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From Taiwan to Zambia to Alaska: Global Teaching Stories and Building Meaningful School Trips

From Taiwan to Zambia to Alaska: Global Teaching Stories and Building Meaningful School Trips

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 Two former international educators, Nick and Joy Owens, lay out what a lot of teachers secretly want to know: how to keep global education alive without staying trapped in the classroom forever. Their story runs through Taiwan, Honduras, Alaska, Arizona, and back to the U.S., and it’s packed with the real-world stuff teachers actually deal with, like credential renewal, licensure headaches, Praxis retakes, and the post-COVID classroom burnout that can make even great teachers start plotting their escape.Nick describes getting started overseas in Taiwan after the 2008–2009 recession knocked his U.S. job out from under him, beginning with an intense English-immersion “summer camp” style program before moving into a growing school environment where he taught science and even launched AP-level courses. Joy’s path begins with growing up in Zambia and schooling in Kenya, then jumping into teaching in Honduras with zero classroom experience, learning the hard way that classroom management is not optional, and later earning a master’s in ESL before landing in Taiwan where she and Nick met.A big theme: teachers abroad can’t ignore home-country paperwork. The conversation gets practical about how quickly licenses lapse and how painful it is to recover (including re-testing) if you let it slide. Then the episode pivots into their current chapter: they bought and now run Butler Travel, a teacher-informed travel agency that builds custom, education-focused student tours (not cookie-cutter packages), including options like homestays, local expert guides, service learning, and clear “all-in” pricing that parents can understand without getting ambushed by extra fees.They also talk through what actually makes student travel educational: structured learning goals, space for reflection, and the uncomfortable truth that too much downtime creates chaos, but zero downtime creates misery. Along the way you get a memorable safari lesson about risk awareness… via animal poop identification, because humans apparently need comedy to learn anything.Butler Travel contact mentioned in the episode: website butlertravel.com and their planning guide at butlertravel.com/plan.Stats Nick cites (attributed to “Wise Travel Federation” in the conversation):Students who travel show 59% improved grades95% graduation rate among students who participated in trips86% higher intellectual curiosity80% higher motivation and engagement[00:00] The Role of JP Mint Consulting[01:48] Nick and Joy's International Teaching Experiences[04:55] Cultural Shifts and Challenges in Teaching Abroad[07:53] Navigating Credentialing and Re-credentialing[10:47] The Importance of Keeping Credentials Updated[13:50] From Teaching to Travel: A New Journey[15:46] The Impact of Travel on Education[23:01] Customizing Educational Travel Experiences[30:53] Butler Travel: Tailored Tours for Teachers[39:12] Enriching Experiences with Local Expertise[40:03] Navigating Travel Logistics During Crisis[42:54] The Importance of Flexibility in Travel Planning[45:37] Understanding Educational Travel Needs[48:16] Memorable Travel Experiences and Stories[52:31] Essential Items for International Travel[55:54] Final Thoughts on Educational TravelAdditional Gems Related to Our Show:Greg’s Favorite Video From Living Overseas - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQWKBwzF-hw⁠Signup to be our guest ⁠https://calendly.com/itpexpat/itp-interview?month=2025-01⁠Our Website⁠ - ⁠https://www.itpexpat.com/⁠Our FaceBook Group - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/itpexpat⁠⁠JPMint Consulting Website - ⁠https://www.jpmintconsulting.com/⁠Greg’s Personal YouTube Channel: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLs1B3Wc0wm6DR_99OS5SyzvuzENc-bBdO⁠Books By Gregory Lemoine:⁠International Teacher Guide: Finding the "Right Fit" 2nd Edition (2025)⁠⁠⁠"International Teaching: The Best-kept Secret in Education"⁠⁠
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