Q1. Where did you move to and when?

America in 2013 but looking to go back to Asia soon

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

I worked in Thailand for one school year

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

I wanted to see new countries before I move back to America to start a proper career. I may move to another Asian country and teach for a bit more experience teaching abroad. Also, Thailand was a freak-show at times, with the ladyboys and the open gayness.

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

I'm not a farang, I'm not viewed as being "fat" by everyone (lol), and although the job market here isn't that hot, there's better earning opportunities long-term compared to being a TEFL teacher in Thailand. Also (as other teachers alluded to), I don't have to deal with the joke which is known as the Thai Educational system. It's sad but true, but after three months living in Thailand, I knew as much of their language as my students knew of mine, and they've been learning ENG since kindergarten. Also, if I end up moving to Japan, I know there will be a bigger emphasis on learning. In Thailand, you walk by the Thai teachers' classes, and the students are sleeping, talking amongst themselves, texting, and the Thai teachers don't do anything about it. Then some of them envy the farang teachers' pay, although the farang teachers actually work for theirs.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

The cheap beers, pretty scenery, smiling Thais, and the low cost of living, as well as my friends. Overall, I enjoyed my time in Thailand.

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

Get used to the provincial Thais calling you "farang" 50,000 times. Also, don't stress when it appears no one gives a damn about the lack of student discipline, lack of respect, or lack of trying by many students. Also, get used to dealing with taxis/tuk tuks and their BS fees or general laziness. I think the Thais are much better than the Vietnamese for example, but many of them are lazy and think if you have white skin and round eyes you must be insanely wealthy. Also, many students give farang teachers less respect since, well, they're farangs. I worked at a ghetto school in Isaan, and no one was ever cruel to me, but I got so tired of them calling me a westerner when they knew my name.

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

Yes, I like Thailand, but teaching there is stressful for the low pay, unless you teach at an International school.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

Overall I had a great time in Thailand, but don't teach here if you're looking for good pay and an easy job. Also, as I said earlier, get used to dealing with lazy/crooked people who want to overcharge you since you're a farang and therefore "rich" (But that's more a SE Asia thing). If you come to Thailand just to get drunk and boom-boom and teach, you'd be much better off in Vietnam, where the pay is higher, although the people are much ruder (But, in Nam I was never called a farang, merely an American). Who knows, maybe I'll stay another year in Thailand now that I'm used to it, but it gets tiring at times!