Teach English in Yangon, Myanmar – Checking in with Dillon
Hello everyone! I’m Dillon from Cape Town, South Africa and I recently made the major move to teach in Yangon, Myanmar in June 2023!
I am currently 30, but decided to make this big move when I was 28. It all started when I fell in love with South East Asia, especially Japan. To be honest, I always had a big love for South East Asia, but didn’t really realise it until I started this journey would be like.
Let me first tell you about my career:
I started off as a salesman in an Apple store.
Went straight into the advertising word as a junior graphic designer.
Became a barman and then eventually the head barman of the bar.
Worked for an online teaching platform before I made the move to come abroad.
And now… Teacher in Myanmar!
So far it has been such an AMAZING experience! Of course everything you do in life has its ups and downs; nothing can just run smoothly without hiccups. I mean that’s how we learn in life, right?!
BUT WAIT, let’s rewind a bit… why did I choose a company to help me with the big move instead of going abroad and go job hunting myself?
Easy! Simple answer! Key word in that sentence is “big”! DO NOT do the move alone, always have someone in your corner. I decided to choose XploreAsia to help me with the big move. Why? I tried another upcoming company and it failed miserably. First of all, I had no experience with this and the time I had to leave they disappeared. No guidance, no messages, no apologies, NOTHING! I spoke to my friends who were supporting my decision with this move and they told me to try the company they went with – XploreAsia.
I felt a bit unmotivated after what happened, but decided it give it a go, because I really wanted to explore this new path. I emailed XploreAsia and immediately a lady named “Lay” replied and set up a Zoom call with me. Right then and there I knew I was going to go abroad with this company, as first impressions will always tell you a story or a paint a picture for you. XA helped me with everything. Went step by step and through everything. I now feel like a professional when someone asks me about teaching abroad. Not only did XA help me with paperwork, my contract with the school and the VISA, but also helped me in-country with finding a place to rent and also had an amazing introduction week, with some Burmese Boxing!
I was placed in a beautiful international school. My biggest surprise was finding out how good the students were at English. You can have a 1 on 1 conversation with students without any problems. Most teachers speak English really well, so you never feel like an outcast. Also, the staff are really friendly and always greet you with a smile and a small bow of the head. My contract is 1 year, which really puts me at ease, but what the school actually wants you to do is work hard and be dedicated and stay as long as you can, which I loved to hear! I plan on staying for a few years and would like to grow in the school.
Coming back to the ups and downs, the hardest part for me was not the cultural shock, but the fact that I needed to bring more money for renting. In Myanmar you need to pay 6 months rent up-front. In the past, you got negotiate to 3 months, which I wanted to do, but unfortunately for me, no one wanted to budge on the 6 months upfront. That made me stress for a while until Michael and Ma Emon (“Ma” is used as a sign of respect for someone older) spoke to the school and luckily for me, my school helped with the rent. This really showed me how the school could pull through for some stranger who just landed in their country. This new employee with all these problems lol, BUT this reassured me and made me love my school even before I started working. I purely believe in “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”. Therefore, I will stay at my school as long as I can, as they helped me when I needed help the most.
One thing about moving abroad, you learn things about yourself you did not know, especially because I lived with my parents at home and I am now on my own. Another thing is, that the children will point out everything you do or wear, so you will definitely find out something new about yourself. I never thought understood my teachers when they said, “You are our children when you are at school.” Now I do! They are definitely my children! In all my other jobs, when I was sick, I took off. Here, I’ve been sick and I went to school, mask and all. Why? I don’t want my students to fall behind with their work, plus they look forward to seeing the native English speaker.
Every day my alarm goes off at 6:30 AM, but I get up at 7 AM. I’m sure a lot of people do the same! Those 30 minutes of lying in bed are crucial. Oh my word! Forgot to tell you guys about my unfurnished place! Okay, at the end of this paragraph, okay?! Coming back to my day, I get up and take a cold shower (I do not have hot water in my apartment, as Myanmar is so hot, so most don’t have hot water), then I will get done and leave my place latest 7:45 AM and get to school by 8 AM. The periods for the day are 6, but the most I teach in one day is 5 periods and least is 1 period (having 1 sounds good, but it is super boring! Trust me!). After work, I will either buy food or make food at home. Buying food from the stalls on the street are super cheap and the food is amazing! That’s one thing that surprised me about Myanmar, the food! They are tasty and the variety is mind-blowing. One thing I’m used to that Myanmar doesn’t have though – McDonalds!
Now, to come back to my apartment. My school found a nice place which was cheaper than every other apartment on the market at the time. Benefits – 8 minute walk from school, central to everything and it has 2 rooms, 2 bathrooms and a massive kitchen and lounge! Only downside, it was unfurnished, but it has started taking shape already and its starting to feel like a home now. My school offers transport for free, but I am so close to school, that I decided to rather walk to school and getting the exercise in is always good. Another thing about Myanmar is the heat! If you are not used to humid, 30 degree celsius temperatures, then you’ll cry here! The upside though, you get used to it and the apartments are all fitted with aircon – I have 2!
The shops will surprise you! Cooked meals are cheap, buying ingredients, on the other hand, can be tricky. You will not find your spices or anything you are used to buying at home, in your country. Meat is surprisingly cheap, besides beef. All other products are cheap, normally priced, except milk and also a major one – FRUIT!
Fruit is super expensive. In South Africa, I can buy an apple anywhere and for cheap, around R2/R4. Here in Myanmar, it is R20 on special. That blew my mind!
There is no 7 Eleven here, but they have CityMart, which I love! I buy cooked meals at CityMart and either milkshake, cold drink or bubble tea, and I will sit there and have an
amazing meal. I also arrived here during rainy season and one thing I can tell you about the rain is that you’ll feel like you being attacked! The rain falls super hard and it makes you beyond wet! You have to have an umbrella. And no, the rain does not cool you down. The rain is just as warm as the temperature!
In conclusion, all I can say, pick a company to help you with your decisions and the move, BUT also choose the right, reputable company. And if you are deciding about whether you want to teach abroad … stop! Just do it! It is one of the most amazing experiences you’ll ever have!
Only reason why I tried XA is due to the fact that my friends used them to go to South Korea; Thank you Denzil and Tyla! Wait, I’m forgetting Nora…thank you as well, Nora!
– Dillon Knight