Why Teaching Abroad Isn’t a Holiday (and Why That Matters)

One of the most common assumptions people bring into teaching abroad is that it will feel like an extended holiday.

Not consciously, necessarily. But quietly.

There’s an expectation of novelty, freedom, interesting food, new places, and the sense of being temporarily removed from responsibility. This is often how teaching abroad is sold online by companies.

Even when people know they’ll be working, the experience is often imagined as lighter, looser, and more enjoyable than life at home.

That expectation is understandable. It’s also one of the main reasons people struggle more than they expect once they arrive. Seeing teaching abroad as a break from life, is a dangerous mindset.

Where the “holiday” idea comes from

A lot of online content about teaching abroad blurs the line between work and travel.

People’s Instagram posts are full of weekend photos, and of travel experiences. Of course, living abroad is a fantastic opportunity to travel! I was luckily enough to visit many different places in south-east Asia. None of this is an issue, but it hides a large part of reality.

The difficult moments that might arise are either glossed over or framed as character-building adventures. Over time, this creates a subtle narrative, unintentionally or otherwise: you work a bit, but mostly you’re living a dream somewhere else.

The reality is more ordinary.

You are moving country to take on a job, often in an unfamiliar system, in a language you may not speak, with fewer support structures than you’re used to. That’s not a holiday. It’s a relocation.

Why this expectation causes problems later

When teaching abroad is unconsciously framed as a holiday, everyday difficulties can feel like failures. It also impacts your ability to do your best work.

Feeling tired after work.
Struggling to communicate simple things.
Missing home more than expected.
Not wanting to explore every weekend.

None of these mean you made the wrong decision. But if you expected the experience to feel light and effortless, they can register as something being “wrong”.

This gap between expectation and reality is where a lot of early disappointment comes from.

If you’re still at an early stage and trying to get your bearings, the Start Here page offers a calmer overview of how to approach teaching abroad more thoughtfully.

What teaching abroad actually feels like

For most people, teaching abroad feels like normal life in a new setting, with added friction.

You still have routines. You still have bad days. You still have responsibilities. Some things become more interesting. Others become more tiring.

There are moments of excitement and discovery, but they sit alongside grocery shopping, lesson planning, misunderstandings, and days where you’d rather stay in.

That mix doesn’t mean the experience lacks value. It means it’s real.

The truth about responsibility

I want to preface this section by stating that this is something I have seen first hand and feel it is important to discuss here.

Teaching Abroad requires you to work with young people (I hope this isn’t a surprise). This means that the responsibility you have is greater than in many other jobs. You are responsible for children’s education and that is a privilege but it also means that the job needs to be taken seriously.

Nobody expects you to be the perfect teacher (or even a very good one straight away), but taking the job seriously is a must.

This is where I have seen the ‘holiday’ idea surface. Teachers see the experience as a holiday and they have a fantastic time, but they forget the most important part, which is the students. As a teacher you have the ability to enhance the lives of students, and that requires some effort!

Why this doesn’t mean it’s a bad decision

None of this post is an argument against teaching abroad.

In fact, teaching abroad can be deeply meaningful precisely because it isn’t a holiday. It asks something of you. It stretches you. It forces you to adapt to systems and norms that aren’t designed around your comfort. It requires you to take responsibility for the education of young people.

But that value tends to emerge over time, not immediately.

If you expect constant enjoyment, the experience can feel disappointing. If you expect adjustment, effort, and unevenness, the same experience often feels manageable, even rewarding.

Why reframing this early matters

Understanding that teaching abroad is not a holiday changes how you interpret your early experiences.

Difficulty becomes adjustment.
Fatigue becomes normal.
Uncertainty becomes part of learning, not a sign of failure.

This reframing doesn’t make challenges disappear, but it makes them easier to place.

Teaching abroad doesn’t need to be fearless or carefree to be worthwhile. It needs to be approached with realistic expectations and enough patience to let the experience unfold.

That shift alone can make a significant difference.

Other articles in the Explained section explore similar themes around expectations, adjustment, and the early months of teaching abroad.