Julia Knight's blog on Ajarn.com
Would the NHS be so concerned?
Is Thai healthcare about care or cash?
I am pregnant with my second child and despite all the protests about how much I hated it the first time around and 'would never ever, not ever do it again' have found myself in the club.
The Thailand coup - one year on
Things have definitely changed around here
There's still something missing from Bangkok. The vibrant heartbeat has dulled like an old man with angina. A friend who visits the city once a year said you 'could feel it'
Never a happy medium
Bangkok strikes again when it comes to cutting down on commuting time
I started a new job in August, I absolutely love it - but I'm in a dilemma.
Bangkok stole my curls
What's a girl got to do to keep her hair looking nice in this city?
Bangkok stole my curls. The humidity equals frizz and yes, there's lots of lotions, potions, bottles and tubes which promise sleek hair but they all lie.
Has my son turned into a scaredy cat?
Differences between raising a child in Thailand compared to England.
I am not the comparing type of mum and neither are my friends. We all find parents whose kids are better at this and that slightly sad. I also know my little one is unique so totally incomparable. However....
The things I miss most
No matter how much you love living in Thailand, you can't have everything.
We are going home for a holiday in July and as the day creeps closer and closer, the excitement is building. Now I can name all the reasons why we left the UK but as most people reading this will also have the same or at least similar reasons, I thought I'd share my top five reasons I love going home for a holiday.
A time of uncertainty
How the coup has affected my life in Bangkok
It's nearly two years since we moved to Bangkok. I don't think we would have made the move if the events of the last week or so had happened in the run up to us leaving London.
In love with Li Pe
It's difficult to avoid the cliches when describing such a gorgeous island
In terms of beauty, Koh Li Pe outstrips the other islands we have visited. The turquoise seas are breathtaking and sublime for swimming and snorkelling. My standout memory will be the purple-magenta skies as Li Pe descended into darkness
This much I know part 2
What has life taught me so far in my 36 years
I actually know less and learn more with each year. I have stopped knowing everything- I spent my late teens and 20s in a constant state of arrogance and a self righteous belief that I knew everything.
How's life?
How can one answer such a simple question?
Friends and family always ask how life is for me and my family here in Bangkok. This question always makes me smile. Such a big question, written in a tiny two word sentence.
Thai women in today's workplace
Thailand has an impressive number of females in management positions
Did you know that in 2012, Thailand had the third highest number of women in management positions at 39% compared to 20% in the UK and 17% in the US.
Children's day
What this special day should really signify
One of the nicest aspects of living in Thailand is the way in which it embraces its children and families. Bangkok offers an impressive array of activities for children from Dusit Zoo to iceskating, from Lumpini Park to the Aquarium but they are only accessed by a small minority of Thailand's children.
What makes a good international school?
What are the the things a teacher should know beforehand?
Everyone always says 'research' is the number one thing for teachers hopping off to a far away teaching nirvana and they would be right, but it isn't until you are deep inside the doors of an international school that you suddenly have a plethora of questions you probably should have asked.
Understanding SEN
An explanation of what SEN means and involves
Special Educational Needs or SEN - the acronym it goes by - is an interesting part of international education. The last couple of years, there has been an explosion of understanding around SEN and a race to employ SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Co-coordinators)
Cultural differences in teaching
The only way is Britain.....or is it?
I often wonder about the morality of a British education for Thailand's international school pupils which are mainly Thai or Thai mixed. Where is their cultural relevance? Their literary legacies? The moments where they connect a memory to a place or taste and belly-laugh with contentment that only resonance can bring.
Eating healthy in Thailand
Is it becoming more and more difficult?
My long held belief that Thai food was generally very healthy has diminished fast. The diet of rice is generally healthy- the accoutrements of creamy sauces and fried meats are not.
So many upsides
The joys of teaching internationally
There are some definite upsides to teaching internationally, especially here in Bangkok, but there are also some downsides. I am lucky enough to be part of an amazing community of ex-pat teachers who have shared some of their experiences with me.
