The Expat Eley's

For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt called to be an educator. Teaching was always in me—from lining up stuffed animals for “class” to printing off “homework” for my cousins to do. It felt less like a career choice and more like something I was meant to do.

But alongside that passion for education, I’ve always carried another dream—to travel the world. To explore new places, experience new cultures, and see what life is like beyond my little corner of Ohio.

When Life Changed Everything

For years, teaching was the plan. But when my dad passed away in 2021, everything shifted. Grief has a way of dimming your passions—and that’s exactly what it did. The spark I felt for education faded fast. I couldn’t imagine stepping into that role anymore.

For awhile, I was just trying to keep my head above water—not thinking about dreams, but just surviving the day-to-day. I spent the next several years in different career paths, always thinking “this has got to be it, I’ve found what I should do for the rest of my life.” However, I would always end up leaving unfulfilled.

Finding My Way Back—Thanks to Motherhood

What I didn’t expect was that becoming a mom would quietly reignite that passion. Watching my daughter learn and grow—the way her eyes light up when she figures something out, how curious she is about the world—it slowly reminded me why I loved teaching in the first place.

Her wonder became contagious. And for the first time in a long time, I felt that pull again—the desire to teach, to help others learn, and to be part of those lightbulb moments.

A Old Dream Returned—Teaching Abroad

As I sat with those feelings, an idea long packed away, started to take shape once more: What if I could combine both dreams—teaching and traveling? What if there was a way to turn this fresh spark into something even bigger for our family?

That’s when I started looking into teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) abroad. That’s always been something I’ve talked about and it’s just never been the “right” time. Now, the more I learned, the more it felt like the perfect path…

• A way to step back into education
• An opportunity to immerse our family in a new culture
• A way to model bravery, resilience, and curiosity for our daughter

Making the Leap

After a lot of research (and coffee), I officially enrolled in a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification course. Every module, every lesson—it felt like a piece of me was falling back into place.

It gave me something to be excited about again. A purpose. A plan.

And now? That plan is becoming real.

*If you have a bachelor’s degree in education, you typically don’t need a TEFL in order to teach english abroad. However, it’s best to check with the country you’re interested in.

What’s Next for Our Family

This summer, we’re packing up our life in Ohio and moving to China! I’ll be teaching English, my husband will be home with our daughter pursuing his interests, and together, we’ll be stepping into this incredible next chapter.

It’s scary. It’s exciting. It’s something I know my dad would have been proud of (after an endless amount of lectures to make sure this was the best decision for us, ha!).

Why We’re Sharing This Journey

We know we’re not the only family chasing big dreams or navigating grief and change. And if sharing our story helps even one person realize that it’s never too late to rekindle a passion or change your path—then it’s worth it.

We’ll be sharing the highs, the lows, the messy middle—all of it—as we take this leap together. Thanks for following along.

– The Expat Eleys