The great escape interview with Steve Forrester was one of the best articles I have read on this website. I was not sure where one gets to comment on great escape articles, which finds me writing this letter. I just wanted to recommend that anyone considering teaching in Thailand read the interview, because it puts the sum total of my own experience, and I believe the most salient truths about this endeavour, very much in the proverbial nutshell.

Here is the overall picture rendered in a very frank and honest way. Steve's forte is obviously the art of summary.

I went to school in Thailand for a year on a government scholarship as a kid, and I studied Thai at university. I taught at university there myself for four years, and obviously I have had a lifelong involvement with this country. All of this has enriched my life - none of it in the monetary sense, in terms of career aspirations studying about Thailand and all the years spent on learning the language are indubitably the most misguided choices I ever made. But I met a lot of nice people there and learning any completely alien language is generally good for the mind.

In my opinion Steve has offered some very sage advice.

Ajarn.com says - Thank you Fred. We don't actually have a comments section for the great escape entries but your comments here are much appreciated. You can read the entry that Fred is talking about at this link - http://www.ajarn.com/ajarn-guests/the-great-escape/steve-forrester/

Fred