10 Signs You Attended An International School | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

10 Signs You Attended An International School

It's been one heck of a ride.

808
10 Signs You Attended An International School
Katrina Rbeiz

Having lived overseas my entire life, I’ve grown accustom to the strange ways of the international school systems, whether they were the French, British or American system. While each and every educational system has their own differences, all International Schools are the same deep down. Looking back on my high school days, I wouldn’t trade my experiences or the friends I made for the world because luckily, they became my world.

Kids who attended International Schools will always have that special bond with their friends, teachers, and schools forever, because to them, that was largely what they considered to be their homes rather than just their temporary houses.

SEE ALSO: 5 Differences Between A House And A Home, As Told By A Third Culture Kid

From the quirky accents to the questionable school events, these are the signs that you attended an International School, even if it was just for a week, a month, or several years.

1. You hear a multitude of languages just by simply walking from one end of a hallway to the other

"What...Is going on?"

2. You introduce yourself with where you’re from before you even say your name

Hi, I’m half American, half Lebanese, where are you from? OhandmynameisKatrina. That’s typically how your best friendships began.

3. School would be cancelled because of some typically normal weather incident that just happened to destroy the entire city you lived in

I wish I were joking about this one (no I don’t because VACATION), but we would be sent home in the middle of the day just because it was raining outside and there wasn’t a proper sewage system to keep the city from flooding. Although we were trapped in our homes for about 1-2 days, it still felt like sweet, sweet freedom from the prisons we called school (I’m kidding, I miss you school).

4. Weather is a weird concept in general

I don’t care where you live in the world, it just is.

5. Your friends are from more countries than you can count on both hands

Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, England, New Zealand, France, Spain, Ethiopia, South Korea, Turkey, South Africa...I’ve lost count.

6. Every year, there’d be that new teacher people would be obsessed with

You’re all thinking of someone, admit it.

7. You’re used to meeting kids with parents who have interesting jobs

“Your mom works for the United Nations? Cool...My mom knows how to make a mean grilled cheese sandwich.."

8. School trips are the best experiences

Instead of going to your local zoo, you’re going to the zoo in Amsterdam, unless you live in Amsterdam, in which case, you’d go to some zoo in a different country- anyways, you get the point. School field trips involve a plain ticket and a dent in your college savings.

9. You’d question your school if there wasn’t at least one new person every semester

The more the merrier is always the motto at International Schools, mainly because you need new people to fill the holes in your heart from all the people who left the previous years, which brings me to the final sign.

10. Goodbyes have become a heartbreaking routine

Chances are, either you or someone else moved away every several years, making saying goodbye one of the hardest, yet most frequent events of your days at an international school. You can’t prepare for them, but in the back of your mind, you know they’re coming- kind of like when your grandparents randomly visit in the middle of the year- Yes teta, I’d love to drink tea with you and talk about obscure family members I don’t remember, but I have 5 exams tomorrow.

International Schools, no matter how different they've all been during my years of elementary, middle, and high school, hold some of my dearest memories with some of my greatest friends. It doesn't matter if you aren't friends with everyone, because you know that you are all in the same boat, sailing on the seas of foreign adventures, funny accents, and unforgettable school days, making you all one big family at heart.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

14341
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2847
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1714
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments