Women Who Wander: Interview #7—Shearine Hall
Teaching around the world
🌸 It was thanks to Shearine that I got my start teaching English abroad. She interviewed me for a position in Colombia, and when we finally met in Medellín in 2016, we became fast friends. She welcomed me into her circle, and many of those friendships have lasted to this day. A few years later, Shearine moved to Japan, and before long, I followed. Together we navigated language barriers, culture shock, and the often-infuriating landscape of English teaching jobs. Now she has moved to the U.S. to be closer to family and pursue new career goals, and once again, I’ll soon be following in her footsteps. Though Shearine is an introverted homebody at heart, get her near a dance floor and she can easily become the life of the party. Her sharp sense of humor and steady presence made her an invaluable lifeline during my time in Japan. I’m deeply grateful to her—not only for helping me get my foot in the door of the life I’ve lived over the past decade, but for continually paving the way across continents.🌸
Bio
I am Shearine, currently based in the USA. I began traveling in 2015. I first ventured into traveling through volunteering as a teacher in South America. I love learning about different cultures and ways of life.
Where are you from and where are you currently based?
I am from Jamaica and currently residing in the US.
How would you describe your travel style/international experience (e.g., backpacker, digital nomad, luxury, slow travel, expat)?
I would say that I’ve always been an expat, as I’ve lived and worked in multiple countries.
What are you passionate about outside of travel?
Cooking, reading, volunteering, and working with children and young adults.
What else would you like people to know about you? (passion projects, work, family, pets, special interests, any other information you feel defines you, etc.)
I love dancing to Latin music.
When did the travel bug first bite?
In 2015.
What sparked that? Where did you go?
I decided that I wanted to see the world while I was young. I went to Colombia. I had traveled to other Caribbean islands before, but Colombia was the first country outside of the Caribbean.
What inspired you to start traveling solo (or live abroad)?
Volunteering.
Was that connected to the 2015 travel bug bite?
Yes. I went to Medellín, Colombia; the people, culture, and country were beautiful. I had a blast!
What did your friends/family think of your choice to travel solo/move abroad?
They think that I am brave.
What countries have you lived in/traveled to?
Colombia, Ecuador, Aruba, Panama, Peru, Chile, Guyana, Japan, South Korea, the USA, Cuba, and Jamaica.
How do you choose your destinations?
Proximity—if they are close to each other, it’s easier to visit.
What’s been your most challenging experience abroad?
Learning different languages.
How have you dealt with language barriers?
I try to learn all the basic phrases and add new words as I improve.
What cultural differences have been the hardest to adapt to?
Not flushing your toilet paper in some South American countries was a challenge.
Have you ever faced discrimination or bias as a solo female traveler or expat?
Not really; there are sometimes rules that apply to all foreigners, so I don’t feel singled out.
What’s been your most empowering or memorable travel moment?
Going to Mount Fuji in Japan was one of my most memorable moments to date. It was during Covid, so there weren’t many tourists. The mountain was just majestic to see in person, and the area around it was very scenic and beautiful.
Have you ever felt love at first sight with a city/country?
Yes, I love Medellín, Colombia. I fell in love as soon as I got there.
What was it about Medellín that made you fall in love at first sight?
I think it was the landscape combined with the wonderful people that I met everywhere I went. There was always something to do and somewhere to go.
What’s the most bizarre or unexpected skill you’ve picked up from living abroad?
I am open to trying most food, and I learned how to use chopsticks well!
How has your intuition evolved through solo travel?
I am very aware of small changes and observant.
How have your priorities or worldview changed since living abroad?
I would say that, irrespective of the country, people everywhere are just trying to survive and live a good life. I try not to worry so much about the future because we are only on this earth for a short period of time. It is important to make life as fulfilling as possible wherever you are.
Do you feel like the same person who left home?
No, I have changed in every aspect of life.
In what ways have you changed?
I would say that my worldview is very open. I now understand a lot of things about myself and the world that I would never have learned if I hadn’t traveled.
Is there a version of you that exists only in a certain city or country? What brings her out?
Yes, when I am in my home country, Jamaica, my Jamaican patois comes out; it feels good to speak in patois when I am in Jamaica. It’s like being connected to my roots.
Have you ever felt more ‘yourself’ in a foreign culture than in your own? Why do you think that is?
Yes, I felt more like myself while living in Colombia.
Tell me more about that. What about Colombian culture allowed you to be more your authentic self?
The landscape of Colombia is somewhat similar to a lot of places in Jamaica. They had a lot of the tropical fruit that we also have in Jamaica, in addition to numerous exotic food and fruits. In Colombia, I was free to be myself, and I found people more accepting of people for who they are.
Have you formed meaningful relationships while abroad—romantic or platonic?
Yes, I’ve met some of my best friends while living abroad. My group of international friends keep me grounded.
What’s something you’ve borrowed from another culture that you now consider part of your identity?
Taking off your shoes before you enter your home is something I’ve adapted from Japan, and drinking coffee from South America. I hated coffee prior to moving to South America. I was offered it everywhere I went, so I started drinking it; now I can’t do without it.
What languages do you speak?
I speak English, Spanish, a little Japanese, and Jamaican Creole (it’s a dialect).
Do different sides of your personality come out when you speak different languages? For example, are you funnier or more outgoing in one language? More confident in another?
When I speak Spanish, I’ve been told that I sound “cute.” In South America, people sometimes give me free stuff because they like my Spanish accent. In Jamaican patois, I can make more connections with slang, historical, and societal events, which can make the communication appear more animated.
What’s the most hilariously bad translation or miscommunication you’ve experienced?
There are too many!
What does home mean to you?
Home is wherever I am and where I feel safe.
What reverse culture shock have you experienced returning to your home country?
Just seeing how long everything takes whenever you need to get something done. The more relaxed way of living, I’m used to being on the go now.
If your travel life had a theme song, what would it be?
I would copy Dora the Explorer theme song.
What’s one piece of advice for taking their first solo trip?
As long as you have shelter and you’re in a safe area, prepare to have fun!!
“It is important to make life as fulfilling as possible wherever you are.” Amen to that!!