I've been working at a government college for the last 5 months. While my school has kept good on the salary and pay me on time every month, the paperwork wasn't delivered on time as promised and I have had to do costly visa runs. The school has covered some of the costs, but I still have to put in lengthy travel time, and pay for food and lodging.

At first, these seemed like mini-vacations, but - as time goes on - I look forward to a visa run like a meal of bugs. This, however, isn't the main issue. I have stuck it out as I love the students and most of my co-workers. The college has its strengths. The issues I have been dealing with are those few teachers (and my immediate supervisor) who don't bother to communicate when a class is cancelled or changed, or even more recently - school cancelled for an entire day.

The idea of co-teaching is a joke. My Thai co-teachers see it as a period off where they can rest. Often they don't even show. I have no books or materials. Sometimes the classes are over 40 students and the projector isn't working or I am in a room with no AC. While many teachers have been kind and caring, it is the few who aren't and usually the ones that matter the most.

I don't care about the pay that much, but if you shortchange me on respect, I get frustrated and eventually resentful. I have my Masters Degree in Education. I don't expect to get treated better because of it, but I won't put up with being treated like a stray dog. I genuinely care about my students, and show up on time every time. At this point my school wants to give me a year contract, but I think it is Byeland to Thailand time.

Brenda