Faculty culture at international schools is unlike anywhere else. For many expat teachers, this isn’t just a new job, but a new way of life in a new country. Making friends, finding community, and feeling a sense of belonging are just as important as learning the curriculum.
Our faculty at BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China find their sense of home by playing, exploring, eating, and unwinding together. Whether it is sharing wildlife sightings, competing in weekly netball or football/soccer matches, enjoying the sunset on a Friday evening, or digging into spicy Thai food after work, our faculty are connecting with each other and with the culture and environments around them. Here is a look at some of the ways our faculty create community on our campuses.
Wildlife Club at BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Hey everyone! I am a teacher at BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour in Guangdong Province, where I am finishing my second year teaching AP US History. Although social studies is definitely one of my passions in life, I also greatly admire the natural world. I’m originally from the Carolinas in the USA, where I encountered countless wildlife in the countryside. When I arrived at Park Lane Harbour, I was quite happy with the abundance of lush greenery and beautiful waterside habitat. I quickly recognized that this place must contain a plethora of animals despite recent building expansions. In fact, during my first week here, I found a harmless cat snake while exploring a hill. Afterward, I received a bolt of inspiration and in September 2023, I create a community of likeminded nature enthusiasts.
My goal was not only to invite fellow teachers but also to include Chinese locals who naturally possess a greater geographical knowledge of the area. Today, our WeChat group, “PLH Wildlife,” numbers over 40 members. In the group, we share our wildlife sightings from around the campus and local area and from our travels. We also request species IDs and display our appreciation for all creatures, including less popular types such as reptiles and spiders. One of my goals is to create a database of confirmed species in the area based on eyewitness accounts (similar to the global database, iNaturalist).
I’m incredibly grateful for all the members and their insights. There’s a huge diversity of faculty from all departments, staff members, and spouses. One of the most helpful members is also the faculty advisor for the school’s Flora and Fauna Club. This group also serves as an information hub for incoming teachers to adapt to the new environment. For example, advising teachers to watch out for the invasive giant African land snails that litter the sidewalks!
Another purpose of the group is for members and their children to go on nature hikes around the area in warm months. This is a favorite tourist activity of mine when I travel in southeast Asia, so the idea was already planted. Even though we stay close to residential areas, there are still plenty of opportunities to see frogs, lizards, birds, insects, and other animals. These walks are a good practice to inspire a conservation mindset in future generations. Ultimately, I hope people realize that interesting wildlife is often closer than you think! And thus, we should appreciate and understand our natural environment. Thanks to BASIS International Schools for selecting this location for a campus.
Thomas Harper
High School AP Teacher
Social Sciences Department
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
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Football/Soccer Club at BASIS International School Hangzhou
I have always played football, and whenever I go to a new place, one of the first things I try to find out is where and when I can play. When I first arrived at BASIS International School Hangzhou five years ago, the faculty football/soccer club was already going strong. For someone like me, who has played football for as long as I can remember, it was exactly what I was hoping to find.
Our weekly matches are open to anyone in the community—male and female teachers, administrators, and logistics staff from all divisions, and even a few spouses and partners. Most of the regular players are similar to me and have played football every week since they were small children. There are some others in the group, though, a few Americans, who have played less but are sports fans and are happy just to have a regular sport to play, whatever the sport.
Every Friday night, we lace up for a 90-minute match. I usually pick the teams to make them as equal as possible. We do keep score, and yes, we try to win—but the energy is always good-spirited, and the score is close because as one team pulls ahead, they tend to ease off just enough to keep the game interesting. We also occasionally play matches against a nearby international school.
I am a massive advocate of sports, especially football. It’s so simple to play, and it’s played the same way in every country around the world. I have travelled a bit, and football is truly an international language. I have made countless friends and acquaintances through playing soccer, both with teammates and opponents.
I’m a drama teacher at BASIS International School Hangzhou, and the fine arts department can sometimes feel slightly separated from other school departments. However, I have played football with this group of people for five years. Although I might not see them much during my workday or collaborate with them, as they work in different divisions and departments, we know each other very well, and playing football together is joyful.
Beyond the camaraderie, I like to stay as fit and healthy as I can. But I find jogging or going to the gym boring and chore-like. When I run for 90 minutes at football, though, it feels far from a chore—it’s a treat. Football is also a place where I can fully exert my energy or anything that builds up in me in a positive way.
Daniel Borg
Drama Teacher
BASIS International School Hangzhou
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Netball Club at BASIS International School Shenzhen
At BASIS International School Shenzhen, netball has quickly turned into a Wednesday night tradition for a group of teachers. We gather in the gym to practice and play friendly matches, and occasionally take on another team based here in Shenzhen. Everyone rotates positions during games, so we all get a chance to try something new.
The club started just after Chinese New Year this year, and it brings together men and women of all skill levels from across different departments, divisions, and even other BASIS International & Bilingual Schools campuses. It’s a great way to meet new people who work within the BASIS International Schools network, whom you may not normally get the opportunity to talk to. Netball, in particular, requires lots of teamwork!
Autumn Rigby
English Teacher
BASIS International School Shenzhen
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Friday Sunset Sessions at BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Friday Sunset Sessions started with a simple idea: what better way to end the week than by enjoying the beautiful beaches just a short walk from campus. That was about four years ago—and since then, these weekly gatherings have become a ritual for many of us at BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour.
It’s a standing invitation to everyone in our community—faculty, spouses, and their kids—to come out and enjoy the sunshine. Some weeks draw a big crowd, with 20 or so, while others are more low-key, smaller groups. But the vibe is always the same—laid-back, welcoming, rejuvenating.
These Friday afternoons offer an outlet to rest, relax, unwind, and connect with colleagues outside of work. You can find us building sandcastles, searching for hermit crabs, jumping waves, swimming in the sea, and letting the week slip away behind us. And yes, there are always snacks.
What’s special about the Friday Sunset Sessions, besides the convenient location, is the community that’s grown out of it. It’s a space where we can be ourselves, speak freely, and enjoy a little downtime. The camaraderie formed is one of chill vibes, good times, and great memories!
Hunter Mueller
Dean of Students–Grade 10
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
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Foodie Group at BASIS International School Shenzhen
The BASIS International School Shenzhen Foodie Group was created by colleagues as a way to bring faculty together to get to know each other outside of school, all while exploring the gastronomic delights of the greater Shenzhen area. For me, food is a powerful way to connect—it’s about shared experiences and the excitement of trying something new together.
The group originally started in 2018, and, after fizzling out, was restarted in 2023. As the current leader, I try to plan one gathering each month, picking restaurants based on word of mouth or simply what I’m in the mood for at the time. While we often stick to nearby areas like Nanshan and Sea World, we do occasionally venture out to OCT and even as far as Futian.
What continues to surprise me about Shenzhen’s food culture is the sheer variety of both Western and Eastern cuisines available on our doorstep. As a relatively young city built by migrants from across China and home to many expats, Shenzhen offers an astonishing array of dining experiences.
We’ve uncovered some incredible hidden gems—from glutinously-rich cheesy pasta served straight from a cheese wheel to perfectly flaky brunch pastries and sinfully good cocktails enjoyed at scenic spots overlooking our vibrant city. We’ve discovered just how much Shenzhen has to offer. It feels like our homeaway from home.
Our next culinary adventure will take us to Tom Yam Goong, where we’ll be diving into the bold, spicy, and aromatic flavors of Thai cuisine.
Will Steenkamp
Middle School English Teacher
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Conclusion
Faculty clubs and traditions like these show that teaching abroad with BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China is about so much more than what happens in the classroom. It’s about joining a vibrant, welcoming community where shared passions turn colleagues into lifelong friends. For teachers who want a career that offers both professional growth and rich personal experiences, our campuses aren’t just places to work, they’re places to belong and experience all that China has to offer.
Visit our careers website for more information about teaching with BASIS International Schools.
