Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I moved back to New Zealand in April 2019.

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

Three years. one year at a parking lot university and two years at a high school in Nakhon Pathom, it was a great experience and I met some cool and weird people. At the high school, EVERYONE in the department was gay or transgender LOL, except for me. So that was entertaining.

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

Where do I start? In Nakhon Pathom there was pollution, the inability to travel independently, the heat, the smell, garbage, loud sounds/speakers everywhere, congestion, the dogs breeding on the street. You can't do anything outdoors. Honestly, Thailand is VERY overrated. Oh and I needed to start living a healthy life again. Can't do that in Thailand really and I have a family now so we are much happier in New Zealand.

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

Actually, I prefer teaching in Thailand than in NZ. I'll be going into aircraft engineering shortly so I'm changing careers. At least in Thailand I could just joke with my students in class the whole time and get away with it, because seriously, who actually takes teaching in Thailand seriously (or teaching for that matter). It's a joke but I went along with it successfully.
But in NZ its even more of a joke because the students here pay a shitload of money to study and really it's just a big business scam. They pay to sit in a class and the teacher teaches them English - same s**t, different location. I feel sorry for them to be honest. They don't need any teacher to teach them English. They can learn everything by themselves.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

Most of all, the non-PC culture was so refreshing. You can say anything and no one takes your words literally, they know that you are joking and then they laugh. It was great.

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

Yeah sure, just do it for a couple or a few years. What annoys me about this 'great escape' section is that the Westerners in particular who spent 5, 7, or over 10 years teaching with no purpose finally say 'Man, I wish I had left for China/Vietnam several years ago because I take my career seriously and deserve a better salary.' Really huh? It took you over half a decade to figure out that your 'teaching career' in Thailand is a joke?? Frauds, These people need an IQ test.

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

Yes, of course. but just for a week as I need to get more of my stuff that I stored there. But seriously, Thailand is so overrated as a holiday destination, There are far better places to go.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

Give Thailand a try. You might not like it but just do it for fun and see how it goes. I highly recommend teaching in the rural areas, where it's much more peaceful