And with my bags packed, nerves at the ready, I set off on a plane to Hanoi, Vietnam.

I scoured the internet for every TEFL course under the sun, did the research and completed the internationally recognised CELTA course. And yes, it actually was “internationally recognised” as it was accredited by the UK government under Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation).

Ok, it didn’t take just take 20 hours, it took 120, and yes I had to fork out some cash to pay for it that was more than a GroupOn offer would get me. Yes, it was so intensive at times that it reduced me to tears and yes I had to pay more so that it included practical training of at least 6 hours with a trained ESL professional. 

This was my ticket to freedom.

It turns out also that I was actually a damn good teacher. Fun fact for you. If ten people take on the CELTA, statistically, eight of them will get a Pass, two of them will get a Pass B and no-one will get a Pass A. I can very proudly say that I got a Pass A- so I had definitely found my calling!

However, even armed with the most recognised entry level qualification for teaching English as a second language under my belt, and a lot of hard and thorough research, I still didn’t feel prepared to take the jump and move half way around the world all on my own to an unknown city where I didn’t speak the language!

I needed some help!

So I decided to pay a well-known international company who would provide opportunities for me to go and teach abroad. I wanted some support. Doing it alone isn’t for everyone and that’s OK. Yes, you can find everything on the internet nowadays but how do you decipher the fact from the fiction? It’s a minefield of information overload that was adding to my stress levels! I signed up for a Teach Abroad program which offered me a job, food and accommodation for the first six months. The relief of knowing I had somewhere to stay when I first arrived, already had a job lined up,a community of like-minded people and support on hand 24-7 made me feel much, much better.

I thought I had it all sorted, I thought I’d been smart, I thought I was prepared.

I ran into problems before I even got on the plane, when Manchester Airport wouldn’t let me board the plane without an exit flight… As I was going for six months and didn’t know what I was doing after this, I had not booked a return flight.

I explained that I wasn’t sure of my plans and that no-one had told me but the lady was very unsympathetic! I ended up rushing around in a panic, fighting back tears, telling myself it was all going to be OK, and then had to pay out a large chunk of my savings for a return flight in six months time. I was angry with myself thinking “if you’re crying before even getting on the plane then how are you going to cope?!”

It’s a lot to get your head around at first.

I vividly remember walking down the street in rush hour, struggling to keep on the pavement as bikes pushed past (yes, they were actually driving on the pavement) and just thinking, “I can’t do this”. Of course, I look back now and smile. I’ve come so far and learnt so much- but this really doesn’t help at the time!

The problem with my free accommodation was that it came with the school, and was literally inside the school premises. (No-one had told me this…) There was only myself living there, so it was very lonely, apart from the hundreds of kids who ran down the corridors every morning, lunch time and afternoon, often banging on the door and shouting. I mean, I love teaching, I love kids, but I also love lie-ins and time to myself!

To add to this, when I eventually made friends with other ex-pats, I still had an 11pm curfew, even at weekends, so could never stay out too late. I came to Vietnam for the freedom, not for a bedtime curfew!

Note- beware of schools which offer you free accomodation as part of the deal… it’s not all it’s cracked up to be!

In the end, I ended up living in an apartment much closer to the town centre. However it had no main road access, which meant when returning late at night I had to wind my way down very dark, very concealed alleyways which went against all my instincts- especially as a young female travelling alone!

Don’t walk alone, don’t walk in the dark, don’t go down dark alleyways…

Luckily, South East Asia is actually one of the safest places to live for expats, and crime rates (Aside from the kind of petty crime you get in any large cities) are genreally very low.

You’ll soon find that you when travelling you’ll do lots of things that you never thought you’d do. Like use squat loos for example… but that’s another story for another day!

It got to the point where I didn’t like going out too late, or always had to stay over with a friend.

I wish someone had told me to consider the kind of road I live on before I had moved in to my new apartment and put down my deposit.

Why did I not think about this before?

Then there was the teaching… what an experience!

When I first arrived at the school on my first day, I was immediately asked to stand up in front of the students and sing some songs. Seriously? I’d only been in the country a week. Luckily for me I did drama and took it in my stride, but I pity the quieter teachers. The microphone was thrust into my hands and off I went…

I was then ushered into a classroom of screaming children and left to my own devices. I was given a book and had to ask a student what page we were on. There was no training, no introduction. In fact there was no training or professional development for the entire year that I worked there. Nor were there any resources or materials to support me. What I really needed in a class of fifty, all aged five to eight years old, was an assistant, or two, or three. This is why it’s so important to do your research and make sure you are going to be working in a good school that will offer adequate training and support- or better still have a friend who you trust to give you referals.

It was just me, on my own, alone. Five year olds have never looked so terrifying!!!?

However, this was not my biggest concern. I didn’t have an up to date police clearance check (rooky mistake!) and so had to wait for a Vietnamese one, which takes about six months to obtain. The school wouldn’t pay me the agreed salary until I had the documents for the work permit, and subsequently I lost out on about $4000 US dollars. Oh the places I could have seen and the things I could have done with that amount of money!! Also, in hindsight, they were taking me for a ride because legally they can’t employ me without a work permit, so not paying my salary because I didn’t have the right paperwork was just them trying to rob me of what I should have been paid…. You live and you learn!

Another expense.

After my first month I decided to treat myself to a much needed holiday. I didn’t know too many people just yet so I went alone without knowing what I was doing. Although I had an amazing time, I spent about 5 times too much money as I didn’t know where to book, what to book in advance and what to do last minute, what I should do as a tour and what was best done independently, and what was a decent price for a hotel!

There goes my budget.

A whole $800 on a week long trip. It was one of those moments when I walked out and did a double take, the full implications of what had just happened hitting me in the face… but the lady was so nice! 

You may be thinking that I was clueless, that I didn’t do my research, that I was naïve. Yes, I made mistakes, but I came with the best of intentions. Thank goodness I booked with an international teaching company who offered me help, support and guidance throughout my time in Vietnam. Without the ease and comfort of having everythign sorted for me when I first arrived, not having to house or job hunt in an unknown city in an unknown language, I think I’d have gone crazy! Being able to ask the company every question under the sun, five times a day before my departure really helped to put me at ease and made me feel like I had someone to turn to when things went wrong!

The problem when you first land in a foreign country is that you don’t speak the language, you have no friends, you’re unfamiliar with the currency and you don’t really know where to find reliable, honest, information.

That’s why I created Teacher’s Friend. I aim to offer a unique and personalized service to help others avoid the small issues that can add up and to be there as a friend every step of the way. Although my earlier experiences were negative, I encourage you to check out my blog to see the amazing adventures I’ve been on since. I want to help you get from “freaking out” to “freaking loving it” by offering TEFL qualification advice and packages tailored to your needs. As someone who has been through it, I know how you feel and I want to help you avoid the mistakes I made. My mission is to provide honest advice with integrity, and I am not just another faceless organization. I am the friend you need in times of stress, ready to guide you and make sure you have an amazing and stress-free move abroad, whether you’re going to Vietnam, Cambodia, China or elsewhere in Asia. Whether you just need to take a quality TEFL course or want your hand held every step of the way, I have the information you need, delivered with honesty and kindness that all businesses should have.