Lone Ranger

An English teacher that recently shed the British Education system to educate herself for a little while!

[liondray]

Dear everyone,

I’m gonna take a short break from Doctor Who gifs and Harry Potter quotes, and also, I’m gonna ask for your attention, as I have to tell you a little story, it’ll only take a couple of minutes and I’ll try to make it as short as possible.

This is my home, the...

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Thailand in 2: Part 1 - The North For me, Thailand is completely divided. There's the north, Chiangmai and the Golden Triangle, including Pai: and then there's the south, the infamous thai islands of likes of Koh Phi Phi at one side and Koh Phangan at the other. Bangkok, in the centre, is somewhat of a mix of both of my ideas about Thailand The north was wonderful! When I travelled into the Golden Traingle to Pai, I was lucky enough to be there during 2 huge Thai festivals: Loi Krathong and Yi Peng. During this time Thai people make Krathongs, which are like small floats decorated to look like flowers and which carry incense and a candle, and they light then and send then down the river to cleanse them of their sins. They also light sky lanterns and all let them off together in the temples or by the river. It is such a stunning thing to experience. I was staying with a Thai lady called Darling and she dressed me up in traditional village clothing and I became part of the parade through this little mountain town. It was incredible! While in Pai, I was also able to ride an elephant! I had done a lot of research into this as animals can free be treated horribly in countries in Asia and due to the lack of regulations, it can often go unnoticed or uncared for. It is a typical thing to want to do when in Thailand and the city Chiangmai has capitalised on elephant treks. You have to make sure they don't strap a huge seat to the elephant as it is really bad for the animal. Although they have very thick skin, those structures, however many times a day they are made to ride with heavy westerners on their backs, are damaging. Secondly, check the elephant's head for scarring. Some elephants are raised lovingly and carefully: some are abused and violently beaten into submission with a hammer. Unfortunately, the later is the case a lot with big companies around Chiangmai. I was very lucky and was able to spend a few hours with elephants raised by The Karen Tribe who live in the jungle of the mountains near Pai. I trekked through the jungle, balancing, sat on it's neck, my legs clinging on for dear life behind the elephant's ears! Then washed her in the river and swam with her and played in the water splashing and being thrown off down stream! I was even able to feed then the bananas i had taken them and saw where they lived in the village. I don't know how they were raised and they are trained to respond to commands but there were no seats and no scars, just a lose rope for me to hold on to to keep my balance and this was removed as soon as we returned through the jungle. They are beautiful beautiful creatures! Also in north Thailand it is common to rent motorbikes as they are the easier way to get round these valleys and Winding little roads. Up the mountains, there are secret temples, gorges and waterfalls that you can go and explore, if you can find them! I rented a motorbike and found a beautiful waterfall but unfortunately it began pouring it down with rain and I lost control of my bike and fell off. I am incredibly lucky to have walked away with a graze down my leg, a pretty nasty graze, but I saw so many backpackers with broken limbs or grazes that covered their sides and faces completely. I was going slowly and so me and the bike were fine. There seem to be hardly any health and safety regulations in Asia and although that means things seem more exciting and adventurous, it means you are totally unprotected. Again, I was lucky. Many aren't. Before I moved south in Thailand i went to the city of Chiangmai. It was bustling and beautiful and while I was there I had a Thai massage. It's not a relaxing experience as they twist and bend you until your joints crack ad stretch, but it feels amazing afterwards. Again, like the elephant tourism, there is a tourist risk with where to get massaged: how well they're trained, treated and how well they treat you. I went to the women's prison for mine as they have a rehabilitation centre where they train prisoners properly so they can integrate back into society one they leave. It's a great cause for Thai Women who would otherwise potentially be neglected by society or feel at a loss without a skill to get work and try to fit back in. If people who leave prison aren't supported, they are more likely to commit more crime. It was such a professional day with incense burning and relaxing Thai music playing. I was a stretched out! North Thailand was welcoming and full of culture. There were tourist traps and dangers but mostly there were experiences and new adventures for you to learnt about Thai culture. I really enjoyed my time here! Then it all went south ... But that's for another blog! Miss E xxxx

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The Kingdom of Cambodia! I have changed my mind again Tigers! This is my new favourite place. I didn't know much about the country or it's history but I wanted to get to know some of the basics before I got there. Being an English teacher, I opted to read a novel written by a woman who grew up in Cambodia during the communist regime led by the Khmer Rouge and the huge civil war, which only really ended 30 years ago. It is called 'First they killed my father' by Loung Ung and this book has changed me forever. Cambodia has suffered huge poverty and has such a violent and oppressive recent history. Anyone you meet in Cambodia today has been affects by it in some way. The communist way is that everyone should be made equal and the Khmer Rouge did not like any regimes by the previous government. This meant any doctors, teachers, students, police, soldiers, dentists, lawyers, basically anyone with an education, was treated horribly, their families were moved to fields to work long hours growing rice and they were starved, sometimes killed just for being educated. It wasn't just the rich or educated, in Cambodia everyone was out on rations and was made poor and a lot of monks were killed as the Khmer Rouge didn't believe in religion. A lot of people starved, were killed or killed themselves. 1/4 of Cambodia died. That's one in every 4 people! I know this is a bit of a depressing way to start a blog but now the country is healing. The people, a lot of whom are still very poor, are happy and warm and welcoming. Nobody speaks of the Khmer Rouge and the people are thrilled when you want to learn their language or about their culture. The monks are a lot more relaxed than I thought they would be and even they are giggly and cheeky! Cambodia is beautiful! There are signs of destruction but I was lucky enough to visit lots of amazing places all over the country and experience how beautiful it really is: In the south east I taught English is Takeo an a village called Little Po. I taught monks, police men and very poor children. I also taught guitar lessons at the local orphanage. I had to cycle for an hour through rice paddies and small poor villages,my bike kicking up the red dust from the tracks as there aren't many roads. It was stunning. I was also invited, by the head monk, to a village far into the mountains to see the opening of a new pagoda (temple). These villagers had never seen any foreigners before. It was such a special occasion and I felt very privileged! In the middle of Cambodia I stayed in Phnom Penh where a lot of the Khmer Rouge destruction happened. I learnt about the history a d visited the killing fields where hundreds of bodies were found in the 80s. It was very upsetting. I also went to a beautiful island called Koh Rong in the south west. White sandy beaches, hammocks, coconuts, pineapples and snorkling in turquoise seas! I even got to swim at night and see plankton that light up in the water when you move. It was like magic. One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen! Then up to the North west to Siem Reap where I met more monks and visited the incredible temples Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom etc for sunset and sunrise. It was stunning and it felt very spiritual! In Ta Promh temple they filmed Tomb Raider and the trees (which are massive!) have grown on top of the temples so their roots have crawled through the stonework over time. It's awesome as it looks like nature has taken back its land! Such a wonderful country so full of beauty and history. It was incredibly hard to leave! Cambodia was so much more honest than Vietnam, which I now recognise was quite touristy and lacked a bit of real adventure or sincere experiences. Thailand next and I have to say it has a lot to live up to! Miss teaching you guys and when I was teaching in Little Po it made me miss you all even more! Hope you're all doing well, I thought about year 10 and their English exams and kept my fingers crossed for you all! Lots of love, Miss E

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Vietnam! This country is possibly my favourite place so far. The food is absolutely incredible; the people are friendly and kind and warm; the scenery just keeps getting more and more beautiful; and it is so cheap an easy for backpackers to live and travel here. Unfortunately, there are downsides. For example, the people here are so poor and it's part of the culture to haggle. As the money is ridiculous (£1 is 33,000 dong!) travellers end up bartering for the sake of a couple of quid, something that means very little to us but would make a substantial difference to their daily life. Some place are very touristy and it's easy to get caught up in getting the cheapest prices but forgetting how lucky and privileged your life is in comparison. On a more positive note, as it is so well travelled by backpackers, I have made so many friends from all over the world! When I move to a new city, I bump into people I met I. The town before! It feels a lot more familiar and comfortable to be driving down the street on my moped and wave to the Dutch guys I met or pass by the French girls who are in the market! The culture of Vietnam is a lot more accessible than China. I loved china because it was so different and I get a similar feeling from Vietnam. Again thy are mainly Buddhist and so there are happy Buddha statues everywhere with offerings of wine, flowers and fruit in front of it as they believe it will bring them luck and make them happy. They do seem very happy! I've been here a week and I've already: climbed a mountain, swam in the sea, been invited to eat with a Vietnamese family in their home, ridden many motorbikes, explored holy temples, climbed in a cave, kayaked around the famous Ha Long Bay, had tailored dresses made out of real silk and seen a children's folksinging class in the middle of a village! Such a wonderful experience and more and more to come. By now you're all very much in the swing of things at school and I do Miss you all a lot. Year 11, good luck with your exam on November 5th. I am thinking of you and I know you're going to absolutely smash it! Keep adventuring, Miss E Xxxx

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Ni Hao from China! This place is so unlike anywhere I've ever been before in my life! I started in Beijing where I quickly had to get used to the smog of pollution, people spitting everywhere, babies an toddlers just going to the loo in the street and everyone staring! Turns out I'm pretty tall and pretty white and to the population of China I become the tourist attraction! Aside from the hygiene and what seems like rude staring, it's a pretty awesome place to be. It's really strange to watch the Chinese customs and their way of life. It's. not until you're observing the way people eat or care for each other or look after themselves that you realise that way you've been taught to do it. Neither way is the right way, just very very different ways! It turns out health and safety doesn't exist at all in china! I am currently sat on a bus from Shanghai to Xitang (a little water town outside of the city) and the driver pulled up on the motor way and tour off the rubbed lining from outside the rim of the bus?! So strange! Beijing was lots of incredible food, seriously I'm getting so fat because I can't stop eating it all! The bush tucker trial you guys put me through last year trained me for some of the stuff I've been eating here: tongue, stomach, liver, tail and god knows what else I have been pointing to on these non English menus! It's delicious though. Beijing was also filled with life; it was busy and full and energetic and authentic and yea it was dirty and polluted but the decorations, history and activity in the city was beautiful. I hiked the Great Wall and it was hard going but one of the best things I've ever done in my life! 3 hours waking up and down uneven rocky stairs. It climbs the mountain like a dragon and the section of the wall I trekked was called Mutanyu where there are 23 watch towers. It also has new wall which is constantly being maintained and fixed but we trekked to the end to see the oldest wall which is over 700years old. It was physically really tough but I got to toboggan down the mountain when I was finished which was awesome! I went from there on a 15 hour train to Xi'an for the day where just over 20 years ago they discovered a whole burrows army of warriors made from terracotta to guard the emperor's body that is buried there. Nobody knew it was there for hundreds and hundreds of years! It was incredible! I then got another 15 hour train to Wuhan where I lived for a week with my friend. No touristy things just living life in china: learning how to shop in mammoth Chinese supermarkets and how to ring a repair man because you've accidentally flooded your friends flat ... Oops! After a lovely break in Wuhan I got a 13 hour sleeper train to Shanghai. The fastest developing city in the world. China's New York! Will update once I've seen a bit more of it. It is official though, I've wanted to come to China since I was young and I LOVE IT! (Also they have ways of getting round the one baby only rule and the no Facebook rule! I am still researching this though!) Lots of love from the east! Miss E Xx

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Mongolia… one of the most spiritual countries I’ve ever been to! I sat on this mountain and watched the little communities popping out of their gers, hearding sheep, washing clothes, riding wild horses. It was incredible! The population is mainly Buddhist and as I learn more about the religion I have realised how positive it is. They wish for luck all the time and they are always greatful and optimistic. Be a good person, do good deeds and you will lead a good and happy life. Simple really. They are so friendly and warm and open… strange after the iceyness of the Russians! The mongols have many Gods and they have a new big God for each generation every 100 years. There are female Gods, just for women to pray to, because women have different worries or needs to men! There are also angry Gods who dont like lies or cheating and negativity! When you go on a long journey they make loads of stops to tie cloth onto a pole and then go round the pole 3 times to bring a safe journey. The cloths are different colours for different people or purposes: white is for mothers, green is for your homeland, blue is for everyone, yellow is for teachers and monks and red is for when someone has died so in remembrance. They also loads of golden barrels and turn them clockwise for luck. Always clockwise! It’s all fascinating! I climbed a mountain and watched the sunset; rode a wild horse; stayed in a ger; met famous mongolian artists; had my palm read by a shaman (an old mongolian spiritual guide); and found an ancient temple. It has been incredible! The only city in Mongolia is Ulaanbataar. There are 5 million people in the country and 3 million live in the city! I did karaoke (they really love it here!) and a famous mongolian rap artist (who is a bit rubbish!) gave me money to sing pretty much every Beatles song I’ve ever heard. That was strange! There are not many white people that visit Mongolia so people were trying to take pictures of me on the sly as I walked past them on the street! Again… very strange! I do think about Teign and when I learn something cool I immediately try to prepare an exciting lesson to teach it! Lots of mongolian luck to you all! Miss E Xx

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St Petersburg really grew on me! I met 12 other travellers who will be getting the train across Russia too and we had a fantastic time in his beautiful city. It was founded by Peter the Great and there are so many statues of him. He wasn’t like a traditional leader; he travelled Europe to learn different skills like how to build ships! He wanted St Petersburg to be more European which is probably why I felt so comfortable there, after I adjusted to the lack of smiling. Moscow was very different. It rained a lot so it’s hard to make a fair comparison and I got ill! I can teach you lot for a whole year and not get ill but one day in Moscow and I was shivering and having asthma attacks. It has so much history and it was incredible to see things like the Kremlin, Lenin, St Basil’s Cathedral, a random military parade (where I saw a woman put a horse on the subway… I laughed a lot!) but for me it was too big, there were too many police everywhere and we were often searched before being allowed to enter a new street! I got the train across Russia for 4 days, passing so many old run down Soviet towns, driving passed Kazakstan and of course trying Russian vodka (yuck!) and then got off in Irkutsk and got a bus to Lake Baikal: the deepest lake in the world. It’s so beautiful here and reminds me a lot of Romania! It’s very cold here and will be in Mongolia where i head next but I’m trying to prepare myself for China… hot hot hot! Hope school’s going well and you haven’t already fallen behind with your homework! Don’t forget to join in everything and get us Tigers some house points! Speak soon, “Do svidanija” (goodbye!) Miss E Xx

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I am now in St. Petersburg and the first thing i've noticed is everything is huge! It's a city full of history and it's name has changed when the power in Russia changed. The buildings are INSANE! I don't know if this was the intention but the buildings remind you of how small you really are in the grand scheme of things! There are 5 million people in this city and I feel positively insignificant among the mazes of towering pillars and high rise appartments. In Sweden everyone smiled and spoke English as soon as they could to help. Russia, so far, is the opposite. People don't smile at you, not because they are mean or cold, it's just that they don't know you... so why would they smile at you? It's a very different culture. I feel like I'm definitely stepping away from Europe! You guys start school again this week! It will be strange not to be there but I feel like I'm back at school with the amount I'm learning. I'll keep you posted if St Petersburg grows on me and how it compares to Moscow! Speak soon guys, Miss E xx

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Head torch and camel-back! Got a game of twister in my backpack and my inhalers in my pocket. Ready to go!

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9 days to go until I leave England. I have so many things to do and prepare before I go but all I can think about is Year 11 results on Thursday!

A very nervous Miss Evers - trying not to be a teacher!

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Immunisations against 10 different potentially lethal diseases... safety first!

Miss Evers and her sore arms from injections!

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How to prepare ...

So, I am a month away from travelling.

Step 1) Organisational preparation! Most of my flights, trains and visas for the first few countries are in booked and sorted.  Also, I got a job over the summer working as a barmaid in Leeds to save up extra money because it will be cheap once I'm out there but flights and visas are expensive! I have a drawer in my Mum and Dad's house where I've started collecting practical things such as: a head torch  (thanks Miss Bennet!), a towel that folds soooooo small, a small square that folds out into a backpack (it's awesome!), thermals (Russia is cold!), insect spray (I will get bitten!) etc. Getting myself all sorted to squeeze it all in my massive backpack and then attach my ukulele!

Step 2) Mental preparation! Saying goodbye to you guys; facing the fact that I am not going to be in a safe and stable job and there is a significantly high chance I'll run out of money; getting myself ready to leave my big, mental, loving family & my friends.I will admit, I am a little bit scared about the confusion of culture & languages and being on my own but these are also the same things that make me excited about it all. Lots to think about!

  Step 3) Physical preparation! I didn't really realise that I need to get fit in case of treks and long walks to the next train station etc. Also, I need all sorts of jabs and medication just in case I go to countries like India. As I am pretty blind without my contacts, I had to consider how I will carry them around and what will happen if they break or I lose them - because I would be blind! Eeeek!

  It's getting very real, very exciting and very scary. I feel incredibly alive and I know, once I'm out there, these will be the stories I tell for the rest of my life (and annoy future classes with!) Got to go - more prep to do.

  Miss E 

xxx

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Goodbye Tigers! Here's part 1 of my gift to you: a collection of some of our "best bits" over the last year.  Gift part 2 will start properly when I get to another country and can start sharing exciting stories with you! 

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Teign School's first ever flashmob! Lunchtime in the canteen didn't know what hit it...

WE'RE TIGERS AND WE KNOW IT!

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Who knew a Tiger and a Shark could be best friends?! 

It is easier though when ...

TIGERS WIN SPORTS DAY! 

So incredibly proud of all members of my House.

Mama Tiger xx

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20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines, sail away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore, dream, discover

Mark Twain

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The day I cried in school

Well, let's face it (and those of you who have ever been taught by me, probably know) this is not the first time I cried in school!

Today was different though - I am leaving to follow my adventures; it's incredibly exciting but I love the kids at my school so it felt very solemn.  

It felt strange to tell my kids that I was leaving. It felt like I was breaking up with my wonderful Tigers! When I told my year 11s I actually cried (not because I'm leaving but because realistically, I won't see them again - that's sad!) With all of the education and training you need to be a teacher, you are never prepared for the attachment and sense of loyalty you feel towards the pupils you come across.

Today was a tough day! I love the kids at Teign. I only hope I have inspired some of them to follow exciting but sometimes terrifying dreams!

Here we go ...