“Everybody I knew was on it. I thought, well, they obviously don't care that much, because every teacher is doing it.”
Teaching English in Beijing seemed like a great opportunity for Welsh graduate Glen Williams, who had previously spent time studying in China. He could brush up on his Mandarin, work with kids… and earn up to £3k per month, tax free.
The hitch? The agency that placed him told him that every three months, he’d need to spend the weekend in Seoul - a ‘visa trip’ that, he soon discovered, was commonplace amongst ex-pat EFL teachers.
Then, one day, they changed their tune. “If the Police ask you”, they said, “tell them you sell whiteboards”.
In this interview with Olly, Glen reveals what happened next…
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Meanwhile, in the Zeitgeist, Ollie Peart, fresh from mastering ‘the Crow Pose’ on Instagram, attempts to dominate the internet through the medium of keyword spamming.
Can his well-established musical talent - now masquerading as alter-ego Captain Spronk - stretch to luring in listeners with clickbait titles like ‘Music For Focus’, ‘Music For Meditation’, and, um, ‘Olly Mann’?
If YOU would like to challenge Ollie to test out a trend on a future edition of the show, submit it via our feedback form.
Glen and some of the kids he taught in Beijing
The letter banning Glen from China for 5 years
The Zeitgeist is sponsored by Manscaped, the only men’s brand dedicated to below the waist grooming. Get 20% Off + Free Shipping, with the code ‘Mann’ at Manscaped.com
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Elsewhere, in the Foxhole, Alix Fox (having learnt the ropes of ‘Satanic Feminism’) helps out an anonymous listener with post-coital dysphoria (PCD) - a condition that can cause feelings of sadness, agitation, and crying after intercourse.
Why have we evolved to feel disgust at the things that previously made us horny? How much is chemical, and how much is shame? And what post-sex rituals can you employ to reset your emotions? Alix, as ever, has the answers...
If YOU would like to ask Alix a question of sex - you can remain anonymous if you wish - submit it via our feedback form.
The Foxhole is sponsored by Handy - a WiFi-enabled sex toy for men, designed and developed in Norway. For free express shipping, use our code ‘Foxhole' at TheHandy.com.
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Finally, our record of the month is ‘Kamali’, the new single by Priya Ragu; part of her mixtape dropping on September 3rd:
This episode of The Modern Mann is sponsored by “the healthcare workers of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who want to thank the other workers worldwide that have done such great work - in the spirit of moving on collectively to a better place". Thanks guys!
If you can afford to, please buy us a beer once per month - or as often as you like - using our secure, customisable form here. Thanks!
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We’ll see you again on September 10th.
