Marika1986, South African expat in Cambodia

Marika1986

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South African expat in Cambodia

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South African

Speaks English (Native) and Afrikaans (Native). My Chinese is survival level.

Registration: 17 August 2016

About Activity

I am a South African puppeteer and English teacher. I've been living in Asia for over four years now. I was in Xi'an, China for two years from the start of April 2012, Hong Kong from July 2014 and have been living in Phnom Penh, Cambodia since March 2015. Back in South Africa I worked as a puppetry lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch, did professional puppetry and acting work as well teaching acting and puppetry in the rural communities under the employment of the government. I'm a friendly, punctual, enthusiastic, sometimes slightly wacky professional with a passion for the arts and teaching.

Interests: art, interesting food., travelling, languages

I am Employed.

Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Jul 2014 - Mar 2015

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

The ease with which you could get wine and cheese (after my struggle to find real stuff in China) was probably what pulled me there. Yes, for shame! I should have lived on Lamma and not on Kowloon. I think that might have improved my experience in this big, bustling city where everyone is more concerned with their Candy crush score than looking where they are walking.
I taught 6 months old babies to 14 year old kids. I worked at a center for gifted kids so my teaching was based on a thing developed by a dude called Howard Gardner and his theory of multiple intelligences. I did from fine motor skill development to English phonics to Math (yes, I had to google long division).
Visiting the islands on my day off was great. I loved going to Lamma and watching the sunset from there. There was always some kind of wine special on in the shops and that was pretty cool.
The city is too busy and nobody has time for anybody else.

Apr 2012 - May 2014

Xi鈥檃n, Shaanxi, China

This was my introduction to the world of English teaching as well my introduction to the big big world outside of South Africa. I worked hard, but it was, for the most part an experience that was totally worth all the middle ear infections. (The pollution got to me... and my, apparently, sensitive sinuses).
English teacher
The food was amazing. The city itself had beautiful places to visit and parks to hide in when you needed to escape the skyscrapers around you.
The pollution! And people thinking that I am not realizing that they're not really taking a selfie, but actually taking a photo of me, the laowei. I ended up wearing a tiara to give people a legit reason to stare at me. It definitely improved my mood. ;-)

Jan 2005 - Apr 2012

Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa

I studied at the University of Stellenbosch and, as what happens to many, I ended up staying there. It is probably my favourite town in the country. My career as puppeteer started there and living there gave me the opportunity to interact with other artists and be involved in theatre.
Puppeteer, actress, lecturer, workshop facilitator, and... yeah... with a Drama degree you get the added benefit of qualifying for the position of "professional waitress."
It's beautiful. The town is one of the oldest in the country and is surrounded by mountains and vineyards.
It's a bit expensive to live there.