The Great Escape

Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I moved to a city called Jiaxing, near Shanghai in China on May 1st 2010. Now I live and work in Chongqing, South West China.

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

I worked in Thailand for 3 years.

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

I always wondered what differences there would be in the TEFL Industry in another country and to gain more experience.

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

I think the advantages are ( in order ) money, free apartments that are well furnished and modern, fewer visa issues and twice yearly flights home paid for after six and twelve months.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

Soooooo much. Despite the advantages of living in China, I still crave to be back in Thailand. The simplicity of life in Issan, islands from heaven, great food, smiley people and all my friends.

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

Yes. Despite the problems that Thailand has, it is a great country. Most people who left Thailand, in my opinion, were looking for too much. They left their home countries and came to Thailand expecting things to be the same but different ( as the saying goes). My advice to anybody is do what I did. I came to Thailand several times before making the leap. Get to know people. Discuss life there, work there, ins and outs, how to go about the job market and learn some Thai etc. Most important of all.....you have got to love teaching, if not, you are already backing a loser.

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

Yes. I will return after my current contract ends here in Chongqing.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

You need to be prepared. We have a saying in the UK: You can take the person out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the person. From what I have seen of expats in Thailand, this is very true.