Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I moved to China about three months ago. I moved after trying to get the non-immigrant B and work permit. I had to pay so much money and the run-around was such a hassle. I just got tired.

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

Four years. I worked for three schools. Came in to southern Thailand for one semester then moved to Bangkok for one school year. Then I had a one year contract in Issan and when I was still trying to get a visa at the end of the first term – That was it.

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

The government visa problems and the lack of help I was getting from the school.

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

Well, the salary is 45,000 baht (equivalent) and I get a very nice one bedroom apartment in a luxury apartment building. I also had my visa and flight (RT) paid for on arrival. I only work three days a week and I have 5 sections on those three days and the school provides a grader to help grade papers and record the score. The place is so much better than Thailand I am only sorry I didn’t come years ago.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

The food, the people the warm weather.

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

I would say go to Thailand only if you have no other choice. The salary stinks the benefits stink and the Thai government obviously doesn’t want us there.

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

Oh I get midterm here off – one month and then 7 weeks (all paid btw) and I’ll come for a holiday.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

I would love to get all the foreign teachers to do a walkout for a day just to show the Thai government that it has to either pay for real teachers (around 2500 – 3000 USD) a month or lighten up on us. What does the government think we are doing in Thailand, anyway? We are not here for the money and the job takes real work. If they start making demands for documents that are difficult to obtain i.e. police checks from our home country and such then we are only going to work here if we have no other choices. The problem for the Thai government is we do have other choices.