Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I returned home to Australia in March 2016.

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

I was there for two years. I worked for a small government school in Bangkok for the first twelve months and then moved to a larger government school for my second year. The second school was an agency job. The first school was a direct hire.

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

So many reasons but I'll give you just three.
1) When you work as a teacher in Thailand, there are just too many grey areas. No one seems to know the right answer to anything, be it something to do with visas or something to do with work permits. The red tape just wears you down eventually.

2) I had already had two teacher licence waivers and I didn't fancy applying for a third and going through the pain of it all again. I felt there was no way I would keep getting granted a licence waiver and I didn't have the funds to study for a degree.

3) I was constantly struggling to make ends meet on a government school salary. I realize that it was partly my fault for choosing to live in a big city but I really didn't fancy teaching at a rural school purely to make my salary go further.

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

Well I haven't settled into any regular work yet but obviously once I'm back in the system, I'll be entitled to all the benefits you receive as a citizen working in your own country.

I've had several job offers already but I'm taking my time over the next move - and no, I won't be going back into English teaching.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

I made a lot of good friends while I was there - both foreign and Thai - and I'm sure I'll keep in touch with all of them on social media.

I miss the weekends away. Every so often a group of us teachers would have a wild weekend in Pattaya or Hua Hin. A lot of fun times and great memories there!

I'm already missing that delicious Thai food of course. My neighborhood in Bangkok had some fantastic cheap eateries and because I was a regular customer, they always looked after me.

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

Yes, but it's something I would only do for a year or two. Don't make any long-term plans, especially if you don't have a degree because it's getting tougher and tougher for those without. That said, I think the Thai culture is fascinating and well worth your time getting to know. You will also meet and connect with some great people (you'll work with some unbelievable oddballs too)

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

For a holiday, definitely. There is still so much of the country that I haven't explored. But it would be nice to go back as a tourist, with a pocketful of spending money instead of trying to stretch things out on a teacher's salary.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

There are rarely yes or no straight answers in Thailand. Every answer has strings attached or perhaps an element of doubt and uncertainty. If you're a methodical planner and like everything to run smoothly and just so, then Thailand will push you to your limits and it will make or break you.