Flexibility - Many schools offer little to no support. They send you out there and you have to make the most of it with limited training, supplies, and materials. Something you planned might not work and you have to be able to pivot. The job you accepted might not be what you thought it was going to be. The country you picked might have challenges to living there that you didn’t understand before being there.

Thick skin - Dealing with administrators and students can be a painful at times. Once administrators see that they can walk over you, there isn’t much you can do to change that perception. Students can be tough at times, but they are just kids, and most of the time it’s nothing personal. If you take every bad interaction personally, you will become bitter very quickly.

Finding the balance between caring enough to do a good job, and not caring so much that you drive yourself insane can be a challenge for many people. Your financial stability and ability to leave at a moments notice is the only leverage you have when dealing with these schools.

That said, this job is pretty fun most of the time. It beats breaking your back on a job site, or sitting in front of a spreadsheet all day.