About Me
Hi, I'm Joe.
I live in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with my wife and our three sons. I teach Year 4 and am Primary Coordinator at a Values-based, Cambridge International School.
Getting to Know Me
I grew up in South East London then moved to Brighton for university before leaving the UK to travel the world. However, after two years of backpacking I settled down in Northern Thailand where I have lived for over ten years. I am patient, easy-going, and friendly but have a strong work ethic and tendency for perfectionism. I still have the grit and resilience that I gained while growing up in South East London, but have learned to relax, enjoy life, and live in the present moment since living in Asia. I naturally gravitate towards light-heartedness and have a strong sense of humour, but when I get my teeth into a project I maintain focus and don’t let go until I’ve achieved my goal. I believe in the interconnectedness of our planet and the ecosystems within it, and am committed to living as sustainably as possible while also encouraging others to do so themselves.
My Hobbies and Interests
Before becoming a teacher, I worked in kitchens. I started off washing dishes and worked my way up to sous-chef in a busy gourmet burger restaurant in Brisbane. I still have a passion for cooking, but am now vegan so only cook plant-based meals! I am interested in nutrition and fitness, and cycle and practice bodyweight exercise to stay physically healthy. For fun, I cycle, skateboard, and play the guitar. I am interested in personal finance and investing, and manage my own retirement portfolio. I am a committed lifelong learner and usually have at least one project on the go – I have taken courses in web development, mindfulness, and video editing to name a few. To relax in the evenings I like to unwind by playing computer games, watching series, or working on my vlog.
My Goals
As my children are growing older, I wish to provide them with opportunities to broaden their horizons and experience as much of the world as possible. This means not only travelling South East Asia and further afield with them, but also allowing them to take part in as many different activities as possible so they can find one they are passionate about.
Although I am not currently looking for employment, I am a supportive and fair leader so one day hope to become principal of an international primary school. Until then, I am committed to developing my skills as a teacher and learning from all those around me so that I can do everything possible to help my young learners meet their full potential and inspire them to remain unique, dream big, and keep believing in themselves.
I currently run a plant-based lifestyle vlog which aims to support others getting started on their plant-based journey, help people following plant-based lifestyles adapt to living in Thailand, and encourage others to find their own version of inner peace. I dream of building this vlog to a level that can inspire people all around the world.
I wish to spend more time in nature and become closer with the ecosystems I care so much about. I hope to learn more about sustainable building and permaculture so that one day I can retire to a homestead in rural Thailand and spend my golden years farming, cooking, and teaching others to be closer to the earth.