Immigrant teachers have been more visible than ever before owing to transnational mobility. However, there is a lack of research on exploring their lived experiences in a broader context. With an auto-ethnographic approach, this study delves into the life of a non-native migrant in New Zealand over a period of 6 years. The qualitative data were mainly drawn from his reflective journals written between 2009 and 2016. Using grounded theory analysis, a genuine narrative of the ‘self’ reveals that the experience of living overseas has constantly shaped his expectations on personal, social and professional levels. The findings generate a conceptual framework as a means to illustrate intertwined relationships between one’s expectations and living experiences.

由于跨国流动性，移民教师比以往任何时候都更加引人注目。但是，缺乏在更广泛的背景下探索他们的生活经验的研究。本研究采用自动人种志方法，研究了6年内新西兰非本地移民的生活。定性数据主要来自他在2009年至2016年之间撰写的反思性期刊。使用扎实的理论分析，对“自我”的真实叙述揭示了在海外生活的经历不断塑造着他对个人，社会和职业水平的期望。研究结果产生了一个概念框架，作为说明一个人的期望和生活经验之间相互联系的一种方式。