Hi Reader,
Some people think I’m currently on an all-expenses-paid holiday in Malaysia.
Nice hotel. Flights covered. Food sorted.
Sounds pretty good, right?
But here’s what today actually looked like…
6:00am start. A couple of lessons taught back in Bangkok. Quick staff meeting. Then straight to the airport with 22 students for a football tournament in Kuala Lumpur.
By the time we landed, cleared immigration, dealt with delays, and finally reached the hotel… it was 8:30pm.
Dinner. Room checks. Chasing students back into the correct rooms. Making sure everyone’s ready for an early start the next day.
Lights out? Not quite.
Even at 10:30pm, you’re still “on duty”.
And that’s the reality most people don’t see.
Yes, the trip is paid for. Yes, the hotel is great. Yes, there are moments where you step back and think, this is pretty cool.
But you’re working the entire time.
You’re coaching. You’re supervising. You’re solving problems (like finding emergency contact lenses for your goalkeeper the night before a match…).
You’re responsible.
The next day?
Early start. Heat. Back-to-back games. Managing players, energy levels, emotions.
And in between?
Trying to carve out small pockets of downtime… while still keeping an eye on everything.
But here’s the thing…
It is worth it.
These trips build something you just don’t get in the classroom:
- Real relationships with students
- Shared experiences
- Instant rapport when they walk into your class later
That connection? It changes everything.
So no… it’s not a free holiday.
It’s long. It’s tiring. It’s full-on.
But it’s also one of the best parts of being an international teacher.
I filmed the whole experience—day by day—so you can see what it’s actually like behind the scenes. (No images of students allowed though)
Now the big question…
Did we finally win the tournament after two years of falling short?
You’ll have to watch to find out.
👉 Watch the full video here:
Talk soon,
– Mark
The Footloose Teacher
🎥 YouTube Channel | 🌐 Website
P.S.
If you’re newer around here, welcome! This community is all about helping teachers build a life of adventure, purpose, and financial freedom — often in places you never expected. Glad you’re here. 🌍
