Relocating, Relearning, and Staying Grounded: Reflections from Mumbai

As someone now living the international school experience firsthand while helping shape the Ethical Employer framework, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means for schools to live their values, not just state them. It is one thing to design systems that support people on paper, and another to feel that support in the everyday realities of teaching, settling in, and finding your footing in a new place.

There is a certain moment every morning when the city starts to hum. For me, it is around 5:30 a.m., chai in hand, dog tugging at the leash as we take our morning walk. The local tea stand owner already knows me and is expecting us. The air smells of ginger, cardamom, and, at low tide, something far less poetic. The roar of his gas burner and the rhythmic clink of his pestle form the soundtrack to my morning.
It is chaotic, fragrant, and completely alive. It is Mumbai.

We moved here with a two year old and a dog, and as a family, we have been navigating new jobs, new routines, new germs, and an entirely new rhythm of life after the relative calm of Zambia. Every day brings a mix of wonder and exhaustion: the endless honking, the constant color, the kindness of strangers, and the unpredictable electricity of the city itself. It is a beautiful kind of sensory overload, the sort that reminds you that growth does not come from comfort.

Now, as we reach the Diwali break, it finally feels like time to pause, take a breath, and congratulate ourselves for simply making it this far. This move has been humbling. My wife and I have lived in many countries before, but this has been our first time relocating with a family, and that changes everything.

We have been fortunate to start new roles at an incredible school with world class educators and facilities. Meanwhile, the indefatigable Yael has taken on the lion’s share of the work at The Ethical Employer while I have been living out the on the ground experience of being a new educator in an international school.

This experience has only strengthened my belief in our work with the Ethical Employer accreditation scheme. Schools that put strong systems in place to support their staff deserve to be recognized for it. As the recruitment cycle begins again, I know firsthand how reassuring it would be to apply to a school that has been independently evaluated for its culture and practices rather than relying on word of mouth or waiting to find out after arriving. That is exactly what our framework is designed to do: to help schools reflect, grow, and communicate their commitment to ethical practice.

Recruitment and relocation put a huge strain on families. Our goal is to improve educational outcomes for learners by ensuring that educators are supported in their transitions so they can focus on getting on with what they do best: teaching, inspiring, and building communities that thrive.

Learn more about our reflections and ongoing work at www.ethicalemployer.org