Evelyn’s Summer After TEFL: Travelling Through Asia After a TEFL Internship

Evelyn, one of our interns in Vietnam, tells her tales of the summer after her TEFL internship, travelling around Southeast Asia and having the time of her life!

Coffee, vinahouse music and motorbikes… Life in Vietnam is high energy and busy, so while I had the time of my life, I was definitely grateful to pause and enjoy the Summer holidays. We began the internship as a group of strangers, united by some longing to explore a far off land and we ended as friends bonded by something unique. The goodbye was emotional. In five months we had grown and experienced something that many people never will. As we broke away from our last group hug we promised to keep in touch and to ensure our paths cross again. 

The Philippines

My travels the summer after TEFL began with a reunion. A college friend, now living in Ireland, asked me to join her at her hometown beneath the towering Mount Mayon in the Philippines. A short flight from Hanoi carried me through a deadly lightning storm to Manila where I gratefully touched solid earth again before heading onwards to the nearby city. For 2 weeks I was treated by her friends and relatives like family. We dined on homemade Sinigang and Lumpia. My friend knew exactly where to go so I got to enjoy some time on autopilot as she lead the way across the many beautiful islands of the Philippines. By boat or plane or tuktuk of whatever was required in the moment we stretched out on white sand beaches, dipped into crystal blue waters to gaze upon the colourful lifeforms below and then sipped cocktails while the burning red sun disappeared beyond the horizon. When the mood took us we would find new friends to belt karaoke with (well, I screamed, everyone else sang like Whitney Houston) and dance the night away.

We often paused for silence as we read epitaphs of a country torn apart by foreign invaders. My knowledge of the Philippines was limited, so I was treated to regular history lessons through the cities. The great privilege I have to travel the world and learn all of this in person is not lost on me. I have a responsibility to learn and share the stories of far off lands that I’ve been lucky enough to explore.

Singapore 

As I said goodbye to my friend at the airport and promised to catch up in Ireland again some day, I turned my gaze to my next destination – Singapore. My solo adventure in the summer after TEFL had begun. While the country definitely lives up to its reputation for being expensive, it is definitely possible to enjoy on a budget. I managed to find a reasonable capsule hostel and then it was time to begin the mandatory first day “walk”. I listened intently to taxi drivers who were willing to share with me the challenges of living in such an expensive country coming from countries with less economic wealth.

Communication was very easy as English is the main functional language of the country… I fed myself at Hawker Centers to save my money and used to immaculate public transport to get from place to place. You can spend a heavy penny to enter the iconic sights such as the Marina Bay sands and or you can enjoy the light shows and gorgeous views outside for free!

There is also beautiful nature at Bukit Timah, so I enjoyed some peace and quiet on a gentle hike to the peak. During WWII, the Japanese forces landed and defeated the British soldiers to take Singapore at this very point. It was hard to imagine the violence that must have occurred as I soaked up the silence beneath the tall Tembusu trees.

Malaysia

 I rose at the break of dawn to board a bus to Malaysia. The kind bus co-ordinator patiently informed me that I had stupidly booked the wrong day and as I nervously tried not to panic he smiled and helped me to correct the date and gestured for me to join another bus. I thanked him graciously and lugged my backpack on board. 

We disembarked the bus a mere 5 hours later and stumbled out into the scalding sun in Malacca. The street walls were adorned with epic murals and bright colours. The food was alive with spices, with locals giving a concerned smile when I insisted that I would like to try it (I would deal with the consequences later). Dishes like Nasi Lemak and Laksa became fast favourites but as my mouth burned I continued to skip around the city.

Something quickly became clear about Malaysia. Everyone is welcome. On a single street you could find a Mosque, a Catholic church and a Hindu temple. Stepping  across invisible lines within the city you could find yourself in a district where there were only Spanish speakers dating back to historical invasions of the land while, a mere hundred meters away you’re surrounded by Mandarin speakers. Despite such differences one thing remained constant, anyone was welcome anywhere. As long as you returned the kindness and respect offered to you, you were welcome to remain there as you are, whoever that may be. 

Soon I was continuing my adventure to Kuala Lumpur where I hit all of the major tourist sites. My budget landed me in a bizarre suburb where I ended up in a hostel of horrors. It appears that sometimes when you book a seemingly standard hostel that they overbook and sometimes place you in a “sister-hostel”, in this case, a random apartment with no locking door, 10 beds with no curtains and an unclean toilet. Needless to say, I got shockingly little sleep for 2 days. Please learn from my mistakes and contact the hostel before to ensure this does not happen to you!

From Kuala Lumpur I decided I was sick of the city and I booked a last minute trip out to the countryside to the Cameron Highlands. It felt like a jump to a Swiss mountain village with wooden buildings and small coffee shops. I visited the tea plantations and enjoyed the most delicious blends while breathing in the scents of the tea leaves growing all around. Suddenly thinking of home, I felt deeply moved. I had included Malaysia in my itinerary due to my grandmother telling me of her travels here. As I looked over the hillside I felt my mind be transported to her kitchen table where we boil the kettle a thousand times and pour her the milkiest brew known to man and bicker of various things. My eyes watered slightly as the homesickness grew.

As much as I feel constantly drawn to unknown lands and exploration, Ireland will always be my home and I look forward to sitting across from my grandmother again and telling her stories from my trips as she cuts me off to tell me to go and get more turf.

I was excitedly anticipating my long bus journey over the Thai border. I desperately needed sleep, however Fate had other plans. After an early morning ferry back to the mainland, I searched for my bus stop. I rang the number again and again with no luck. My taxi driver kindly tried his best to help me and even spoke on the phone to the number I had been given. We quickly determined that I had been scammed by this company. There was no bus. I was distraught as the prices were now quite high and based on the time limits involved I would now miss my expensive train from Hat Yai to Bangkok. Carrying my heavy backpack and considering gluing my eyelids  open I stumbled into the bus station (a maze) and asked anyone I could find about transport to Hat Yai. They sent me out of the station to a kiosk, then back inside to another, then back out again. I was barrelling toward a mental breakdown when I finally found an affordable bus to Hat Yai. Just under 3 hours later we arrived and it was time to figure out my next steps.

My budget was rapidly shrinking and with a full week of living ahead I had to think fast. I suddenly realised that I could probably sleep in the airport and once rested figure out what to do. A quick google search showed me that for almost the same price as booking another overnight train to Bangkok I could actually take a flight. Perfect. I got on the flight with minimal hassle and dragged my aching feet to my seat. We landed at 2am and I found an empty steel chair to sleep under the blue fluorescent lights of the arrivals section to pass out. My brain managed to connect enough neurons to message my hostel for the next night. It felt futile but if you don’t ask you don’t get. I asked if the doors were still open and if they would be able to take me for an early check-in in the morning. My phone began to fall slack in my hand when I heard a ping.

 “We are open, come now, we will figure out payment later.” Divine intervention? Certainly felt like it! With the little remaining strength I had I found a taxi and we headed for the hostel. I was greeted to a cozy bottom bunk and told there were egg sandwiches in the communal fridge for anyone to eat. I almost hugged the receptionist. 

Thailand

The next day it was time to enjoy Bangkok. I explored the temples and hunted down as many Thai dishes for meals as possible. I joined the hostel dinner that night where I met a group of travelling doctors from Vietnam! They were so excited to learn that I had been living in Vietnam and we chatted for several hours. I also met my travelling companion for the next few days. We headed to the various temples the next day and in the afternoon I received a text from my cousin. She had been living in Australia and was taking a short holiday in Bangkok. It was high time we caught up, so we did what any normal relatives do to catch up. We booked tickets to the Muay Thai stadium. 

I was concerned about getting an ethical elephant experience and after speaking to some friends I was lead to a small farm 2 hours out of the city. After haggling the driver I clambered onto the bus. I disembarked at the location I had been sent and waited to be collected by the farmer. At this point it did cross my mind that I was about to get into the pick-up truck of a random man in the middle of nowhere in Thailand… But as soon as “Jack” arrived it felt very clear that I was in safe hands. Jack had 2 elephants that roam his extensive mountainous land. Each day his friend guides the elephants for food and they allow guests to walk with them. We got to watch as he lead them to the river and we laughed as we watched him bathe with them. They clearly have a very special bond made over many many years together and it was an honour to watch them interact. In the evening they allowed us to carry down bamboo sticks. The elephants walk completely free and eagerly approached to receive their food.

While many people come to Thailand to see elephants, I suddenly realised what a big deal this is. Such a huge docile animal, capable of destroying you without a thought, is now allowing you to place your hand on their face. My body felt completely alive and my heart was growing like the Grinch and Christmas as I looked into her beautiful dark eyes. I stepped back as their guide began to lead them back up the mountain for the night.

 Jack also took us to visit other farms run by his friends where we ate lots of different foods. He then had us sit in the back of the truck as we bounced all the way home. We would sit by the waterfall in the evening and drink “jungle wine” to the background sound of a hundred crickets. I was sad to say goodbye to Jack and his family. I could have stayed there in the peace, admiring the elephants and swimming by the waterfall forever. My time as a solo traveller was rapidly approaching its end and it was time to reunite with one of my fellow teachers in Chiang Mai. Our first promise fulfilled, we met  at a jazz bar in the old town of Chiang Mai as we reminisced on the thousand memories collected in Vietnam. We spoke of the future and our uncertainties and before long it was time to say goodnight.

As I boarded my flight the next day I hesitated and breathed my last of the boiling hot sun, preparing my body for what was coming when I landed back home. But I smiled as I thought of hugging my parents, fighting with my siblings, cuddling our dogs and laughing with my friends again. I would be back,  but for now it was time to reunite with Ireland after my amazing TEFL internship in Vietnam and the thrill of travelling around Southeast Asia in the summer after TEFL.

Check out: TEFL Internship in Vietnam
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Watch: Evelyn’s Experience with TEFL.ie