JPMint:
Hey everybody, welcome to another episode of the International Teacher Podcast. I am joined with Greg, the Single Guy tech support today.

Greg:
Well, thank you very much, JP. It's good to be back online.

JPMint:
I think you're tech support every day, pretty much whenever we have the episodes. And we are having a repeat guest, so we're very excited to see Hannah and Jake Loney. Hey, Hannah and Jake, how are you guys?

Hannah Loney:
Hi. Yeah, we're good.

JPMint:
Our avid fans might remember that Hannah and Jake were in Kuwait, then went back to the States, then returned to Kuwait, and now they're somewhere else. So we get to talk all about this. They also have two boys, so this episode is going to be great for people thinking about moving overseas with kids and wondering if it’s possible. Here’s the proof — Hannah and Jake.

So welcome, and thanks for coming back on the show.

Hannah Loney:
Thanks.

Greg:
Yeah, that was almost thirty episodes ago. We’re around episode 130 now, and we had them back on episode 99 right before the 100th episode. That one was audio only, so it’s fun to have you back on video. Thanks again for coming back on the show — we can’t wait to hear where you are now.

JPMint:
For new listeners who haven’t gone back to episode 99, can you give us a quick summary of your overseas experience and how you got into international teaching?

Hannah Loney:
Sure. I went to school for teaching and taught for one year in the States, in Texas. Jake and I met in college and got married. Right after we got married, we went to Brazil, where I had grown up as a third culture kid in Rio de Janeiro. I attended a smaller international school there — not one of the big-name schools.

We spent two years in Rio teaching. I wasn’t originally in education — I was a trailing spouse — but I went an alternative route into education and earned my teaching credentials through Moreland.

After two years, we decided to go to Kuwait. We were there for three years, and we had our first son in Kuwait right before COVID.

JPMint:
That’s one of my favorite stories — the baby exchange during COVID. Everyone should go back and listen to episode 99. It’s fantastic.

Hannah Loney:
Yes. After Kuwait, we went back to Texas for about two years. We realized we weren’t happy in the States and wanted to return to international teaching. We contacted our school in Kuwait, and they welcomed us back with open arms. We stayed another three years, making it six total in Kuwait.

This past year was our final year there, and now we’re in Karachi, Pakistan.

JPMint:
Karachi, Pakistan. And you had your second child during all of that?

Hannah Loney:
Yes. He was born just a couple of weeks after we decided to move back overseas. It was a crazy time — moving houses, having a baby, flying with a toddler.

At one point, I actually thought I wanted to leave education altogether. I had a job lined up with a hedge fund in tech. But after thinking it through, I realized I didn’t dislike education — I disliked what it had become in the States. I loved teaching internationally, so we decided to return.

JPMint:
And you haven’t reconsidered that decision?

Hannah Loney:
No. I don’t think I would have been happy leaving education. I really enjoy it.

JPMint:
Greg often talks about how teaching overseas is similar to teaching at home — but also very different. What differences stood out to you, having taught in both?

Hannah Loney:
The biggest difference for me is work-life balance. The workload feels more reasonable. I’m not saying days are short, but in Texas there were laws requiring unpaid training on top of everything else. With a child at home, there was no time.

Internationally — in Kuwait and now in Pakistan — I’ve had more planning periods and more support. In the States, I took work home constantly and paid out of pocket for classroom supplies. I once started at a brand-new school and was given a tiny cupboard of supplies. I was teaching pre-K and told to “just get to know them” on the first day. You need materials for that age group.

It felt like reverse culture shock, because overseas, schools provide what you need.

JPMint:
I see GoFundMe campaigns and Amazon wish lists for classrooms in the States. It’s alarming.

Hannah Loney:
Exactly. And if something breaks, you’ve lost money you personally spent. That shouldn’t be the case.

Greg:
So what’s it like teaching now in Karachi?

Hannah Loney:
It’s incredible. Our classrooms are fully funded. At this school, we each have a teaching assistant. I have eight students. Upper elementary is split — sixteen total, eight at a time.

Anytime I need something, I tell my assistant, and it’s ready almost immediately.

JPMint:
Is your assistant local or international?

Hannah Loney:
Mine is local. Most are local, and that helps with language and cultural context.

JPMint:
And are most students Pakistani?

Hannah Loney:
Yes, the majority are Pakistani, some with dual citizenship. We do have some international students.

JPMint:
What curriculum are you using?

Hannah Loney:
We use i-Ready. It’s largely online, adaptive, and aligned to Common Core. We also use Mystery Science and Arrow standards for social studies. When our books were delayed in port, admin told us to print whatever we needed. We didn’t fall behind because the online resources were there.

Social studies is the area we’re still building, since teachers bring different approaches.

JPMint:
That’s the reality of international schools — teachers bring suitcase curricula.

Greg:
Social studies is especially hard to make relevant across cultures.

Hannah Loney:
Absolutely. And when you move to a new country, it often feels like starting over — even as an experienced teacher.

JPMint:
Let’s talk about onboarding. How did the school support your arrival?

Hannah Loney:
The school picked us up at the airport and had housing ready. We live on campus. There was food in the fridge, basic supplies, and cash provided immediately. We had some travel issues and lost luggage, but the school handled everything.

Greg:
That’s strong onboarding.

Hannah Loney:
Yes. Our boys literally run to school every morning. They love it.

JPMint:
How are they adjusting?

Hannah Loney:
They love it. Our campus is green, with animals, a playground, and lots of outdoor space. That’s very different from Kuwait. Our youngest loves the outdoors, and there are birds, trees, and even a tortoise on campus.

JPMint:
What grades are they in?

Hannah Loney:
Our youngest is three, in pre-K. Our oldest is five, in kindergarten. They’re both in the early learning center.

JPMint:
And what are you teaching?

Hannah Loney:
I’m teaching fourth grade this year. After teaching early years for a long time, I needed a change.

Greg:
Eight students with two teachers — that’s incredible.

Hannah Loney:
We’re very spoiled this year.

JPMint:
Class size really changes everything.

Hannah Loney:
It does. You get to actually teach instead of managing constant issues.

JPMint:
Your kids are also exposed to local culture and language.

Hannah Loney:
Yes. Our oldest sings the Days of the Week in Urdu.

JPMint:
That’s fantastic.

Greg:
Do family and friends visit?

Hannah Loney:
They can, but Karachi life is more structured. We live in a security bubble. When we go out, we go with drivers and security. We have to plan outings ahead of time.

JPMint:
That’s similar to some African postings.

Hannah Loney:
Yes. It takes adjustment, but we knew this going in. The school was very transparent during hiring.

Greg:
Transparency is key for retention.

Hannah Loney:
Exactly. That’s why people stay five to eight years here.

JPMint:
Final advice for listeners?

Jake (via Hannah):
Be open. Karachi wasn’t on our list. Fall in love with a school, not a location. Some of the best experiences come from unexpected places.

Hannah Loney:
I agree. This has been one of our best experiences.

Greg:
That echoes what many experienced international teachers say.

JPMint:
Thank you both so much for joining us again.