Achiever of the week: Popi Sibiya

This week’s feature is Popi Sibiya. Popi is from South Africa. She holds a National Diplomal in Industrial Engineering. She loves traveling and has visited 16 countries thus far. Growing up Popi never thought of living or traveling abroad, it never crossed her mind. It had always sounded like something cool that other people did. Popi worked as a Business Analyst at MultiChoice before she moved to China to teach English. She needed a break from corporate and decided to look for a relatively easy job. After completing her contract, Popi left China because the job got boring. She needed something more challenging. She is now a full-time travel content creator. She is enjoying herself and career thoroughly. She has been traveling and creating content in various African countries and plans to travel in Asia, South America, Europe and North America in the future.

On the blog Popi shares what inspired her to move to China, how she found her teaching job, her travel experiences and highlights as well as her future plans.

Fill in the blank

1) I absolutely cannot travel without my power banks.

2) __________________ is the best cure for jet lag.

Hahaha I’ve never had jet lag in my life as I’m more of a bus girl. Bus lag? The club! Get off the bus and head straight to the club!

3) The best trip I’ve ever taken was Phuket. Cliché but true. The place is affordable and tourist-friendly and just easy and beautiful. The true definition of a HOLIDAY.

4) Traveling in an overloaded bus on slippery, muddy roads is the scariest thing that has happened to me while traveling.

5) Walking through a forest full of elephants alone (which I later found out is also home to black panthers is the most adventurous thing I’ve done while traveling.

6) In my opinion, objectively speaking: Cape Town; subjectively speaking: Shanghai is the world’s most beautiful city.

7) I think everyone should travel to China at least once in their lives.

8) I’ve renewed my passport once!

9) Burning bridges is the biggest mistake I’ve made while traveling.

Q & A

1. What was your job before you started teaching in China and where were you working?

I was a Business Analyst at MultiChoice South Africa.

2. What motivated you to pursue a TEFL career and why did you choose China over other countries?

I needed a break from corporate and I needed a relatively easy job. I chose China because my cousin was already teaching there, so she sold it to me. Also, she knew a recruiter who she trusted there.

3. Was it always your goal to live abroad?

Not at all, I had never imagined myself living abroad - it just never crossed my mind. It had always sounded like something cool that OTHER people did, but not me.

4. How did you find your teaching job?

I used @world_teachers_connect on Instagram.

5. How long did it take you to speak Chinese?

It took about 5-6 months.

6. What was the most interesting food you tasted in China?

Durian - a smelly fruit that tastes quite good (it’s sweet).

7. What was the most interesting place you visited in China?

Guangzhou. It was the coolest place. It had a hood feel to it, which I’d never experienced in China before. All the other Chinese cities I’d visited had been quite shiny and “well-put-together” but Guangzhou felt purposefully hood and relaxed and artsy. And it’s no wonder it has (I think) the biggest population of foreigners in the country. Maybe its vibe was influenced, over time, by all the different foreign cultures?

8. How many countries have you visited so far and which one is your favourite?

I’ve visited 16 countries thus far. It’s hard to pick a favourite but I wouldn’t mind settling in South Korea. It’s clean and modern enough but it still holds on to some traditions.

9. Out of all the countries you have visited, which one has the friendliest people?

I think Gabon :)

10. Why did you leave China and how has life been after leaving China?

I left China because the job got boring. It served as a great reprieve for the first 6 months, but then my mind needed something more challenging.

Life after China has been amazing. I am now a full-time travel content creator; I am always working on interesting, meaningful projects that I choose for myself and I’m forever challenged and learning. I am enjoying myself thoroughly now. For once in my life, I’m doing something that I don’t wish to “quit”.

11. What are your future plans?

On the work front: road trips through Asia, South America, Europe and North America.

On the personal-life front: get into a long-term romantic relationship.