CURRENT MISSION

teaching English in Yangon!

ABOUT ME

Sorry I don't respond to all the messages or requests. The couchsurfing website takes too long to load.

I visited Myanmar while traveling this summer. The thought of leaving made me cry, so instead of teaching English in China as planned, I found a position in Yangon.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Here are some tips for visiting Myanmar
(Updated Oct 12):

1.) Do. It's amazing. It's a bit crazy though. If you have not been to India or SE Asia before, I recommend at least spending some time in Thailand to get a feel for what it's like.

2.) *Some ATMS have opened up! I don't know much about it, I met some tourist who used one at the airport... so check elsewhere ;)* My old advice: Bring cash. Previously, I thought you could only use U.S. dollars, but my German friend was able to exchange Euros at the bank. You will not be able to access your bank account, or easily use your credit cards while here. (*Some hotels will give you cash on a credit card, but they charge at least 8%)

You need US dollars to pay government fees ($5 for Shwedagon Pagoda, $5 to enter the Inle Lake Region, $10?? to get ticket for Bagan, $2 for the ferry in Yangon, etc.) You can pay your taxi from the airport in $, but you will need Chyat for basically any other exchange with the locals. The fancy hotels give you better prices at the bar/restaurant if you pay in $.

The $ bills need to be in excellent condition or people WILL NOT take them. Really. No creases, stains or rips. I would get dollars in your home country, because exchanging in Thailand, for example, will force you to buy Thai Bhat and then convert to dollars, paying commission twice.

3. As Oct. 12, 2012, as a tourist, you CANNOT show up to Myanmar and expect a visa.

It takes 1-2 days in Bangkok to get one. It costs around $30.

My American friend managed to get a pre-approval letter from a website, and received a visa in Yangon at the airport. They had his application and photo handy at the immigration desk. (I've used a similar process to visit Vietnam, but I don't how many people use it here. Be careful of scam websites.)

The policy will probably keep changing as Myanmar gets more tourists. You can expect to find plenty of out of date information online, so double check your plans!

4. The long bus rides aren't that bad. The ones I used had A/C, clean blankets, pillows... a water bottle.. They are long though, and can be whinding. Sleeping pills/motions sickness meds can help.

5. The people are great. :) They want to practice their English and get to know you! Talk it up! They will probably buy you food, if they insist let them.

6. Haggle for taxi rides before getting in (and pretty much anything else without a price). Ask a local how much they pay and try to get somewhere near that. Most well dressed locals (and most taxis) know at least a few words in English. "Pay lowl lay?" (How much?) A ten minute ride costs 1,000 - 1,500 Chyat. It's more during rush hour or rain.

7. You might want to pack some antibiotics. Most Westerners get sick from the food.

8. AVOID THE MONEY CHANGERS ON THE STREET. They're not all bad, but plenty of tourists get ripped off. They count out your money (at some ridiculous rate) and put a rubber band around it. While putting the rubberband on, they slip out some of the bills. Like magicians. Except jerks.

I think an exchange somewhere around 850 CHYAT/Dollar is alright, but currency fluctuates, of course. Your guesthouse will probably give a crappy rate. Go to the big hotels or a bank.

9. Ladies... I don't recommend shorts if you plan to get off the beaten path. Aside from the whole cultural respect thing,(some women here wear them, too), I wouldn't want to stand out here more than I already do. Long skirts are handy, but pants are fine. The neck lines are pretty high. The locals don't show cleavage that I've noticed (not that I study the matter as closely as most men I know).

10. Dudes and ladies - sneakers are (largely) for tourists. Flip flop sandals are the norm.

Interests

People, art, travel, economics

• arts
• dining
• traveling
• camping
• economics

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I volunteered at Camp Power in Pennsylvania. It's free summer camp for children from some of New York City's worst neighborhoods. These kids knocked my socks off. They talked back for sure, but they also showed such ample potential and kindness.