Thread: Simon43 surprises everyone (or maybe not!) by ending up in Myanmar (again)...

MM, I see no photo on your post

I'm actually a phonics teacher, (when I'm not a science teacher). I trained with Jolly Phonics, and am actually a qualified JT trainer of other teachers. Right now, I do very little in-class teaching of beginner English, because I'm too busy teaching science at the international school in Mandalay. But with my UK pension starting in a few months, I don't really need that science teacher income. Therefore, I have a cunning plan that I hope to implement in the next few months which will enable me to travel throughout Myanmar (in the safe areas), and devote more time to both beginner in-class teaching and making local teachers more aware of my teaching app and wall posters (and so on!)

Originally Posted by Simon43

Myanmar spends about 1.9% of its GDP on education, (The UK is about 4.4%)

but once the lefties have finished de-colonising the curriculum, made it plain that heterosexuals are in the minority as there are 101genders, its normal for blokes to wear frocks and lipstick, and for them to understand their white privilidge, the first two years of their education is spent teaching them to talk,use the toilet and actually listen because their parents failed atany parenting then Burma is probably on par

With the way the tories have decimated education, along with just about everything else, no wonder you are left tilting at windmills, numpt.

Then there's the fact that you and tax will be dead before the next tory government.

Yeah, those tory tears really do taste sweet.

Originally Posted by malmomike77

white privilidge

Originally Posted by Simon43

You totally and utterly fail to understand sarcasm and wit, don't you. Your brain is no doubt akin to that of Keir Starmer >>slow, not very big, and incapable of recognising a British sense of humour. You've been like this for as many years as I can remember here on TD - a miserable idiot who just likes to criticise others.

I post ribald posts on this forum, make up stories and crack jokes that even the most stupid and slow-brained forum member can recognise as just a story, a joke. But not you!!

Here's a message for you: Ignore everything I say, because it's not true OK? I'm just making things up in my mind.

Jeez!

explain how complaining about not finding a lady of the night who does anal on multiple occasions occasions is humorous? I suppose all the talk about Candy the sex doll was all made up too now, eh?

The thing about humour is it always ​ has a basis in reality, otherwise it’s not funny.

Originally Posted by DrWilly

The thing about humour is it always ​ has a basis in reality, otherwise it’s not funny.

Today I learnt Willy has got through half a century without understanding what humour is. I bets it's a laugh a minute at his gaff.

Originally Posted by Molle

Now I understand why I blocked that idiot Willy... the only problem is that I can't resist seeing what crap he is spouting

Lol yeah Katie. I wonder why Willy is so nice to you.

Steer clear.

Shitfights.

Pissing contests.

^thanks, Prof Cyrille. No offense taken.

As y'all know, English is my 2nd language so I'll claim that as an excuse when I get my idioms wrong.

Originally Posted by katie23

pissfights

I like this word. It's short and simple, just like Cyrille. (insert emoji)

I think we should all endeavour to use it and make it part of TD lingo franca.

Originally Posted by katie23

^thanks, Prof Cyrille. No offense taken.

As y'all know, English is my 2nd language so I'll claim that as an excuse when I get my idioms wrong.

Useful words for TD for sure.

Along with ''stalking fanboy' and 'stick insect in acrylic' for PlanK.

I haven't posted for a few weeks, because I have been back in Thailand. I will return to Myanmar later this month.

Bearing in mind the worsening situation as regards electricity, I have also bought a few things from Lazada to augment my existing 'off-grid' go-bag.

So far I have (in no particular order):

- 12 volt solar charger for car battery - in case there is no 220 volts to charge my car battery during the day (I buy the car battery locally - too heavy/not allowed on the plane, also buy the 100 watt solar panel locally)

- 60A solar charge controller, used between the solar panel and car battery. Right now in Myanmar, the price of solar equipment is very high and in short supply. I might not be able to buy the charge controller easily.

- solar/handcrank torch (for those dark streets when I walk to the local restaurant)

- collapsable metal walking stick. I use this in case of angry dogs (but which I have never had to use 'cos all the Burmese dogs are friendly or shy, but not dangerous!). Really, this stick is for protection from muggers, since unfortunately (and not surprisingly), petty crime and street robberies have increased).

- 140 LED light for teaching (my previous lamp was 220 volts, but this 140 LED light has built-in batteries and a USB power port. It's not as bright as the old lamp, but it's much less bulky)

- microphone+loudspeaker for in-class lessons (when I trying to teach English to 50 noisy young kids in the orphanages, a little extra boost to my voice is good to have)

- compact headphones and boom mike (my old set works fine but is rather bulky)

- small 12/220v inverter and larger 1000w 12/220v inverter. These are for use with the car battery to change the 12 volts DC up to 220 volts AC. The smaller unit is just a back-up if the bigger one dies.

- compact 220v power cable extension - Last time when going through Myanmar customs, they tried to confiscate my 220 volt power extension cable on the grounds that I might use it to strangle the pilot on the plane....

- phone stand and clamp - This is a compact selfie stand, in case I have to use Zoom from my mobile phone for lessons (that would be a last resort).

- laptop spare battery

- power bank

- USB foldable bluetooth keyboard - to use with Zoom from a mobile phone

- 4 mobile phones (one for each mobile network, since the junta switches the mobile networks off/on like crazy!)


Hmm, what else would I need to ensure reliable internet connections? The fixed line internet is generally OK, it's the mobile networks that people use to communicate with each other, so that's what the military target. Oh yes, got VPNs installed on my laptop and mobile devices, and my own 'secret' VPN server installed on my web-server.

Originally Posted by Simon43

- compact headphones and boom mike

USB mic with a desk stand and earbuds is what I use. A Shure MV7 with Samsung earbuds rather than headphones. Why have four phones, why not buy 2 phones with dual sims?

When are you heading to Roxas?

"Why have four phones, why not buy 2 phones with dual sims?"

Because I connect all 4 SIMs at the same time using Speedify software to provide a reliable and fast internet connection.

"When are you heading to Roxas?"

When I retire

You're a very capable and well-organized guy, Simon. Well done, and more power to you !

Maybe I should have put this comment in the 'your latest purchase' thread. I popped into Tukcom today and bought a nice compact bluetooth keyboard. If my laptops have no 'juice' then I can (at a pinch) run a Zoom class from my Android phone, with this external keyboard (with mouse). It worked very well in my tests today.

^ I love my Logitech K380, pairs with the laptop, tablet and phone.

Originally Posted by Simon43

"When are you heading to Roxas?"

When I retire

Yeah, I'm also looking forward to your arrival in Roxas. I might even visit you there - will give me an excuse to visit that island/ place again. The last time I visited Roxas, it was a sleepy city (~9 yrs ago) but since then, there's been a lot of development and I'm curious to see the changes. There's a ferry from Batangas city to Roxas so if I don't want to fly, I can go via the sea. Might even drop by Iloilo to visit a friend & Bacolod to visit Topper. Lol.

If you pass by for a few days in Manila, drop me a line. Cheers. Happy teaching & safe travels!

I look forward to seeing your feet by a small bbq

Originally Posted by katie23

There's a ferry from Batangas city to Roxas so if I don't want to fly, I can go via the sea. Might even drop by Iloilo to visit a friend & Bacolod to visit Topper. Lol.

Or meet up there, I want to meet the guy who runs the Canadian Beaver. He's got a bunch of kitchen magnets for me from his travels.