SBAHLE MKHIZE

Achiever of the week: Sbahle Mkhize

April 20, 2021 | By Nqobile Mdima

This week’s feature is Sbahle Mkhize. Sbahle is from South Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Sport Science and an Honours Degree in Sport Management & Leisure Sciences. She obtained both of her degrees from The University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Westville campus. Sbahle is an ESL teacher in China. She works for acompany called First Leap in Beijing city. Sbahle has been living and working abroad for 2.5 years. When she is not working she creates content for her YouTube channel (Sbahle Mkhize), travels, attends events like dance circles, group hikes, sound therapy and other events in Beijing. Sbahle has travelled to four countries- Thailand, China, Germany and Cyprus. 

Sbahle shares with us her TEFL journey, travel experiences, her experience of getting braces as an adult, her advice to TEFL job seekers and her future plans. 

What were you doing before you moved to China?

I was working as Marketing & Fundraising Manager for a sport for good non-profit organization.

What made you decide to work abroad and why did you choose to work in China?

It’s always been a goal of mine to work abroad. When I used to think about what exactly my job would be, I always gravitated towards sports and coaching. When I started to search for opportunities to coach abroad, English teaching came up on my feed. I applied and got the job. I didn’t necessarily choose China, I guess, China chose me. 

Did you find the preparation process to move to China easy or difficult?  

The visa process was pretty smooth and with the help of my company, I felt really prepared for the move.

In terms of leaving my family and friends, it was really difficult. I was leaving my safe space, and preparing to start a new life for myself. But, I always knew in my mind that God is with me and that my life was going to change for the better, and through me, so many wonderful things were going to be possible for my family.

Which airline did you use when you first flew to China? Would you recommend it? 

I flew with Emirates. It was a pleasant experience, and I would definitely recommend them. The food and service was good, their communication leading up to the flight was helpful and the on-board facilities were clean and up to date (movies/music).

How long did it take you to adjust to the new environment?

I would say a month or two. It would’ve been longer if it wasn’t for my Baidu translation APP.

Where do you network with other expats in your city?

On my day offs I like attending events like dance circles, group hikes, sound therapy and other events that bring together like minded people. I meet a lot of expats there. 

Do you prefer teaching online or teaching in class? What do you like or dislike about each experience?

I prefer offline teaching over online teaching.

Offline teaching gives you, as the teacher, control over the classroom environment, and the ability to read each student's receptiveness to the content and their engagement, without the parent’s involvement.

Online teaching is my least favourite because you can’t do any off the board activities. I love those kind of activities because all students learn differently, and OTB activities give the students, who like to move and be active while learning, their chance to shine.

Did you start your YouTube channel in China? What motivated you to start it?

Yes, I started producing content this year in China.

 I had a lot of time on my hands, and I would spend a lot of it on Youtube. Until I started therapy, and I started working on myself and I found that I had a lot of limiting beliefs that were holding me back and stopping me from sharing my experiences.  

So, my Youtube channel has been my very own digital diary that I hope can inspire a young black girl, who is growing up ekasi (township) raised by her grandparents to aspire to live and work aboard, because there is enough room for all of us to flourish and blossom.

What is your channel’s name and content?

My channel's name is Sbahle Mkhize - travel, lifestyle and vlogs . 

Did you get your braces in China? How has getting braces impacted your life? 

Yes, I got my braces at Diamond Dental here in Beijing.

My adult braces have boosted my confidence especially because I can see my teeth are moving and the treatment is going really well. I’ve had to make minor changes to my lifestyle, like carrying a small tooth brush and mouth wash with me, everywhere I go. But, other than that, getting braces was the best decision I made for myself.

How many countries have you travelled to so far and which one is your favourite? 

I’ve been to 4 countries. I really enjoyed Germany.

Do you plan the trip yourself or use agencies when you travel?

My trips to Germany and Cyprus were work trips, so my company organized everything.

My trip to Thailand I planned using trip.com and Airbnb.

How often do you visit home and how long are you planning to work abroad?

For the past two years, I’ve gone once in each year. However, moving forward, I aim to go at least twice year. The COVID pandemic has really reminded the importance of seeing you loved ones as much as possible.

I plan to work abroad for as long as I can.

How do you deal with homesickness?

Lots of videos calls with my family and I try to spend time with my close friends here in Beijing.

Please list advantages and disadvantages about living in Beijing City.

Advantages:

-More varieties of cuisine and imported food in supermarkets.

-The transport system is very efficient and cheap.

-I generally feel safe, when I walk outside day or night.

Disadvantages:

-Chinese people take pictures of you, without your permission.

-The apartments are more expensive than those in smaller cities.

What are your future plans? 

To build generational wealth for myself and my family, through multiple revenues of income which involves starting a business, continuously building my Youtube channel and working as an ESL teacher. 

What advice would you give to someone who is confused about making a decision to teach abroad, especially during a pandemic?

Don’t be discouraged. The pandemic has shaken the world, but this industry is still booming. There is a need for more teachers, therefore, stay prepared, organize your documents, do your research and stay informed about the Chinese regulations for expats.