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Teacher Feature: Celiah Bunsie

Dec 19, 2024 | Blog, Teacher Features

Teacher Feature: Celiah Bunsie

Celiah Bunsie

Before Celiah Bunsie joined ISS as Leadership Search Coordinator in Global Recruitment, she spent about a decade as an educator around the world. Catch up on her journey, as well as her insight and advice for those considering this career!

Help us get to know you and a bit about your experience so far!

My name is Celiah Bunsie and I’ve been in education for about 10+ years now. I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl, and I’ve always kept that goal in front of me and thankfully I was able to accomplish it.

I’ve taught in three countries, the U.S, the British Virgin Islands, and Japan. I was initially inspired to go abroad after going on a trip with a group of teachers, sponsored by my county school board. It was an immersion trip to the Dominican Republic where we would put ourselves in the shoes of our ELL students. Like them we were new to the country and didn’t speak the language. It really inspired me to step out of the box and do something different that was still connected to my passion.

I went to teach abroad for the first time in 2014. I wanted to stay somewhat close to home where I would be familiar with the culture, the language, and similar aspects. The BVI was just that and I loved my time there. After being in the British Virgin Islands for four years, I decided to take another leap into something a little bit more unknown.

I moved to Tokyo in 2018 and was there for four and a half years and it definitely was an amazing time in my life. Two years ago, I chose to take a step outside the classroom and work with ISS to help other educators like me find international school positions around the world. Other than teaching, I enjoy attending different social events to network, meet new people, and try different things.

What do you love about the countries you’ve been able to experience because of your international career?

I loved living in the British Virgin Islands not only because it’s a beautiful Island, but also because the culture felt very familiar to my Jamaican heritage. The beaches are amazing, there’s good food, and I met some really great people there who became like family. Another plus is that the BVI is an island chain and a ferry can get you to most of them fairly quickly!

Living in Japan was amazing because I got to learn about a culture that was completely different from any I experienced before. I got to try different foods, despite not being very adventurous with food, and I got to travel to quite a few different countries in Asia to learn more about them and experience their culture. Both countries, although very different, provided me with a lot of amazing opportunities and unforgettable experiences.

Beyond the classroom, are there any adventures that stand out from your time living internationally?

Beyond the classroom, I was able to do quite a bit of traveling. I think the adventures that stood out most were definitely the ones in Asia. I was able to travel to about seven other countries during my time there and I was also there during Covid. That was an adventure all in itself, but I honestly had a very good experience living over there during those years. The only downside was that they closed the borders, so no one could really leave or come in. I wasn’t able to travel abroad for two years, but that also allowed me to travel within Japan a bit more and see more places there. So that was the silver lining of that experience.

A collection of travel photos from Celiah’s time teaching abroad

How would you describe your quality and way of life as an international educator?

This can vary depending on your school and your location. Finding a good location with a decent cost of living and a school that offers a good package that will allow you to live comfortably is very important. You also want to consider things like the saving potential, professional development opportunities, and other benefits.

If you’re traveling with family, considering how they will be impacted by the choice of country and school is important too. So it’s very important to do your research about the country you’d be moving to and about the school. I am thankful that in both locations I was able to live comfortably and enjoy my time.

Any other thoughts you’d like to share?

Living abroad was one of the best choices I’ve made and I encourage everyone to give it a try at least once!

Much appreciation to Celiah for sharing these reflections! You can connect with her on LinkedIn.

Do you love being an international educator? Share your why here!

Interested in teaching abroad? The ISS job fair season is an excellent way to network with international school recruiters — with both in-person and virtual events coming up! Learn more here, or register for individual fairs below: