
Comenius Assistants: On Your Bikes - Vlad Buxton and James Lazenby
Most Comenius Assistants plan which airline to fly with and study check-in times. But for Vlad Buxton and James Lazenby, their main concern was who had packed the bicycle puncture repair kit.
Vlad and James have both recently finished Comenius Assistant placements in Scandinavia; Vlad in Denmark and James in Sweden. Keen from the outset to make their experience an adventure, they decided to travel to their placements by bike to reduce their carbon footprints. Their route was ambitious but allowed them to see many more places and meet locals and travellers along the way, as they took a boat from Harwich and cycled through 1370km of Dutch, German and Danish cities and countryside – finally making it to Goteborg in Sweden.
Vlad says “We did the trip over one month, staying with welcoming hosts we met along the way. Visiting the cheese museum in Alkmaar, watching a punk football team in Hamburg and crossing spectacular island bridges in Denmark were some highlights of the trip.
James agrees: “At the end of the trip we were healthier and happier than before and we learned what great freedom comes with slow travel.”
Despite their arduous journey, the boys arrived at their new schools full of enthusiasm for their 8 month placements as Comenius Assistants. Their roles included teaching English, explaining about UK culture, and offering support for a range of other subjects and activities, enhancing pupils’ experience of another language and culture, and their understanding of European issues.
For James and Vlad, it was an opportunity to gain teaching experience and improve their language skills. Like most assistants, they found it a life-changing experience, and a boost to their confidence and teaching skills.

