Blogs of international school teachers: PlaneSimple Thoughts
Are you inspired to start up a blog about your adventures living abroad?
Our 12th blog that we would like to highlight is called “PlaneSimple Thoughts.” Check out the blog entries of this international school teacher who is currently working at an international school in Brunei.
Entries we would like to highlight:
“Living as expats in this part of the world we are fortunate enough to be able to employ a maid. Although the main reason for doing so is to look after family member #3 when she comes along in December, we have enjoyed getting used to having someone ‘live in’ and complete the chores and prepare some great meals.
This blog post is going to showcase this coming week’s meals prepared by our hard working maid, May. Usually May cooks 4 or 5 evenings in the week. She is happy to follow recipes out of books (in fact, I think she prefers doing this) so it is great fun browsing through cook books as though they are menus!”
Life in Brunei doesn’t seem so bad! The pictures of the meals this international teacher has posted look amazing. Many international school teachers are able to employ a house keeper to clean their place a few times a week or every two weeks, but the number of international school teachers that are able to employ one to cook meals as well is less (usually that is just for the Head or a teaching couple). It is probably more possible than we think though (for single teachers) to employ a maid to cook as well as clean, but it is just that we can’t believe that it would even be possible. If your school is paying for all your housing and utilities, then surely there is enough money for you to spend on a house keeper while you fully enjoy your expat life. Some international school teachers just prefer though to do their own cooking and cleaning themselves, probably because that is the way that they have been doing it most of their adult life. After looking at these meals prepared by May, those teachers just might change their mind!
The unfinished story of a new car…
“The next afternoon I returned to collect the Praire and take it to the mechanic. A few hours later I was at the seller’s cousin’s house enjoying some curry and naan bread with some tea as the negotiations began (everything was being done the true Pakistani way!).
We chatted about Pakistan, Brunei, living abroad and different cultures. Eventually I explained the problems I felt the car had and how this needed to be reflected in the price. I made an offer and a bit of to-ing and fro-ing later we agreed on a price! I would return the next day to collect the vehicle. So three and a half hours after collecting the car I made my way home. I hadn’t envisaged being out the house for more than an hour or so but it was all good fun!
Of course, the story doesn’t end there as the next day the Mrs and I returned to collect the car. Before handing over the cash and being given the keys we were invited in for some more Pakistani food and more tea! The Mrs also got ‘Mendhi’ done on her hands! Buying a car the Pakistani way surely has to be one of the more interesting and enjoyable ways to do so!”
In some locations in the world, international teachers do need to get a car. Actually, in some locations (e.g. the Caribbean) you basically have no choice but to get one. Some international teachers leave their host countries though because they are tired of their dependence on having a car; like in the United States when you most likely cannot live without one. This blogger’s experience getting a car in Brunei is quite the inter-cultural experience! Probably a series of events that would not happen to you if you bought a used car in your host country. How amazing to get invited into their house and share a meal with your sellers!
*If you are an international school teacher and would like your blog highlighted on International School Community contact us here.
