Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I moved back to England in July 2023

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

I was there for just one year, working at a large primary and secondary school in Chiang Mai.

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

I never really felt settled and friendships were too transient. You would make good friends with someone only to see them move on to somewhere else after a term. It's also well-known of course that the pollution in the north is awful and Thailand doesn't seem to have a solution. I didn't want to experience all that wheezing and coughing for another burning season. I would also add that a 35K salary didn't quite stretch as far as I thought it would. There are a lot of temptations to spend money in Chiang Mai.

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

More security and stability and I can put away some money for the future. Being close to family instead of the other side of the world is nice too.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

Not as much as I thought I would. I guess Thai street food would top the list and of course I miss many of my students and seeing their smiling faces in the morning.

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

I would certainly recommend any teacher to consider travelling and working abroad but be sure to do your research on the schools before you start work there. Try and talk to the current foreign staff if at all possible but avoid any obvious negativity from teachers who have been worn down by years and years in Thailand. Always have an open mind

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

I'd certainly include it on any travel plans around Asia and hopefully I'll do that some day. Would I work in Thailand again? Probably not.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

Try and seek out the positive foreigners as friends. Negative people can suck the life out of you. Thailand suits some people and not others. I'd always recommend it as a place to visit and, if you can look past the many challenges, it's an amazing place to spend a longer time.