From the Ho Chi Minh Trail to the Amazon River: Why I Teach English Around the World

My name’s James, and since 2018, I’ve been living a life less ordinary.

It all started with a one-way ticket to Thailand and a vague idea that I wanted to see the world. I packed light: a backpack, a camera, and a curiosity for the unknown. I had no set destination—only the intention to live fully, learn constantly, and connect deeply.

In Cambodia, I wandered the ancient corridors of Angkor Wat at dawn, then swam with glowing plankton beneath a moonless sky on a remote island. In Vietnam, I spent weeks motorcycling the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail—dodging potholes, waving to farmers in rice fields, and pulling over to share meals with locals curious about the foreigner on a dusty scooter.

In Sweden, I traded tropical heat for snow-covered silence—walking for hours through pine forests, hearing nothing but the crunch beneath my boots. Spain welcomed me with rhythm and fire, and I found myself learning flamenco dancing in a Barcelona studio. In Paris, I stood before the Mona Lisa and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle. In Venice, I watched the sunrise ripple across the canals with a coffee in hand.

But I wasn’t just collecting passport stamps—I was building something deeper.

I began hosting light painting photography events in Leipzig, Bucharest, and Antalya—nights filled with laughter, art, and shared wonder. Strangers from around the world gathered to create something magical. We communicated through gestures, broken English, and light itself—and it all worked. I started to realise how language, like art, is a bridge.

That realisation deepened in Türkiye.

In 2021, while living in Antalya, I began teaching English more intentionally. What started as a way to earn income on the road quickly became something much more powerful.

I realised teaching English wasn’t just a job—it was my bridge to connection, culture, and purpose.

It gave structure to my nomadic lifestyle, yes—but it also gave it meaning. With every new student, I wasn’t just teaching grammar or idioms—I was helping someone apply for university, prepare for an interview, or express themselves with greater confidence. I was unlocking opportunities and, in turn, discovering more about myself.

Since then, I’ve taught students from all walks of life:
High school students in Istanbul,
Business professionals in Shanghai,
Retirees in São Paulo—
Just to name a few. Each conversation, each breakthrough moment, has reaffirmed why I do this.

My journey continued.

I hitchhiked through the Middle East, swam in the surreal stillness of the Dead Sea, and watched the sun rise behind the pyramids of Giza. In Ukraine, I walked the haunting ruins of Chernobyl. In Prague, I lost myself in winding cobblestone alleys. In Rio de Janeiro, I lived the carefree Carioca lifestyle—dancing, surfing, teaching.

I took a seven-day ferry ride down the Amazon River—no Wi-Fi, just hammocks, jungle, and raw human connection. In Peru, I hiked the Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu through misty mountains and sacred valleys. I woke up at 4 a.m. to light paint on the vast, moonlike salt flats of Uyuni, Bolivia. I danced until sunrise in Buenos Aires and wandered through Costa Rica’s lush jungle, gazing up at the majestic Arenal Volcano—where I find myself writing this now.

Next stop? Mexico. Colour, culture, food, and new connections await.

But no matter where I go, the purpose remains the same:
To explore deeply, connect authentically, and teach with heart.

For me, teaching English is more than a job. It’s how I give back.
It’s how I keep growing and stay rooted, even while constantly moving.