Facing Your Fears
Jul 8, 2019 10:48:46 AM Sarah Rymer Life, Living Overseas, Volunteer, work
What do you most fear? Failure? Rejection? Loss? The unknown? How do your fears prevent you from pursuing your professional goals?
Moving Overseas with Children: Inevitable Losses & Surprising Gains
Jul 1, 2019 9:43:54 AM Sarah Rymer Bangladesh, Children, Families, Life, Living Overseas, Love, Culture, community
For nearly a year before our family moved overseas, my mind was constantly processing the losses my young children would soon experience.
How to Survive Culture Stress
Jun 24, 2019 12:28:58 PM Sarah Rymer Jordan, Life, Living Overseas, Tips, Learning, Culture, community
I recently experienced culture stress. The situation: the purchase of a new refrigerator and the fact that it took two weeks for it to be delivered, which meant two weeks of storing my food at my neighbors’ house and two weeks of rearranging my schedule to be available on days the refrigerator might be delivered. This ordeal led me to think about culture shock, ...
Giving Birth Overseas. . .One of My Best Decisions
Jun 3, 2019 11:27:19 AM Sarah Rymer China, Children, Families, Life, Living Overseas, community
The first time I walked into JinXiNanFang Hospital I was eight weeks pregnant.
How to Leave the Land of the Familiar
May 13, 2019 12:31:21 PM Sarah Rymer Life, Living Overseas, travel, Learning, Culture
Leaving the land of the familiar sounds like traveling to me. Stepping into the unknown, the foreign. Leaving the known, the familiar.
Why Should I Join IDEAS? Here's Why!
Apr 22, 2019 9:35:59 AM Sarah Rymer IDEAS projects, interesting people, Living Overseas, Organization, Relationships, Volunteer, work, Hospitality, community, Transformation
"So, why should I join IDEAS?" I love this question. In fact, I never get tired of it because it is the exact question a possible volunteer or long-term Associate should be asking.
8 Ways to Be the Ideal Overseas Guest
Apr 15, 2019 10:03:01 AM Sarah Rymer IDEAS projects, Living Overseas, Tips, travel, Learning, Hospitality, Culture, Transformation
Recently while in Jordan visiting some of our IDEAS Associates, I was reminded of practical ways to be a respectful guest while visiting or working in a country outside the U.S. Here are some travel tips that will make you a welcome guest.
How to Grow in the Grief of Childhood Transition
Apr 8, 2019 12:23:56 PM Sarah Rymer Hope, IDEAS projects, Life, Living Overseas, Learning, Culture, Transformation
There is loss in leaving, and adults come to know it quickly. Experienced overseas workers learn how to make immediate friendships, grieve good-byes, and move on to the next wave of arrivals. There is a cycle, and most of us are transient. You get used to it.
What's Next for You?
Apr 1, 2019 11:16:29 AM Sarah Rymer Hope, IDEAS projects, Life, Living Overseas, Learning, Culture, Transformation
One evening, 17 years ago, I was out walking my dog, and I began processing my life. That particular evening, I started thinking about my calling and my future.
What Is My Purpose? An Engineer's Response
Mar 25, 2019 10:50:29 AM Sarah Rymer Jordan, Agriculture, IDEAS projects, Living Overseas, Relationships, community
Why do I work? Am I having an impact? Is my work worth something? These are questions we all ask ourselves at some point in our lives. We want to know we are working towards something more than just a way to earn a living. That our work has some greater value. When I took a position in Jordan with IDEAS, I had no idea how important these questions would ...