A Broken Bike Won’t Stop the Mission to Teach

 Hello everyone, near and far!

If you have been following my journey for a while, you know that my heart belongs on the road. Traveling to remote, isolated communities to teach is more than just a passion for me it is my life’s purpose. I do this work entirely on a volunteer basis, without a paycheck, simply because I believe that education is a fundamental human right. Every child and adult, no matter how far outside the map they live, deserves access to basic learning.

Seeing the spark in a student's eyes makes every mile worth it. But right now, that journey has come to an unexpected halt.

The Roadblock

Recently, my bike broke down. For many, a bike is just a luxury or a weekend hobby. For me, it is a lifeline. It is the only vehicle capable of navigating the rugged terrain, unpaved paths, and narrow trails that lead to the remote villages where my students are waiting. Without it, I am completely stranded, and my students are left without their lessons.

It is incredibly tough for me to ask for help, but this mission is bigger than me. To get back on the road and resume teaching, I need to get the bike repaired as soon as possible.

How You Can Help  Link here

I am reaching out to our global community to help me overcome this hurdle. If you believe in the power of education and want to support these communities, there are two ways you can stand with me today:

• Contribute to the Repairs: A small financial donation goes a long way toward fixing the bike and securing the parts needed to make it road-ready again.
• Share My Story: If you aren't in a position to donate, simply sharing this post with your network, friends, or family is an incredible help. The sooner we can get those wheels turning I can get back out to the villages and students.

Your kindness doesn't just fix a machine; it directly reopens a pathway to education for people who need it most. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your endless support, your shares, and your generosity, head on over to the contact me page.

Let's get back on the road together.

Sending light and love,

Kay

10 things for self care while Teaching Abroad

Teaching and traveling abroad is truly amazing, such an incredible experience which i am currently going through myself as i have chosen long term travel life.

However, amidst the excitement and challenges of living in a foreign country, it’s crucial not to neglect your own well-being. Practicing self-care is essential for maintaining balance, managing stress, and ensuring a fulfilling overseas teaching experience. 

I am guilty for neglecting my self on a number of occasions from just being nervous to language barrier so here's a few things i have learnt along the way. 

Key things to prioritize for self-care while teaching abroad: 

1. Establish Boundaries: Set boundaries between work and personal life to prevent burnout. Designate time for relaxation, hobbies, and socializing with friends. My personal rule is to never take work home... I do not mark at home, no homework nothing i keep a very strict boundry.

2. Stay Connected: Maintain connections with loved ones back home. Regular communication with friends, family, advice, and a sense of belonging. This one is realy hard sometimes you have nothing to say to everyone back home, sometimes they are not interested, sometimes you miss them more and it gets overwhelming and you miss them more.

3. Prioritize Sleep: It will be hard to pull yourself away from the enticing new culture you find yourself in. However, it is important to establish a consistent sleep schedule and create a relaxing bedtime routine to ensure quality rest. This is important that you sleepwell.

4. Nourish Your Body: Fuel your body with nutritious foods that support energy levels and immune function. Explore local cuisine while prioritizing balanced meals rich in fruits, vegetables. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.

5. Stay Active: Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine to boost mood, reduce stress, and maintain physical health. Explore outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, or yoga, or join a local gym or sports club to stay active and meet new people.

6. Practice Mindfulness: Cultivate mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling to manage stress and enhance self-awareness. Take moments throughout the day to pause, breathe deeply, and check in with yourself to promote relaxation and mental clarity.

7. Engage in Self-Expression: Explore creative outlets such as writing, painting, or playing music to express yourself and relieve stress. Engaging in artistic pursuits can provide a sense of fulfillment, inspire creativity, and serve as a form of self-expression.

8. Set Realistic Expectations: Be realistic about what you can accomplish and prioritize tasks based on importance and feasibility. Avoid overcommitting yourself and learn to say no when necessary to avoid spreading yourself too thin.

9. Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to seek support from mental health professionals, counselors, or support groups if you’re struggling with emotional or mental health challenges.

10. Cultivate Gratitude: Practice gratitude by focusing on the positive aspects of your teaching experience abroad. Keep a journal, reflect on moments of joy and fulfillment, and appreciate the unique opportunities and experiences.

Plan International

We stand with girls in over 80 countries to tear down barriers, save lives and build a world where equality for girls leads to progress for all.

Plan International

Sexual and Reproductive Rights

Gender based violence

Get involved

A Girl with a Dream Deserves a Chance:

"Around the world, millions of girls are denied the chance to go to school, speak up, or decide their own future — simply because they were born female. Plan International is working to change that, and you can be part of the solution."
Every child deserves to grow up safe but for girls, that safety is often out of reach.
Violence at home, in schools, online and in public spaces continues to limit girls’ freedom, choices and futures. With millions of children displaced by conflict and crisis, the risks are growing.
We work with girls, young people and communities to prevent harm and create safer environments.
Together, we challenge the root causes of inequality and build lasting solutions that help girls to live free from violence. Too many girls are being blocked from opportunities.
Two-thirds of the world’s 1.2 billion young people lack the skills they need to access decent work. One in 5 are not in education, employment or training, limiting their futures before they’ve even begun.
We equip girls and young women with the tools to thrive, from vocational training and entrepreneurship to financial literacy, mentoring and life skills. We help them build confidence, access opportunities and shape their futures on their own terms

Health and Clean Water 

Aqua Box

Aqua Box
Aid Boxes
Sans Pads
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Youtube

The Power of Water:
"Can you imagine going days without safe water to drink, cook with, or clean wounds? For millions caught in disasters or conflict zones, clean water is not a basic right — it’s a desperate need. That’s where AquaBox steps in."
AquaBox’s Mission:
"AquaBox is a volunteer-led charity that sends life-saving water filtration systems and emergency aid to people affected by natural disasters, war, and displacement. Their work transforms lives — turning muddy, contaminated water into safe, drinkable water with the turn of a tap."

Support Matters:
"Access to clean water can be the difference between illness and survival. By supporting AquaBox, you’re not just donating equipment — you’re giving hope, dignity, and health to those who need it most."
"In this post, we’ll explore the incredible work AquaBox does, how it changes lives around the world.
 Aquabox family and community water filters have been distributed around the world to countries suffering from natural and man-made disasters, providing safe drinking water to hundreds of thousands of people.
In addition our Aqua-aid Box, which is tailored to support a family group, contains water purification filters as well as items of humanitarian aid to help with shelter and shelter building, lighting, cooking and feeding, educational development and hygiene.
Natural disasters happen all too often and when they do people are in desperate need of safe drinking water and humanitarian help. We rely entirely on donations and the fundraising activities of our supporters to fund our work and purchase the items which we supply in the aid boxes. Without the generosity of our supporters, we would not be able to continue this work.
Back in 2010 Aquabox started to look for a more sustainable and elegant solution to provide clean drinking water so appealed for assistance. Local engineer and Rotarian John Griffith answered the call by volunteering his world-renowned skills in the field of engineering design. In his garage, John started to create new filter designs to meet the requirements for sustainable and environmentally friendly household water treatment filters capable of fitting into emergency aid boxes. John worked with Wirksworth Rotarian and Aquabox volunteer David Haspel to refine the filter to the version we send out today. John, alongside his wife Gill, went on to set up Grifaid “to relieve hardship, preserve health and support education among people in poverty residing in developing countries.”

 

Smile Train

Smile Train UK  

Speech services  

Finding help - Africa  

Smile Train - Ph  

Smile Train - L A 

Donate 

A Smile Can Change a Life:

"A smile is something most of us take for granted — but for a child born with a cleft lip or palate, it can be the difference between isolation and acceptance, sickness and health, silence and speech. Smile Train is working to change that, one smile at a time."

Smile Train’s Mission:

"Smile Train empowers local doctors in over 70 countries to provide free cleft surgery and essential care to children who need it most. These life-changing procedures don’t just transform faces — they transform futures."

What is a cleft?

Globally, 1 in 700 babies is born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Clefts can cause difficulties eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking.

A cleft occurs when certain body parts and structures do not fuse together during fetal development. Clefts can involve the lip and/or the roof of the mouth, which is made up of both hard and soft palate. Around the world, many children with clefts will never receive the reconstructive surgery they need.

There are varying opinions on the actual incidence of clefts, but most experts agree that, in part, it depends on ethnicity. Some experts say that the highest cleft incidences are among Asians (approximately 1 in 500 births). Caucasians have an average incidence of 1 in 700 births and individuals of African descent have the lowest incidence, of approximately 1 in 1,200 births.

Most experts agree that a cleft might be caused by any number of factors, potentially including genetic predisposition, as well as environmental issues such as maternal drug and alcohol use, smoking, illness, infection, or lack of Vitamin B, also known as folic acid. In most cases, we can't know why any given individual has a cleft, but research is ongoing to better understand the condition.

 

30 seconds to mars, Sydney

Hello everyone, I am so behind on posting everything about my travels, I have posted nothing...!

I sincerely apologise.

So here it all is while in Australia I went to see 30 Seconds to Mars.

I was literally screaming when I booked the tickets the girls that I was sharing the dorm with thought I was mental! 

I went on my own just like I do everything else on my own. and I am very proud of that.

30 Seconds to Mars

My Favourite Song.

 

 

Are your friends really, you're friends?

Thoughts and feelings.

Travelling around I have come to realise that the people I thought where my friends really are not.

You see the whole reason I came to Australia is to spend some time with my friends and ever since getting here I am just a big inconvenience in their lives. 

None of them wanted to spend time with me, none of them wanted to put me up after saying they would and in the end, I ended up at one of the parents' houses in the spare room no one came to visit me, no one got in touch unless I messaged first. 

Not quite the start I was expecting.

Last year they all encouraged me to get a working holiday visa and said I could stay with them then when I got here it was a different tune, they were singing. 

I am very upset about it all and a little pissed off to be honest.

Getting here was expensive and bloody hard work if I knew they would be like this I would have stayed in Thailand and visited another part of it but no I trusted them. 

Now I'm sat in the middle of a park somewhere in the Gold Coast waiting to check into my hostel (which was an added cost along with the train to get here) I didn't account for that 400 AUD because I was supposed to be staying with them.

If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn't have gotten my visa and just used the money for continuous travelling.

My feelings are valid

I am allowed to be angry I am assuming it will pass eventually but right now I am angry.

Updated: it did pass but it took a few months.

I have now officially left Australia my working holiday visa is up and I am now living in Cambodia.

Leaving party and new friends

Realities of living in Australia

1. YOU CAN'T JUST DROP EVERYTHING AND GO BACK.

Many assume that once you're abroad, it's a life of luxury and ease, but the reality is far more complex. It’s not just about the cost of a ticket home. Commitments pile up—work, finances, and the life you’re building away. The heart longs for home, but responsibilities keep you grounded. You can’t just leave; your life is now split between two worlds.

2. RESILIENCE ISN'T OPTIONAL—IT'S A NECESSITY.

Every day is a challenge, and sometimes exhaustion is overwhelming. But you learn to show up, to smile, to be the strong one for others. Vulnerability is often hidden behind the mask of perseverance because you don’t want loved ones to worry. "Keep going" isn’t advice—it's the only choice. You have to become your own motivator, even when motivation is nowhere to be found.

3. FIND YOUR PEOPLE BUT BE SELECTIVE.

Not everyone you meet is meant to stay in your life. It’s not about shutting people out but about knowing who truly understands your journey. Genuine connections are rare gems—when you find them, they become your family. Trust slowly and protect your peace. Sometimes, it’s the ones you least expect who stand by you when times get tough.

4. LONELINESS IS A COMPANION YOU LEARN TO EMBRACE.

There are nights when homesickness hits hard, and doubts keep you awake. You question your choices, wonder if you’re doing enough, and worry about those you left behind. It’s okay to feel that way; it’s part of the journey. You get stronger, not because it’s easy, but because you must. The quiet, lonely moments teach you who you really are.

5. SILENT PRAYERS ARE YOUR CONSTANT REFUGE.

Whether you consider yourself religious or not, there’s always that quiet moment of hope—praying that things will be okay, that sacrifices will be worth it, and that your loved ones are safe. It’s a whisper to the universe, a small comfort that keeps you going, day after day. Those silent moments of faith are what keep you steady when everything else feels uncertain.

6. YOU LEARN TO BE YOUR OWN BIGGEST SUPPORTER.

Sometimes, you're the only one who truly understands what you're going through. In a new country, far from everything familiar, you become your own cheerleader. You celebrate your small wins, push yourself to keep going when it feels impossible, and pick yourself up when you fall. You have to be your own encouragement because there won't always be someone there to remind you of your worth.

7. YOU DISCOVER STRENGTHS, YOU NEVER KNEW YOU HAD.

Living abroad is a crash course in resilience, adaptability, and self-discovery. You’ll be tested in ways you never imagined, facing moments that force you to grow. You’ll surprise yourself—finding strength in setbacks, creativity in challenges, and courage in the face of uncertainty. The experience shapes you, and when you look back, you realize you’ve become someone you never thought you could be: stronger, wiser, and braver than you ever imagined.

Australia 2023

 Grafton: 

Clarance River Historical Society

See Park 

Cinema

Coffs Harbour: 

The Big Banana

Butterfly House

Dolphin Marine Conservation

Port Macquarie:

koala Hospital

Port Macquarie

Airport

Town beach

Australia Breakdown

Financial Breakdown from my trip to Australia.

 

- Flight: 1605.06 (I went with Travel Junction as I only wanted one stop flight, and I would NOT recommend them to anyone, it turned out to be a 2-stop flight) 

TRAVEL JUNCTION

EVAAIR 

- Visa: Free (Online E-Visa)

VISA INFORMATION

- Spending money: £501.56 GBP. (Half on Travel card and half in cash. Take more on card next time)

HAYS TRAVEL CARD

HAYS TRAVEL MONEY

- Cattery: £126 (The only problem I have with them is they need to update their payment system as I am not a fan of bank transfers.)

ANIMAL CARE

- Travel Insurance: £25.61 (Travel insurance for the trip would have been less but I have asthma) 

INSURANCE 

- Hostel + Fees: £44.74 (What they didn't tell me was switching days because of a flight time change added an extra £20 on + fees of course!!)

HOSTEL WORLD

HYDE PARK

(I have come to the realization i am too old for Hostels and bunk beds from now i think it will be Hotels or Airbnb)

- National Express 1: £13.72 single Carlisle to London (was £45.24 but I paid with Amazon Pay with student discount, so I got 75% discount)

- National Express 2: £30.73 single return London to Carlisle (Paid with Amazon Pay only got £5 student discount)

- National Express 3: £9.35 single from London to Heathrow 

NATIONAL EXPRESS (These are my saviour after my Train got cancelled due to strikes)

Heathrow Express: £25 (from Heathrow to Paddington)

1: Accommodation in Grafton: £87.63 (cancelled due to the hotel closing, Refunded and Expedia did give me £100 voucher)

2: AirBnb £166.82 6th January till 9th January

AIRBNB

- Flight 2 Port McQuarrie to Brisbane: $248.31 Australian Dollars my friend recommended WebJet (£139.20 GBP, I didn't realise there was no Trains/ Buses/ coaches from Port McQuarrie to Brisbane, the journey would have taken 12 hours!)

- $99 Flight date change (I got that wrong date)

WEBJET

QANTAS AIRLINE

- Train to Grafton: $60.17 AUD (£35 English money)

 

Personal Expense:

- Clothes alternations: £50

- Travel toiletries: £10

- Summer clothes £25.50

- Food in London £30.00

- Airport Food/ Snacks £150

- Exchange Fees/ Card Fees £25

 

What would I have done better:

- Learn to drive beforehand so there's no need for public transport then find a great long term car rental.

- I totally underestimated the prices in London from public transport to restaurants, they all add a 'Service fee' on which I did not know, I think its modern-day thievery!

- Stay in Australia for longer, next time it will be my whole visa.

- leave the airports if you have a long stay over like I had in Taiwan 12 hours. Get out and see things.

Life Update.... What's Next

Hello everybody who reads my blog I have been gone for a hot moment there, but I am back, and I have so much to tell you all because so much has happened and so much is going to happen heading into next year.

First things first, I quit my job!

I am at peace with my decision. I am no longer angry within myself, and I feel the need to take some time out I was becoming not a very nice person which I didn't want, nor did I like.

I have started swimming again about 3 times a week so I rejoined the gym as a pay and go customer till January then I will move onto a membership. I am very happy with that.

I have started walking again and I love it, just walking all wrapped up in all weathers... I just walk.

On to the next part I am finally going to Australia (insert crazy scream)

My beautiful friend Becky and her Fiancé Stephen are getting married in January and I am invited (YAY) and I'm going.

Visa, Flight, cattery, trains all booked, exciting times.

I paid off my working holiday to Australia and hopefully the visas will open in time for me to leave in March. It is taking so long because I am older that the current visa age limit, but the company said the age limit is changing to 35/36 but when they do is anyone's guess.

So that's a rough lowdown on life.

I promise to keep up on my blog, but its contents might be changing a bit to Travel, Food, DIY Projects and sustainability, Climate change.