Luke's ENGLISH Podcast - Learn British English with Luke Thompson

The Flatmate from Japan Returns🚶‍♂️Travelling Tales & More [950]

Aug 25, 2025
Peter Sidel, an English teacher from Manchester, shares his amusing stories and cultural insights from years spent in Japan and Malaysia. The duo discusses the hilarious quirks of flatmate life, dealing with jet lag, and the challenges of stand-up comedy abroad. Peter reveals his experiences with humidity, the thrill of spontaneous travels, and the unique language-learning environment in the Baltic region. They also touch on the ridiculousness of some language materials, and even the quirks of fake monks in Chiang Mai, making for a delightful and entertaining conversation.
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ANECDOTE

How A Flatmate Became A Lifelong Friend

  • Luke met Peter as a nervous new flatmate in Tsujido and they quickly bonded over shared tastes and nights out.
  • Peter ended up staying in Japan for 19 years and they stayed friends, meeting again years later.
ADVICE

Reset Your Clock As Soon As You Travel

  • Change your watch and phone to local time as soon as you board to mentally shift your clock.
  • Stay awake until local bedtime and power through until you adapt to avoid prolonged jet lag.
INSIGHT

Home Feels Different After Long Absence

  • Returning from Malaysia made Peter see the UK as both strange and familiar, shifting his reference point.
  • He noticed UK advertising felt far more sexually explicit compared with Malaysia's conservative media.
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