It was Saturday, the first day of the school/work week in Oman. Younis, one of my students, came in looking noticeably tan. Of course, Oman is the land of 363-days-of-sunshine-per-year and many Omanis have tan faces, but Younis was usually quite pale. On this Saturday morning, he looked as though he had spent a solid week at the beach. ...
One of the great things about teaching English abroad is discovering the hidden gems of a region. Sometimes it's food (Kimchi grows on you eventually!), sometimes it's the culture. Other times, it's a sound or a note that catches you, like when it comes to the music of Mexico. Music has always had a rhythm to it that makes ...
I knew, when looking for a position teaching English abroad, that I wanted to live in Tokyo. Having been here for three years now, even knowing it’s crowded, I’m still surprised at just how many people are here. Japan has around 127 million people; of those 127 million, 37 million live in the greater Tokyo area with an additional ...
Split between two continents, Turkey is a country that lies on the southeastern corner of Europe and the western part of Asia. Turkey is bordered by four different bodies of water, the Mediterranean Sea in the South, the Aegean Sea in the West, the Black Sea in the North and the Sea of Marma in the middle of the ...
Are you thinking about teaching English abroad in Taiwan? There is, of course, plenty of people hungry to learn the English language and culture. On the flip side, Taiwan offers a lot for potential teachers. With five mountain ranges, four islands, and plenty of beaches, Taiwan has an abundance of natural beauty for you to explore. Here are a ...
My teaching experience abroad in Mexico was phenomenally enriching! It has broadened my view on life, shaped my social perspectives and offered me new and innovative ways of perceiving the world that we live in. (This post is part of an ongoing series of guest blogs sent by individuals who have experienced life abroad as a TESOL/TEFL educator. We ...
It was with luck that I found myself in Kyoto, Japan for some professional development during cherry blossom season. After spending ten energy-sapping hours in a conference room, most of the participants scurried back to the hotel to rest up for the following day. Faced with a free evening and a small group of new friends, the opportunity to ...
When I packed my bags and moved across the ocean to accept a job teaching English in South Korea, I knew I would be facing a lot of experiences I hadn’t yet dreamed of. I expected the culture shock; I expected the language shock; I even expected to take some time getting used to the food. What I didn’t ...
Imagine strange shapes glowing neon on billboards, bizarre sounds emanating from the hustle and bustle of the crowds surrounding you and the odd smells of foods you've never even heard of, let alone tasted, wafting through the air. This is the sensory overload I experienced upon my landing at Incheon Airport. I was about to embark on a year ...
Known for its tropical jungles, exotic beaches and humid weather, Thailand exudes life and friendliness to its visitors. Whether you're in the busy, packed and ultramodern city of Bangkok or the historic Chiang Mai, there is so much to see and do in this country known as "The Land of Smiles." (Don't miss our blog post on how teaching ...