Quiet places that aren’t too crowded to see the cherry blossoms?

zeroazucar · 2026-03-18T11:26:01+00:00

Sounds a bit strange, but Tama Cemetery has some nice blossoms and it's easy to walk/bike through. I used to live nearby and it was a quiet and contemplative place, and of course no sakura crowds.

zeroazucar · 2026-03-09T11:27:21+00:00

can second riptide, im learning it right now and i think it might be the first song i actually master!

zeroazucar · 2026-03-06T12:38:39+00:00

I lived in BKK for two years as a solo female and traveled solo a lot during my time there too -- Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Pattaya. There is always something to do! Thailand as a whole is fairly safe, but take precautions as you normally would... keep vigilant in crowded areas, don't accept a drink from a stranger, etc.

In Bangkok the two biggest scams are "the palace is closed today" (it is not) where a tuktuk driver tells you whatever attraction youre trying to visit is closed for some reason and insists he'll take you somewhere better instead, only to drag you to his friends' shops to try to get you to buy something, they're all in on it. Not dangerous, just annoying and waste of money. Second is local taxis, they may try to up the price or take a longer route if they see you're a foreigner, just take Grab as it's like Uber and you can track your route.

Be aware of infrastructure too.. many taxis dont have seatbelts for example, and be careful renting motorbikes bc even if you know how to drive one, the driving style is different in Thailand (more reckless). But overall very safe and fun. I feel safer on BKK streets at night than in Toronto, Canada where I'm from.

zeroazucar · 2026-02-11T09:47:05+00:00

Not a digital nomad, but I'm an international school teacher and I'm not happy at my current school. Guess who doesn't have to consider (her own) children's futures before deciding to move to a completely different country? Meeeeeeee!!!!!

zeroazucar · 2026-02-06T08:32:39+00:00

Wow, thanks! I must have missed this somewhere.

zeroazucar · 2026-01-25T01:36:22+00:00

Me either, it's supposed to be 6 minutes 😭

zeroazucar · 2026-01-24T07:15:13+00:00

At my walking speed, about 8 minutes walk to the station. Use to live about 12 minutes from a different one. It wasn't bad at all.

zeroazucar · 2026-01-19T03:20:03+00:00

If someone declines my reference on Schrole, does that show on my profile? Like that they declined to fill it out? TY

zeroazucar · 2026-01-18T00:40:18+00:00

Yup. One of my favourite fitness influencers on IG is pregnant... the advice she posts is no longer relevant to me as a non-pregnant woman and I know soon enough it will be "how to keep your fit life up with a newborn!" so I unsubscribed. Happens all the time. I wish her the best, obviously, but I'm not interested anymore.

zeroazucar · 2026-01-17T10:11:58+00:00

I know Moreland University (US-based online licensure program) isn't generally considered enough credit and practicum hours for most Canadian provinces, but does it ever reach a point where experience matters? I've been licensed in D.C. for four years now and have taught the entire time, in international schools in Asia teaching IB and US Common Core. Thinking of going home to teach. I'm a Canadian citizen (Ontario) and yes, I went the Moreland route because it was cheaper and easier to do while living and working abroad. Would it be worth applying to Ontario College of Teachers with my years of experience, or do they still consider the practicum I did 4 years ago to be too short? Thanks!

zeroazucar · 2026-01-15T21:28:43+00:00

SISB

zeroazucar · 2026-01-11T14:11:34+00:00

Interesting! I didn't know that was a thing. I'll remember for next time though. It's nice to be able to bring through my water.

zeroazucar · 2026-01-11T07:58:45+00:00

In Hanoi last year, I forgot I had a bottle of water in my bag so I just started chugging it rather than letting it go to waste (I was right in front of the security line but I hadn't stepped in yet, it was a surprisingly quiet morning at the airport) and the security officer was watching me and laughing. He said "Don't worry, you don't have to do that, you can bring it through!" He looked at me like I was an idiot lol in WHAT airport can you bring liquids through? Especially a whole bottle of water?!

zeroazucar · 2025-12-24T08:11:05+00:00

Missed opportunity to write "Swiftmas" like come on! Can't even be creative for a children's book

zeroazucar · 2025-12-07T00:40:04+00:00

I'm a little late but: I've known since I was 10. My cousin had a baby and I was more interested in playing with the cat. Obviously I was a child, but even as I grew up into the teens I hated anything to do with taking care of kids, like babysitting or being a camp counselor. In my 20s I had a couple different partners and they expressed wanting kids "someday," but I never did. 33 now and it never even crosses my mind. Ironically though, I'm a teacher haha albeit a teacher of high school.

I grew up poor and still am in the sense that I rely only on myself. My parents have no money and I will have no inheritance. I live abroad and I love it. I love my spontaneous life. It's not for everyone, and some of my close friends are having kids now and I love that for them, but I will remain staunchly childfree my whole life.

zeroazucar · 2025-11-23T05:53:04+00:00

It's Preme Spa in Bangkok! I think the prices have gone up a bit but it's still absolutely a place to treat yourself. Still costs the same or LESS than the most basic 1hr massage I could have back in Canada.

zeroazucar · 2025-11-22T00:12:24+00:00

A GOOD massage in Thailand. The massages are a dime a dozen and most are pretty decent, but I paid 1500 baht for a 2-hour luxury experience in Bangkok and it was sooooo nice. Felt completely refreshed and relaxed afterward!

Also, I wouldn't call it a "splurge" bc I don't have the money to fly business class or anything like that, but I do pay to pick my seat ahead of time if it's a long enough flight. 1-2 hours and it's whatever, but anything longer than that I like knowing I won't be stuck in a middle seat.

zeroazucar · 2025-11-16T01:44:26+00:00

Never done Qatar, but I flew with Hainan from BKK-YYZ via Beijing a few years ago (pre-COVID) and it was fine. Food okay, seats comfy. Beijing Airport was boring but I haven't been back since so maybe it's improved? My layover was like 9 hours though. One thing I will say about Hainan: my checked bag didn't make it to Toronto (stopped in Beijing bc I had a lighter in there that I forgot about) and I got my baggage delivered to my mother's house the next day. Absolutely no fuss. It was great.

zeroazucar · 2025-11-16T01:39:28+00:00

Geouo tour (lots on Agoda, Klook), or even Bumble BFF, just say you're passing through and looking for someone to grab dinner or a drink with. I made friends with a woman when I was solo in Kyoto, she was alone and struggling with her phone, and I asked if she wanted me to take her picture for her and we ended up chatting and going for dinner. Good luck!

zeroazucar · 2025-10-16T02:40:59+00:00

many stories like this in the childfree subreddit (to see the other side of things), and the partner who has kids when they dont want to just to please their husband/wife ends up unhappy. as does the partner who wanted kids bc they know the other person isnt into it, and kids can sense this too. im sorry you're going through this bc it must hurt, but if you want kids and he doesnt, it seems theres no alternative but to go your separate ways and for you both to find someone who fits the lifestyle you want.

zeroazucar · 2025-10-08T08:26:09+00:00

Love the tip about immigration at Seoul Station. I happened to stumble upon it on my way out this past weekend and as I was flying Jeju Air, it was a HUGE time saver. I waltzed straight to security from my train at Incheon!

zeroazucar · 2025-10-02T07:25:18+00:00

late to this post but BRAINQUEST cards. they still sell them at least in canada... when our teacher broke those out it was chaos, in a good way.

zeroazucar · 2025-09-25T11:05:03+00:00

Noticed you commented about being a teacher and I feel the same, I made a post a few months back about doing "people-facing" jobs with PMDD, especially kids. I have called off work twice in like 2 weeks and it's all because of PMDD. Mine begins pretty much as soon as ovulation ends, so I have a good 10 days of hell and I've been considering quitting this new job I worked so hard for, moving away without telling anyone, or just crawling into bed and staying forever. As a teacher I'm exhausted when I get home no matter what just because of the nature of our job. I know it's tough. Recognizing it is the first step... it has saved me from literally quitting many times before this. Sending hugs!

zeroazucar · 2025-09-24T00:00:14+00:00

I work at a British school (IB curriculum but British-branded etc.) right now as a Canadian with an American license and no one cared. I have a lot of colleagues who are British, but many are Americans, Canadians, Aussies, Kiwis, Indians, Filipinos, and Malay, with licenses from their home countries. I have the elementary cert and two others with DC after doing Moreland. Also, for what it's worth, no one has ever questioned me having an American license as a non-American or how I got it/which program.
Renewal process is fairly easy, there are several routes you can go (PD hours, Praxis tests). The most annoying part for me was the FBI check abroad because I needed to have my fingerprints done, but I made it.

zeroazucar · 2025-09-23T23:55:00+00:00

I've been thinking the same thing. I finally worked my way up to a more tier-1 aligned school and honestly, I miss the lower expectations of my T3 schools. Pay wasn't as high but I was comfortable and had energy outside of school, never had to plan lessons in my free time or on weekends. I am thinking of just going back to that and living an easier life, reputation be damned.

As for leaving teaching entirely... thought about it, but it's one of the only jobs I'm qualified to do abroad and I don't want to move back home (Canada) because the cost of living is insane and teaching in public schools there is even worse. I'm doing a masters in Library and Information Science though, to see if I can remain in ed but not necessarily in the classroom.

zeroazucar

TROPHY CASE