Hello. My name's Mark and this is my very first entry in my very first blog.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself.
I was born in Edinburgh in the summer of 1965. Scotland's capital city educated me until, at the
age of nineteen, I went down south to study at university in London. I stayed in England's capital
city for five years before returning north, fed up with the rat race. I yearned for new
experiences, so I hitchhiked to Morocco, working on French vineyards on the outward and
return journeys. The travel bug had bitten me, so I got a job as an English teacher in Madrid.
I only meant to stay a year, but before I knew it, one year had turned into six. Edinburgh's magic
pulled me northwards again; however, the bagpipes blew me to Paris, where I based myself as a street musician for three years. During that time, I played music in France, Switzerland, Italy,
Germany,Spain, Norway, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Canada, the United States of America,
Honk Kong, Korea, and Japan.
When I arrived in Japan, I had $50 in my wallet. The first hotel I stayed in cost $45 per night.
I was lucky!
I ended up staying eight years in the Kanto area and had a wonderful time. The first six months of my stay were spent travelling around Honshu and Shikoku, playing the bagpipes.
After settling in Tokyo with my Japanese wife, I taught English in various companies and schools
until I got a job in Chuo University. However, the magic of Edinburgh drew my wife, our two
children and myself back to the west in 2008. I graduated with the Master of Education (TESOL) from the University of Edinburgh in 2009 and have since taught English in one of Edinburgh's
city-centre schools.
Starting as an English teacher in 1990, I have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share
with you.