ITP - 111: The Story Behind the Mic (How We All Ended Up Teaching Abroad)

Greg:
Welcome to the International Teacher Podcast with your host Matt the Family Guy, Kent the Cat Guy, Jacqueline from JP Mint, and Greg the Single Guy, bringing you episodes from around the world about the best kept secret in education.

Greg:
You got it.

Greg:
International teaching.

Greg:
Welcome to the show.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Welcome to a very special episode of the International Teacher Podcast. I'm Kent the Cat Guy, and I'm here with Greg the Single Guy. Hi, Greg.

Greg:
How you doing, Kent?

Kent The Cat Guy:
Hello, I love your—this is my midnight DJ opportunity here.

Greg:
I'm welcome. I'm soft. We'll be here all night. Brought to you by Bob's Meats. Thank you very much.

Kent The Cat Guy:
I'm also here with JP Mint. Hey, JP.

JPMint:
Hello from Canada.

Kent The Cat Guy:
That's right, you're in Canada and it only took you 30 hours to get there this year.

JPMint:
Only 17 hours. Only 17 hours.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Welcome to the Great North, as they say. What are we going to do to the Great White North?

Greg:
Yes, we have a very special episode and at any minute our long lost fourth host from The Beatles will be joining us.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Fab 4.

Greg:
The Fab 4. Matt the Family Guy might do a little drop in here and if he drops in, we'll drop everything and we'll say good evening to Matt the Family Guy.

Kent The Cat Guy:
But until then, we are going to talk to each other and we're going to interview and get to know each other a little bit.

Because I not only work with Greg on the podcast, I see him every day at work. But the question is, what do I really know about Greg?

So this ITP crowd, this is your opportunity and mine to find out more about your hosts Greg, JP Mint and myself.

Greg:
Cat the cat guy, are you with me, Greg and JP Mint?

JPMint:
We're with you.

Kent The Cat Guy:
All right, I think we're going to go about 10 minutes or so, and this is our chance to get to know Greg the Single Guy.

So if you feel to fast forward—

Greg:
That's not nice.

Kent The Cat Guy:
And we're done with Greg, we're moving on to JP Mint. Ten minutes, folks.

Greg:
I'm so tired.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Listen, if you're listening to the podcast, jump over to the YouTube and you can see three people who are ready for a winter break.

All right, OK, so I am going to spend just a few minutes here talking to Greg, the second most handsome guy on the podcast.

So Greg, where are you from, buddy?

Greg:
I was born in Milwaukee about 100 years ago.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Green Bay is sort of your heart city, but you were born in Milwaukee.

Greg:
Before I lived where I am now, I've only been in one place for a couple of years at a time in my life. Travelled around a lot. I was an Army brat and stuff.

I was born in Milwaukee, in West Allis. People say West Allis, Dallas, I love Dallas. I'm like no, it's West Allis of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Did you grow up there? Did you spend your first five years of life in that area?

Greg:
Nope. We were Army brats. So we went around with mom and dad all over bases around the U.S. and a little bit in Germany and came back.

I think throughout my early years, I was always a globetrotter sort of thing.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Do you want to tell the ITP crowd what your dad did in the Army?

Greg:
No. Anyway, I'm just kidding, of course. Yeah, he's an oral surgeon. He works on jaws and stuff like that.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Every time I talk to your dad I open my mouth and say, can you take a look at this?

Greg:
You're weird tonight, but that's OK. We love you anyway, Kent.

Kent The Cat Guy:
OK, so you grew up, you travelled around the world. Where did you go to high school?

Greg:
By that time we had gone back to Wisconsin. That's why I call Wisconsin home because after traveling around, my dad opened up his own practice in Green Bay. We went back there because of family.

After that I went to school around that area too for college, for like eight years.

And then I started teaching and went overseas and that was the joy of my way over all that other stuff.

Kent The Cat Guy:
How long do we have?

Greg:
I could talk for hours about what I did.

Kent The Cat Guy:
The ITP crowd will know Greg the Single Guy as funny, knowledgeable, a dedicated teacher, a musician, not afraid to cry. Is that what you've always been like?

Greg:
I used to be afraid to cry. Now it's all heart.

Always been funny. Not as funny as you, Kent.

I grew up in a great family and we had a lot of fun. My dad's a jokester and it rubbed off on me. It makes good for teaching.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Tell me, when you were in high school dreaming of being a teacher, did you always think that was your path?

Greg:
No. I never wanted to be a teacher.

I didn't think about the future. I was thinking about the next girlfriend, the next party.

I was into music quite a bit, playing and singing, even into college. But nothing ever pointed toward teaching.

I even graduated from college without a plan.

Kent The Cat Guy:
So there you are, mid-20s Greg, not in education yet. What made you decide teaching was your thing?

Greg:
I was working for Bugs Bunny. I was working in those stores like the Disney stores. I loved cartoons. I hated retail.

They opened a Warner Brothers store in Minneapolis at the Mall of America. I started working there and it was a blast.

I moved into management and for the next four years I was selling cartoons.

The part I loved most was teaching other employees how to do the job. Training assistant managers to become managers.

Around Christmas 1997, I got fired. I dodged a big bullet because the stores closed in 1999 anyway.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Do you make more money in retail or your first year as a teacher?

Greg:
I made about half as much as a teacher. My first year teaching I was basically on food stamps in Honduras.

That’s what got me started. I went through job fairs, went to the University of Northern Iowa fair twice.

I taught in Honduras, Egypt, Kuwait, Cambodia, Venezuela, Switzerland, and now Saudi.

That’s the short list.

Kent The Cat Guy:
People on the podcast can always go back and hear lots of bits and pieces of your adventures overseas. What are the things that you've taught over the years?

Greg:
In a nutshell, it was elementary, always elementary up until Venezuela. I was teaching elementary homeroom.

Then I wanted to build a stronger resume, so I went into technology. Usually schools would ask me to teach tech because they realized I could do both.

So I ended up in tech roles in different schools, working across grade levels from pre-K through 12.

Kent The Cat Guy:
A lot of people we know who are tech people feel pressure to leave education and go into the tech world. What keeps you coming back to education year after year?

Greg:
That's an easy answer. It's the kids and it's the teachers.

I don't think I could do anything else at this stage of my life that would make me happy. Being in front of students and making a difference over the years has kept me in education.

Technology is fine, but who wants to go work for a tech firm? I don't think people are always happy doing that.

Even in schools, the tech support people don't always understand teaching.

The goal is to always be a teacher first and a tech person second.

Kent The Cat Guy:
I love it. You know, I see you every day. You love teaching. You love having kids come up and say the most ridiculous things.

Greg:
Like a six-year-old telling me I'm going to die someday.

Kent The Cat Guy:
That happens.

Greg:
And I say, first of all, I'm not Mr. Arimura. That's the loud guy down the hall.

Kent The Cat Guy:
It's funny because that six-year-old and my GP say the same thing.

Greg:
I know.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Greg and I have worked together for years now, probably eight or nine years. Can you tell the ITP crowd about the origins of the podcast?

Greg:
Kent, you and JP were added after Matt and I started in 2021.

At the same time I had a fourth grade teacher named Kent Arimura asking me about podcasting for students, and I had Matt Judd saying we should do a podcast about teaching overseas.

We love talking, so we said let's try it. Maybe no one would listen, but we started anyway.

We had you on in the first season, Kent, and JP was one of our early guests too. Then she came back again around episode 50.

The origin was just two guys talking. We had two parrots in the logo, then we added the cat eyes, and then JP joined and we added the mint around the logo.

It's been a lot of fun.

Kent The Cat Guy:
I thought we were done with you, but we're not done yet.

We've recently celebrated our 100th episode. Do you have another 100 in you?

Greg:
I'll tell you what, it doesn't matter what you guys think. I'm going for the next ten years or so because nobody's kicking me out.

We started this podcast. Even if someone offered us millions of dollars, we'd keep going.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Hold on, if we get offered a million dollars, we're still doing this?

Greg:
I'm pledging to keep it going. You can monetize your video if you want, but I'm staying.

Kent The Cat Guy:
We're not done yet. You've written two books. You're not just Greg the Single Guy, you're Greg the multiple book author.

Greg:
I'm not ready to say best-selling author yet, but maybe someday.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Tell us about your books.

Greg:
The first one was straight up me. The second one had AI help. The third was a photo book of underwater photography that I made for my family.

The next one is already in my head. I'm going to write a children's book.

I have an illustrator lined up. It's something I've wanted to do because I love picture books and I've used them even in middle and high school classes.

Kent The Cat Guy:
You heard it here first, ITP crowd. Keep an eye out for a children's book by Greg Lemoyne.

Greg:
You butcher my name every time you say it.

Kent The Cat Guy:
There's a lot going on in my brain.

Greg:
I believe that.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Before we move on, JP, do you have any questions for Greg?

JPMint:
I was going to segue into Kent actually. Let's get into Kent's brain.

JPMint:
So I would like to know, Kent, what was it about this podcast that made you think, yeah, okay, I won't be behind the scenes, I'll be part of the interviewing and the talking?

Kent The Cat Guy:
Yeah, JP Mint, I'm always one for the stage. If you put a spotlight out, I'm the first one who will walk into it.

You put a microphone up, I don't have anything of value to add to anything, but I'll jump on the stage.

When I look back, people will know I was an amateur stand-up comic, and that feeling of terror and excitement all bundled into one is an amazing feeling.

I love it. And this podcast is a chance to connect with an audience, a chance to connect with you and Greg and Matt, and just have a moment in that spotlight again.

JPMint:
All right, let's go back and talk about Kent. Where were you born?

Kent The Cat Guy:
I grew up in the suburbs of Seattle. I was born in Bellevue, Washington.

The Pacific Northwest has really grown since then, but I grew up on Mercer Island, just across the floating bridge from Seattle.

It was kind of a fancy suburb, but at the time it felt pretty normal.

My father grew up in California, but his family was interned during World War II in Arkansas.

He spent three years there as a child. After that, the family lost their land in California and eventually settled in Missouri.

He became a physicist, moved to the Pacific Northwest for work, and that's where our family settled.

Three boys in the family. My older brother is five years older, and my younger brother is nine years younger.

JPMint:
Your mom is from the Midwest as well?

Kent The Cat Guy:
Yes, she's Irish and German. It was an interracial marriage in the 1960s, which at the time was still considered unusual in parts of the Midwest.

Greg:
Were you conceived at a Neil Diamond concert like I was?

Kent The Cat Guy:
Turn on the heart light.

Greg:
We're brothers from another mother.

Kent The Cat Guy:
We're both middle children, both have two brothers. That explains a lot.

JPMint:
Did you go to high school on Mercer Island?

Kent The Cat Guy:
Yes, I went to high school there. Then I went to the University of Washington and studied microbiology and biochemistry.

I worked in a laboratory, and I do love science, but it wasn't going to be my career.

It's a more solitary life, and I'm more of a social person.

So I shifted into history and philosophy of science, which eventually led me toward education.

I became a paraprofessional in a school on Mercer Island. I really enjoyed it and started going to night school for education in Seattle.

I was in my 30s at that point, and that's when my teaching career really began.

Greg:
What is a paraprofessional exactly?

Kent The Cat Guy:
It's basically a teaching assistant. You support the classroom teacher, handle supervision, help with behavior, and assist wherever needed.

They don't pay much, but it's a great entry point into education.

Greg:
I thought it meant jumping out of planes.

Kent The Cat Guy:
You're thinking of paratroopers.

Greg:
I apologize to everyone listening.

Kent The Cat Guy:
When I got my teaching certificate, I taught in Everett, just north of Seattle.

That was around 2005, and it was actually a tough time to get hired. There were hiring freezes in a lot of districts.

I was lucky to get a position.

JPMint:
What got you looking overseas?

Kent The Cat Guy:
I was studying Arabic, and my teacher mentioned there was an American school in Yemen.

That idea stuck with me. So around December, I applied to the school just to see what would happen.

It turned out they were recruiting nearby. They flew me out for an interview, and I got the job.

My wife and I moved to Yemen the next year.

Greg:
That’s incredible.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Yeah, it was a big leap, but it changed everything.

Kent The Cat Guy:
All right, let's take a moment for a little commercial about how to get in touch with us.

You can, of course, find all four of us at itpexpat.com.

That's [www.itpexpat.com](http://www.itpexpat.com).

Or you could also find us by email at [internationalteacherpodcast@gmail.com](mailto:internationalteacherpodcast@gmail.com).

We look forward to hearing from you.

Or if you're into Facebook, we have a Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/ITPExpat.

You can also find us on Instagram at ITPExpat.

And thank you, listeners. We have over 100 countries represented by our listeners.

Though we're not monetized, we are here for you and we would like to thank all of you for listening.

So let's get back to the show.

JPMint:
Could you back us up a little bit and let us know at what point Missus Cat came into the picture?

Kent The Cat Guy:
Missus Cat and I have been together since 1997. She finally gave in and lifted the restraining order and the rest was history.

JPMint:
So back before you became a teacher?

Kent The Cat Guy:
Yes, back then I was a metal worker, a welder, a fabricator. I worked at a science center building exhibits.

We actually met there, working together in a museum setting. Those were fun years, but not sustainable.

After 9/11, funding dried up and the project couldn’t continue.

JPMint:
Was she open to moving overseas with you?

Kent The Cat Guy:
She was willing, and she supported the move. But looking back, Yemen wasn’t the easiest place for her as a woman.

My experience was more fulfilling because I had more freedom in the public space.

JPMint:
And now you’re in a different region. Do you see yourself moving again?

Kent The Cat Guy:
At this point, it's more of a wait-and-see approach. My wife sometimes talks about Asia or Europe, but we also have stability where we are.

I love my job. I love the students and the people I work with. So for now, we’re staying.

Greg:
And the school loves him. The kids love him. Even if they confuse us sometimes.

Kent The Cat Guy:
After nine years, there are still people who think we’re the same person.

Greg:
He's just a little louder.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Exactly.

Greg:
I’ve asked Kent many times what the future holds, and the answer is always the same: we’ll see.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Over the years, we’ve said goodbye to so many colleagues in international teaching that it changes your perspective.

You think you’ll know more people the longer you stay, but actually you know fewer because people move on.

JPMint:
That’s such a real part of this lifestyle.

Kent The Cat Guy:
It really is.

Greg:
All right, Kent, let’s turn to JP.

JPMint:
Our listeners have been with us for a while, but let’s reintroduce a bit of your story.

Kent The Cat Guy:
JP, you’ve been with us for about a year now, right?

JPMint:
Yes, about a year. It kind of flew by.

We were recording a lot at one point, sometimes three or four episodes a week and banking them.

Now we’ve slowed down a bit to find a better work-life balance.

But I still love it. It’s a highlight of my week when we record.

Greg:
It’s been great having you on the show. You’ve added so much.

Let’s talk about your background. Where did it all start?

JPMint:
It started in northern Canada. Both my parents were bankers and we moved around quite a bit because of their jobs.

I call Ottawa my hometown because that’s where I spent most of my schooling.

But I went to three different high schools because we moved often.

I think that’s where my love of travel and new experiences started.

Greg:
And you studied abroad in high school, right?

JPMint:
Yes, I went to Germany as a high school student and studied German.

That was in 1989, so I actually saw the Berlin Wall before it came down.

That experience really sparked my interest in other cultures and languages.

Greg:
That’s incredible.

JPMint:
After that, I studied French, German, and Spanish at university, then went to teacher’s college.

I didn’t go straight into teaching because I wanted more experience.

So I went to Korea and taught English.

That opened the door for everything that came after.

JPMint:
I was in Korea for a year teaching at an English academy, and then I moved into a community college teaching English to older students. That experience really helped me grow as a teacher.

But I knew I wanted to move into international schools. So I applied to several, not really knowing what I was doing at the time.

Some schools wrote back and said I needed more experience teaching French specifically, so I returned to Canada and taught for three years.

That gave me the experience I needed, and then I went overseas into the international school circuit.

Greg:
Did you go through a recruitment fair at that point?

JPMint:
Yes, I went to the Queen’s University fair. It was just down the road from Ottawa.

Walking into that space was incredible. There were schools from all over the world, and I realized how many opportunities were out there.

As long as they needed a French teacher, I could go anywhere.

Greg:
Where did you start internationally?

JPMint:
I started in Turkey as a middle school French teacher, teaching grades six through eight.

After a few years, I moved into high school teaching as the program expanded, and I stayed there for eight years total.

Greg:
That’s a long time for one school.

JPMint:
Yes, but I kept growing. I moved into a head of department role, and eventually I realized I wanted to move into administration.

So I did my master’s degree over several summers, studying in Spain, and then I moved into vice principal roles and eventually became a principal.

Greg:
And that’s when things shifted for you.

JPMint:
Yes. I reached a point where I realized I didn’t want to keep working within the system in the same way.

I wanted to help teachers more directly, so I started my consulting business.

Now I work with teachers on job searches, interviews, and career transitions.

Greg:
You’ve built something really unique.

JPMint:
Thank you. I get to live vicariously through my clients and help them succeed.

Kent The Cat Guy:
And we’ve seen your business grow over the years.

JPMint:
Yes, and it’s been exciting. I’m also shifting more into interview coaching because that’s an area where people really need support.

Greg:
AI can help with documents, but interviews are still very human.

JPMint:
Exactly.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Before we wrap up, let’s take a moment to thank our listeners.

We have listeners from over 100 countries, and we’re approaching 35,000 downloads.

Greg:
And we’re not monetized. We do this because we enjoy it.

Kent The Cat Guy:
But if you like what you hear, let us know. Send us a message or leave a comment.

Greg:
It helps us grow and reach more people.

JPMint:
And if you want to be a guest, you can visit our website and sign up.

Kent The Cat Guy:
We’d love to hear your story.

Greg:
All right, let’s wrap it up.

JPMint:
I just want to say thank you to both of you. This is always a highlight of my week.

Kent The Cat Guy:
We love having you on the show.

Greg:
Absolutely.

Kent The Cat Guy:
Thank you to our listeners and to my co-hosts Greg and JP Mint. We’ll see you next time.

JPMint:
Thank you.

Kent The Cat Guy:
And I'm Kent the Cat Guy. As always, we’ll see you next time.

Greg:
Great episode.

JPMint:
So good.

[End of transcript]