Today’s post has been written by Nadia Latif, who I first heard of through Will Peach (of Son of a Peach fame). Nadia is editor of Gap Daemon, the community and advice site for gap year travellers.
Love this picture!
Firstly, Nadia had to undertake our rigorous questionnaire process!
What’s on the wall in the room where you are now? A big map of the world, our editorial calendar and lots of scribbled-on whiteboards.
What did you do for your last birthday? I ate too much cake.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? I quite fancy Montreal.
Do you prefer reading a book or watching a movie? A good book, every time.
How many ants do you think it would take to carry an elephant all the way across the Sydney Harbour bridge? Lots…
The packing quest is something that every person heading off on their TEFL-travels has to do battle with. Which vessel you choose to transport your worldly goods is different for everyone out there. But here is Nadia’s take on what to pack in to your vessel of choice! Over to you, Nadia!
The 5 Rules of Packing for a Gap Year (for TEFL Teachers)
Packing for a gap year isn’t rocket science, but if you’re going to travel and teach, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Two factors make packing for this type of gap year different from your average RTW trip:
• You’ll be settled in one place for at least a few months
• You’ll be working in a professional environment
With these in mind, here’s a guide to packing for a gap year, just for TEFL teachers:
Rule 1: Do Your Research
Every TEFL experience is different. If you’re going to work in Vietnam, Japan or South Korea, you’ll be expected to dress very smartly, while teach in Argentina and you’ll find things are much more relaxed.
Make sure you know exactly what’s expected of you. You’ll probably be teaching in a city, but don’t expect to be able to buy smart clothes there – in places like south east Asia, the locals are (generally) smaller in stature, so you might find suit shopping a challenge.
Rule 2: Pack the Essentials
There are things you must pack and things that are sold pretty much everywhere. Essentials include:
• Your passport (make sure there’s at least six month’s validity on it)
• Underwear and socks (replacing bras is an absolute pain, so take a few with you)
• Photocopies of important documents, like your glasses/contact lens prescription, your passport/visas, your TEFL certificate and – if necessary – your degree certificate
• Spare passport photographs
• A first-aid kit, sunblock, water purification tablets and medication
• Contraceptives
• A sturdy pair of sandals and a smart pair of shoes (for work)
• Smart clothes (see Rule 1)
• Toilet roll and a wind-up torch (the latter looks stupid but will become your favourite piece of kit. Just try navigating to the loo on a Thai beach at 4am without one and you’ll find out why)
Rule Three: Know What You Can Easily Replace
Things like t-shirts, flip-flops and sunhats are commonplace around the world, so don’t pack too many of them. As a general rule, the not-so-essentials that you should take are:
• Three t-shirts
• Shorts and long, loose trousers
• A scarf/sarong/pashmina for the girls (blokes will find these useful too, but the chances of them packing one is, let’s face it, slim)
• Swimwear, plus goggles if you need them
• Sunglasses, flip-flops and a floppy hat
• A light jumper
• Toiletries, travel soap, make-up and a towel
• A waterproof jacket
The lesser spotted suitcase! Often found hunting in groups…
Rule 4: Pack a Few Things to Keep Yourself Sane
If you’re travelling around, there’ll be long bus journeys, nights spent drinking/meeting people/chilling out in your hostel and hours wasted in airports. All of these things require distraction, so remember to take a good book, a pack of cards (instant ice-breaker) and your iPod/laptop/ camera/phone.
When you’re teaching, your needs will be different. You’ll want to bring along some teaching materials (the school will provide day-to-day stuff of course, but you’ll probably want your own grammar guide, just in case), plus a phrase book (one of the most rewarding things about teaching English is that you get to immerse yourself in a new culture; speaking the language – however badly – will speed up this process no end).
Rule 5: Make a New Place Feel Like Home
You’re probably going to be living in one place for a long time, so pack a few home comforts to help you get settled in:
• Hide favourite food bits (Tetley tea, custard creams, Dairy Milk chocolate) in your backpack, ready for when the first pangs of homesickness kick in
• Photos of friends and family
Your new room will probably feel pretty bare, so stock up on a throw or two, a city map and/or incense sticks to make it feel more comfortable.
Cosy, non? How about THIS…
Cat not included sadly. Photo by SMN
What do you think of the five rules of packing for a gap year for TEFL teachers? Have you got any of your own to add?
Don’t forget to check out Gap Daemon the community and advice site for gap year travellers. It’s great and crammed full of travel guides, fantastic articles and expert advice.
Get article! I always worry what to take when moving abroad. When I was in Germany pretty much the only thing I couldn’t wear to school was hotpants and a boob tube, but I regularly wore flowery skirts or even sweatpants! I’ve applied to teach in Japan now so it’s good to know some fabulous office wear shopping is in order
#3 is important for any long-term trip.
What should I pack for a volunteer experience at the Huaca Pucllana programme in Lima. The month is November, I would like to keep it to a minimum, like carry on luggage. I have very fair skin and sun sensitive if very hot and sunny. I believe the site is out in the open and I am not sure what assistance I will be giving for the two weeks I will be there.
Olivia