Wandering Vs. Lost

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"All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king." TOLKIEN

 



      Corey and I set out to go get a salad for dinner and came back with this tattoo, much to my families chagrin. I've spent countless hours planning and traveling this beautiful planet, and although cliché, I do consider myself a wanderer. A nomad of sorts; not of homes but of places and feelings. My brother works with the rich and classy. He serves them with a passion and a desire that I would resent if I were in his shoes, yet I admire him for finding his calling. He is so dang good at his job, yet I sit at my desk every day feeling shackled to a set of time tables and bratty customers, with an itch to do more.

        My mom thinks my calling is to be a mother, my boss thinks it is to be "nicer" version of himself, and personally I have no earthly clue what my "more" is. I got the tattoo for a few different reasons. I love adventure, and I have a deep rooted passion in travel, but I really got the tattoo because I am both wandering and lost, and although they are different, they are the same.

          I am not lost in my ideals. I am not lost in my desires or my abilities. Society might think otherwise, but I am not lost even if I live in a van selling watermelon and dream catchers to passers by. I am not lost. I am wandering. I am wandering a beautiful planet. I am wandering my path, but I am not lost. My purpose is not a yellow brick road, but a set of events that creates a journey; all ending with a specific purpose. I am not lost if I wander off my path, because I choose the road less traveled and make it my path.

          Yet, I am also lost...or was. I sat in church on Sunday, thanking God for a beautiful day. Buzzy (my grandma) finally saw my tattoo that morning so it was on my mind and I remember praying and hearing God say, "do not wander from Me anymore." Yikes! I have spent all this time defending a tattoo because I am a traveler, and yet here I was wandering away from the God that made it all. In that moment I knew I was not physically or emotionally lost, but I was for a small period of time, lost spiritually. Wandering the globe is one thing, but wandering from the God that knows my path is another. My faith has strengthened me but not grounded me, and for that I am grateful.  

 

            I do not know my path on this earth, and I do not need to. I am not lost in that regard. I know that my path is wild-as wild as a sun-kissed bed of wildflowers. Free to choose between countries and cities, people and animals, yet secure enough to know that I may wander the globe, but I will not wander from my Savior.

 

 I am a wanderer because I am free, and I am free because I have chosen to not be lost.

 

 

I am wandering, but I am not lost.

My last day as a TEFL Teacher!

As I put the final touches on my packing in my even more bare room it hit me that this is the last time I will be seeing this room, this school, the students and my co-teachers. My room that once reminded me of a concrete prison, all white walls and no decorations, is now my home; my second home. These students are a part of me. Sure they make me want to pull out my hair and beat my head on the wall sometimes but from what I can tell that is the norm of teaching, and I won't get to experience this with them, I won't get to see them grow or see what the path they chose to take in this crazy wild ride called life. That is sad to me, but I know they will do amazing!

Just now I put my bag into the car to be taken for storage, and by this time tomorrow I will be half way to Cambodia. It is crazy to me that I will be traveling for 21 days with only a book bag full of clothes and essentials, but hey if Thailand has taught me anything it is that less is more, and there is no need for worthless possessions! WOW! Part of me is sad for the life I am leaving behind, yet a bigger part of me is thrilled to start a journey that I know will truly open my eyes even more. 

My dates for traveling and my future blog posts are:

September 26th-29th:                       Cambodia

September 29th-October 3rd:           Chiang Mai 

October 3rd-October 10th:              Krabi/Koh Pi Pi/ Koh Lanta

October 10th-October 16th:             Bali

October 17th:                                   Bangkok to NYC

October 18th:                                   NORFOLK,VA

Here is to traveling, seeing the world, and becoming a stronger woman! Wohoooooo Cambodia here I come!

How to become a TEFL Teacher

I've had several people reach out to me and ask about my journey teaching English in a foreign country; several well wishers, a few who thought I was insane, and an even smaller few who want to try it themselves, so here is my list on what to do if you are interested in becoming a TEFL/ESL teacher (as well as some helpful tips and tricks!)

1. Pick a country....or a few countries! 

I say this because some countries have more regulations on what you would need in order to become certified, as well as requirements on length of stay. Japan, South Korea, Turkey and the UAE all pay the most, upwards of $2000 a month including room and board and sometimes even a plan ticket. Those places usually require prior TEFL experience, but that being said if you really have your heart set on one of those then definitely go for it!

Side note: Keep in mind that some places do not allow women to be teachers, or to go out past certain times. Several places in the UAE have bans on drinking for men and women, curfews and clothing restrictions! DEFINITELY RESEARCH THE CULTURAL NORMS BEFORE PICKING A COUNTRY!

2. To get TEFL certified or not?

I didn't even know it was an option to get a teaching job and not be qualified, so that eliminated that question for me, but yes, there are jobs out there where you don't need anything but a bachelors degree. That being said, having a TEFL certificate will sometimes allow you to have a higher pay or more choice on where you want to go. I wanted to become certified because it meant that for the rest of my life I have the option to pack my bags and leave for any country I want, knowing I will be able to find a job, as well as having a lot of opportunities to tutor or teach back home. However, most countries are dying for native English-speaking (American, Australian and English, maybe even Scottish or Irish depending on the school) and would take a teacher who isn't qualified.

There are ways to get certified and then find a job on your own! See links below!

TEFL CERTIFICATION: http://www.bridgetefl.com/online-tefl-certification/  (always get the 120 version, as that is the standard!)

JOBS/GAMES AND INFO: http://www.eslcafe.com/

3. Program or no program?

Nothing is more annoying that having to pay thousands of dollars to go volunteer for free; teaching English is no different, except you get paid. While there are a lot of pros for programs there are several cons as well. I chose to sign up with a program BridgeTEFL (CIEE and OEG are big ones too-if you choose to go through them make sure to mention my name as a reference!). I chose this because A. I didn't know I could get a job without one B. I, as well as my family, was more at ease knowing I would be part of a group that gave health insurance, 24/7 support and gave me an orientation. Most programs will also set you up and get you placed with a school and give you visa assistance. It is also really nice to have a group of like minded people at orientation to befriend and have as traveling companions!!!! Those are the pros......

However, my pay gets docked about 5,000 baht to be sent to the program, which is super annoying and really I haven't needed the support so that is a moot point. Also, there have been several complaints that the program did not place the participants even remotely close to where the participants asked-I know for a fact that is true, but to be fair not everywhere is palm trees and rain forests. It also costs a pretty penny. Together, everything included it costed close to $1,500 dollars, not including flights. I was blessed that my parents had a 529 so it covered my certification as furtherance of my education, but not everyone has that, so it will take some saving up.

All in all I would say if you are not a well seasoned traveler go for the program. CIEE does not certify you, but BridgeTEFL did, so that was a huge help and they also placed me in a school and I didn't have anything to do but sit and wait for the phone call! Really it is based on your comfort and your desires, as well as your ability to network. If you can find a job first, then don't go for the program, but if you are scared of traveling or want help being placed you should used the program route.

INSIDER TIP: You can sign on for a program, get them to help you, place you and get you certified and then quit for a better job once you get to your country, but to me that seems rude and disrespectful to the school, but that is your choice.


4. What will I need to get? 
A. Letters of reference: I needed 2, but some need 3!
B. Your official transcripts from your registrar.
C. A letter from your registrar stating you did indeed graduate in X major at X date.
D. Your original diploma as well as a clear copy to fax/email.
E. Your tickets!!!!
_________________________________________________________________________________

Once you have gotten accepted and placed you will need to:

A. Obtain a visa...which is much trickier than one would think. You can use an agency like Travisa which is what I did, but it costs-you will find that there will be a lot of costs for things you need......

     1. State level background check (There is a form online that you print out and then mail in to the State                    Police Department- $20)
     2. 2 Passport Photos (Walgreen's...about $12-which is an absurd amount of money I though for a pic!)
     3. Your copy of your diploma, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, completed background  
             check, pictures, letter from your registrar and proof of your transportation (print out the e-ticket!) to              the country you chose!
     4. Your actual passport!

You can send it, or go in person, to the Embassy and have it processed, which is mounds cheaper, but for convenience and depending on your time schedule you can go with an agency that does it all for you if you so choose. You will get your passport back in the mail with your Non-Immigrant B Visa which looks something like this:

(The stamp is from Immigration when you get here)

You will also need a Work Permit, but that will be arranged and paid for by the school! 

In closing, here are a few helpful hints!

• Never take a placement under the average pay grade for your country-do your research!
• Sign on a one semester contact. It is better to add on extra time then quite and screw over the school and lose out on your last month's salary. 
• Always make sure you're accommodations are being paid for, in addition to your salary,
• Never lose your passport or your Proof of Departure Card! 
• Mine is stapled into my passport and is the white rectangle you see at the left! It will be given to you when you get through customs. DO NOT LOOSE THIS! 
• Your passport number is just as important as your social in America
• Remember to enjoy your adventure, but not too much. You are a Teacher and you will be looked at to perform. You will be paid more than the host countries teachers, and you are expected to do a good job! With that being said, don't put too much pressure on yourself, the kids love games and movies! Roll with their excitement! 
• Traveling to a foreign country is only dangerous if you make it that way. Obviously, there are places in this world more dangerous than others now so that will be your choice to choose based on your level of comfort, but the horror stories of tourists going overseas and being "Taken" are not the norm. When your mom starts crying watching Law and Order: SVU and says it will be you in Thailand like my mom did; smile, give her a hug, tell her you love her and be safe when you travel! 
• Don't get drunk alone in a random city, especially as a woman. 
• Don't hire a prostitute and then get mad when you get robbed in the middle of the night
• Stay away from drugs
• Don't got into the jungle alone....I won't follow that one but you can if you like-I love jungles! 

Teaching is an amazing experience and I believe anyone with a heart of adventure would love this opportunity! You get paid more than enough money to live and travel, and you get to enjoy a long vacation and teach wonderful kids! It is totally worth it if you decide to take this experience! 

If you have any questions, fell free to message me or shoot me at email at sarahtabb2121@gmail.com

5 things you need if you want to teach in a foreign country

1. A VERY THICK SKIN! 

     I walked into a classroom today of one of my co-teachers and the students took one look at me and all busted out laughing. The preceded to stare, point and then whisper things to their friends and then they would all bust out laughing again. OKAAAYYYY Is there something on my face? No...hmmm on the back of my skirt? No....okay so they are just laughing at me. Word. Seeing as I trip, clip the desk/door, or accidentally throw my marker at a student (although I have been tempted to do it for real!) I am getting pretty used to being laughed at, and it's alright. Laughing with me isn't the same as laughing at me, right? 

2. PATIENCE and lots of it.

    So teaching a class of 20+ students a language that they don't understand is hard, but it's even harder when I have no idea what they heck they are saying. I ask a student a question in English and they respond in Thai. I have no idea what they are saying and they have no idea what I am saying. Take it back to the thick skin part- I do a lot of dancing, acting and sinking to help them understand, they legit say "Teacher you crazy!" Oh good, thanks y'all! In all seriousness though, teaching is hard work, which is then exacerbated by the fact that most of my students don't care, they are going to pass even if they fail every single assignment (that is the Thai system for ya), or they plain right just don't understand. It takes patience for the teacher and the student, that is for sure! It is most definitely a 2 way street!

3. The ability to say NO!

    I haven't quite mastered this one yet, but I am most certainly getting there. These kids say "teacher play a movie, teacher play game" literally every time I walk into the room. 90% of the time it is a strong battle of my will against theirs to not give in. I mean seriously they want to watch Disney movies...Do you know how hard it is for me to say no to a great Disney movie? Dag on near impossible! 

4. A healthy dose of humbleness and confidence

    You can do this yourself in the quiet of your room, or I promise you the students will do it for you. Nothing makes you feel inadequate quite like teaching the difference of 'your' versus 'mine' to a group of people who don't understand English. On the flip side, nothing will bring you down a peg quite like students who laugh in your face when you can't explain something. Take both in stride, and I promise it will be okay. In order to be a good teacher in a foreign country, in my limited experience, you need to know when to be humble enough to say "I need help, the students aren't responding to this activity. What should I do?" Similarly, you need a healthy dose of confidence to not give up on the students. If you are ballsy enough to pack your bags and travel to a foreign country for X amount of months, then have it in you to be a good teacher. That kid that laughs in your face and is the biggest distraction, has a heart of gold but stinks at English and needs someone to tell him he can do it. Trust me, I've seen it, they come around. 

5. A good support system and a sanctuary to refresh

   My parents always used to get so worried when I was in college because I would call them upset or angry about basketball or something my coaches said, and they would think I was depressed or having a break down, when in reality I just trusted them enough to vent. Teaching in a foreign country is the same thing. Whether it is parents, a relationship, friends, heck even your dog, you need someone or something to real you back in from your garden (As my grandma used to sing to me when I was pouting "No body likes me, everybody hates me, I'm gonna go in the garden and eat my worms. Big fat juicy ones, small little slimy ones, oh how they wiggle and squirm." That is what I call my garden, aka an child version of an adult pity party and trust me they aren't pretty). It also helps to have a place to go on the weekends. Chances are, if you go to a different country to teach then you have an adventurous heart, and a gypsy soul, kudos to you my kindred spirit! Go find a beach you love, a beautiful place to hang your hammock, a special restaurant with your favorite food, a lookout point high in the mountains overlooking the forest/jungle. Whatever it is, make it yours and go there when you need to get away and rejuvenate....aka get out of your garden!

BONUS: Have a great antivirus! Kids bring in flashdrives that have 20 viruses on it-it's nuts! Make sure you install one (take my word for it, as I did not, and now my technological advice doesn't work-yes Dad I will call Apple sooner or later!). 

My grandma's advice for solo travel

So I got to FaceTime with my family today and at one point my cousin Jonathan asked my grandma specifically "Do you have any travel advice for her?"

If you know my family, then you know they all chimed in, making the advice even more special. I got the be safe, be smart as well as the no tattoos with dirty needles...Now if you know my family then you also know tattoos are not a loved art form, so for them to say that means they have basically just accepted my off beat nature and my love for tattoos. They also spent a few minutes talking about my newest tattoo and the results were positive. HOORAY!

The best advice I got was simple, and that was from my grandma. She said "see everything"! How short and yet how powerful!

See everything.

My grandma is by nature eclectic to say the least and incredibly strong willed. I like to think that is where I get it from. The fact that I bite all my sea glass to make sure its real and have an obsession with obscure necklaces definitely shows I am part of her kin, so to have this woman who has traveled the world multiple times over tell me to see everything was truly inspiring.

It may seem like such a small thing, but any adventurer can attest to the fact that their dream is to see everything.

I want to see how people eat on the other side of the world. I want to know what it's like to walk the deserts, hike the jungles, play sports with the locals and see the beauty in the world. I want to know what Ankor Wat is like in the middle of the night basking under a million stars. I want to know what it feels like to go camping with the person I love under the Northern Lights. I want to see everything, feel everything and experience everything I can in this life.

I want the kind of stories that Buzzy told me when I was a kid; the kind that inspired me to see the world.

When I said to my aunt that I was ready to come home because I missed everyone, she said "you'll come home and it will be the same ol' same ol'." While I miss that tremendously, she is absolutely right.

I left with a great boyfriend, a beautiful apartment, a good job, a spoiled but awesome dog and living with one of my best friends. Guess what? I'm coming home to my great boyfriend, my apartment is still there as is my dog and all my family and friends. The job part is still in the air, but hey why fight God on showing my purpose. It will be given to me when He is ready.

Taking off for solo travel or any travel is scary, but really I can't see anything scarier than being 10 years in the future unhappy with my life because I didn't set out on a course to see everything and to fulfill my soul.

So Buzz, I will see everything and it will probably put me in some shady situations. I might get malaria from the jungle or frost bite from Mt. Everest (one day I will make it there!!) but I'll be darned if I don't see every inch of this world that I can while I still have the chance!

Besides Malaria is totally curable........... :)

Ayutthaya and Koh Tao (Turtle Island)

So it's been a while since I have last posted and while I would like to think people have missed my witting charming sense of humor, really it's just my parents who keep asking about it.
Alas...I will write anyways!

I haven't had much to talk about because I haven't done much until these last 2 weeks. I wake up, I teach, get frustrated with my kids, they make me laugh and I love them again, I sit at my computer until 4:15 then I go home. Nothing special really.

It amazes me how much I had not prepared myself to get into a rut if you will while here. Most people are like OMG TEACHING IN THAILAND! HOW AWESOME! At least I was, but it is a real job, I do the 8-4 job and pay bills. It isn't just going on rad adventures all the time, but luckily I was able to do some that I want y'all to experience!

Ayutthaya:

Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam, which was ruined by Burma when they were at war. Burma came in and destroyed these temples, desecrated the Buddhist statues by cutting their heads off and selling them and stealing the gold. Of out the destruction, Siam died and Thailand was born and now people from all walks of life are going to see these amazing ruins. Ayutthaya is a complex in the middle of the city and it is miles and miles of city and temples mixed! There were over 40 different complexes or monuments to see! To walk among this amazing place and feel the love that was here, the dedication to their faith from the Thai people and how massive and amazing the ancient Siam was took me by shock. I was standing watching monk walk through the complexes knowing that 400 years ago the monks were doing the same thing in a vastly different setting full of gold and beauty. This will definitely be one of my favorite places I have ever been too, and I hope that one day I will get to return!

Koh Tao (Turtle Island):

First off let me say, getting to and from Koh Tao was a royal pain in my butt! The bus rides to and from were ridiculously expensive (in Thai standards that is, in English it was only about 40 bucks, but I was able to do my whole Ayutthaya trip on about 55 bucks so a ton of money!) The window leaked when it rained so my seat was soaked, I was soaked and then the person in front put their seat back so I was so squished I lost feeling in my legs. I ended up moving and laying on the floor in the back of the bus. Definitely, a rough trip! However, when I got their it was amazing! I got scuba certified, which was about 3.5 days of a classroom/in water mix. I learned how to breath, use a dive computer, breathe with my buddy, use my compass to determine where I want to go in the water and so much more. 

I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing this experience was. Most of you know I have an unhealthy but totally valid obsession with the beach and becoming a mermaid. To be able to swim next to fish, and have large schools of fish swim around you is absolutely breathtaking and honestly, it is not something I can truly do justice when I am trying to describe it. You truly see the wonder of creation, the mysteries of the ocean and how insignificant my small problems were because underneath the surface are thousand so fish and marine life that will change your entire perspective of what a problem is. It may sound silly I know, but being under the water with the fish and just exploring clicked open something in my soul that I didn't know was locked. I have always been a water person, but know I am itching to get back out there, to spend every chance I have diving and exploring the open waters! I'm telling you it was like being in an underwater version of the movie Avatar; beautiful colors, marine life that I didn't know I existed, things that looked like a bright blue or orange 2 inch Christmas tree that would slam shut into the coral if it got scared. It was WILD and AMAZING!

It also made me really want to be a dive instructor haha. They sat around on the beach all day or in the boat and got to teach people how to become one with the ocean and all that accompanies it.

I don't know what my next adventure will hold but and it might be a few weeks off, but I know it will be amazing and I am so looking forward to it!

Not all who wander are lost....

Hey Ho! Greetings from Thailand!

Just wanted to update y'all on what is going on in my life!

So far I have ridden elephants, visited temples, had Buddhist nuns welcome me into their sacred tabernacle and bless me, made friends with an orangutan, eaten a scorpion and a lot of other foods that are said to be chicken but I am not so sure, visited some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, gone to Erawan Falls- as 7 tier waterfall and swam in lagoons on the top of a mountain, visited the King's Palace, fed a giraffe, made friends with the street dogs, met countless friends and have taught wonderful (and sometimes not that wonderful when they are in a mood) students!

But my adventure still isn't over!

I have made plans to go to Cambodia and see Angkor Wat.
Visit Ayuttaha- the ruins of one of the most beautiful temples in all of Thailand.
Visit Chang Mai and Chang Rai to trekk the jungle, go zip lining, meet people from the hill tribes.
Go to Koh Tao at the end of July, get scuba certified and dive in one of the best locations in the                 world.
Spend my last days laying on a beach in Krabi, climbing rock cliffs that jut into the ocean so if you          fall you land in the water.
Go to the Philippines and potentially get a tattoo by the last remaining warrior tattoo artist in her area
     (she is 92 years old). Don't tell Mom!
Have all of my students pass their mid-terms and finals as well as their speaking test.
Hopefully inspire students to study English in a different country of their choosing!
Also, kick their butt in basketball! :)
To make amazing lifelong friends!

It is crazy to think how much I used to think of myself as an adventurer. I used to be the daredevil of my high school group. You put Robert and I in a group and we would def. be down to do some adventurous things, while all of our friends stared and said we were crazy. Here though it is a different story. So many of my fellow Farang (Foreigner) teachers also have adventuring souls. I spoke to one teacher who I am friends with went running with the bulls and spent his whole time in Africa living with what he had on his back! Then I have met others who have traveled all over the US or have done semesters abroad, and I can finally say I have met the kind of people that everyone wishes they could be friends with. The kind that dream about going on adventures and actually go, even when it is scary.

My life is filled travel, good energy, good food and lots of adventure! What more can a girl ask for?!?!?!

Here is to you people who want to pick up and go on the grand adventure that you have been planning since you were in your twenties, or y'all who are just out of college and don't know what to do. Go travel. See the world. Meet new people. I promise you the 9-5 steady pay check in a job you hate will be there when you get back. Why wait till you are older and have families of your own to travel. You will end up telling people like me how much you wish you could have gone on adventures! So do it! Go far away!

Aside from the plane ticket ( which with points, like I used, and rebates and go fund me accounts you can get your ticket paid for) there really doesn't need to be a financial burden. Waitress if you have too, play guitar on the street, teach-there are so so many opportunities all over the world that are dying to have English teachers, shoot sell the clothes off your back if you have too. People say traveling isn't cheap but I say you are wrong! Travel is very cheap, it just depends on if you want to live like an American or if you are willing to adapt. Plus the opportunity cost for killing your dream is much worse than paying for a ticket.