Hello Steemit, why didn't I know about you sooner!

Hi everyone, my name is Chris . I was introduced to @Steemit by @Rycharde only yesterday and am already very excited to be part of what's to come. Finding myself with some free time every now and then, I'm sure this is a great place to share stories and knowledge while learning new things too.

I am from the United Kingdom, but for the past 11 years I have spent most of my time working and travelling around Asia.
It started when I graduated from my Art and Design degree from Loughborough University and decided to 'see the world'. A one way ticket to Indonesia and a backpack, I thought I would be home in a few months.

After climbing Mt. Rinjani, Mt. Bromo and Mt. Semeru in Java, Indonesia I was hooked on travelling and exploring, and had quickly developed a new love for photography. My point and shoot camera was quickly traded in for a DSLR and my digital interest began.

The intended 3 months of travelling grew into a year and I had somehow zigzagged my way overland all the way back to England. Endless buses, motorbikes, hikes, boats, rafts and trains allowed me to see and experience parts of the world I never thought existed. It also meant I could build an enormous bank of photos which I will be sharing here in the near future.

As my travels ended and I was sat at home- on a rainy day- it always rains in the UK! I decided to apply for an Artist in Residence position (similar to a post-grad-tutor-come-student position) at the main art university in Bangkok, Thailand. Luckily I was accepted, and shortly after, I moved to Bangkok to study. The art scene really wasn't very different from that of England. Artists/students still worked in the same way, still strove for their first exhibition and still focused on preparing an ever 'better' portfolio.

Choosing not to follow an artistic path I found myself become an air steward for a couple of years and lived in Dubai. Free travel was great, and a little bit of luxury sure was enjoyed. But going from hotel to hotel I missed the adventure and missed not knowing and not having independent control or where I was going next.

I took another career change, enrolled on a PGCE course and became a teacher. For the past 7 years I have been teaching students in international schools in Bangkok. Although my journey to work is the same everyday, the experiences are never the same within a primary department!
It amazes me how much joy and enthusiasm children have for learning, and it certainly rubs off. The image below shows a marble run which was made by one of my students who joined the woodwork club that I am currently running. It's on my to-do list to post and publish full instructions on how you can build your own at home- fun for all ages!

In addition to this, I enjoy extreme sports like motocross, enduro, rock climbing and love to head out to the mountains. To be fair no one loves the mountains more than my dog! Originally a street dog puppy, she followed me home and became part of the family.

Thank you for taking the time to read my first post. Feel free to comment about anything that might have caught your interest.