Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I went to work in Barcelona, Spain in May 2013.

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

I was there for two years at the same secondary school in Bangkok. To be honest, it was my intention to work for just one year and then move on, but the head teacher - who I had a great relationship with - persuaded me to stay on for a second year. She told me I was the best teacher the school had ever employed but I think she said that to all the teachers when she caught wind they were thinking of going on to pastures new.

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

I was bored of the routine. Simple as that. I desperately needed a change of scenery. To make a bit more money, I was working weekends at a private language school as well as my regular Monday to Friday school gig. OK, the language school work was only three hours on a Saturday and Sunday morning but it meant I never or rarely got a full day off. There I was surrounded by all that wonderful Thai culture and umpteen places to go at the weekend - and I was just too busy working to enjoy any of it.

In a moment of clarity, I thought 'hold on, what's the point of earning all this money when I haven't got time to spend it?"

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

Well, I work for a private language school in Barcelona. I worked here for a couple of years in the early noughties so it's a city I love and know well, plus while I would hardly call myself fluent in Spanish, I can certainly hold a decent conversation. I guess I feel a lot less like a fish out of water than I did in Bangkok. And of course it's only a couple of hours away from my family in London if I suddenly feel like hopping a cheap flight.

The thing I love most about living in Spain though is that you get to experience the changes in the weather. I didn't think I would ever miss Winter in Europe but I did.

Spain is not a great country for an English teacher though. Even making a living in Madrid or Barcelona can be tough if your face doesn't fit or you don't make the right contacts. I make about 800 baht an hour (if you want to convert it back to Thai currency) It sounds reasonable but there are days when you might only have 2-3 hours work.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

I miss the simplicity of life out there. You can get by on very little money if you're forced to. And when you move around and interact with people in a large European city like Barcelona, you realise how friendly, welcoming, tolerant and helpful the Thais are. I don't think you always appreciate it when you're living there - I know I didn't.

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

Oh without a doubt. Even if you only experience Thailand for one year - just do it!

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

I may come for a holiday but there are actually a few other countries in that area I would love to see like Laos and Vietnam. Perhaps I'll do one sooper-dooper Southeast Asian tour one day and stop by in Bangkok to say hello.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

I was born in London, grew up in London and worked in London for a good few years. I've also worked in Glasgow, Paris and now Barcelona. I'm a big city person - but there isn't a big city like Bangkok! I worked with many teachers in Bangkok who really couldn't handle life in a big city and would have been far better off somewhere a bit less hectic. If you're going to look for a teaching job in Bangkok, make sure you're someone who can handle the hurly burly of a chaotic Asian capital.