Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I moved back to England a few days ago (March 2014)

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

Five months.

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

I had a very short working life in Thailand due to the lack of job options. I was a childcare practitioner in England and before moving to Thailand had started to move into a new career path, however in Thailand, teaching seemed to be the only career I could (legally) get hired in so I took a deep breath and tried to make it work for me. I took a one month TESOL course and was hired as a teacher (with the help of this website!) for 5 months, before I realised teaching wasn't for me and quit. I then started to pursue the career i wanted most, writing, and was lucky enough to be approached by many companies in Bangkok asking me to write freelance articles for them.

There wasn't just one reason for moving away from Thailand, it was a mixture of many things. I'm due to become an auntie and wanted to be home and be there for my sister, I missed my family and friends, I really wanted a good roast dinner and a strawberry and lime koppaberg. But most importantly I really wanted to travel to new places and explore the rest of the world but the lack of career options in Thailand (that you can do legally) stopped my funds from progressing and as a result I felt that Thailand was holding me back from achieving that.

Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?

Warm weather... Wait.
Cheap accommodation... Nope. That's not right either.
Erm... Give me a moment whilst i think of some!

Ok, honestly if you look at things from a materialistic point of view, I can't think of any. England is way more expensive for food, accommodation and everything in between, but for me it isn't about cost of living, it's about quality of living, and for me the highest level of living comes when you're fulfilled. England doesn't give me everything I need in life, nothing will until I've seen as much of the word as possible, but what it does give me is everything I need from life right now - which is family.

Working is also easier as there isn't a long list of jobs that foreigners can't do, like there is in Thailand. The cost of life may limit you, but I find that it's easier to explore different career options here.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

Oh so much. Whilst I cannot live in Thailand I do absolutely adore that crazy little country!
I miss the sunshine, the food (oh THE FOOD!) I miss that you can eat somewhere new every night and visit new places every weekend, but most importantly I miss the friends that I made. Making friends with people that are going through (or have been through) the same transitions and emotions as you is amazing. You find that you make quality friendships quickly and people become very dear to you because you understand what each other is going through and it creates a higher level support system.

Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?

I would advise them to follow their heart and ask themselves if a teaching career is really what they want. The countries are very different, mainly because teaching English in England is not the same as teaching English in Thailand! To teach in England you need years of training and a teaching degree, but to teach in Thailand you need to be moderately attractive with a TESOL qualification (if that).

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

Oh yes!

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

Yes!
A big thank-you for having this website and for your constant presence on twitter.
Ajarn.com was an extremely useful tool when i first moved over here. Not only with friendly advice and helpful blogposts, but with helping my explore my career in teaching, even though it was phenomenally short-lived.