Where You’ll Live and Teach

Teaching abroad is as much about place as it is about school. Our placements invite you into communities that are welcoming, practical, and rich in culture. Expect four real seasons, strong arts scenes, accessible nature, and neighborhoods where you can build a life. Below you’ll find a quick feel for each location plus photo ideas that match the story.

Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP)

Classroom to kayak in one afternoon. MSP blends serious arts with easy nature and a cost of living that stretches further than the coasts. Winters are bright and snowy, summers are spent on lakes, and fall colors feel cinematic. Neighborhoods are walkable near the METRO Blue/Green Lines, breweries, coffee shops, and music venues. Professional sports are part of the rhythm of life, and faith communities across traditions are easy to find.

  • Arts and culture: Guthrie Theater, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Walker Art Center and Sculpture Garden, Minneapolis Institute of Art, First Avenue, Cedar Cultural Center, Orchestra Hall, Hennepin Theatre District, Northern Spark and Open Streets events.

  • Nature and outdoors: Chain of Lakes (Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, Lake of the Isles), Minnehaha Falls, Mississippi River Gorge and Stone Arch Bridge, Grand Rounds bike loop, Theodore Wirth Park ski trails, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, summer paddleboarding and winter Nordic skiing.

  • Neighborhoods and social life: North Loop warehouses and restaurants, Uptown lakes and cafes, Northeast arts district and taprooms, St. Paul’s Cathedral Hill and Grand Avenue, Midtown Global Market, Mill City Farmers Market, St. Paul Farmers’ Market.

  • Uniqueness and traditions: Skyway system downtown, Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Holidazzle, curling leagues at Frogtown and St. Paul Curling Club, sauna culture and ice fishing on city lakes.

  • Professional sports: Vikings (NFL) at U.S. Bank Stadium, Twins (MLB) at Target Field, Timberwolves (NBA) and Lynx (WNBA) at Target Center, Wild (NHL) at Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota United FC (MLS) at Allianz Field.

  • Universities and learning: University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Macalester College, University of St. Thomas, Augsburg University, St. Catherine University.

  • Transit and access: METRO Blue Line to MSP Airport and Mall of America, METRO Green Line between downtowns, arterial BRT lines, Nice Ride bikes, strong bike lanes with winter maintenance.

New York City (NYC)

Electric, global, and always at your doorstep. NYC offers unmatched cultural access, transit that takes you everywhere, and school communities that mirror the world. Housing costs are higher, so many teachers share apartments and trade space for neighborhood life. Weekends swing from museums and Broadway to local parks and waterfronts. Universities, faith centers, and professional networks make it a powerful place to grow.
Arts/culture: Broadway and Off-Broadway, Lincoln Center, MoMA, The Met, Brooklyn Museum, New York Philharmonic, jazz in the Village.

  • Arts and culture: Broadway and Off-Broadway, Lincoln Center, The Met and MoMA, Whitney Museum, Brooklyn Museum, New York Philharmonic, Apollo Theater in Harlem, BAM in Fort Greene, jazz at Village Vanguard and Birdland, film at Film Forum and Angelika.

  • Nature and outdoors: Central Park and Prospect Park, High Line, Hudson River Park piers, East River Esplanade, Governors Island, beaches at Rockaway and Coney Island.

  • Neighborhoods and social life: Astoria food halls, Jackson Heights global eats, Washington Heights river views, Harlem arts, Upper West Side museums, Brooklyn’s Williamsburg and Greenpoint waterfronts, Queens Night Market, Smorgasburg.

  • Uniqueness and traditions: Bodega cats, street fairs on every weekend, Lunar New Year in Flushing and Chinatown, West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, Pride March, Diwali on the Square.

  • Professional sports: Yankees and Mets (MLB), Knicks and Nets (NBA), Rangers, Islanders and Devils (NHL), Giants and Jets (NFL), NYCFC and Red Bulls (MLS), Liberty (WNBA).

  • Universities and learning: Columbia University, NYU, CUNY system, Fordham, Pace, Teachers College professional development and evening programs.

  • Transit and access: 24-hour subway and buses, OMNY contactless fare, PATH to New Jersey, LIRR and Metro-North for quick trips, ferries to Staten Island and Governors Island.

Upstate New York (Rochester & Buffalo)

University-anchored, arts-forward, and community-proud. Upstate New York gives you two complementary cities within 75 minutes of each other: Rochester’s music and imaging heritage paired with Buffalo’s architecture, waterfront revival, and legendary sports culture. Cost of living is approachable, commutes are short, winters are snowy and social, and weekend nature is world-class—from the Finger Lakes to Niagara Falls.

  • Arts & culture: Eastman School of Music performances, Rochester Philharmonic, Memorial Art Gallery, George Eastman Museum (photography/film). In Buffalo, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Burchfield Penney Art Center, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Irish Classical and Alleyway Theatre, plus gallery corridors in Elmwood Village and Allentown.

  • Architecture & history: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House and Graycliff, Richardson Olmsted Campus, Silo City industrial tours, High Falls district in Rochester, and canal-era landmarks along the Erie Canal.

  • Nature & outdoors: Niagara Falls (year-round), Letchworth State Park (“Grand Canyon of the East”), Genesee River gorge and High Falls, Erie Canalway Towpath, Durand Eastman Park beach, Buffalo’s Canalside rink/boardwalk and Outer Harbor trails, Olmsted’s Delaware Park, quick drives to the Finger Lakes for hikes and vineyards.

  • Neighborhoods & social life: Rochester’s Park Avenue cafes, South Wedge boutiques, and Neighborhood of the Arts (Village Gate); Buffalo’s Elmwood Village patios, Allentown murals, Hertel Avenue restaurants, West Side international markets, Broadway Market around Easter.

  • Uniqueness & traditions: Rochester’s Lilac Festival, International Jazz Festival, Public Market Saturdays, Strong Museum of Play; Buffalo’s Dyngus Day parade and polka parties, Taste of Buffalo, Shakespeare in Delaware Park, winter curling leagues and pond hockey.

  • Professional sports: Buffalo Bills (NFL) and “Bills Mafia” tailgates, Buffalo Sabres (NHL), Buffalo Bisons (AAA), Rochester Americans (AHL), Bandits (NLL box lacrosse), plus local soccer (Flower City Union). Game days double as community gatherings.

  • Universities & learning: University of Rochester and URMC, Rochester Institute of Technology, Nazareth University, St. John Fisher University; University at Buffalo (SUNY), Buffalo State University, Canisius University, D’Youville University—strong education, counseling, engineering, and arts pipelines into K-12 schools.

  • Getting around: Short commutes by car or bus (RTS in Rochester, NFTA in Buffalo), Metro Rail in Buffalo’s core, bikeable canal paths, Amtrak east–west service, and two easy airports (ROC and BUF). Canada is a simple weekend trip when documents allow.