James
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I moved back home to Northern Ireland in 2017.
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
I worked there for seven years as a teacher, starting in 2010.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I got married in 2013 and then had a child the following year. Pretty much from the moment my son was born, I started plotting my exit. I didn't make enough money to send my child to an international school and I really didn't want him entering the Thai education system, which I felt was very backward. Secondly, I didn't want to teach anymore. I had never intended to be a teacher for more than a few years and outside of teaching, I really didn't see a lot of opportunities in Thailand and I was keen to start a different career. As odd as it sounds, I actually quite fancied the idea of a nice, secure 9-5 office job!
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
Firstly, the opportunities. I'm not going to lie and say it was all rosy from the beginning when I first got back. I had to come here alone at first, without my wife and son. Also, while it was initially very exciting to be able to apply for any job I wanted, I literally had to start from scratch. The first job I took was a minimum wage role in an absolute hellhole of a call centre, full of coked-up young people. I hated it and missed my little boy but I never for a moment thought I'd made the wrong decision.
After a spell at a much nicer call centre, I found work as a technical writer which has been my career for more than 5 years now. I love the job and I earn a good salary in a part of the UK with a lower than average cost of living. And it's not just me who has benefitted - my wife, who graduated in social work in Thailand was able to get her qualifications recognised in this country and now works as a social worker.
In addition, pension scheme, better salaries, more job security, better craic. At my last school, I was the only farang teacher, the rest were Thai and Filipino. They were all lovely but it was quite lonely. The workplace banter is better here.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
The people.
Getting to speak the language every day - I wasn't fluent but I got such a thrill from talking to people and actually being understood.
The pace of life.
Cheap massages.
Cheap food - I hate eating out here, it's so expensive. I miss the markets and the little restaurants.
All the weird adventures and quirky things that happen every day.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
100% recommend teaching in Thailand. It was the greatest experience of my life.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
Probably when me and my wife retire, which is a long way off.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
I actually wrote a blog for ajarn way back in 2017 about how I planned to move back home. The comments were great - half of the people wished me good luck and the other half said I was an idiot for going back, 'you'll end up stacking shelves in Tescos' ,'the UK has gone to the dogs!' etc. All well-meaning advice of course. However I'm very happy with how my great escape turned out and I hope anyone who is currently in a similar situation to me back then will take some hope from my experience.