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...
Smeg
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
Back to the UK five years ago this month, after having spent 16 months of 2002-3 dossing around getting drunk in Thailand, and 39 months of 2005-9 working in office-based roles in Bangkok
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
A few illegal bits and pieces during 2002-3 and 39 months during 2005-9 working for the UN and a large audit firm in central Bangkok
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
My intention was only ever to spend 2-3 years exploring Asia as something to do during my 30s before settling down in the UK. I ended up spending 4.5 years there, which was far too long.
It's easy to waste time there and let it slip by, such is the halfwitted nature of the place which begins to consume every westerner there sooner or later.
There is a real danger IMO in beginning to feel settled there, because just like an alcoholic begins to feel that being drunk is normal, the alternative reality that Thailand provides effortlessly consumes those who are susceptible to its charms, or those who oddly see returning to the west as a backward step
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
Where to start! Citizenship, no legally restricted roles, no work permits, permanent job contracts if required, ethical employers, professional workplaces that provide training and career advancement, professional colleagues, ease of getting short-term contract roles and taking breaks in between them to travel, the ability to obtain remote working roles which allow you to work online and travel at the same time
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
Some good friends I made whilst I lived there, the cheap spicy food, the weather from November to February (but it's even nicer in southern California, where I'll be spending next winter)
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
I don't teach and barely ever have (despite being UK qualified teacher). If someone wants a fascinating experience then give Thailand a go for a year or three, but have an escape route planned in advance, because only the most peculiar types want to make it their permanent home.
If you want to be a real, career teacher, do it here, and give the international schools over there a try as a busman's holiday.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
I pop back every now and then and continue to have a giggle on a thailand expat forum, but as there are so many places to see in Europe and the wider world, it's a rarity, and I have no reason or desire to live there for a third time. Been there, done that
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
It's been exactly 10 years since my Hotseat. Doesn't time fly!
Johan
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
My fiance and I moved to Shanghai in January 2014.
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
We worked in Thailand for 1 year.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
We never received our salaries on time, and we grew tired of the Thai education system.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
Wow! Where do we begin? Better salary (3 x times more than the average salary in Thailand), medical aid, visa and residential permit assistance, assistance in finding accommodation, a fantastic public transportation system, lesson planning material provided by the school, better teaching hours, modern teaching equipment, development opportunities.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
We miss the laid-back lifestyle of Thailand, the food, the scenery. We miss the fact that we can climb on our scooter and drive to the beach or visit waterfalls.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
Get the experience in Thailand, and then leave. Stay for a year, and then move on to a country that provides more benefits.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
For holiday definitely, we will even consider retiring in Thailand one day. But for now, we love China too much!
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
We would like to thank Ajarn.com for always keeping us up to date with the latest developments in Thailand. We would also like to add that Thailand is fantastic for first time teachers. Most of the students are eager to learn English, so let them be your inspiration.
Amy
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I moved back to England a few days ago (March 2014)
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
Five months.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I had a very short working life in Thailand due to the lack of job options. I was a childcare practitioner in England and before moving to Thailand had started to move into a new career path, however in Thailand, teaching seemed to be the only career I could (legally) get hired in so I took a deep breath and tried to make it work for me. I took a one month TESOL course and was hired as a teacher (with the help of this website!) for 5 months, before I realised teaching wasn't for me and quit. I then started to pursue the career i wanted most, writing, and was lucky enough to be approached by many companies in Bangkok asking me to write freelance articles for them.
There wasn't just one reason for moving away from Thailand, it was a mixture of many things. I'm due to become an auntie and wanted to be home and be there for my sister, I missed my family and friends, I really wanted a good roast dinner and a strawberry and lime koppaberg. But most importantly I really wanted to travel to new places and explore the rest of the world but the lack of career options in Thailand (that you can do legally) stopped my funds from progressing and as a result I felt that Thailand was holding me back from achieving that.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
Warm weather... Wait.
Cheap accommodation... Nope. That's not right either.
Erm... Give me a moment whilst i think of some!
Ok, honestly if you look at things from a materialistic point of view, I can't think of any. England is way more expensive for food, accommodation and everything in between, but for me it isn't about cost of living, it's about quality of living, and for me the highest level of living comes when you're fulfilled. England doesn't give me everything I need in life, nothing will until I've seen as much of the word as possible, but what it does give me is everything I need from life right now - which is family.
Working is also easier as there isn't a long list of jobs that foreigners can't do, like there is in Thailand. The cost of life may limit you, but I find that it's easier to explore different career options here.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
Oh so much. Whilst I cannot live in Thailand I do absolutely adore that crazy little country!
I miss the sunshine, the food (oh THE FOOD!) I miss that you can eat somewhere new every night and visit new places every weekend, but most importantly I miss the friends that I made. Making friends with people that are going through (or have been through) the same transitions and emotions as you is amazing. You find that you make quality friendships quickly and people become very dear to you because you understand what each other is going through and it creates a higher level support system.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
I would advise them to follow their heart and ask themselves if a teaching career is really what they want. The countries are very different, mainly because teaching English in England is not the same as teaching English in Thailand! To teach in England you need years of training and a teaching degree, but to teach in Thailand you need to be moderately attractive with a TESOL qualification (if that).
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
Oh yes!
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
Yes!
A big thank-you for having this website and for your constant presence on twitter.
Ajarn.com was an extremely useful tool when i first moved over here. Not only with friendly advice and helpful blogposts, but with helping my explore my career in teaching, even though it was phenomenally short-lived.
Brendan
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I went to work in Barcelona, Spain in May 2013.
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
I was there for two years at the same secondary school in Bangkok. To be honest, it was my intention to work for just one year and then move on, but the head teacher - who I had a great relationship with - persuaded me to stay on for a second year. She told me I was the best teacher the school had ever employed but I think she said that to all the teachers when she caught wind they were thinking of going on to pastures new.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I was bored of the routine. Simple as that. I desperately needed a change of scenery. To make a bit more money, I was working weekends at a private language school as well as my regular Monday to Friday school gig. OK, the language school work was only three hours on a Saturday and Sunday morning but it meant I never or rarely got a full day off. There I was surrounded by all that wonderful Thai culture and umpteen places to go at the weekend - and I was just too busy working to enjoy any of it.
In a moment of clarity, I thought 'hold on, what's the point of earning all this money when I haven't got time to spend it?"
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
Well, I work for a private language school in Barcelona. I worked here for a couple of years in the early noughties so it's a city I love and know well, plus while I would hardly call myself fluent in Spanish, I can certainly hold a decent conversation. I guess I feel a lot less like a fish out of water than I did in Bangkok. And of course it's only a couple of hours away from my family in London if I suddenly feel like hopping a cheap flight.
The thing I love most about living in Spain though is that you get to experience the changes in the weather. I didn't think I would ever miss Winter in Europe but I did.
Spain is not a great country for an English teacher though. Even making a living in Madrid or Barcelona can be tough if your face doesn't fit or you don't make the right contacts. I make about 800 baht an hour (if you want to convert it back to Thai currency) It sounds reasonable but there are days when you might only have 2-3 hours work.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
I miss the simplicity of life out there. You can get by on very little money if you're forced to. And when you move around and interact with people in a large European city like Barcelona, you realise how friendly, welcoming, tolerant and helpful the Thais are. I don't think you always appreciate it when you're living there - I know I didn't.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
Oh without a doubt. Even if you only experience Thailand for one year - just do it!
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
I may come for a holiday but there are actually a few other countries in that area I would love to see like Laos and Vietnam. Perhaps I'll do one sooper-dooper Southeast Asian tour one day and stop by in Bangkok to say hello.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
I was born in London, grew up in London and worked in London for a good few years. I've also worked in Glasgow, Paris and now Barcelona. I'm a big city person - but there isn't a big city like Bangkok! I worked with many teachers in Bangkok who really couldn't handle life in a big city and would have been far better off somewhere a bit less hectic. If you're going to look for a teaching job in Bangkok, make sure you're someone who can handle the hurly burly of a chaotic Asian capital.
Joel David Wilson
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I moved to Delaware in 1999 to work at a large well known internet sales warehouse...for the stock options. Later, on I went back to teaching ESL in Philadelphia and South Korea. I also enlisted in the US Army, where I worked as an Instructor.
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
I taught at a bi-lingual school in Ratchaburi, Thailand in 1998. I worked for a Thai import company in Wilmington, Delaware USA from 2000 to 2006 and made several business trips to inspect working conditions at Thai vendors and insure products met US Customs safety & legal standards.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I got married to a Thai - the math teacher to be precise. We decided that getting her a green card and later her US citizenship, (which we got by me doing a three-year enlistment in the US Army)..would be better in the long run, even though it was a long drawn out, expensive, complicated process that took almost 15 years.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
Money. USA and South Korea have the cash boom boom that is hard to come by in Thailand. But advanced countries can be expensive..
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
In Thailand we never did without. If you see something and want it, in most cases you can afford to buy it. We are always saving up to buy things for when we go back to Thailand. It seems like in Thailand we just enjoy life and worry about tomorrow.....tomorrow.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
It seems like Thailand is both good for a new teacher and a place to retire. Not so much to make a career in ESL. To work in South Korea and take a yearly vacation allows you make serious money and still enjoy Thai culture a bit.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
Yes, the 'some day' when we eventually go back to live in Thailand is coming .. someday
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
If you don't go to Thailand to teach, at least go there on vacation. If you can't go to Thailand on vacation at least go have dinner at a Thai restaurant.
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