From Asia to South America

It is safe to say that after living in Beijing, China for 29 years, the idea of relocation – not just the reality of it – was way outside my zone of recent experience and comfort. However, I now write from Asunción, Paraguay, having moved from a continent I am entirely familiar with to one I had never set foot in before.

I have been surprised, so far, at how smooth the transition has been when relocating as a non-teaching partner (although I understand that it is still early days). As recruitment in the international school world is a process that begins very early on in a new school year, you are mentally preparing to leave even perhaps before you know where you are actually heading. It can, of course, be an unsettling period, as it was for us, but on the plus side it allows you time to get organised and prepare ahead for things that you know you will need to do.

Preparation for leaving

Early on and over the year, we took our time to go through the home we had lived in for so many years. Deciding what we couldn’t live without, what could go into storage, what could be sold and/or donated was surprisingly quite a therapeutic process. Reducing ten boxes of photo albums to one beautifully consolidated box of printed photo books was a true labour of love! We did not rush the process of going through our things – involving our adult children in what they wanted to keep for themselves – and the whole process became one that allowed us time to let go of things that we really no longer needed and agree on those that are precious. I would say this part of leaving ‘home’ as we knew it was the one that took the most time and effort and was, at times, an emotional undertaking.

We had no experience with removal companies but over the years had seen so many friends and colleagues leave China, so we had a wealth of experienced people to tap into. A couple of quotes, a final choice and exceptionally smooth packing day later, our belongings were on their way.

Preparation for arriving

Documentation for the destination school can be complicated, and timing is important, so we got to grips with this early on, allowing us to plot out the timing of when we needed to apply for documents such as police checks in our home countries. Each country, of course, has its own unique visa requirements, and I quickly discovered that terms like notarise, authenticate, and apostille were suddenly very important! We chose to use an agent to assist with some of the paperwork and processes needed, which made it all smoother.

Once we knew where we were going, having done some research about the country, cost of living, lifestyle and travel to and from Paraguay, we spoke to teachers who had recently transitioned to get their perspective and recommendations which was extremely helpful and reassuring.Having connections to ask questions along the way was invaluable.

Goodbye to our community and home

Saying goodbye to friends, colleagues and the city itself, although emotional of course, for us was filled with happiness as we used this time as a celebration of all we had both achieved and experienced. Leaving with a feeling of gratitude to the people and the country that had been home to us and our family for so long meant we left with our hearts full. It can get overwhelming, especially nearer your departure date, so my advice is to monitor how you are feeling and remember it is perfectly ok to politely decline invitations if it just gets too much. This time of transition is unsettling even when well prepared, so you do have to look after your physical, mental, and emotional health as much as possible.

As our exit day approached, we tackled the practical details: moving funds, finalising internet and phone contracts, paying off any lingering utilities, and formally checking out of our apartment. By creating a timeline and calendaring each to-do, we managed to keep necessary services active right up until we left and ensured nothing was overlooked. Centralising our essential documents—like passports, birth and marriage certificates, and medical records—by digitising them was incredibly effective for long-term organisation.

It is important to mention finances. We received detailed information from the new school about anticipated set-up expenses and the timing of the first paycheck. This made it much easier to budget accurately and plan our cash flow for the first few months. Make sure to check, well in advance, for any restrictions on withdrawing foreign currency from your local bank account. This is something we overlooked initially, which led to a few last-minute workarounds to access our money.

Hello to Paraguay!

We chose to arrive in Paraguay early as we wanted time to acclimatise at our own pace. With help from the school and a hotel stay, we started house-hunting and explored the city independently. Treating our first days like a holiday—walking around, eating out, and recovering from jet lag—helped us settle in without feeling rushed. This extra time was invaluable for a smooth start, and it allowed us to feel more relaxed and confident before diving into daily life and responsibilities.

Finding a new home was our top priority, and once we had done that, we were able to unpack our bags, which included important items from our old home. The act of arranging familiar belongings is helping us create a sense of comfort and belonging as we start to build our new life here.

Attending the social events organised by the school is a must! Again, this part can be overwhelming for some people, as there is a lot of information and activity in general, but these experiences have been a great way not just to connect with people going through the same process, but also to be introduced to great restaurants and areas of town that we can revisit.

New Roles and New Routines

Becoming a “trailing spouse” (or non-teaching partner) is a completely new experience for me, and honestly, it’s not a label I am especially fond of! I have realised how important it is to create my own routines, so as soon as I could, I started going for morning walks and quickly discovered a lovely park nearby. That simple habit has helped me carve out a sense of normalcy and begin building a new life here, all while holding on to things I genuinely enjoy.

Knowing that I will eventually add exercise classes, language lessons, and my independent work into my schedule makes the transition feel much more manageable. Even though everything is different right now, it’s comforting to remind myself that my days will gradually fill up with activities that are both new and familiar, helping this big change feel a bit more like home.

Navigating the Unknown

Keeping connected to family and friends outside of Paraguay, navigating the new time zone and calling times, has been an unexpected challenge for me, but this is not unsurmountable, and I add this to the routine-setting phase. Once the new timings are in place, it will also become familiar for all.

Although at this stage I definitely miss the familiarity of knowing exactly where to go for everything I need in daily life, I am embracing the newness and accepting that sometimes it will be frustrating until I have it all in hand.

I am making a point of reaching out, asking questions, joining in where I can, and staying open to new experiences. It takes a bit of courage (and, honestly, some vulnerability), but I know this is all part of building something new. I am also reminding myself to pause, take a step back when needed, and remember that adjusting to all of this will naturally take some time. The process is not always smooth, but I’m learning as I go and letting myself be patient with the transition.

Julie Lawton is an international education leader and former senior leader at YueCheng Education and Beijing City International School.