Global Perspectives: A SLP's Journey Working Abroad #7 (Location:Cayman Islands)
This week, on the SLPs working abroad series, we are learning from Suzi. An SLP that moved from the UK to the Cayman Islands. She talks about her journey with work/life balance and what ultimately made her decide to make a move like this one. Thank you Suzi for participating!
What are your name, pronouns, and your job/professional title?
Suzi Proctor (she/her) Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
Tell me about yourself. Where did you initially move from (before you worked abroad) and what graduate school did you attend?
I am from the UK and trained in the UK. I attended Birmingham City University. I am back living and working in the UK but have moved twice to work overseas as a SLT.
Why did you become a SLP?
I use to be a nanny and was working in the USA, the little boy I looked after had weekly speech therapy. I took his to all his sessions and did the daily practice. When it was time for me to leave that job (the children were all at school) I decided I wanted to do something different and Speech Therapy was something that interested me so I moved back to the UK and went to university.
What city and country do you currently work in, what setting do you work in (e.g., international school, clinic, university, research, etc.), and what age range do you currently work with? How long have you been working abroad?
I worked in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean for 2 years, 2019 - 2021 (the Covid years!) The Cayman Islands are made up of 3 islands, the main one Grand Cayman and the 2 smaller ones knows as the Sistwr Islands which are Cayman Brac and Little Cayman On the island that I was based on (Cayman Brac) I was the only SLT so I covered 3-18years. I worked in daycare, nursery, primary school, secondary school and a special school. I was the first permanent SLT on the island, before me they just had a visiting service from Grand Cayman.
What type of cases do you typically work with (e.g., AAC, multilingual, articulation, Autism, feeding, cognition/swallowing, etc.)?
I worked with children with language delay and disorder, ASD, articulation difficulties, moderate to severe learning disabilities, Global Developmental Delay.
Where did you apply for this SLP international job and how was the application process?
I saw the job posted on a Facebook group for international jobs, I contacted the person who had posted it and then went on to the government job website and completed the application form and set it of with a copy of my CV. I was offered an interview which was video interview. They then emailed me to offer me the job.
What did the process look like for you to move abroad (e.g., obtaining visas/work permits or sponsorships, finding a place to live, moving, SLP licensure, etc.)?
As it is a British Oversea Territory I didn't need a visa, I did need a work permit which was granted at the airport on arrival - I needed to show my job contract and then they process the permit while I waited. I kept up my UK registrations but I also needed to join their governing body - this process was quite time consuming as they required very specific information and forms to be completed with supporting information. I was supported by the lead SLT and colleagues who had been through the same process. It was made a little trickier as document needed to be presented in person and I lived on a different island to the office!!
As part of the relocation package they provided a weeks accommodation. Before I arrived I have been given some contact details for people who could help with finding accommodation so I was able to arrange viewings for when I get there. I also connected with other Expats who offered spare rooms if I didn't find something! They were also really helpful in terms of providing advice and support in terms of things to pack, gave some info on the caseload so I could take some resources with me etc. That was really useful as it helped to reduce some of the anxiety around moving. I was very glad I had reached out to other expats before I moved and also to have their support when I first arrived.
What motivated you to pursue work opportunities abroad as an SLP?
I like to travel and I decided that it would be a good way of being able to see some other parts of the world. The salary was also higher so it was an opportunity to save some money for the future. Covid made the travelling part a non starter!!! I have lived overseas before and loved the opportunity to experience new things, so when I saw the job advertised I decided to apply. I wasn't very happy in the job I was doing at the time so I would have been looking for another job anyway.
How does the pay rate, cost of living, and quality of life compare to living in your home country?
The salary was much higher than in the UK however the cost of living is high so it all becomes relative. I was able to save money which was something I had hoped would be possible and given that it was during Covid there was no travelling so save more than I had been anticipating. The work life balance was better than I had back home. My commute to work had reduced significantly and the caseload numbers were less which mean I had less paperwork that needed completing. As it was warm/hot all year if was possible to be outside more.
What specific challenges do you face working abroad as a SLP?
The cultural differences took a little bit of time to adjust to but being an English speaking country helped and I was able to ask advice and get support from local colleagues. Standardised test were used to determine eligibility for some services but they were not normed for that population and living in a small island means that children don’t have the same experiences and knowledge so they were unlikely to be successful. Resources were not always reflective of island life either.
What are your favorite things about working abroad as a SLP?
Meeting new people ( have made some life long friends now) and having new experiences. SLT skills are transferable but sometimes you need to change your way of working / previous experiences and practices. It has helped me grow and develop as a practitioners
What are the most significant differences between practicing as a SLP in your home country versus abroad?
There wasn’t a huge difference in the way we worked as it is a British Oversea Territory so they follow the same curriculum in schools and have a very similar code of practice for children with special/ specific educational needs.
How does your experience working abroad influence your perspectives on diversity and cultural sensitivity in speech-language pathology?
I think we need to have more culturally diverse material and assessments. As an SLT working with different cultures you need to be flexible and adaptable.
What advice would you give to other SLPs who are considering working abroad for the first time?
Do it!!!! If you hate it you can always leave, nothing is forever! You might love it and never want to leave. Life is short so take the opportunities.
How do you handle homesickness or any potential challenges related to being far away from family and friends?
I think technology has helped to reduce homesickness with FaceTime and video chats have made it easier to stay connected. Time zones can be a challenge!! I was away during Covid so unable to go home for 18 months so that was difficult but being able to seen family and friends virtually made a huge difference.
Which other cities/countries have you worked in as an SLP? Tell us about those experiences (for those that have worked in multiple locations).
I working in New Zealand from 2008-2010 as an SLT, I moved out there as a newly qualified therapist. Again it was a wonderful experience. It’s a bicultural nation so there was lots of new things I needed to learn but they had Māori advisors who were really supportive and were able to teach me the do’s and don’t.
Can SLPs contact you for more information? How can they contact you?
I’m happy to be contacted by email suziproctor@gmail.com or Facebook messenger.
