We’re Going Home!
Posted on 25. Jan, 2012 by Poi in Blog
Yup, I think the title gives most of it away… it’s all coming to an end. However, it’s not for the usual reasons, we haven’t run out of money, we’re not splitting up and we’re most definitely not bored of travelling or living abroad.
What’s Happening?
Can you remember back in October Kirsty left me and jetted off back to England for a month? Well the purpose of her trip was to gain the experience she needed to apply for various teaching courses. But during that time she also managed to slip in the interview and test stages for her preferred choice – Teach First.
Teach first places highly attaining graduates in deprived schools where they work full time whilst learning on the job. It is a very popular course in England, mainly because it eliminates the need for spending thousands of pounds of tuition fees, unfortunately this also means places are in high demand and it’s a notoriously tough course to get on.
Despite there being other teaching courses available Kirsty decided this was the only one for her and put all her energy into making it work. The thing is she was so unsure whether she would be accepted, supposedly it’s 1 in 30, we immediately started making other plans. We decided after finishing work in Bangkok we would apply for our Australian working holiday visa’s and head over that way for a year and then maybe the same in New Zealand.
The adventure begins: Departure- 25th August 2010
10 days later whilst we were visiting a friend in Phuket Kirsty received a call from England…
We’re not going to Australia.
Kirsty was as surprised as anyone, especially as they told her they would get back to her within a week, but it was simply a case of they couldn’t get hold of her. She was half way round the world after all…
Kirsty has been accepted to the Teach First program for 2012! The bombshell, instead of working with younger children like she expected, she will be working in secondary school teaching business (she has a business degree by the way) to GCSE and A-Level students for two years – a far cry for kindergarten here in Bangkok.
So where in England? Can you be more specific?
Well, We have no idea… Part of the teach first program is agreeing to be placed anywhere in the country, anywhere. We should find out the region in the next few weeks and then the specific location a couple of months later – scary stuff.
Our first day travelling in Beijing, China. Since then I have aged a lot (thats a good thing) and Kirsty has lost a lot of weight.
What about between now and then?
Once Kirsty has finished teaching in March we will be doing a bit of travelling around here, checking out a couple of places we’ve missed so far, most notably heading to Bali for three weeks of beach time right before we fly home. Of course we’ll be back in Bangkok for Songkran as well!
Then we’ll head back to England and enjoy catching up with friends and family for a while before the next chapter starts.
Does this mean the end of travelling?
Nope, the whole reason for doing this is to allow for more travel. After two years Kirsty will be a fully qualified teacher and be in a far better position to find (better paid) jobs abroad. As for me, I’ll do whatever to make money for a couple of years and try and figure out what I want to do with myself once we set off again but I’m thinking something along the lines of sky diving/scuba/windsurfing/canyoning instructor…
Our first stop will be Australia and New Zealand again to make sure we qualify for our working holiday visa’s before we hit 30 but after that who knows. I cant plan two weeks ahead let alone a few years, right now I’m just looking forward to proper fish ‘n’ chips…
40 Responses to “We’re Going Home!”
Leave a Reply
About Poi & Kirsty
An English couple travelling China and South East Asia since August 2010. 
-
The Stupid Things I Miss From Home
-
Lets go play with some big cats! – picture special
-
100 Days of Travel & 100 Reasons to Love It!
-
Getting my anus inspected in Bangkok
-
Essentials, Trash, Wants
-
Nomadic Samuel: I've spent a lot of time in Thailand, yet I've nev...
-
Jackie: We just came up to Nongkhai on the sleeper about a...
-
Camels & Chocolate: Maybe I'm just ignorant, but this is way nicer tha...
-
Poi: Hey the quickest way is by mini bus but it's still...
-
Saioa: Hey guys, what is the quickest way to get to Luang...
Camels & Chocolate
26. Jan, 2012
That’s amazing, you guys! Congrats on your new life direction. England just in time for the Olympics, eh? Doesn’t sound like a bad gig to me!
Poi
26. Jan, 2012
Thanks!
Not bad at all – now we just need to join the thousands of people trying to get tickets. I’m sure the atmosphere in London alone will be good enough!
Will - My Spanish Adventure
26. Jan, 2012
Ace news my little honeybuns and well done Kirsty!
Finally that anus can get the good seeing to it deserves on the good ol’ NHS…
Going to miss all that I am.
Poi
26. Jan, 2012
Cheers Mate – The NHS will be free at least but I bet it’s not half as comical, might have to squeeze another visit in before I leave just for the story.
The World of Deej
26. Jan, 2012
That’s great, congrats! Kinda scary not knowing where you’ll be, but I guess that has some adventure appeal to it:)
Poi
26. Jan, 2012
Thanks! – It definitely makes it more interesting than just going back home to where we’re from. Somewhere new to explore and adapt to!
Megan
26. Jan, 2012
Congratulations guys
I think the good thing about long term travel is that it makes you look at things like going home for a period as just the next adventure, and this is exactly it for you!
Looking forward to reading all about the next chapter and of course waiting for you both to head down under
Poi
26. Jan, 2012
Thanks! It will definitely seem like a new adventure going back to England to begin with especially in a new city.
We’ll be there – two years in September!
Runaway Brit
26. Jan, 2012
I can wholeheartedly recommend teaching Internationally. The salaries, bonuses and gratuities are excellent – you’ll have a great standard of life for sure and the students are amazing!
I can’t wait to hear how you get on!
Poi
26. Jan, 2012
Sounds perfect and exactly why we made the decision to do this – I say ‘we’ haha, Kirsty is doing all the hard work…
Satu
26. Jan, 2012
Congratulations! And please keep us all posted on your return to the UK!
Poi
27. Jan, 2012
The blog will continue so you’ll be able to keep up with whatever we are doing!
Who needs a private life anyway?
Nadia | Gap Daemon
26. Jan, 2012
Congrats Kirsty! Teach First is SUCH a competitive program, good on you for getting it. Bring on the fish ‘n’ chips
Kirsty
27. Jan, 2012
Thanks Nadia, I really thought I wasn’t going to get on once the week had passed but I’m very happy and slightly scared haha
Ellie McAlees
26. Jan, 2012
Heh thats so cool. Congrats kirsty
. So time for the next installment in the adventurous uk umm. I know loads of people teaching professionally abroad from spain to pakistan to japan and they all love it. Looking forward to hear where you end up here. Have fun for the next few months xx
Kirsty
27. Jan, 2012
Thanks Ellie, I’m looking forward to see where we end up in England and afterwards, could be anywhere!
Glad to know the professional teachers abroad are a happy bunch
Skott and Shawna - Get Up & Globe
26. Jan, 2012
Hey guys – it has been great following you on your travels!!! Best of luck back in sunny England – Congratulations!!
Kirsty
27. Jan, 2012
Thanks guys!
Kieron
27. Jan, 2012
You’ll need to wait until you get to Oz before you get some proper fish ‘n chips haha.
Congratulations though guys – that’s great news! All the best with everything.
jan
27. Jan, 2012
Ditto Kieron, Australian Fish and Chips are so much better that England’s. But then you will discover that when you get here. Good Luck in your new ventures.
Kirsty
27. Jan, 2012
Kieron & Jan – I don’t know how the fish and chips compare but right now I want English style fish and chips! Drowned in vinegar an curry sauce – yum!
Thanks guys!
Kieron
28. Jan, 2012
I’ll give you that – malt vinegar is one thing you guys do right!
Anthony
28. Jan, 2012
Eeeeee….I can now stop shaking when people mention your name. The secret I found out in Malaysia is finally out
I might head South in April to soak you!
Poi
28. Jan, 2012
Well done for not ‘spilling the beans’ you shall be rewarded with yorkshire tea – only if you come for Songkran though which you most definitely should!
Chris
28. Jan, 2012
Nope proper fish and chips is in OZ, I’m agreeing with Kieron. I just dont get this whole cod and chips deal you guys have here and man where is the chicken salt?? Give me a good piece of shark with my chips any day.
Hopefully catch you guys here before I depart your homeland.
Poi
28. Jan, 2012
When are you leaving Chris? We plan on spending sometime in London early on whether we end up living there or not so we should definitely try and meet up, not for fish and chips though by the sounds of it….
Chicken salt? pfft…
Cam
28. Jan, 2012
Congrats and good luck! Exciting things are happening again!
Poi
28. Jan, 2012
Thanks very much – they are indeed. Not sure it’s going to be as fun as the last couple of years but a new adventure nonetheless.
Jill
28. Jan, 2012
All the best with your studies
Kirsty
30. Jan, 2012
Thanks Jill!
George
29. Jan, 2012
OMG Congrats Kirsty I know how hard getting onto the Teach First scheme is (particularly from the other side of the world) you have done sooo amazingly.
I wish you guys the best of luck with your new plans!!!
Kirsty
30. Jan, 2012
Yeah i was very lucky that I was already heading back to England when they had interviews on!
I’m starting to get a little nervous now…
Annie
30. Jan, 2012
Congrats to Kirsty! What a great opportunity! Enjoy the end of your travels (for now) and good luck with everything!
Kirsty
30. Jan, 2012
I’m hoping we’ll be able to get away quite a bit whilst we back at home, maybe get see some of England that we have never been to!
Kim
01. Feb, 2012
Congrats! Sounds like a wonderful opportunity and something that will keep you on the road for many years to come. Yay!
Poi
02. Feb, 2012
Thats the plan so I hope so – Thanks Kim!
Diane
01. Feb, 2012
Hey, congrats Kirsty and very well done, just need to get that Poi into shape on on a career plan now!
Well I totally think you two are living life exactly as it should be lived, only here once so enjoy to the max.
Hopefully see you down here in Aus within the next couple of years and sorry we missed you both in Bangkok, we hope to get there one day.
So when you get back home, remind me to send you our new address, then you can sen me rations of Yorkshire Tea and galaxy chocolate LOL
Poi
02. Feb, 2012
Why do I need a career plan when I have Kirsty? That’s the whole reason I’m with her haha!
And you will see us over there for sure, the fact you’ve gone back for a second stint must mean we’re missing out on something.
I will happily send you come yorkshire tea, I struggled without it for so long until my parents brought some other and it made me life complete!
Edna
03. Feb, 2012
Congrats on the good news!! If you pop over to Paris at any point from the UK, let me know
Poi
08. Feb, 2012
Thanks Edna and of course, will do!