Leaving Cairo, the UK and back to Greece

William has recently started blogging and writing online. You can find him and his work at a number of websites, including his blog called Blog About ESL, Twitter, Google +, and Facebook.
Today he shares with the League of Expat Writers about teaching TEFL in Cambodia.
My name is Will and I’m an ESL teacher currently living and working in Cambodia. I’m British (English) and I’ve been teaching ESL for about 4 years since I left the UK.

Cupcakes had never really taken off when I left the UK in 2008, bound for Greece.
I moved to Athens in 2009 and it's really only been in the last couple of years that I've seen, sprouting up around me, bakery's specialising in cupcakes. 
My first introduction to them was through a dear American friend of mine who loved to make them.  She made me a batch of peanut butter ones with vanilla inside.

"Oh God, I've been converted!"  I literally melted into my seat.  My friend smiled at me.

Bennett ended up teaching in China after a conversation with a university friend after a night out at early o’clock. “You’re the only person I know who could do it!” was the explanation.

Graduation was soon followed by 6 months in Inner Mongolia, China, which then ended up being extended to a 2 year stay, with a trip home for the London Olympics, a trip to see the aforementioned friend in Vietnam and a Christmas and New Year stay in New Zealand with family included in the mix.

 
Bennett’s experiences of living abroad and everything in between can be found at her website
The Further Adventures of Bennett and on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest & YouTube.

Today, she shares with the League of Expat Writers what life is like as an expat in China.



What’s the best thing about being an expat? Becoming a local.

Source: www.facebook.com/GreeceTheMovie Artwork/poster in progress

“One man’s journey to find answers, in a country struggling to find its own” That was it… ‘This is a man who knows Greece, who has been affected by her and her people, who holds Elada close to his heart.  I want to meet him, find out more’ I thought.


 

A short post this time.  There are many reasons I love living in Greece, as you'll have read in my post "7 things to love about living in Greece/the Greeks".
Spitting yia yia's (grannies) is another reason to love Greece - read about that here and also, today I was reminded that I need to pinch myself to remember that I live abroad.  I doubt you'd see this in a British or U.S. supermarket:

Yes, even an Orthodox priest needs to eat. It may seem inconsequential, and I've lived here long enough, but small things don't escape my notice and I still smile to myself. What things make you sit up and realise you're living abroad?  Do share. * Like what you've read here?  Be sure to follow Bex on Facebook and Twitter.  

It's summertime again.  Many of you are probably looking at spending some time abroad, especially if you're British and given the unpredictability of British weather.
I don't blame you for wanting to go to the Greek islands: at the moment articles in newspapers are abounding at how tourism in Greece is picking up in the wake of what's happening in Turkey (someone, somewhere always benefits from someone else's misery).

I've written plenty of posts about the Greek islands and recommend them whole heartedly: there's Poros, Ithaca and Sifnos, to name but a few.  But as I say, don't completely write off Athens.  There's so much going on in the city in the summer aside from the obligatory Acropolis visit, so long as you know where to look.

Naturally, the Acropolis is a must...

You can go on an Alternative tour of Athens to view the street art (some might say 'grafitti' - but I think you'll agree from the pictures on display that it is unmistakeably street art), and if you're lucky enough to be here during the once monthly Meet Market, be sure to pay the stalls a visit. 
And you don't have to spend a fortune either: I wrote a guest post for A Passion and a Passport about Things to do for Free in Athens. And never discount the joy of wandering the side streets of Plaka, away from the tourists and looking up and around you, happening upon various architectural gems.  

Be sure to look up and see the beauty behind the facades

My favourite activity in the summer: an evening at an Open air cinema followed by coffee with friends.  And more often than not, not a drunk person in sight to ruin your evening. 
                                             
                                          ...but don't forget the other types of 'art'

If you're staying in Athens and want to find out what's going on locally, a good source of information (including cinema listings) is Xpat Athens who always keep me up to date.  Check them out before you come to see if you can plan anything in advance. 
Oh!  And be sure to contact me and if I'm around and free, sharing one of those coffees on a warm summer evening will be my pleasure.

Check out my video about a different side to Athens

Source: culturalconnectionsfestival.com