Normalize going to therapy #removethestigma

As a School Counselor I have spent the past 20 plus years talking about the need to normalize therapy with my students and my friends. I do that through my social media accounts by posting about therapy from the various facebook groups I follow. I discuss it with my students and parents. I recommend it…

My short lived experience in Dubai

This summer I saw a LinkedIn post from an international educator about how employers usually focus on why you decided to leave a school. It often leads to an assumption that those of us who choose to leave schools before three years are not dependable. It questioned why employers don’t ask why didn’t you stay?…

Dubai…shop, eat, socialize 💁🏾‍♀️💃🏾

Moving to a new country can be nice and Dubai is on most people’s top list because it is clean, modern and the land of convenience where you can get anything delivered. There are lots of huge malls, the supermarkets are plentiful and you can get alcohol at certain restaurants.  For introverts and unreluctant shoppers like…

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Friday was both my last work day and day in Cote d’Ivoire. And although I was ready to leave, the good byes were still bittersweet. As I reflect on my experience over the past 2 years, I have learned a lot personally and professionally about boundaries, expectations and the need for rest. Living here has…

Mini vacation in San Pedro

For the Eid break I decided to go on a trip to another part of Cote d’Ivoire. As I get ready to leave this country on June 11th, I really wanted to have a positive perspective. You see, living here has not been easy. This year especially the electricity outtages and sometimes water outtages has…

My horrible experience at the Ghanaian Embassy 🤬🤬🤬

From last post you know that I went to Ghana last week for Spring break. While the trip was not planned initially it turned out well. However the journey to getting there was filled with disappointment, frustration and tomfoolery at the Embassy. In order to get a visa to Ghana you have to drop your…

The importance of consent conversations

When I think back I’ve been talking to students about consent for most of my career. However these conversations were informal and often with small groups of students who hung out in my office. In 2014 I started having these lessons with grades 11 and 12 during Advisory. This year I tailored the lessons for…

Choosing international educator life

When I moved to the DR in August 2010, I didn’t plan to stay abroad for more than a year. However, I saw that working as an international educator gave me certain perks I didn’t experience in the U.S. Even though I was making less money I brought home more of it because I didn’t…

The housing issue at my current school🤯🤬

One of the things that I have struggled with since I moved to Cote d’Ivoire is the housing issue at my school. Or to be more specific the lack of urgency in addressing housing issues. I really try not to complain because it’s exhausting but also because the custodial staff are kind and helpful and…

Resilience, Faith 🙏🏾and Gratitude

A lot of my friends tell me that I am courageous because I chose to live abroad alone for the past 9 years. However the word I would use to describe myself is resilient. Despite the challenges I learned to lean on my faith, and I always figure out a way to focus on the…