Q1. Where did you move to and when?

Moved back to America in 2012

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

Two years. May, 2010 - October, 2012

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

It was a job, not a career. The sweet spot seems to be about 2 years. Anything more than that, and you need to ask yourself what you are doing. Costs are going up. I am not talking about 5 baht more for street food, etc. Everything is going up at a much faster pace than inflation.

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

Salary of course! I calculated it out and I am now making about 257% more at my job here in America. No matter how much people can try and justify it, teacher salaries in Thailand are embarrassingly low. Not something you want in an environment of rising costs. Teacher salaries in Thailand have barely moved in 20+ years!

Flexibility: Believe it or not, my hours in America are more flexible, Generally done by 3:30 pm weekdays and home by 3:45. I get two weeks paid holiday, which is more than I ever received in Thailand.

While only working 22-28 hrs a week looks good on paper in Thailand, it doesn't factor in commuting time, marking papers, etc. I worked harder and longer for less money in Thailand.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

Culture - I am a big fan of Thai music, and really enjoyed going to live Thai music venues 2/3x a week.

(Cheap) Food - Of course it is good, but it is widely available here as well. Honestly, a lot of it is not that hard to make either.

Beaches - They are nice. A little overrated, and there are certainly thousands of nice beaches in the world, but I always had good experiences visiting Thai beaches and islands.

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

No, I honestly wouldn't. It was not a bad experience for me by any means, but more often than not, teachers get trapped in Thailand. They stay too long, and spend their time poorly. Many teachers put in half the effort as well, and the job was always challenging, even on "easy" days.

If someone is reading this and wants to try it out, then by all means, go for it. Don't feel you even need a TEFL or CELTA - A lot of the times you don't. Teachers put in too much time and effort for certifications they don't need.

Just make sure you are aware of the pifalls, because there are a lot of them. Also, most of the teachers I worked with were alcoholics, who were always searching for the nearest British-style pub or Western-style food outlet. Why come here if you are looking for all these familiar comforts?

Avoid crap like Full Moon Festivals, Khao San Road, etc. Just massive tourist traps that bring out the worst in people. Also, most "real" friendships are people I have known here in America. Thailand is a land of fakes.

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

Maybe within the next 3-5 years, but honestly, there are a lot of other places I would probably rather visit.

I am not really sure "why" I would go back to visit.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

Don't come to Thailand if you are young and looking to live here long-term. I can't tell you the number of times I heard people aged 20-25 talk about retiring here, with no short-term or long-term plan at all.

Come here to be a teacher for a year or two, gain some experiences, and have an exit plan. As mentioned earlier, most people stay here way too long, and when they return home, they have a tough time gaining meaningful employment because of the "Thailand years" on their CVs that employers want to know more about.

Also, don't buy a condo! It looks like a decent option on paper, but it is riddled with extra costs, loopholes, and pitfalls. Just don't even consider it.

Do local things if you come here - put away the Lonely Planet guidebook, go to Thai music venues, eat Thai Southern Food, explore the markets other than JJ and ones that aren't floating, meet local people. Go to local parks, events, etc. Explore the hills/mountains, eat street food, and just explore!

Bottom line: Have a plan to leave after a specific period of time. Also, for the male readers - don't "fall in love" I know some people might disagree with this, but you will truly enjoy Thailand and your travels a lot more independently.