer and curious thinker, dedicated to exploring a wide range of general topics that spark interest and discussion.