Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I moved back to Scotland last year to apply for a PGDE (the Scottish equivalent of a PGCE) at various universities.

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

I worked in north Bangkok for three years, near the Ratchayothin intersection.

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

I felt I was stagnating at school with no career mobility, no pension plan and indifferent colleagues. I decided to move back home to qualify as a teacher to increase my ability to progress up the career ladder and have more flexibility; teaching in Thailand for a few years convinced me teaching was THE career for me.

I applied to various universities in Scotland, and was accepted by the University of Edinburgh to start teacher training, the best bit of news I had all year.

Unfortunately, living in the UK is difficult, particularly with the negative mindset of Britons around me dragging me down. As another Great Escape contributor mentioned, it's difficult to get a stable job and income. I'm currently working as a life attendant in a sports centre with a fixed part-time wage but that will end soon because I'm starting university in August and have to put my career training first.

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

Pension plans, workers rights, the ability to challenge your superiors when warranted, sick leave and paid holidays. There's also career progression here, and once qualified, my salary will far exceed anything I could get as a TEFL teacher in Thailand.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

Being able to afford a large and comfortable place to live in, fresh and plentiful street food that costs next to nothing, having my own motorcycle to zoom around the country, and the ability to afford a flight and hotel stay every month in the north or south of Thailand. Those were the best things around to help me cope with the realities of adult life.

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

Considering how competitive the teaching courses are here, I would advise you to get a couple of years' experience in Thailand then come back and do some classroom volunteering at your local school to maximise your chance of getting a place. In the long term, qualifying here will be the best thing you ever did.

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

Yes, I plan to buy a holiday home in Thailand in the future.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

If you're in Thailand and plan to come back to the uk, make some plans for what to do to progress yourself here, otherwise you'll end up in a miserable rut with no prospects for the future. Also, seek mental health counselling if you feel dragged down by those around you. It helps. Seriously.