Are you a teacher who once taught in Thailand but decided to seek out pastures new? Has the grass been greener on the other side? Maybe you swapped Thailand for the financial lure of Japan or Korea? Read about those who have left Thailand, and their reasons for moving...
Frank
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I moved to Milan, Italy at the beginning of the year (2014)
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
I worked in Thailand for five years at two different secondary schools and also taught literally hundreds of private students at the weekend.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I just got up one morning and felt like I needed a complete change of scenery. I had recently split from my Thai partner of five years and I would be lying if I said that the break-up didn't have a lot to do with my decision. It was an extremely difficult parting of the ways but she was forging ahead with her career and I felt as if I was holding her back. I wanted to experience teaching in Europe again as well. I taught in Spain and Poland for several years and really enjoyed my time in both countries.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
I thought I would struggle to pick up teaching work in Italy and I didn't have a huge amount of savings behind me, but I've found plenty of private language schools here, all looking for an experienced teacher. Within two weeks of arriving I had picked up enough hours to live on. I'm earning in the region of about 60,000 baht a month, which is enough to rent a small apartment and eat well enough. At the end of the day, it's a major European city though, so your money is never going to go as far as it does in Thailand.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
The life out there is just so easy isn't it? OK, the actual teaching and dealing with the school administration can be stressful at times but once your working day is over and time is your own, life is so simple. Wherever you are, you can reach out and touch a food vendor. Everything is taken care of from your laundry to cheap motorcycle repairs. I miss the simplicity of life in Thailand. I made a lot of good friends too and I'm trying to keep in touch with as many as I can via Facebook, etc.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
Go for it! You'll have a great time.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
Not at the moment. I'm enjoying life in Europe and it's giving me a chance to really recharge my batteries. I wouldn't mind eventually giving somewhere like Vietnam or Cambodia a try but I just know that if I decided on SE Asia as a TEFL destination, the lure of Thailand would be too great and I'd probably end up back there.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
As much as I loved my five years in Thailand, you can never feel truly settled. You never knew when there were going to be changes to the teacher licencing laws or the immigration rules, etc. That always worried me (as it did many of the other teachers I worked with) I think it's less of a problem for a 'free spirited' single guy because they can just move on to another country, but it's a lot harder for those who have put down roots and married a local and maybe had a child or two. I wouldn't fancy dealing with the day to day uncertainly of only ever being a guest in the country and having no rights as such.
Dexter
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I am originally from Metro Manila and I moved to Bangkok in 2006. I moved again to Adelaide, South Australia in 2008.
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
Two and a half years.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I was not comfortable with the fact that I was going to be a foreigner there forever. I am gay so marrying a local is not an option for me.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
Of course, I am earning more in Australia and I am now a citizen of this country. Curricula here have more structure so it is easier to lead the students to their pathways. I have a more diverse classroom as I teach people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. I learn more about the world from my students here in Australia.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
I miss the food and how cheap it is. I also miss the convenience of the comprehensive public transport system.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
Thailand is a great country to live in. Being a foreign worker there (teaching English) has a lot of perks so one can have a more luxurious lifestyle than the locals. It is also easy to find friends as the country exudes a vibrant energy of friendliness.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
I would love to return for a holiday as I spent most of my time working there. I was not able to visit Chiangmai and the more popular beaches. I also have some friends that I would be ecstatic to hug again.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
Thailand holds a very special place in my heart. It will always be a part of me.
Yoona
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I left Thailand recently. That's all I'm going to say.
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
I worked for a private school for three years and then I moved to another city and worked for three years in a language school. The last three years meant being posted to different local schools and organisations and this really helped me in my development as I taught across a range of English levels.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I was worried about being at the same level in Thailand for many years to come, so to improve my lot I needed to get out. Coupled with I had a desire to further my education and see my family, I returned 'home'. I also became increasingly aware of how low I was actually being paid, in comparison to the same job in other countries, despite never spending my monthly salary and actually being able to save!
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
I now teach in a language school in a busy city and the adjustment to teach a variety of nationalities was hard. The English level of the students is higher, they are more motivated to study, they demand more from their teacher, so there was (and still is) adjustment going on to meet their needs.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
I miss the simplicity of daily life and being in awe of a culture so different than my own. Of course the food gets a mention, as does the sun factor, and the beautiful smiles.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
Sure! No matter how long one teaches there, it will be a memory they never forget. It can be an easy entrance into teaching as the demand isn't a high as some other countries. Beware of getting stuck though!
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
I haven't returned yet, but I will one day. I am trying to avoid that being in a professional capacity, so my next visit will be a holiday.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
It's an amazing country and despite many of the honest comments here , I personally didn't see many of the problems that some people have mentioned. I feel that my success there was down to how enthusiastic I was in the job. Go with an open mind, try to understand why things are done a certain way, be prepared to give, and don't get caught up in school politics.
Janet
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I moved back to my home in Greece in February this year
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
I worked for eight months in Thailand, although I had a three year contract.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
The international demonstration school I worked at did not keep the promises it made to me. They promised to pay for my Master's degree but they took back the promise. My qualifications were ignored so I was not paid for my years of experience or extra qualification. They kept changing my working hours and days and would suddenly tell us we were working at weekends and during holidays, to make up for time lost due to the political situation.
One of the main administration people was American and he kept applying crazy rules that were impossible to stick to in Thailand. He seemed unable to do his job, which is not surprising since he had no experience of administration. Many complaints were made to the main university about him but little was done.
The school had also promised to insure my partner but they then refused to cover him with health insurance. When my partner became ill we thought it best to return home . I had also had enough of the stress caused by the ineffective administrator.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
I work from home now and I can spend more time with my partner. The long hours working in Thailand in the heat were sometimes exhausting, but the pointless hours spent at staff meetings when nothing actually changed was worse! It is lovely that I no longer have a vindictive administrator making my life a misery with pointless emails sent late at night or over the weekend.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
I miss the Thai people , who were wonderful. I miss the other staff at the school, particularly the Thai staff. I miss the street markets and the street food. I also miss the amazing temples as I became a Buddhist while I lived in Thailand.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
There are very few jobs teaching in Greece where I live and you are expected to have a qualification in the Greek language before you can get a teaching permit here. Thailand can be good experience for a new teacher.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
I will go back one day, but as a tourist.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
The visa situation in Thailand is very confusing. I had to report at immigration every 90 days, which is difficult when you are working such long hours. My husband, who had a year long multi entry visa was made to report every 30 days and every ninety days they made him leave the country! It made life more stressful and difficult for us both.
I loved the Thai people and it was an amazing experience in many ways. I brought lots of good things back from Thailand, including my belief in Buddhism. The Thai people were very welcoming and they have an amazing mentality that I loved. I left a piece of my heart with the Thai people when I left the country. I wish them peace and happiness in the future and hope the political situation is sorted out soon. Namaste.
Gareth
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I moved back to the UK in April 2014
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
I was there for one year (two semesters) and worked at the same government school for that duration.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I only ever intended to teach here for one year and even though I would have happily stayed longer, I just felt it was time to leave.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
I've gone back to work in the family furniture business. My father owns a large discount warehouse and after leaving university I wasn't ready to join the 'family firm' without first travelling and working abroad a little. But I guess I'm ready to go back and knuckle down and join the 9 to 5 brigade.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
Wow! I don't really know where to start. I miss the Thai beaches, the food, the freedom to do what you want when you want and without any parental pressure. I made a lot of good friends in Thailand as well - both Thais and expats. Hopefully I'll keep in touch with many of them through Facebook.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
I would certainly recommend doing a 12-month contract out there (if you are lucky enough to be offered one) Many teachers used to bang on about how much more money you could make in countries like China or Japan, but I was never tempted. A year of teaching was enough for me. I enjoyed it while it lasted but never fancied making a long-term career out of it.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
Hmmmm.........not sure about that one. The world's such a big place and there are so many places to see. But never say never.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
If you're just going to do a year in Thailand, enjoy it as much as you can. There are plenty of other teachers that have become negative about living and working there and spend too much time around them and that negativity can start to rub off on you. I refused to let that happen. I made friends with 'like-minded spirits' and generally hung around with those kind of people. And life in Thailand was all the better for it.
Showing 5 Great Escapes out of 335 total
Page 40 of 67
