Marg's Gap Year Starts Here

Margs gap year……… 

…..starts here!

May 28th 2015 my last day at work after more than 7 years as an Assessment Officer at Mount Alexander Shire  Council.


3 weeks to pack the house and say goodbye to Castlemaine.

After 21 years away, I'm off to Melbourne for 5 weeks in the middle of winter, to study CELTA  (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults).

There are a few things I can tell you after 21 years away from the city.

• Some things change and some things stay the same.  Cold mornings in Melbourne are nothing compared to cold mornings in Castlemaine.  
• Lived in a shared house in Scotchmer Street, North Fitzroy in about 1989.  Moved back to Scotchmer Street in 2015 to house sit with Sugar the cat in her new home.
• Some young people on trains and trams stand up to give me a seat and I'm not at all offended.
• Thank goodness for wonderful friends. Raewyn and Bernie, you provided such a peaceful home and lovely company during all those hours of study.
• CELTA is really hard work.  Thank you also to my cousin Mally -without you, I don't think I would have passed.

CELTA full-time June 2015 including tutors
  What a lovely group of people
Back row l to r:  Jeff, Katia, Me, Sam, Hilary, Ben, David and Mike
Middle row:  Gwen, Chin Ting, Gazal, Lisa (tutor), Mitzi, Caroline, Gig, Georgia
Front:  Maria, Vicki, Robyn (tutor) and Ross (tutor)

And a huge thank you to our lovely students.  I wish you all permanent residence if that is what you desire.  

August 4th 2015  3.05pm
Melbourne Airport flight to Bangkok.
Waiting.... waiting....at airports

Suvarnabhumi airport, Bangkok

It's big!!

Overnight in Bangkok

To all the people experiencing -3 in Castlemaine, I do apologise.
28 degrees in Bangkok.  The view from my window to the pool at Suvarnabhumi Residence

LAOS

Wednesday 5th of August 2015
At last after all the time and planning, Marg arrives in Luang Prabang.  Sometimes I didn't think it was ever going to happen.

Look at the green
And of course, the mighty Mekong River

Met at the airport by On - a young man with a smile as big as sunshine.