Q1. Where did you move to and when?

I moved to Yangon in Myanmar in September 2014 (a couple of months ago)

Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?

I finished a one-year contract with the same secondary school.

Q3. What was your main reason for moving?

I had a very enjoyable year in Thailand. The school was great and the Thai staff were always very supportive. The students were polite and eager to learn (most of them anyway) I think there were two main reasons for moving on; firstly, I wanted to try my hand at another South-East Asian country (and it basically came down to Myanmar or Vietnam) and secondly, I wasn't keen on the way things seemed to be going in Thailand for teachers (tighter visa laws and difficulty staying legal, etc) Even though I'm a qualified and experienced teacher, I never felt as secure in my job as I wanted to be.

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

I've only been in Yangon for a couple of months so you might say that I'm still in the 'honeymoon period' (if that's indeed the right expression) Frankly speaking I'm still feeling my way around. In some ways, Myanmar is similar to Thailand but in other aspects, they are poles apart. Yangon is chaotic and polluted but the people are extremely friendly towards foreigners. I managed to get a job with one of the best language institutes in town and so far - touch wood - they are looking after me well. I do about 16 contact hours a week (fewer than I did in Thailand) and the class sizes are much, much smaller. The pay is better too. I was earning about 35,000 baht a month in Thailand but pulling in closer to 55,000 here.

Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?

A lot. The cheap street-food. The vast selection of international restaurants if you fancy a splurge. And there are so many places to travel to in such a big country like Thailand (if you have the time of course)

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

I don't think I've been here long enough to form an opinion. It's certainly very different to Thailand.

Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?

I've signed a one-year contract with the new school and I fully intend to see that term out. Then I'll just go with the flow. I certainly wouldn't rule out returning to Thailand though and I'm keeping my eye on how things develop for teachers there.

Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?

When you talk to teachers who have taught in two different countries, they nearly always say the previous country was better. Perhaps teachers become complacent in one country and don't truly realise how good life is. I don't want to fall into that trap. When you are a TEFL teacher, the world is your oyster. You can keep moving around until you find the perfect destination. That's the beauty of teaching and travelling.