Global Castaways: Recent Episodes
Global Castaways
A bunch of international teachers musing on our life on the go, our love of teaching and always looking on the bright side of it all.
Our last episode of the season! Join us as we talk to Liam about his 27 years abroad and his abiding love for Japan. The question that I forgot to ask: How many passports does Liam have?
04:16 EAL: aka the department of acronyms. "You teach English; help me out with this kid."
05:22 Liam's reason for moving to Japan: "I was young and wanted to meet girls so volunteered and through that sort of became more interested in Japan."
09:19 Reminiscences of the WIFI Lounge at the Job Fairs ten years ago. Also, netbook, and gasp payphones.
10:02 "Mongolia, I don't even know where that is but why not?" Liam calling Tara's life choices out.
13:02 The pros and cons of accepting a job a school that has yet to be established.
19:00 We seriously consider a move to Mali.
28:09 A love story. It all started with her not being impressed. "Your ego gets very big very quickly because people go, anything you say is witty, anything you say is interesting and it is very easy to get an inflated ego."
33:49 "It is very easy to get into the mindset of, 'Well, we are here to educate you' as opposed to remembering that as much 'as we giving we are also here to learn from you.'"
39:03 Liam has the most surprising answer to the alternative profession questions.
Let's welcome KB, friend of the show, the last true romantic, and technically an adult.
- 00:50 "I'm gonna hug so many people!"
- 06:50 KB learning how to have a work-life balance as a teacher. "No matter how weird something is it can become normal very quickly."
- 13:45 "Middle year students, particularly in year seven and eight, have so many questions about themselves. They have multiple truths they are grappling with as well."
- 17:30 The unexpected racist undertones of Where the Wild Things Are??!
- 22:49 Why virtual learning is so difficult for middle school learners. "You can't really do fuzzy goals online in the same way."
- 26:53 KB turns the tables on Gabrielle and grills her on her time in Australia.
- 33:03 Figuring out what becoming an international teacher will means. Spoiler alert: Balance, people, balance.
- 40:00 The juicy, juicy process and the failure along the way. #lovethemess
Are you in need of some positivity "in these uncertain times"? We have that covered. Today we are finally sharing Tara's interview with the wonderful Andy. Come for his story of getting a teaching job in Jordan 38 years ago despite thinking it might be a scam, stay because he is a delight.
- 05:36 "I don't think in all my years of traveling that I have ever gotten to a place and thought, I don't like the people here. They are always and inevitably welcoming as long as you are willing to have a go at interacting with them and being pleasant."
- 16:30 Grade 7, in particular, is bonkers.
- 19:16 "Once you're overseas it becomes much easier to travel to these countries that sound so exotic when are back in England or the States."
- 19:40 "When you show a kid that you care about them and you realized that they know that you care about them... Those sorts of moments are just magical."
- 22:02 The story of the ArchDuck Ferdinand
- 28:01 "We live in bloody China!"
Black Lives Matter
The following are esources we have used to educate ourselves as we continue to learn and unlearn, to be better educators and fellow humans.
- An Open Letter to the International School Community: Our Role in the Black Lives Matter Movement and Anti-Racism Work by Rachel Engel
- So you want to talk about race by Ijeoma Oluo
- This book is antiracist by Tiffany Jewell
FB | instagram | twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
Courtney, Tara and Gabrielle - three international teachers, three countries, three different experiences with the pandemic and how it's impacted our teaching and life abroad.
Sharon is our guest in the season's final episode where you get to find out where she discovered the best frappucino she's ever had.
We are so thrilled to have people on this show and for you listeners. Have a great summer and see you next semester!
We made it to the end of the school year again! Truth, who has been teaching internationally for 10 years, joins Tara to reflect on her experience living abroad with two kids. Truth is leaving Beijing for Dar es Salaam!
We’re back with two girls in Tuscany talking. We share our experiences and sprinkle in tips, insights and advice when you’re ready to jump into the crazy recruiting fair scene. For additional fun: take a shot every time Gabrielle says “research”.
- 02:09 Courtney references Pitch Perfect while attempting to describe the job fair
- 14:26 But where do you actually interview??
- 21:45 Use your support system
- 24:30 A tip or two to prepare for your next job search. Then a story that ends with Gabrielle in New Scotland Yard.
- 30:20 “I’m always terrified; every single time I [go to a job fair] I’m scared”
- 35:44 Don’t go HAM on your references.
LINKS
UNI Overseas Recruiting Fair
Global Recruitment Collaborative
Search Associates
ISS/Schrole Advantage
TIE Online
instagram | twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
RSS | iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
Courtney talks with Jared about Athletic Training in international schools, interning with the Philadelphia Flyers and his company Good Practice, LLC. If you work with children as a teacher, as a coach, as a field trip chaperone, this conversation is for you!
- 04:36 Promoting Athletic Training
- 08:53 MAIS Conference: there is something for everyone
- 12:45 I may have helped the Flyers win the Stanley Cup
- 15:01 Working abroad in China
- 18:41 A part of the whole community
- 22:19 Using wellness as a tool to collaborate
- 23:19 Good Practice LLC: advocate for sports safety
- 31:26 Their English is going to be better than your French
Links:https://www.mais-web.org/
https://www.goodpracticellc.com/
https://twitter.com/GoodPracticeLLC
Friends of the show, Brian and Catherine, talk with Tara about all. the things. Including but not limited to their experiences as an international teaching couple, having children overseas, and the culture shock of returning to a different America.
LINKS:
International Schools Services - ISS
International Schools Review
WELCOME TO AMERICA! Finally, you walk through those arrival doors onto your home soil. It’s home so everything will go back to what it used to be. But what if it doesn’t? Gabrielle and Brittany try to process the unexpected anxieties when returning from abroad.
- 01:33 clothing, the color green, bathroom stalls and cereal aisles
- 08:25 The Missing Three Years article
- 09:34 Me, pretentious?
- 12:16 Gabrielle uses a Lord of the Rings analogy
- 16:30 Brittany shares about being stateside
- 23:20 "I’m selectively needy!"
LINK: The Missing Three Years by Brianna Hill Kastler
Gabrielle and Courtney consider the different mentor figures they have encountered in international teaching. They also gush over how they have encouraged each other in the last few years.
- 01:18 Gabrielle and Courtney’s origin story
- 07:15 Formal Mentorship experience: the Pros and Cons
- 11:33 Mentors are everywhere and they have different experiences!
- 14:55 Tim Gunn is my teaching mentor
- 21:10 Professional vulnerability
- 22:03 Your value as a teacher is not that one period
- 25:30 A sounding board, rather than a problem solver
Brittany chats with Dave who has the dubious honor of being our first male guest on the show. Dave shares his experiences as a teacher and expat Kiwi in Kuwait.
Welcome to semester two of Global Castaways! Tara and Courtney kicks off the season with a timely look at Back to School as an International Educator. What are the signs? What are your rituals? How do you find your balance after having a summer off?
- 00:30 What are the symptoms that you’re going back to school?
- 04:10 August is a teacher’s Sunday evening
- 09:40 And now you’re back…. What happens?
- 14:25 Kung Fu Field Trip
- 18:30 It’s chaos. Be kind.
- 23:24 Getting back into teacher shape
twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
RSS, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher.
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
It's International Podcast Day. Celebrate the power of podcasts! We recommend shows that entertain and inspire us. If you need something new to listen to, check out the links below!
- 01:05 Still Processing
- 02:53 Behind the Bastards
- 05:18 WorkLife with Adam Grant
- 06:30 Hey YA
- 07:22 Follow Eric Smith
- 08:34 Oh No Ross and Carrie
- 11:39 How Did This Get Made
- 13:46 Cult of Pedagogy
- 14:40 Marigold Article
We process our thoughts and feelings about dealing with mental health while living the international teaching itinerant life. Speaking out and sharing personal perspectives on achieving mental well-being, from therapy to self-care. Shoutout to Brittany’s AC unit, which makes many appearances in this episode.
LINKSTalkspace
Looking after yourself - BeyondBlue - if you’re supporting someone else with depression
Everything is awful and I’m not okay: questions to ask before giving up
What to say to a suicidal friend
US Mental Health Resources National Institute of Mental Health
National Alliance on Mental Health
The Trevor Project
twitter | facebook | globalcastaways@gmail.com
RSS | iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
Mary saves the day in this latest episode of the Postcards from theEdge series. Join Brittany and Mary to hear from the unique perspective of a specialist teacher along with some great advice on life, travel and change.
02:05 This is something I kinda want to do and now is the time
06:36 It feels more inclusive about different perspectives
07:33 Corn. White people. Done.
09:18 Awe, cute kid story!
12:23 What is that green thing? I have to touch it.
21:13 Being female in Kuwait.
26:33 You can kinda see the look of crazy on a moving teacher’s eyes...
So many legitimate complaints and so much entitlement. How do we balance the two? Courtney and Tara discuss the difficulties of first world problems when you are living in a developing nation.
- 01:31 Off topic already to talk about karaoke booths in China.
- 04:26 "There could be a goat in the milk aisle.”
- 10:12 Of weird stamps and paperwork.
- 16:23 We try to remember what happened to our VISA paperwork in Morocco. Was there a fire?
- 21:20 "This kitchen is wrong."
- 24:30 Life without an oven.
- 25:54 "I just want Nachos. I will pay what I need to to get it."
- 31:46 Hiring and keeping a maid and the story of a missing wedding dress.
- 34:22 Public restrooms. Shudder
Links
Disney WWII propaganda films
twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
RSS | iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
Are we creative, adorable and wonderful? Gabrielle and Courtney discuss the feedback and comments the GCP team has received, as well as introduce a new ending segment to celebrate "happy".
- 04:15 Awkward social penguins
- 05:23 "I’m perfect the way I am, darnit!"
- 09:20 Are the things we talk about surprisingly relatable?
- 14:23 Don’t you work with guys?
- 18:40 The new segment - surprise, it’s filled with teaching anecdotes.
Links:
Audacity
Libsyn Podcast Hosting Site
NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour
My Favorite Murder
Connect with us: twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
Subscribe: RSS, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher.
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
Melissa drops by to chat with Tara about the ups and downs of life while international teaching including a near-death experience while riding a bike in Beijing traffic. The second episode of our recurring series, Postcards from the Edge.
- 02:25 "Think of every spring break movie you ever have seen and now translate it into German."
- 06:36 "Your toilet's still gonna flush at the end of the day." "Hopefully." "Hopefully."
- 11:12 "Living abroad and traveling abroad are not the same at all!"
- 16:40 Death by Hello Kitty balloons
- 29:31 "So much forced reflection." Learning about yourself and where you come from when you go abroad.
Links
The College of New Jersey Off-Site Graduate Program
Google Flights
Orbitz
Connect with us: twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
Subscribe: RSS, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher.
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
Congratulations, you just got a new job! Wait, it's not what you studied for or are trained in? How did this happen? Come join us in hashing out the joys and plunders of feeling like that square peg trying to fit in that round hole.
- 02:26 The building-the-plane-as-you're-flying tactic
- 06:20 "These things have to be done and somebody has to do them!"
- 08:12 Brit and Tara veer off topic to talk school supplies
- 15:38 Getting into the pros and cons of being in an uncomfortable job role
Connect with us: website | twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
Subscribe: RSS, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher.
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
Prepare for lots of laughter in this first episode of our recurring series Postcards from the Edge. Grace and Courtney have a conversation about the ups and downs of international teaching, followed by lots of travel talk.
- 04:08 Goat’s blood with Grace’s face
- 10:27 The time Prep kids mutinied against Courtney
- 17:50 Best Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City
- 21:34 Advice for future international teachers
- 25:13 Least favourite educational buzzword
LinksISS
Search Associates
Schrol
Google Flights
Sky Scanner
XO Tours
Binging with Babish
Connect with us: website | twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
Subscribe: RSS, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher.
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
Courtney and Gabrielle waffle on about: a sordid headline, the different types of relationships within international teaching and also took a “very scientific poll” of our friends to back up our musings.
- 01:15 - Will YOUR marriage survive overseas?
- 03:24 - Types of international teaching relationships
- 11:29 - Our “very scientific” poll
- 16:30 - “...allows me to examine myself more and to grow…”
- 20:48 - Part Three - DOOM!
Links International Schools Review
Will YOUR marriage survive overseas?
Can Long Distance Relationships Really Work?
Brene Brown on Vulnerability
Connect with us: website | twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
Subscribe: RSS, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher.
Music
Smooth Actor by Podington Bear
Gizmo by Podington Bear
Use under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
We slap labels around liberally and talk about the types of people you meet in international teaching.
- 02:28 - "It reminds me of that scene in Mean Girls..."
- 07:15 - Tara ruminates on finding a place in international teaching as an introvert.
- 09:16 - The secret fourth category!
Connect with us: website | twitter | globalcastaways@gmail.com
Subscribe: RSS, iTunes, Stitcher.
In the second episode, we meet the other half of the gang, Courtney
and Brittany, as they talk about how to get through those inevitable
doldrums.
New episodes are every Wednesday. If you missed our first episode, be sure to check it out and subscribe!
- 01:24 - "In a week and a half, I signed a contract."
- 06:26 - Learn the C-DRIPPS method to making friends
- 19:02 - "What is this glorious globe in the sky?!"
- 23:50 - Find out how to throw your own Devolson party or what Devolson even is…
- 36:45 - "By the time we were done with the meeting, we were just hungry, little children needing food and alcohol."
Links:
http://www.tieonline.com/
http://www.loveteachblog.com/2015/09/how-to-throw-your-first-devolson-party.html
Our first ever episode! Gabrielle and Tara talk about what they think are some challenges and benefits of teaching overseas.
New episodes on Wednesdays. Be sure to subscribe!
- 01:12 - "I moved to Germany; picked up a husband."
- 09:38 - "I have no idea who you are, or what you want or, really, what you're saying!"
- 11:27 - Gabrielle tries and fails to pronounce 'mental models'
Links:
US Department of State - Teaching in international school overseas.