This story appeared in the 2022 Fall issue of Onyx Anneau.
What took you around the world?
Jennifer Binkley ’92, Special Educator, Department of Defense Schools in Lakenheath, England
“As Saint Mother Theodore said, ‘We cannot do our work if we all stay in our nests,’ travel and cultural immersion have always been an area of interest for me. When the opportunity to teach overseas with the Department of Defense Schools presented itself, I jumped at it. In my 15 years overseas, I have been blessed with the opportunities to live in several countries, including South Korea, Italy, Belgium, Bahrain, Guam and England. Each place I’ve lived has provided me the opportunity to learn the language, meet people, explore cultures, share my culture and most importantly, see how we are all connected despite our differences.
My advice to everyone is to leave your nest! Go out and connect with others from other cultures, languages and religions. Look around for volunteer opportunities, international jobs or travel opportunities. Start small, the decision to move abroad can be challenging, but it’s well worth it. I told my friends, when my daughter, Gueryn, was born, I just want to give her the world. I’m proud to say that living abroad has opened her little eyes and heart to people around the world. I pray that by leaving my nest, she will be a change-maker for the future!”
Samantha Friedman Fromme ’09, 7th Grade English Teacher, St. Johnsbury Academy in Jeju, South Korea
“My husband, Zach, and I were watching a TV show where investigators were going through an older lady’s home after she had died. All around her living room were mason jars full of sand, dirt and trinkets from all the places she had visited. I told my husband that if I ever got the chance to travel like that, there’s no way I could pass it up. Unbeknownst to me, he had been talking to a professor about teaching English overseas. He convinced me and our plan was to do it for a year and go back to our “normal” life. After the second year, we decided to make it permanent and got our teaching certifications so we can work as teachers in international schools.
On and off since the end of 2010, I have lived in four countries: South Korea, China, Egypt and Qatar and traveled to a total of 26 countries. South Korea is my favorite country to have lived. It was the first country I moved to, and I was there for three years. Last year, I moved back! I love the culture, people and relative ease of living.
I have met so many people with different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs and opinions. I am continually learning and evolving as a person. Could this happen while living in the U.S.? Yes, of course. But there’s just something about experiencing things in a foreign environment that gives you a different perspective.”
Jill Wiley ’95, English Teacher at the British School and owner of Classroom to Home in Stavanger, Norway
“In 2015, I stood on the deck of a cruise ship in Stavanger, Norway, as part of my partner’s family trip to their ancestral homeland. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that less than five years later, I would call Stavanger home. In 2016, my partner Robb and I decided to make a change. Since we had both lived overseas, he in Germany and I in France, it was not a completely outlandish idea. It took two years of research, planning, saving and paperwork, but in August of 2019, he started a master’s degree program at the University of Stavanger on the western coast of Norway.
Today, I teach French and English at the British School of Stavanger, and run Classroom to Home, a blog and coaching business for teachers who want to leave the classroom. Our three kids speak Norwegian, although they still prefer English, and enjoy the safety and freedom that are still part of growing up in Norway.
Being away from my wonderful parents, close-knit family, and lifelong friends is hard, especially as my parents age. But Norway is a good fit for our values and priorities. The well-known Danish concept of “hygge” is known in Norway as “kos” and refers to enjoying coziness, good company and the simple, quiet life – being happy in the moment. Norwegians also value “friluftsliv,” or outdoor life. Breath-taking hikes up mountains and along fjords become a normal part of weekend life. However, perhaps the best expression of why we love our adopted homeland is seen on May 17, Norway’s Constitution Day. Instead of armaments and military might, parades throughout Norway consist of the nation’s schoolchildren, who walk through the streets of towns and cities across the country waving flags.”
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