Living and working in cities around the world can be very tiresome, confusing, and stressful. On the other hand, it can also be wonderful, exciting, and eventful.
When you first move to a city, there are so many new places to visit and restaurants at which to eat.  Even after a couple of years, there are still new places to check out and restaurants that you haven’t eaten at yet. If you are lucky, a new favorite place pops up every once in a while.
Even after a short time of living in a city, there are certainly places that become your favorite. When your friends and family visit, you tend to take them on mini tours that go to these places. These places become a huge part of your ‘expat’ experience.
After moving away to a new city, you always think about the good times you had in your old city and the places you frequently visited. These favorite places truly become solidified in your memory of living in that city.
The best part of moving away from a city you’ve lived in is going back to visit. When you make a trip to return to a place you’ve once lived, your old favorite places are at the top of your ‘sight-seeing list’ during your visit.  And typically you don’t have as much time to see them all, so you truly find out which places were your real top ones. These really top ones are the must-go places that bring back old memories, and also help make new ones.
Most international school teachers can list off the best parts of living in their city. Some have longer lists than others (depending on their personality and the place in which they live), but there are always new and interesting things to check out and do…if you are getting yourself out to enjoy them. Â The more local friends you get to know, the more you can check out and hear out the ‘best places’ in the city from the people that truly know it well.
Luckily, International School Community has a comment topic on our school profile pages related to what life is like in various cities around the world, so you can stay as informed as possible. It is called: “What is the best part of living in this city for you?“
Our veteran international school teachers have submitted a total of 500 comments in this comment topic (Nov. 2026).  Here are a few that have been submitted:
“KK is a very multicultural city. There are many different religions and ethnicities represented here. Because of this, there is nearly always a festival or celebration going on. It is wonderful to see everyone celebrating them all. Muslims openly welcome Chinese, Tamil, and Expats to their homes during Hari Raya. Everyone is welcome to attend the temple during Deepavali. And of course everyone always enjoys Chinese New Year and Christmas celebrations.” –Â Kinabalu International School (Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia) – 78 Comments
“Outside of school, there is a very relaxed pace of life. You will see people in the coffee shops, on the beach, or just strolling the avenues at all hours of the day. The food is excellent, and the wines are cheap and second to none. Forget the expensive Italian and French wines. Stick with the huge variety of Portuguese wines, and you can’t go wrong.” –Â Oeiras International School (Lisbon, Portugal) – 224 Comments
“Seisen is located in Setagaya ward, which is one of the greenest parts of Tokyo. You are never more than a short bike ride or stroll from Kinuta Park, Komazawa Park, Todoroki Gorge or the expanse of green along the Tama River bank.” –Â Seisen International School (Tokyo, Japan) – 72 Comments
“It’s hard to put your finger on. Bangkok can be infuriating. Travel can be tough off the Skytrain finding products you need, a real challenge, and yet the city has a pleasant, almost relaxed vibe for a place of its size. The Thais are a fun-loving people; there are some great bars and restaurants, and if you search off the beaten track, some architectural and historical gems.” –Â Rasami British International School (Bangkok, Thailand) – 74 Comments
“It’s hard to put your finger on. Bangkok can be infuriating. Travel can be tough off the Skytrain finding products you need, a real challenge, and yet the city has a pleasant, almost relaxed vibe for a place of its size. The Thais are a fun-loving people; there are some great bars and restaurants, and if you search off the beaten track, some architectural and historical gems.” – Rasami British International School (Bangkok, Thailand) – 74 Comments
“Windhoek is widely recognized as one of Africa’s cleanest and most orderly capital cities, featuring well-maintained streets and a slow, manageable pace of life. Proximity to Nature: Windhoek sits in the Khomas Highland plateau, meaning rugged hills, hiking trails (such as around Avis Dam), and quick getaways to game reserves are only minutes away from the center. The city combines African warmth with a distinct European—particularly German—historical influence seen in its architecture, bakeries, and local traditions.I just love how open it feels! You get all the perks of the city, but you’re always surrounded by these massive desert horizons and rugged hills.” – Windhoek International School (Windhoek, Namibia) – 106 Comments
“In 20 minutes you can be fully outside of the city, which makes living in the city a great opportunity for food and shopping, but also that work-life balance to get out and into some green space, the mountains that surround us, and a lot of fresh air from May through February. We do have AQI issues in the city typically in March and April, but it is not predictable how ‘good or bad’ it will be, and the government has helped crack down on a lot of the burning that develops it. Overall, still an amazing place to live and work.” – Chiang Mai International School (Chiang Mai, Thailand) – 61 Comments
Life Beyond the Classroom: Discovering the Best of Your Host City
Living and working in cities around the world can be very tiresome, confusing, and stressful. On the other hand, it can also be wonderful, exciting, and eventful.
When you first move to a city, there are so many new places to visit and restaurants at which to eat.  Even after a couple of years, there are still new places to check out and restaurants that you haven’t eaten at yet. If you are lucky, a new favorite place pops up every once in a while.
Even after a short time of living in a city, there are certainly places that become your favorite. When your friends and family visit, you tend to take them on mini tours that go to these places. These places become a huge part of your ‘expat’ experience.
After moving away to a new city, you always think about the good times you had in your old city and the places you frequently visited. These favorite places truly become solidified in your memory of living in that city.
The best part of moving away from a city you’ve lived in is going back to visit. When you make a trip to return to a place you’ve once lived, your old favorite places are at the top of your ‘sight-seeing list’ during your visit.  And typically you don’t have as much time to see them all, so you truly find out which places were your real top ones. These really top ones are the must-go places that bring back old memories, and also help make new ones.
Most international school teachers can list off the best parts of living in their city. Some have longer lists than others (depending on their personality and the place in which they live), but there are always new and interesting things to check out and do…if you are getting yourself out to enjoy them. Â The more local friends you get to know, the more you can check out and hear out the ‘best places’ in the city from the people that truly know it well.
Luckily, International School Community has a comment topic on our school profile pages related to what life is like in various cities around the world, so you can stay as informed as possible. It is called: “What is the best part of living in this city for you?“
Our veteran international school teachers have submitted a total of 500 comments in this comment topic (Nov. 2026).  Here are a few that have been submitted:
“KK is a very multicultural city. There are many different religions and ethnicities represented here. Because of this, there is nearly always a festival or celebration going on. It is wonderful to see everyone celebrating them all. Muslims openly welcome Chinese, Tamil, and Expats to their homes during Hari Raya. Everyone is welcome to attend the temple during Deepavali. And of course everyone always enjoys Chinese New Year and Christmas celebrations.” –Â Kinabalu International School (Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia) – 78 Comments
“Outside of school, there is a very relaxed pace of life. You will see people in the coffee shops, on the beach, or just strolling the avenues at all hours of the day. The food is excellent, and the wines are cheap and second to none. Forget the expensive Italian and French wines. Stick with the huge variety of Portuguese wines, and you can’t go wrong.” –Â Oeiras International School (Lisbon, Portugal) – 224 Comments
“Seisen is located in Setagaya ward, which is one of the greenest parts of Tokyo. You are never more than a short bike ride or stroll from Kinuta Park, Komazawa Park, Todoroki Gorge or the expanse of green along the Tama River bank.” –Â Seisen International School (Tokyo, Japan) – 72 Comments
“It’s hard to put your finger on. Bangkok can be infuriating. Travel can be tough off the Skytrain finding products you need, a real challenge, and yet the city has a pleasant, almost relaxed vibe for a place of its size. The Thais are a fun-loving people; there are some great bars and restaurants, and if you search off the beaten track, some architectural and historical gems.” –Â Rasami British International School (Bangkok, Thailand) – 74 Comments
“It’s hard to put your finger on. Bangkok can be infuriating. Travel can be tough off the Skytrain finding products you need, a real challenge, and yet the city has a pleasant, almost relaxed vibe for a place of its size. The Thais are a fun-loving people; there are some great bars and restaurants, and if you search off the beaten track, some architectural and historical gems.” – Rasami British International School (Bangkok, Thailand) – 74 Comments
“Windhoek is widely recognized as one of Africa’s cleanest and most orderly capital cities, featuring well-maintained streets and a slow, manageable pace of life. Proximity to Nature: Windhoek sits in the Khomas Highland plateau, meaning rugged hills, hiking trails (such as around Avis Dam), and quick getaways to game reserves are only minutes away from the center. The city combines African warmth with a distinct European—particularly German—historical influence seen in its architecture, bakeries, and local traditions.I just love how open it feels! You get all the perks of the city, but you’re always surrounded by these massive desert horizons and rugged hills.” – Windhoek International School (Windhoek, Namibia) – 106 Comments
“In 20 minutes you can be fully outside of the city, which makes living in the city a great opportunity for food and shopping, but also that work-life balance to get out and into some green space, the mountains that surround us, and a lot of fresh air from May through February. We do have AQI issues in the city typically in March and April, but it is not predictable how ‘good or bad’ it will be, and the government has helped crack down on a lot of the burning that develops it. Overall, still an amazing place to live and work.” – Chiang Mai International School (Chiang Mai, Thailand) – 61 Comments
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