About Home……Sickness

source：Teach Abroad time：2019-11-28 15:09:28 read:2342

Part of our job here at Echo is to monitor and ensure the welfare of our teachers. We see all types of personalities come into China. Some of our teachers are extremely extrovert and seemingly impervious to negative thoughts. But most of us are mere mortals. We have good days and bad days embracing the rollercoaster of our new life. As part of our screening processes and pre-orientation we send teachers advice about adapting to life in China alongside a medical questionnaire. Our aim is to try and shine a light for our teachers into the unknown and also discuss potentially sensitive medical issues. 

The undeniable fact remains, for first time teachers, they are entering new territory. Even experienced ESL teachers who’ve lived in other countries may become destabilised by the transition process into China. This is why a good support network and empathising schools are essential for foreign teachers. Something important should be said, if you’re looking to escape problems in your home country, these problems may follow you to China. If you have a predisposition to stress and anxiety, these problems are unlikely to disappear by simply getting on a plane. 

Within a few days of arriving, we often council teachers who say they’re starting to experience homesickness, or rather, displacement anxiety. Cultural shock can be overwhelming at first but it’s so important to remember it’s something many many people go through and the vast majority come out the other side unscathed. Feelings of isolation and vulnerability are perfectly normal when one travels so far from a familiar environment. Many of us expect to feel this way and we know, eventually, it will make us indefinitely stronger. If you’re having feelings of isolation or depression then it’s important you reach out. Your friends and family are only a phone call away and we encourage you to engage with the local expat community. For those of you seeking further council, even for our long term teachers, we recommend Lifeline Help Line service located in Shanghai. They have a full English support network on email and phone, manned with volunteers who will listen and guide. It’s an invaluable service at www.lifeline-shanghai.com/ operating 365 days a year.

If you’re experiencing signs of depression or anxiety, please reach out x