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James

Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I moved back to the South East of England in August 2016 (one year ago)

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

10 years

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

I wanted to give England another chance and bring my kids up here.

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

Workers rights. No corrupt people in authority ruining your every move and all the nonsense that goes with it. Not feeling like an alien all the time. The climate. The driving. No mosquitoes.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

The quality of life for what you earn. The cool and rainy seasons. Watching a football match in the pub with my friends. Freedom. Eating out when I am too lazy to cook. The attitude of ESL teachers compared to the "qualified" teachers here. Spontaneity

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

Get yourself qualified here first. Get it out of the way because once you've experienced life abroad coming back is a nightmare, literally. Going the other way will feel great.

Then go and seek out the schools abroad. Start in a standard Thai school (not a government one though) and learn the culture before moving to an international school. If you go straight into international school work, you'll miss out on a large chunk of life there.

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

Very soon. I have been here a year now and I hate it. It's becoming impossible to save any money and life in the cities (outside of London) is becoming harder and harder. I am on less money than I was 20 years ago yet the price of everything has doubled.

Add to that the yob culture of kids and the lack of parenting going on and it creates a huge dark cloud that follows me wherever I go.

Thailand isn't perfect by a long way but at least you have a life. This country has hit rock bottom for me. I look around and feel so down at the state it has become.

The lack of hope, the closed businesses, the dirty run down houses and gardens, the complete lack of pride that young people have in themselves.....basically the money has been wasted and spent in all the wrong places. I no longer feel proud to be British, I honestly don't.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

Yes - create a chat group where people such as myself and others who struggle to resettle can meet and discuss things because you feel completely isolated at times and unless you talk to someone who has experienced the same, you just feel like everyday is a struggle.

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