Hello, and welcome to my first official Editor's Note for Student Weekly magazine! The previous Editor, Ben, has moved to Melbourne and I've taken over his desk and the famously uncomfortable Editor's chair.
Doing something new is sometimes challenging but always exciting, and any new chapter in life makes you think about what you've been through to get to this point. Interestingly, one of this week's stories took me on a trip down memory lane.
In this issue we have an interview with Apartment Khunpa, an indie band that performed at the first concert I ever attended in Thailand, way back in 2003. I'd met the band's guitarist, Pump, the night before. I told him I loved music but hadn't seen any shows yet in Bangkok, so he invited me to his concert the following day. The band played at a small college near Khao San Road and it was a great night and a great introduction to the city's live music scene.
Back in 2003 I was a (fairly) young teacher working in a government school in Thonburi, excited about this country I'd recently moved to. Since then I've taught all ages and levels of students, from Pratom to university, as well as gained several years of experience as an IELTS instructor. I've come to understand that while learning English can be difficult, that doesn't mean it can't be enjoyable, and I think Student Weekly is one of the most fun ways to improve your language skills.
As a freelance writer covering food and music for the Bangkok Post over the last 10 years, I've eaten in some of Bangkok's best restaurants and interviewed most of Thailand's top pop stars. But if you'd told me back in 2003 that 13 years later I'd still be in Bangkok and working as a magazine editor, I'd have thought you were crazy.
Yet here we are. I'm proud to take over the role of Editor of this fine publication, and excited about making Thailand's best edutainment magazine even better. If you have any ideas about what you'd like to see in Student Weekly, please drop us a line. After all, it's your magazine!
Gary Boyle
Editor
[email protected]
