Teaching in Abu Dhabi: A South African teacher's story
Moving overseas to teach is exciting. There is the job offer, the planning, the paperwork and all the conversations about the new life waiting on the other side.
But as the departure date gets closer, excitement can very quickly be joined by nerves.
For Heno, a South African teacher recently placed by SA-Recruitment, teaching in Abu Dhabi meant taking that leap and starting a completely new chapter overseas.
In the week before he flew, the move suddenly stopped being something he had been planning and became something that was actually happening.
“I still remember the week before I flew. I was so nervous and everything felt so unreal,” he told us recently.
Almost two months later, things look rather different.
“I can honestly say I haven’t looked back once since arriving.”
Settling into life in Abu Dhabi
One of the things that struck us most about Heno’s update was how quickly he has started building a life around his new job.
He talks about driving around Abu Dhabi and still finding himself appreciating the scenery, buildings and surroundings. There is always somewhere new to explore and, with his first mid-term break approaching when he wrote to us, he was already making plans to see more of what the city has to offer.
Those moments are a lovely part of moving abroad. Gradually, somewhere that initially felt completely unfamiliar starts becoming the place where you live your normal everyday life.
For Heno, having comfortable accommodation ready when he arrived played an important role in that transition.
Rather than landing in a new country and immediately having to organise the basics of daily life, he was able to arrive, unpack and start settling in.
“It made settling in so much easier because I basically arrived with everything already sorted.”
It sounds like a relatively small thing. When you have just moved thousands of kilometres from home, it really isn't.
Finding a new normal
There is a difference between arriving in another country and actually beginning to feel comfortable there.
Often, that happens through the ordinary things rather than the landmarks and tourist attractions.
Heno has quickly discovered how convenient everyday life in Abu Dhabi can be. Shops, supermarkets, restaurants, pharmacies and other essentials are close at hand, while the range of apps and services available makes navigating daily life considerably easier.
He has also discovered a familiar South African presence in the UAE.
For someone moving overseas for the first time, finding people who understand where you have come from can provide an important sense of familiarity while you are getting to know a completely new community.
And then there was one adjustment that couldn't really be avoided.
The heat.
Even coming from South Africa, Heno admits that Abu Dhabi temperatures took some getting used to. But adaptation seems to be happening rather quickly. By the time he sent us his update, he had already completed his first 10km run in the heat.
We think that probably qualifies as settling in.
Teaching in Abu Dhabi: the reality behind the adventure
Teaching in Abu Dhabi, like any international move, isn't about never experiencing a difficult day.
And we wouldn't want a teacher story on our website to suggest that it does.
A new school means different systems, expectations, colleagues and pupils. Even an experienced teacher has to find their feet again, and that process can take time.
One of the things we particularly appreciated about Heno's message was that he didn't pretend otherwise.
“There are obviously challenges at school and days where things can be tough, but when I step back and look at the bigger picture, I honestly realise what an incredible opportunity this is.”
That honesty matters.
Successful international teaching isn't about never experiencing a difficult day. It is about being able to navigate those days while continuing to see the value in the wider experience.
And less than two months into his move, that bigger picture is already becoming very clear to Heno.
A teaching job becomes a life abroad
This is something we have seen many times over the years.
Teachers initially make an international move because of a job opportunity. But the placements that really work often become about much more than the job itself.
There are new friendships, new routines and new places to explore. Teachers become more confident navigating their surroundings. The supermarket is no longer unfamiliar. The route to work becomes automatic. Weekends start filling up with plans.
Slowly, the country someone moved to starts becoming the country they live in.
Heno is still very much at the beginning of that process, but his message already has many of those signs.
Why those first few months matter
There is also something in Heno's experience for schools recruiting teachers internationally.
A successful international placement doesn't end when a teacher accepts an offer, receives a visa or boards a flight.
Those first few weeks and months matter.
Schools cannot remove every challenge that comes with relocating internationally, nor should teachers expect them to. But practical support and good onboarding can make the transition considerably easier.
When a teacher arrives with the basics in place, understands what to expect and has support while finding their feet, they have more space to concentrate on the other significant adjustment taking place: becoming part of a new school.
For schools investing time and resources in international recruitment, that settling-in period shouldn't be seen as separate from the success of the placement. As we've explored before, what makes international teachers stay often begins with how well they are supported from the start.
From nerves to “I'm so glad I took the chance”
Perhaps our favourite part of Heno's message came towards the end.
Less than two months earlier, he had been in South Africa preparing to leave everything familiar behind and wondering what his new life would actually be like.
Now, he describes an experience that has already exceeded his expectations.
“I'm honestly loving it here and I'm so glad I took the chance.”
For us, that captures something very special about international teaching.
It starts with a vacancy and a CV. There are interviews, documents, decisions and plenty of practicalities along the way.
But when the match is right, the end result can be much bigger than filling a teaching position.
It can be the beginning of a completely new chapter in someone's life.
Heno, thank you for letting us share the beginning of yours. We look forward to seeing where the Abu Dhabi adventure takes you next.
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