Greg:
Welcome to another episode of the International Teacher Podcast. This is Greg the Single Guy with JP, my co-host here. Hi, JP.

JPMint:
Hello. Good morning — early, early morning in Mexico.

Greg:
Yeah, and I think it’s even earlier in Washington, so Kent probably will not be here. And our elusive family guy is somewhere — I don’t know. He said he knows about this, but he might be doing some family things right now. So Darian won’t be with us.

But we have two special guests this time — not just one. We have two ladies with us. What’s great about this is that they are international teachers, but they are in the US teaching as international teachers.

Greg:
I want to introduce Subhadra and Coreen. Did I say your names correctly?

Coreen Anderson:
Yes. Correct.

Subhadra Dearaju:
Yes.

Greg:
All right. Say hello, Subhadra.

Subhadra Dearaju:
Hello from Virginia. It’s 9 a.m. here.

Greg:
All right. And say hello, Coreen.

Coreen Anderson:
Hello from North Carolina. It is 9 a.m. here. Greg, great to meet you. JP, excited to meet you. I’ve listened to you go on and on in different episodes. It’s great to be on this platform.

JPMint:
We have a fan.

Greg:
I love having you two on. It is 4 p.m. here in the Middle East and JP is just waking up.

But let’s start our show the way we usually do and have a quick rundown—

JPMint:
Wait, wait — I want to ask something first because we were chatting for 15 minutes before we joined. I want to know: how do you two know each other? Then we can get into the individual journeys.

Greg:
Yes — before we get into your educational journey, tell us how you met each other and all that good stuff. Come on, ladies.

Subhadra Dearaju:
Okay, so we did not actually meet physically yet, but we did get a chance to video chat right before this for 15 minutes.

The reason we “met” was through Coreen’s book. She compiled the book by interviewing a lot of international teachers, and I was one of the people she interviewed. After I bought the book, I gave my input because she wrote a beautiful book with guidelines for budding teachers, especially international teachers.

When I gave my input, I shared a couple of topics I wanted included, and she graciously said, “Let’s team together and write the second book.” From then on we’ve been in touch and we are collaborators. Coreen, do you want to add something?

Coreen Anderson:
Yep, absolutely accurate. What’s interesting is that we’ve never met face to face. This is the first time I’m seeing her face, except on LinkedIn or Facebook. When we logged in earlier to test the platform, we were both like, “My gosh, it’s so good to see you.” And we just kept going on and on. So yeah, that’s it.

JPMint:
All right, I’m excited to hear your journeys. Greg said you’re international teachers in the States. Coreen, can you tell us what that means?

Coreen Anderson:
Sure. I’m originally from Jamaica. I was teaching in Jamaica for about ten years and got a little bit bored — for want of a better word — like, there’s got to be something else out there.

So I started doing research and came across an organization that was sponsoring teachers. Coincidentally, I ran into a friend and she said her sister was teaching in the US. The organization she named was the same one I had been researching.

She said they only take elementary teachers. I said, no — they take secondary too. She asked if I wanted to apply, and I said yes.

This is going to sound ancient, but I’m going to share it anyway: I didn’t even have an email address at the time.

Greg:
Carrier pigeon.

Coreen Anderson:
Right! So I went through the process, was selected to be interviewed, and after the interview they asked if I cared where in the US I went. I said I didn’t — I just needed a different scenery.

They placed me in North Carolina, and I was thrilled about the entire journey. And then… here I am.

JPMint:
Are you saying you’ve only been in the States for two years?

Coreen Anderson:
No — I’m just trying not to date myself. Next thing somebody’s going to think I’m 90 years old.

But Greg is right — it’s been 20 years.

Greg:
You don’t look like you’ve been teaching that long. Audience: nope, she’s young.

Coreen Anderson:
Thank you. I appreciate it.

JPMint:
Subhadra, can you tell us a little bit about your journey and where you came from and where you are now?

Subhadra Dearaju:
Sure. Around the same time — about 20 years ago — in India, we moved from a smaller town to a city because my husband was transferred. We moved to a suburb of Delhi. That’s where people were talking about teachers coming to the US and the UK.

I’m curious and adventurous, and I wanted to know how teaching would be different. One of my friends showed me a newspaper ad that a group from the US had come to interview in Delhi. I took a cab and went to the interview. I was laughing the whole day, made new friends — I wasn’t even thinking seriously about coming. I just wanted to see how far it would go.

It took almost a year for processing and documentation, so you forget about it. But after a year, I got a chance to come — believe it or not — to North Carolina.

Teaching here — there are a lot of resources. I got glued to all that. It helped me understand better. And I realized I was able to give back to the students and share my culture. I got so much love, and I thought: let’s see how far I can contribute.

Coreen and I always say: even after so many years, we’re still passionate about teaching. We’re willing to give back. When we get bored of the same old, we add something new — like this book, and now this podcast.

We feel blessed to have a chance to communicate to the world through this.

Greg:
Welcome to the family. That’s what we do here — we’re trying to give back and help other people do what we love doing: teaching in another country besides your home country.

I love having authors — especially international teachers who have become authors — on the show.

It’s special to have you both on because you are international teachers in my country, and I’m in a different country as a guest. I’ve never been to Jamaica and I’ve never been to India. How about you, JP?

JPMint:
India, yes. Jamaica, no. Delhi and Chennai, and also Bombay — Mumbai. It was because of a sports association. I was at an American school in the Middle East, and we were part of a sports association that went to India for tournaments. Indian international schools came to our school too. So I was able to travel because of sports.

It was volleyball — girls volleyball. I coached JV and traveled with varsity. We went to the American Embassy School in Delhi, the American International School in Chennai, and the American School of Bombay. I’m not an expert on India, but it gave me a glimpse.

What I’d like to know from both of you: I’m hearing about this book. What’s the title, Coreen?

Coreen Anderson:
Before I answer — JP and Greg, you’ve not lived until you visited Jamaica.

Greg:
It’s on my list. I want to go. The food — jerk chicken.

JPMint:
And the music.

Coreen Anderson:
Yes. The book is Reaching Beyond Borders.

This is our second edition. The first edition I did solo, and then Subhadra and I teamed up for a better edition.

Subhadra Dearaju:
She needed some spice from me.

Greg:
When you shared it with Subhadra, did she send you 50 WhatsApp screenshots of corrections?

Coreen Anderson:
She did not. She purchased it and gave thoughtful feedback and said mentoring was important. I asked her to write a chapter on mentoring, and we went back and forth.

I did have a relative who nitpicked a sentence or two, but feedback overall has been very positive. One teacher told me: you wrote it for international teachers, but teachers in general could benefit because it includes strategies and assessments, and assessment in the US is different from what I was used to in Jamaica.

JPMint:
So Coreen, what inspired you to write the first edition?

Coreen Anderson:
There wasn’t a similar book. I kept hearing that great teachers were coming into the US through recruiting organizations — they select the best of the best — and then those teachers were struggling. That broke my heart, because I knew they were strong educators.

I thought: if we can prepare them for a different culture, it can reduce shock and help them function. Teaching philosophies can look different across cultures. For example, in Jamaica, rote learning was common. In the US, there is more emphasis on critical thinking and collaboration.

Another example: if you get 60% on a test in Jamaica, that’s your grade. In the US, you often get chances to correct, revise, and retest — which I like, because in real life you can correct mistakes.

I wanted to help teachers anticipate these differences and have tools to overcome challenges. I knew of at least one teacher who was sent home mid-contract for performance issues. It felt like such a shame, because with the right supports, they could excel. I also supported another teacher who was struggling deeply — and the next year she became new teacher of the year.

So I looked around — there was nothing like this. That was the genesis.

JPMint:
And at first it was a solo project?

Coreen Anderson:
Yes. I interviewed many teachers: what were your struggles, what helped you, what do you wish you’d known before coming? Their answers shaped what went into the book.

Greg:
Can you tell us a few of the countries those teachers came from?

Coreen Anderson:
Sure. India, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, and others I’ve kept in touch with.

JPMint:
What kind of English do they need to come to the US? Is there testing?

Coreen Anderson:
Yes. They must be proficient in English and there are tests, depending on the organization. In Jamaica, English is the official language, so I didn’t need testing. But teachers from other countries do.

Often the struggle isn’t language as much as accent — some students struggle with accent more than content. But if a teacher isn’t proficient, they won’t make it through selection.

JPMint:
That’s a difference between international teachers going to the US versus teachers going to other countries — many of us don’t need local language to teach abroad. You both had the opportunity thanks to your upbringing and education.

Subhadra, can you tell us how you learned about the book and what it meant to you?

Subhadra Dearaju:
I was one of the interviewees. I was curious to see what Coreen wrote because I know she’s kind and trying to help.

When I came to North Carolina, we had about 20 teachers from all over — New Zealand, Australia, Jamaicans, Colombians, and others. They provided a local advisor in the first year, usually an experienced teacher (often international) who helped new teachers settle. In my second and third years, I became the local advisor for new teachers.

There was no book then — it was all experience-sharing. I read the whole book and Coreen asked for honest feedback. Mentors played a big role in my success.

I came as an 11-year veteran teacher, but in the US I felt like a new teacher. A student once told me, “You don’t know how to teach,” and it hurt. But I didn’t blame the student; I reflected. I observed that student in other classes and realized that some of my humor from India sounded like sarcasm here. Even common phrases didn’t land the same way. Relationship-building is essential, and it takes time to understand culture.

By my third year, I was successful — the same students, but I had changed my approach. Mentorship mattered, and that’s why I suggested a mentoring chapter.

Later, I earned district-wide Teacher of the Year in 2022, which opened more opportunities. I pursued admin learning because I felt I could have even more impact.

Coreen has done so many things — counselor work, a doctorate — and I’m inspired by her. I told her the book was strong. I didn’t correct words; I focused on topics. I suggested mentoring, and that’s how I joined as a co-author for the second edition. Chapter four on mentoring is especially important.

Greg:
I want to bounce off what you said: even with 10 or 20 years of teaching, if you go to a new country, you’re a new teacher. You’re learning everything — shopping, systems, how kids react. It’s not easy.

Subhadra Dearaju:
Yes. I’ll add something: at the Delhi interview, I was bubbly, laughing, making friends. Later a recruiter told me they noticed that — they were looking for someone who can handle stress.

But in my first year in the US, I lost confidence. A friend I’d met at the interview said, “What changed you? You’re not bubbly.” It was because I was learning everything new and trying to prove myself daily. You have to let go of ego and be willing to open up and build relationships. One workshop here says: capture kids’ hearts before you capture their heads. That was new learning for me.

JPMint:
That’s survival mode. I relate to that too — you can be under stress and not yourself.

Greg:
Subhadra, tell us about the driving test story from your book.

Subhadra Dearaju:
So, in India we drive on the left. When I arrived here, on my second day — jet-lagged — they put us in cars and had us drive, one after another. We didn’t know it was a test. I thought it was practice.

They didn’t even tell me I failed at the time. After orientation ended, everyone left for their districts — and I was the only one told to stay back. They gave me a five-dollar calling card to call home. I called my husband and cried. He said, “Action plan: get a driving lesson.” I got mad at him at first, because I wanted comfort — but he was right.

Over the weekend, a manager from the sponsor took me out to lunch, showed me tips, calmed me down. She said, “Driving is not that difficult. Teaching could be.” On Monday I got a lesson, and they let me go to my rural school district. Later she told me, “I took a chance and believed in you.” I’m grateful.

JPMint:
I like how you said angels come in many forms.

Coreen, what struggles do you see international teachers face when arriving in the US?

Coreen Anderson:
Differentiation and inclusion can be new for many teachers — supporting students with disabilities, varying abilities, English learners, and ensuring all students learn the lesson. That can be a big shift.

Also, in some cultures, asking for help is seen as weakness. Teachers might think: I’m a veteran, I’ve got this, I’ll stay in my room. In the US, that mindset can be a disadvantage. You need support. Most teachers will help — but they need to know you’re struggling. Once you ask, many will go above and beyond.

I mentor teachers now because I remember those first two years. You put your head down and survive. Many teachers are determined not to “fail” and go home. Using resources around you is crucial.

Greg:
I’m going to quote your book: “An international teacher is ideally positioned to help prepare students for the world in which we live — and future worlds.” Can you comment?

Coreen Anderson:
The world is no longer siloed. Borders are minimized. Students need to understand that other countries exist, with differences and similarities. They need to respect differences and understand the history behind cultural practices.

For example, in Jamaica a dish is cow’s feet — and students are shocked. Then we talk about history and colonization and what people had access to. Understanding the reasons behind practices helps students understand people.

If teachers from other countries bring their culture into the classroom, it broadens students’ lens. Media and stereotypes are not accurate. For example, a friend from Kenya was asked to show students how she dances around a fire — she’s never done that in her life. So international teachers help correct misconceptions and expand understanding.

Greg:
When you said “dance around the fire,” it reminded me of how people in the US imagine overseas teaching — like I’m teaching in a hut in the middle of Africa. But the reality is I’m teaching similar content — just different students.

JPMint:
You become an unofficial spokesperson for your country. It’s also about tolerance — different doesn’t mean wrong. Different means different.

Coreen Anderson:
Absolutely. In the book I call it being an informal ambassador.

JPMint:
We’ve come to the police story part of the podcast. Subhadra, do you have a police story?

Subhadra Dearaju:
Yes — in my first month, I was driving slowly because I thought speeding gets you a ticket. A policeman stopped me and said, “Sorry ma’am, you’re a little slow on this road.” He was laughing and gave me a warning: “Welcome to the country.” I found it funny and shared it with everyone — slow driving can be questioned too.

JPMint:
Coreen?

Coreen Anderson:
I don’t have a funny one, but I’ve had three encounters and they were positive. The last one was heading to Charlotte for a conference. A police car had someone pulled over, and I passed them. Seconds later, I heard sirens — it was me.

They took forever to get to my window, and I was thinking, the conference is starting. But the officer asked where I was going, what I do, and then said: whenever someone is pulled over on the side, you either need to move over one lane or go below a certain speed limit. I didn’t know that.

In my mind I thought I was far enough away — the roads are so wide compared to Jamaica — but it was good to know.

Greg:
I don’t even think they have lanes in India—just joking.

Subhadra Dearaju:
There are lines, but people merge. Horn culture is different — it becomes reflex. When I went back home after my first year, I found myself honking automatically again.

Greg:
Every country has different horn culture.

JPMint:
Some countries, every time you brake, you honk.

Greg:
I have a question for both of you. When you moved to the States, what are three things you brought with you?

Coreen Anderson:
A recipe book, because tasting my food matters — though ingredients were hard to find. I brought a flag, because it reminds me of home. And I brought currency — not necessarily for myself, but to show students that money looks different and value differs across countries.

Greg:
One interesting fact: the US is one of the few countries where bill sizes don’t change with denomination. That can be hard for people with low vision.

JPMint:
And the same color. In Canada the bills were colored.

Subhadra Dearaju:
Yes, that was a concern. And even coins — the nickel is bigger than the dime though the dime is worth more. I used to fold bills differently so I wouldn’t confuse them.

Also, US bills are made of cloth — as a science teacher, I’ve done the demonstration of “burning a bill” without burning it by soaking it in alcohol-water first.

Greg:
Subhadra, your three things?

Subhadra Dearaju:
Cultural items to share — souvenirs. A Ganesha statue, a flag, and currency. I also brought lentils because I’m vegetarian. Students would ask, “Without meat, how do you survive?” I would explain variety.

I also brought spices — a big suitcase full — and a pressure cooker. Funny story: the first day I cooked, the pressure cooker whistle scared my Canadian roommate so much she ran out of the house. I didn’t think about how loud and unfamiliar it would sound.

At customs, they checked my spices one by one. It took two hours. The sponsors waiting for me didn’t expect that.

Greg:
Those first hours in a new country are unforgettable.

JPMint:
Subhadra, you now have your family with you?

Subhadra Dearaju:
Yes — my husband and my daughter are with me now.

The organization advised coming alone first, and I agree. Adjustment is a lot. It’s easier to settle and then bring family, especially children.

Greg:
Darian did the same — he came first, settled, then brought his family.

Coreen Anderson:
Interesting — when I came, three teachers arrived immediately with their families. It would be interesting to hear perspectives from both.

JPMint:
Maybe book three.

This has been a fast hour. We’ve traveled without leaving home — hearing your stories, we traveled to India, Jamaica, and North Carolina.

Before we go, Greg, final thoughts?

Greg:
I have so many more questions. I hope you come back — especially when you publish your third book. When I go back to the States, I’m going to look up the book and definitely get a hold of it.

JPMint:
Coreen, final thoughts?

Coreen Anderson:
Thank you, Greg and JP. It’s been amazing — the time flew.

For teachers thinking they need something new — new adventures, new experiences — I recommend this pathway. There are many opportunities to grow. When teachers finish their stint, they may return home or go elsewhere, but they’re better for having worked in the US. They return with strategies and skills that can strengthen education systems elsewhere.

Bring your culture. Share it. Help students and adults understand your country — and sell your country well while you’re at it. You are an unofficial ambassador.

JPMint:
Subhadra, final words?

Subhadra Dearaju:
Thank you for giving us this platform. Teachers can reach out to us for support. The struggles we went through — others don’t have to. The book helps, but it may not address everyone’s personal needs, so mentorship and networks matter. We don’t want anyone to give up. Teachers are needed around the world. Let’s help each other and make the world a better place.

Greg:
If I ever go back to the US to teach, I’m going to reach out to these two. I haven’t taught in the States — only trained there — so this is the episode to listen to.

JPMint:
You’ll need them mentoring you. Repatriating.

Subhadra Dearaju:
And you both should come as guest speakers when you visit the US. We invite you — our students would want you to visit.

Greg:
I think I’m going to send Kent to your classroom.

JPMint:
This has been such a pleasure. Thank you for joining the show and sharing your wisdom and stories. Please come back again — third book or not.

I’d like to thank Greg the Single Guy. You can find Greg on Facebook and LinkedIn and Instagram — and especially on Amazon. Look up Greg Lemoine and you’ll find his books.

Thank you to Coreen Anderson and Subhadra Dearaju, and the book is Reaching Beyond Borders. And I am JP Mint, Jacqueline from JP Mint Consulting. You can find me on www.jpmintconsulting.com.

That’s a wrap. This is my first outro. Thank you very much, listeners, and we’ll see you next time.

Greg:
Woo! Well done, JP. Wait till Kent hears what you did. Ladies, don’t go away — we’ll chat a little bit here.

JPMint:
Oh my gosh, I’ve never done an outro, so I don’t know.