Q1. Where did you move to and when?

Back home in 2020 (during COVID) and then to Cambodia in 2023.

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

I was in Thailand from 2015 - 2020 (a total of 5 years).

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

I started a family. Working in the government schools and earning 32-38K a month wasn't something I remained comfortable with as I started thinking about the future. I also didn't have a degree in education, therefore the higher tier schools were out of reach.

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

There is much easier access to international schools, which is honestly great as you can grow your career in an international school environment while you further your studies in education. However, I will say that job availability is a lot less compared to Thailand. In Thailand you can work at any government school and get a job quite easily. Here however, it is only the private schools and international schools that hire foreigners and most of the private schools are fake schools that only care about making a profit and they're not great to work at.
The local staff at the schools are a lot friendlier towards their foreign colleagues. I remember how hostile the Thai staff at the schools would be towards the foreign teachers without any cause.

I would also like to add that my child is able to attend the international school I work at. If I was still in Thailand, I would not be working at an international school nor would I be able to afford the tuition fees.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

Everything. Literally everything. The people, the atmosphere, the food. Thailand just has that thing that I can't explain. I love Thailand and its people.

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

If you have a degree and you have no one to financially support then Thailand for sure. Cambodia is okay as well but I feel that job availability here is a lot more difficult and I see people being sold on promises of how easy it is to get jobs but end up searching for two months after they arrive, with no success.

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

Definitely! Once I have completed my degree I will be returning to Thailand.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

If you plan on going to Thailand to teach, then have an end game plan or an exit plan. What I mean by this is that you don't want to end up getting stuck at a 30K baht paying job year after year and you've ended up wasting so much time that making any positive changes in your career in Thailand or back home will be difficult. Either come for a short stint (a year or two) or further your studies so you can get the better paying jobs. What made me leave Thailand was really the fact that I had older colleagues with Thai families that were still working in government schools and basically scraping by. I didn't want to end up the same way. So have a plan on how long you will be in Thailand for and what your next move is. For the youngsters, make sure you always have enough money for a return flight home.