How do you build community when you move abroad and everything in your life changes?

In this Insider Voices episode, we speak with Jennifer, an American who grew up in Hong Kong and Japan before moving abroad again as an adult to live in Prague. She shares what it was really like moving abroad without an established network, creating a sense of belonging from scratch, and navigating international life as a partner, parent, and educator-adjacent professional.

We explore how early motherhood abroad shaped her relationships, how she found an international school teacher community and parent network, and what it felt like giving birth and raising children outside her home country. Jennifer reflects honestly on the realities of teaching overseas with family nearby or far away, the emotional weight of building community as a trailing spouse, and the unspoken challenges many international educators face when relocating.

Jennifer also opens up about moving back to the United States, experiencing reverse culture shock, and rebuilding her identity after years abroad. We discuss how international experience reshapes your sense of home, how community changes over time, and why returning can feel just as disorienting as leaving.

This conversation offers grounded insight into moving abroad as a teacher, teaching overseas with family, and finding stability and connection within international school communities.

Inside the episode:

• Building community as a trailing spouse abroad
• Motherhood overseas and navigating unfamiliar systems
• Finding an international school teacher and parent network
• Reverse culture shock after returning home
• Identity shifts after living internationally
• Practical advice for expat teachers and globally mobile families

If you are exploring a teaching abroad guide, planning a move overseas with children, or seeking a stronger international school teacher community, this episode offers honest perspective and practical reassurance grounded in lived experience.

Links & Resources

🍬 Find lots of other global education goodies at:⁠ https://connectedglobal.org

📞Book a consultation with us! We’re here to personalize support for whatever choices you are facing. 😊

https://connectedglobal.org/book-a-consultation/

💬 Have a question or story of your own? Drop it in the comments! We’d love to feature listener topics in future episodes.

💓 Don’t forget to subscribe if you're navigating life, learning, and leadership abroad.

How do you build a meaningful community when you start over in a country where you know no one?

In this episode, we talk with Jordan about his move from Utah to Prague, where he found his footing in a language school that felt like the right fit and opened the door to a supportive international teacher community. He shares how teaching adult learners created real friendships, how music and creative events helped him meet people organically, and how Prague slowly became home. Jordan also reflects on navigating a breakup abroad, dealing with housing stress, and leaning on friends when life felt vulnerable.

We explore the mindset shifts that helped him connect across cultures, avoid common expat frustrations, and join a wider third culture community. His story offers practical encouragement for anyone moving abroad as a teacher, searching for international teacher resources, or trying to build a stable community from scratch.

Inside the episode:

• From Utah film school to life and work in Prague
• Finding a school environment that supports healthy community
• Building friendships through teaching and the creative arts
• Vulnerability and transitions abroad
• Third culture connections and navigating differences
• Tips for newcomers trying to find their people

This episode is for anyone hoping to join a global educator network, find community overseas, or build a meaningful life in a new country.

Links & Resources

📞Book a consultation with us! We’re here to personalize support for whatever choices you are facing. 😊

https://connectedglobal.org/book-a-consultation/

💬 Have a question or story of your own? Drop it in the comments! We’d love to feature listener topics in future episodes.

💓 Don’t forget to subscribe if you're navigating life, learning, and leadership abroad.

🍬 Find lots of other global education goodies at: https://connectedglobal.org

What does it really take to find your people when you move abroad and everything familiar disappears?

In this International Files episode, we talk honestly about the emotional side of creating community overseas. We explore what happens when you lose your entire social history, how culture shock affects friendships, and why building belonging abroad often feels like starting your social life in kindergarten again. We also share the real experiences of making new friends, navigating mismatched groups, managing vulnerability fatigue, and finding your rhythm through routines, interests, and intentional connection.

We discuss expat parenting, the challenges of the trailing spouse experience, and the grief that comes from leaving behind the version of yourself you knew back home. Through stories from our own journeys, we highlight the layers of community abroad, from casual neighbor connections to the deep inner circle friendships that anchor you when life gets hard. This episode offers practical insight for anyone moving abroad as a teacher, searching for community, or building an international educator network that feels like home.

Inside the episode:

• Losing your social history and starting over abroad
• Culture shock and its impact on friendships
• Finding groups that truly reflect your interests
• Vulnerability fatigue and emotional resilience
• Expat parenting and shifting identity
• Trailing partner challenges
• Creating community through small gestures and shared routines
• Seasonal loneliness and the quiet layers of belonging

If you are navigating international school transitions, longing for connection overseas, or rebuilding your sense of community abroad, this episode will help you feel grounded, understood, and encouraged.

🔗 Links & Resources

📲Our Favorite Apps: Marco Polo, Snapchat, Whatsapp

📞Book a consultation with us! We’re here to personalize support for whatever choices you are facing. 😊

https://connectedglobal.org/book-a-consultation/

💬 Have a question or story of your own? Drop it in the comments! We’d love to feature listener topics in future episodes.

💓 Don’t forget to subscribe if you're navigating life, learning, and leadership abroad.

🔗Online Therapy Platforms: problemshared.net & betterhelp.com

🍬 Find lots of other global education goodies at: https://connectedglobal.org