Jetting Educated

When I was a child I used to love looking through Guinness World Record books. My Dad would often get them as a stocking filler at Christmas, as I loved looking at all the amazing examples of nature; like the worlds tallest man, pointless achievements; balancing eggs on top of each other,  or random trivia; Jackie Chan has A LOT of pop hits in China. I specifically remember a song title of his: "Big Happy Face" and thinking it was pretty silly. I also clearly recall a picture of a tiny box-room in Tokyo, which was the worlds smallest hotel room. For a period of time, I imagined that everyone in Japan lived in little capsules instead of houses... but then again I was probably on eight when I decided this. Towels? Yes please Ugly brown pyjamas? Ok... I guess. Now I do know that not every Japanese person lives in such little spaces. In fact, I did took the opportunity to stay in a capsule hotel in Tokyo on a recent trip to the land of the rising Sun. I wanted to know ...

Whichever country you are reading this from, I’m sure you’re feeling a bit chillier than usual this week. Here in the semi-tropical environment of Southern China, I’m feeling cold too. The French Alps felt warmer than China. Or rather, the houses were made with weather changes in mind. I’ve lived in far colder weather, hovering around zero (32F) in the French Alps and usually -15 (5F) in Lapland. But where the Lapland apartments were well insulated and properly equipped for the cold, China is usually warm and so there’s no insulation or heating. For nine months of the year when its hot  I am grateful for the cooling air conditioning that every apartment has. The floors are tiled, as in many parts of Asia, which also helps to keep the place cool in the summer. Large screen doors open on to a cute little balcony and let in lots of light. Yeah the doors don't close properly, but a few gaps aren't too problematic when its so hot. Its the closest to the equator  I...

I got tapped on the shoulder after entering the shop. As I turned around, I was wondering if it was an assistant- but no, it was a fellow Westerner! She launched very enthusiastically in to asking where I was from and what I was doing in China. I, being a cynic, was wondering if she was going to try to sell me something. But actually she had stopped me because she's not seen any other Western people since she moved to Huadu from Australia. And that was three months ago... When she told me this I actually was not surprised. I'm sure the inner city has more of a cultural mix, whereas within the district I reside, nearly everyone is Chinese. Don't misjudge my feelings, I am not shocked that I am surrounded by Chinese people when I am living in China, but I can't lie that being a minority takes some getting used to. Before I arriving, my employer informed me that the Guangzhou based school is a great place to be and that I'd be housed near my place of work. W...

Location: Huadu, Guangdong Province, China Setting: A small local supermarket Time: 1725, on a Thursday China is a big place and I'm in a very little part of it Being stared at in China is something that I have grown accustomed to. Since I live in the suburbs, which has a very low concentration of anyone who is not Chinese, I stick out like a Panda amongst Snowmen. Actually, I stick out even more than that Panda would, as my facial hair (not at all common) and nose piercing (unheard of) make me more much more noticeable. Therefore I was not too concerned when a young Chinese lady was staring in mine and Holly’s direction when we were queuing to pay for fruit for a ‘kids kitchen’ lesson. Our students were going to make fruit salads which necessitated an unlikely quantity of fruit being presented at the till, and it was the fruit which the lady was goggling at- not us! What Chinese people think is odd: my beard and nose ring. What I think is odd: This...

Setting: Near the city of Guangzhou, Southern China. Role: Teacher of English and Music/Movement to pre-school children Elapsed time: Day 114 in China... If I said to you ‘’I work abroad as an English teacher’’, you might imagine me in front of a semicircle of adults, encouraging them to repeat new words- or with a classful of high school kids who can’t sit still in their seats. That’s probably what I would have pictured too. That is, before I accepted a job to become a pre-school teacher in China. When I arrived in Autumn, these pretty lanterns the students had made were adorning the playground One slight problem with accepting this job was that I didn’t have knowledge of how to teach English to 2-5-year-olds. I was honest during my Skype interview: ''I’ve taught teenagers and I’ve looked after younger children in France''. And that experience along with my CELTA qualification and summer school work was enough to get me the jo...

Recently I left the UK to begin a kindergarten teaching job in China, a place I have never been to before. Since I will be there for the next 10 months, I hope it turns out to be a good decision! A good omen from Heathrow? In one day I took both the longest flight (12 hours - London Heathrow-Hong Kong) and shortest (35mins - Hong Kong to Guangzhou) that I have ever been on. The journey was over before I knew it, and then I found myself in China. What now?  On the car ride for the airport I began taking in the area I was going to make my new home. Firstly I was surprisedbto see a man riding a motorbike with no helmet. What!  As it transpired, I peaked too early on the shock factor. Shortly after, I saw three people on one motorbike, cutting in and out of traffic. Then I saw another motorbike with three adults- and a baby sandwiched in the mix- none of whom wore headgear. Quite an interesting sight for the first few minutes in the country...

As we shook hands and said goodbye, my new friend said, "See you around" I replied with, "Maybe not though- I'll be in China soon won't I?"  "Yeah of course," he said, "Well, good luck!" And he was off. I can tell you that when I saw this particular gentleman two weeks later, at a party in west London, I was slightly sheepish that I was, in fact, still in the UK. After all- I had been so convinced that I'd be leaving speedily.  By the third time we met, the embarrassment had worn off. I realised that I'd be here in England for a while and so I'd made peace with that fact. East. Far East Seven weeks ago today, my girlfriend Holly and I were offered fantastic jobs teaching in a kindergarten school in Southern China. It was the first job offer we received since we began looking for TEFL jobs in Asia. However, it seemed perfect: sensible working hours, weekends off, a nice location, flights and...

I moved to Budapest two weeks ago today and I am still loving it! Last time I wrote, I talked money and my first impression was that Budapest is a strong contender when it comes to offering excellent value for money. Well, I could speak for beer at least, as that had been my main experience of spending until that point. Since then I've continued to have wonderful, wallet-friendly times, whose crowning glory on Saturday was a tasty meal at a restaurant (including wine) for £2.69. But as my friend Sam would say, money should not be discussed. What I have been dissertating at length is  language , because the reason I'm in Hungary is that I'm training to become an English teacher. Specifically a teacher to 'non-native speakers' or as I'm sure Nigel Farage (adj: meaning xenophobic) would say, 'the foreigns'. What a funny language! N.B not so funny when you've trying to teach it... But let's not talk English, even though it is intere...