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Expat Panda

A south african teacher's adventures in & out of the global classroom

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About Expat Panda

Expat Panda is a space for all sorts of stories. Sometimes they are about adventure or chaotic mishaps, but often they are really just musings about a crazy South African teacher, living in Abu Dhabi and trying to love life as much as possible.

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I looked over, shocked at Win Zaw- the local taxi driver who was taking me around Bagan. “Why have you brought me to a temple? I thought it’s now against the law to climb temples for sunrise and sunsets?” He just laughed and gestured for me to join the other foreigners on the viewing platform. “Government doesn’t do anything good. Go see beautiful Bagan.” That’s the story behind this picture... a controversial topic I’ll address more of in an upcoming blog post!!

4 months after I got divorced, my ex husband got married to some girl about a decade younger than him & I (and I’m not even 30 so...🤦🏾‍♀️). All I remembered was how he kept saying over & over, “There is no one else; I’m just tired of being a husband... I don’t want to be married anymore!” when I had to fly 7 hours to discuss why he asked me for a divorce via text message 📱 . . They say women have to be 10 times more resilient and courageous than men and I’ve learnt that lesson so many times over the past year. As a woman, you have to deal with whatever life throws at you, while maintaining your composure otherwise someone will say you’re being “too emotional” or telling you to “move on” or “just let it go” 😐 . . If you’re a woman reading this- no matter your age or where you’re from- you’re incredible and strong! There is a saying where I come from, “Wathint Abafazi, Wathint Imbokodo”- you strike a woman, you strike a rock ✊🏽And it’s true. No matter what life throws at you- YOU CAN HANDLE IT. Cry, argue, lose that composure but never doubt yourself and your strength 🙅🏾‍♀️As always you can send me a DM if you need to talk. And never forget: You are strong & beautiful. Not in how you look or what you say but just in how you are 💜💚💙

It was a place that literally dazzled me 😍

Laos is its own agreeable enigma 🔮 It’s a laidback & fascinating country where you may equally spend Lao kip, American dollars or Thai baht on a street that might be called a rue, avenue, thanon, road or, indeed, a street 🛣 It’s capital city- Vientiane- is super chilled out unlike most of the capitals in this corner of the world and is relatively small with an intimate feel to it 🎑 The locals- and atmosphere- are both friendly and welcoming 😊 I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in this modest and underrated country 🇱🇦

Today my blog turns 2 years old and I’m happy with where it has taken me- emotionally and virtually! 💚 This surprises me because actually the second year of blogging has also been the MOST DIFFICULT year of my life 😖 . . There were times where I wanted to give up blogging; like when I hated living in Kuwait and was sure no one would care if I gave it up, or when my ex husband left me and I lost the person who had pushed me to start the blog in the first place. BUT through all those difficult times I managed to push through and find solace in my writing and support from my blog & insta family ✍️ . . My blog post today celebrates the journey I’ve had over the last 2 years and explains why I didn’t listen to the terrible blogging advice I was bombarded with when I first started publishing 💻 If you’re a blogger, thinking about starting a blog or are just nosy about my life, go check it out 🙇🏾‍♀️ . . Link is in my bio 🔛🔝

I had to say a swift goodbye to the UAE for a while but I can’t complain too much when the “visa run” looks like this 😍😍😍

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