Moving from the developing to the developed world: A scholar’s tale

July 21, 2017.Reading time 17 minutes.

Joy and I have been friends since 2010. She is the quintessential success story of a small city African girl who has hit the big time as she flounces around Los Angeles eating brunches with kale and enjoying bottomless mimosas. Lets just say that I always knew she was destined for great things! However, as I know […]

What does it take to be a Zimbabwean in South Africa?

July 17, 2017.Reading time 13 minutes.

Welcome to part two of my guest writer series- Panda’s Penpals. Today’s post is simple but thought-provoking. Most of my readers know what its like to be a foreigner in someone else’s land; but have you ever thought about what it takes for some to be a foreigner in YOUR land? Mhoro and sawubona! That is […]

The Expat Life: Conversations with people “back home”

July 12, 2017.Reading time 12 minutes.

I don’t know about you, but I am so tired of hearing the same boring statements from people we left behind to pursue a better life in a new country. When my friend Shardale and I were on Skype one afternoon (her in Macau and me in Kuwait), we were swopping stories about the things […]

Swazi-ception: the country within a country

July 7, 2017.Reading time 14 minutes.

Last weekend 4 people stumbled into a small Ford Fiesta and drove off in the early morning hours in the direction of one of South Africa’s many borders with Swaziland. Never heard of Swaziland? That means it’s time for a PPG (Panda’s Progressive Geography) lesson! Swaziland is a landlocked country and it shares its international […]

How to speak South African-nese with ease

July 4, 2017.Reading time 13 minutes.

Are you planning a trip or move to South Africa? With a whopping 11 official languages, you may wonder how you will communicate when you come to South Africa! But if you are able to read this article, then you will be just fine. South Africa is considered a ‘native English speaking country’ (a […]

What to expect when you want to teach in Abu Dhabi with ADEC?

June 30, 2017.Reading time 13 minutes.

This is a post for people wondering what it is like to obtain a job teaching overseas, for prospective teachers who want to move to Abu Dhabi or for those who are simply curious about my next adventure. The recruitment process with ADEC is a long one and requires perseverance and a strong desire to […]

5 thoughts you have after leaving the Gulf!

June 27, 2017.Reading time 11 minutes.

Am I the only person who feels a little emotional every time they land in their home country? Last week I traveled from Kuwait to South Africa for the first time in 10 months. As the plane hit South African airspace, there was noticeable change in the landscape. Lush green forests, sapphire coloured lakes and […]