Addie's Blog

Oh, man. It's been a minute since I've written a blog post. Well, not a minute. But you know what I mean... 

By now, the cat’s out of the bag— I’m home in Maine! For good. For now… ha! I’m glad, though. I miss my students and all the wonderful people I met in Thailand, of course, but I’m happy to be home.

Life in Korat as been crazy busy. Between finishing end of term grades and reports, two weeks of English summer camps, a brief holiday, and starting a new term, I haven't had much free time to update my blog. When Justin and I aren't at school, we've been spending our time on a new venture: volunteering at animal shelters in our city. Read on to find out why this is so important, to us and to Thailand, and how you can help. 

If you know much about travel destinations in Vietnam, you know that Ha Long Bay is usually at the top of most people's must-see lists. Aside from the bay being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's also one of the most visited places in Southeast Asia. Despite all the hype, we opted out of visiting Ha Long Bay and, instead, traveled to Cat Ba Island. Why? Read on to find out... 

After we spent our first evening in Hanoi stuffing our faces with street food, we woke up early the next morning for a day trip to the Ninh Binh province, about two hours south of Hanoi. Ancient temples, spooky caves, beautiful mountainous scenery, and even a few mountain goats awaited us... 

Our week in Vietnam began in the Northern capital of Hanoi. Despite the constant horn honking, we grew to love the narrow, winding streets and the cheap, delicious street food. Continue reading to find out more about our favorite highlights... 

Teaching, as a profession, is never a walk in the park. Add in a language barrier and communication conflicts and that'll kick things up a notch. Welcome to teaching in Thailand. Read on to find out what life is really like as a full-time teacher here.

Also known as "Teachers' Appreciation Day" in Thailand, students take this day to honor and pay respect to their teachers. I was fortunate to experience this celebration on Thursday, June 7 with my lovely nursery and kindergarten students. 

Saving this little slice of unspoiled Thai island paradise was the perfect cherry on top of our island hopping April vacation. 

Ahhhh, Koh Lanta. THIS was our kind of island. Big enough to escape the crowds, yet small enough to experience the island culture and meet wonderful people. We'd return to Koh Lanta again in a heartbeat. 

Most foreigners who are familiar with Thailand will likely know of Koh Phi Phi. Nestled in the middle of the Andaman Sea, halfway between the coasts of Phuket and Krabi, lies Koh Phi Phi: a twenty-something backpacker's party paradise.

I've never been someone who shared medical things with the internet world. I guess that's where I sort of drew the line. If something serious happened, I only wanted my family and close friends knowing— I didn't need Joe Smith from biology class sophomore year reading about me on Facebook. I surely didn't need, let alone want, the sad-faced emojis or the pity comments. I really didn't. 

Last weekend, Justin and I laced up our sneakers and headed to the mountains with a group of expats for our first "hash run." Despite it being a little reminiscent of a college frat party, it was a great way to escape the city for a couple days and spend time with new friends.

"Do you like China or Thailand better?" I get this question from family and friends a lot. It's tough to write an answer fit for a text message. There are pros and cons to both— highs and lows I've felt living in each country. Let's explore some of them here, shall we? 

Last weekend, Justin and I, along with a group of fellow teachers from our school, had the honor of visiting Wat Ban Rai, a temple located about an hour outside Korat. As one of the only temples shaped with an elephant's head and a body of a turtle in Thailand, we were truly lucky to experience this one-of-a-kind place in person. 

New Year's Eve is that one holiday everyone hypes up. You always want to plan the perfect night in the most perfect setting with your favorite people so you can ring in the new year right. I've had my fair share of awesome New Year's Eve celebrations (and a handful of not-so-good ones too), but I can say, without a doubt, celebrating the new year in Chiang Mai was one of the best ones yet. 

As I write this, I lay on bed of patterned pillows and colorful tapestries on the rooftop of our guesthouse. The city of Chiang Mai is all around me— tiled rooftops, golden temples, and lush greenery stretch for miles in front of a mountainous backdrop. Between the cool breeze drifting through the rooftop's wind chimes and the soft jazz playing at a restaurant on the street corner below, I think I could stay here forever.

If you've traveled to any Southeastern Asian country, you're familiar with the border hopping process. For those who have no idea what I'm referring to, border hopping is a way to either "restart" your visa or get a new visa entirely. 

Life update: Justin and I are in Thailand! For those of you who don't know, we both recently started new English teaching jobs in Korat, Thailand. Read on to learn a bit about where we're living and what life as a teacher is like here.

Alas, our final day in Ireland. *Sad face.* We made the most of our last 24 hours in the Emerald Isle by exploring downtown Galway, horseback riding in the Thonabrocky countryside, and feasting on a decadent dinner in the quaint town of Maynooth.

My mom and I awoke early from our fun evening in Doolin, per recommendations of our lovely B&B host, Margaret, so we could be sure we were the first visitors to the Cliffs of Moher. With a cup of coffee and warm homemade scones in our bellies, we set off just a short 5-minute drive to one of Ireland's most famous sites.

After a peaceful night's stay in our B&B in the rural town of Innishannon, my mom and I woke up bright and early to begin our next journey.

A visit to Ireland isn't complete without visiting the quiant and beautiful town of Kinsale, located on the southern coast of Ireland. If you're a New Englander like me, you'll feel right at home walking through the winding cobblestone streets and gazing out to the busy harbor. 

After waking up bright and early on the morning of August 19^th, we enjoyed our last breakfast at the Ashling Hotel and packed up our belongings. It was our first day on the road— we were anxious to get out of the city and into the lush countryside of Co. Wicklow.

First stop on our mother-daughter Ireland road trip? Dublin, of course. Full of history, culture, and a happening pub scene, Dublin was the perfect place to begin our travels to the Emerald Isle. 

It’s hard to believe my time as a laowai (foreigner) in China has come to an end. What an incredible time it has been. From experiencing the rich, unique culture to teaching 1,200 young Chinese students every week, I'm so thankful for these experiences. I wouldn’t have traded my time here for anything else.

To our favorite furry friend, to the wonderful people we’ve met here, to our brilliant students. Goodbyes are never easy. I suppose if they were, we’d all miss out on the connections that bring us close together and ultimately make saying goodbye so hard.

After ten months of living in Xi'an, we finally did what tourists do and visited the most famous cultural site: the Terracotta Warriors. Were we impressed? Sure. Were we more happy to find the place not too crowded? Absolutely (how very un-China). Even though we knew what we were going into, we still enjoyed ourselves at the Terracotta Warrior exhibit. 

What a week of celebrations! On Friday, we were fortunate to celebrate Children's Day at our school, and Sunday to Tuesday we celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival— one of China's major holidays. Read on to learn all about the activities we experienced, the food we ate, and all the wonderful memories we made. 

Over the past couple of months, we’ve spent most of our afternoons learning tai chi, a form of Chinese martial arts. I wish I could say this was a leisurely activity we chose to do on our own, but it wasn’t— our school asked us to take part in a city-wide competition. We were their token white people.

If you're familiar with the Whole30 program, you know it can be a challenge, even when you're in the comfort of your home and have your handy Trader Joe's store just down the street. When you're living in a country where "Western" food is often nowhere to be found AND all the food labels are written in Chinese, attempting the Whole30 is all the more challenging. 

Well, maybe not "Death Mountain," but Mount Hua (Huashan) was once considered one of the most dangerous hikes in the world. We wanted to see what the hype was about and visit it for ourselves. After all, not many people can say they've hiked one of the Five Sacred Mountains of China. 

When we landed back from Thailand in our smoggy city, reality hit: it was back to teaching 2,400 students and dealing with Chinese city life. Luckily, spring time weather and clearer air greeted us and kept us sane during the first couple weeks in Xi'an. 

Hello white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and ocean breeze... After a few wonderful weeks in northern Thailand, it was time to head down south for some much-needed island time. 

Pai, Thailand is one of those places you plan on only spending a weekend in, but end up staying weeks... Or months... Or maybe even years.

There are few places in the world where you can truly experience the wonder of elephants, and one of those places is Thailand. Like going to a cooking class or riding a motorbike, a trip to Thailand isn't complete without getting your elephant fix. 

Creamy curries, crisp veggies, sauteed noodles, tropical fruits... The unique fusion of spicy and sweet make Thai food among the best in international cuisine. For this, a trip to Thailand isn't complete without learning the staples. Cooking schools are everywhere in Thailand as they've quickly become a popular tourist pastime. 

On the evening of January 13th, we arrived in Chiang Mai, a bustling, yet quaint city in the north of Thailand. With spectacular mountain views and a laid-back vibe that's sure to appeal to any traveler, Chiang Mai was a breath of fresh air after the metropolitan city of Bangkok. 

The first leg of our journey began in Thailand's capital, Bangkok. After a relatively easy trek on a couple 2-hour flights from Xi'an, we arrived in Bangkok on the night of January 10th. 

Like most, when 2017 arrived, I found myself reflecting on the past year and wondering what the new year would bring. I've never been one to set New Year's resolutions (after all, aren't most of them broken by February anyways?), but I still use the time for myself— to think about where I am and where I want to be. As the clock struck midnight in China, 13 hours ahead of most of my friends and family, I couldn't help but think back to everything that led up to that countdown.

It’s hard to believe I’ve been teaching in China for nearly four months. By now, I’ve gotten into the groove of lesson planning and seeing 2,000 students every week... Okay, maybe the latter isn’t completely true. Either way, I’ve noticed so many fascinating differences between classes here and classes back home in the States. Here are some of my thoughts:

A couple weekends ago, Justin and I hosted a good ‘ol American Thanksgiving. Our fellow teachers made the trek to Xi’an on planes, trains, and busses— some came from the Southwestern Guizhou province, while others made the journey from cities near Xi’an. In total, we had 12 other teachers join us for the festivities. And celebrate, we did.

If you went to school in New England, you can probably remember a few of your school trips. For me, growing up near Portland and Boston allowed for several memorable school trips, usually of some historical significance— to the Wadsworth-Longfellow House, Portland Headlight, and Faneuil Hall, just to name a few. Regardless of where you were going, the anticipation and excitement you felt the night before a school trip was enough to keep you up all night. The extra time you took to pack your favorite snacks, the thought of sitting with your best friends on the bus, the pure joy of knowing you didn’t have to be in a classroom all day— we all lived for trips like these.

Walking around Xi’an, I often have to stop and think, “Am I in New York City?” Monstrously high buildings tower over me, flashy billboards line the horizon, and street vendors line up on nearly every corner, hoping to sell a cellphone case or a roasted sausage on a stick. Busses zoom by with little to no regard for pedestrians, cars weave from lane to lane, taxi drivers never seem to stop pressing on their horns. The smells of a city of 9 million contrast with the aromas of freshly steamed dumplings and spicy grilled meats— your nose is constantly flipping from misery to ecstasy, and back again.

When I first came to China, all I heard everyone talk about was KTV. I had no idea what it was, and I almost felt like it was too culturally insensitive to ask. I would see buildings with big, flashy signs with K-T-V written in bold letters, but I was a stranger to what went on inside.

I realized I couldn’t go on living in this country without having a clue what KTV was, so I did a bit of research (thank you, Google). In short, KTV is similar to karaoke. Not your run-of-the-mill cheesy bar karaoke, though— it’s full on classy with private rooms, disco balls, food and beverage services, and much more. Read on to learn about my first experience KTV’ing, if that is a word...

Food is the essence of culture. It defines a generation, it becomes a talking point after a trip somewhere new, it simply brings people together. The food in Xi’an is just this, and more. Xi’an’s rich (and long) culinary history, paired with the influence of the Islamic culture make for an eclectic ride for your taste buds.

For China’s National Holiday, we packed up our duffle bags and headed down South to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province. The travel was an experience in itself— it was our first time on a long train ride here (18 hours to be exact.) Hey, it was cheap, and we found out we had an extra day off, so we weren’t in any rush.

The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) began in ancient times when emperors offered sacrifices to the sun in springtime and to the moon in autumn. It wasn't until the Ming (1368 to 1644) and Qing (1644 to 1912) Dynasties when the celebrations became widely popular in Chinese culture. What I find most interesting are the legends that emerged from these time periods— one of my favorites being about the Moon Goddess, Chang'e.

On the bus in China, you get to know people on a chemical level. The sweat is pervasive and the odd mixture of cologne (and lack of) makes for a veritable pheromone stew. You can sense who brushes their teeth, who had onions and chili for dinner, who drank too much baijo the night before.

Nihao from Xi’an! On the 28th floor of our apartment, to be exact... Welcome to city living, baby. We said goodbye to Yangshuo and flew about two hours north to Xi’an last Sunday.

Our first taste of China begins in the beautiful and bustling city of Yangshuo. We arrived here late (or early?) last Friday night/Saturday morning in China, after a strangely easy trip from Chicago to Shanghai, and finally Shanghai to Guilin. We didn’t lose our luggage, we didn’t have any trouble at customs, and we even slept a bit on the plane— an A+ trip in my book.

After a whirlwind of a year at HubSpot, I spent my final day as a Support Engineer on July 8th. What an experience it has been!

I’ve toggled with the idea of writing a blog for a long time now. With all the hype, why not, right? Well, if you’re like me, you second guess everything, especially decisions like these.