Are you a teacher who once taught in Thailand but decided to seek out pastures new? Has the grass been greener on the other side? Maybe you swapped Thailand for the financial lure of Japan or Korea? Read about those who have left Thailand, and their reasons for moving...
Stephen
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I moved back to England and do not regret it for one moment. It was the end of September 2012 when we arrived back in England, I brought my Thai girlfriend with me and she is loving it here in England.
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
I worked in Thailand for exactly six and a half years, maybe I stayed too long because in the end I hated it in Thailand.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
After working at several schools for different agencies it was clear nothing was ever going to change. Same old arguments with the Thai teachers when it came to exam times, nobody can fail. What a load of old bollocks that is. I remember one school where I had a class of 43 girls in my M4 class, 8 of the girls would do each others hair with hair dryers may I add. I approached the Thai teacher responsible for this class, but nothing happened until I failed them all. They all got a big zero because that what they did. As usual I was told I must give them a pass mark, I flatly refused to do it and the class was taken away from me, and this was not the only problem class. Thailand deserves the low educated people it has, because until corruption is wiped out in the education system and kids who are lazy and stupid buck their ideas up, nothing will ever change. Glad to be out of it. Even worked in a very well known private language school and even there it was no one fails because they pay.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
In England where I am now I pay more tax and insurance, bills are higher but I earn a decent salary. Back to being among people with a work ethic unlike Thailand. It was difficult getting up and running in England but I have many qualifications so I got a job straight away. My girlfriend can't understand why companies really check up on you before you get a job and the hoops you have to jump through to rent houses unlike Thailand. She is gradually getting to grips with things though.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
To be perfectly honest I don't miss Thailand at all and will probably never come back, not even to visit my friends and family. The fact that I can drive without the police stopping me for tea money and what else? - stupid useless dangerous Thai drivers, unintelligent people who think they are better than anyone else because of their brainwashing, also that Thais think Thailand is the only country in the world. Thais live in a goldfish bowl so will never improve in my opinion unless corruption is wiped out and this will never happen.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
In my opinion, anyone who is doing okay in their own country - stay there! You will never make a difference in Thailand. Save your energy and work hard at what you are doing now. If you are on the dole then maybe it would be a good option for you, or if you are not very well educated, get a TEFL certificate and someone will employ you for a pittance. For anyone in England the grass is not greener on the other side. Stay where you are.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
None whatsoever. I may have to come out to help with my girlfriends settlement visa, but if I don't have to I will not be coming back to Thailand. My salary is more than enough for her visa requirements so hopefully we can get it fairly easily as we can provide all the correct documentation. She is here on a six month visitors visa and has settled in very well. We have a nice house, car and I have a good job, so she is very happy here. Also we are lucky enough to live within a few minutes of some fantastic beaches, which she loves walking to.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
For those of you thinking of moving out to work in Thailand, think very carefully. It can be hard work and you will have to work more than one job to get a half decent living. Things are getting expensive in Thailand very quickly so your money won't go so far unless you live like a local, eating cheap street food. This is not a good idea. Make sure you always have money spare for emergencies. Do not go for all the wrong reasons - bargirls, gogo bars, cheap sex. My advice is find a decent girl if you can but they are few and far between as many have been prostitutes at one time or another. Glad to be home in a civilised country.
Harry
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
Moved to South China in September 2012 after gaining teaching certification in Australia.
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
Worked in Thailand for 6 and a half years.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
Six and a half years was enough. Wanted to travel more and earn and save more money.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
No great advantage. Life is more dull here and not as fun as in Thailand. Money is not good enough for a certified teacher unless you're working for a top line international school, which I ain't. if you're interested in travel then South China offers Hong Kong , Macao, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and nice enough weather.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
Bars, eye candy and easy access to travel to any nice destination in Thailand. The weather is also cooler here at the moment, so do miss the weather at times, although the heat in Thailand on a daily basis can be gruesome.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
Start off in Thailand, because it's more fun. Both China and Thailand just want a white face, so educationally speaking they're both as bad as each other. The schools are basically the same with bad management and not knowing how to utilize a foreign teacher's expertise. Also it's more easy to change jobs in Thailand. In China the need for a release letter and payment of contract breaking fees make it more difficult to leave and change jobs within China.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
If things don't work out here, it's possible I might return. I would not stay long term though. Just a short time to get my bearings together before I decide what to do next.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
Both China and Thailand are not for qualified teachers with masters degrees. I felt there and here that foreigners have a 'lack of voice' and that management was/is embarrassing. Eye candy is good though and that's why most foreigners are there and here.
Antonio
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
I moved to Beijing China about 4 months ago
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
I lived and worked in Thailand for about 2 years.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I wanted more money. I was tired of the humidity and go-go bars. It was a 'perfect storm' of events that all colaborated together I suppose...
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
So far - none really. More money, but the same ol' problems. You have to get on a plane to do a visa run from Beijing! Oh gawd!
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
I miss that first year as a teacher there - when everything was brand new and so... exotic isn't the word. You know when you hear the Thai national anthem for the first time and see all the students doing the wai. It's like being on another planet. I can still remember my first students. I'll never forget them.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
Do not come to China without at least one year of teaching experience. You will get ripped off harder than you would in Thailand. For example: Where I work now I make $1666 a month. There is some young kid at the same school who makes $2500 a month, even though he has no experience - but he was a direct hire. Then there are two girls with no experience also, and they are making $800 a month. Our agent is screwing them hard because of their lack of experience. She's screwing me too, because I should be making $2500 a month!
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
Maybe to become a monk or do Muay Thai (Thai boxing). I don't want to end up strung out on Hong Tong again...
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
No.
HJ
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
Tbilisi, Georgia in September 2011
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
2 years
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
I wanted to try a new country, environment and culture.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
I gained very valuable experience, especially in the Cambridge curriculum. The visa and work permit processes were also infinitely easier to navigate and resolve.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
Everything! The easy low-cost living, the warm weather, the friendly people, my old Thai neighborhood where I knew everybody and everybody knew me, the excellent food!
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
Thailand definitely!
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
Yup, all my friends are there.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
Working in different countries can be very advantageous but be aware that the differences between one country and the next can be very dramatic and can catch you quite unawares. Even though Georgia was a country I dearly wanted to work in and even though I thought I was prepared for a teaching year there, I suffered quite badly from culture shock and depression (from the cold sun-less days) - something I never had in Thailand.
Franklin
Q1. Where did you move to and when?
First to Vietnam, then back to the US.
Q2. How long did you work in Thailand?
Nearly five years.
Q3. What was your main reason for moving?
The flawed school system. I got tired of being blamed for students who didn't master English in two months, never came to class, or more importantly, didn't "have fun". Oh, and the fact that even on 50,000 a month, I still couldn't save any money.
Q4. What are the advantages of working where you are now compared to Thailand?
After so many years of living in a fantasy of cheap food, great weather, and amazing holidays on isolated tropical islands, the one glaring advantage of being back in the US is owning up to the reality of life's responsibilities: namely, paying bills, saving money and getting old. The notion of a retirement fund has yet to eclipse the thrill of budget excursions to Laos, but hopefully it will soon.
Q5. What do you miss about life in Thailand?
Waking up in the morning and knowing that I was only a bus and boat ride away from some of the most spectacular beaches on the planet. The relaxed pace of life in a small town. The incredible food. The unique travelers on the night train to Chaing Mai. The surprisingly state-of-the-art movie theaters. And of course the option to have a wild night on the town for under fifty bucks.
Q6. Would you advise a new teacher to seek work in Thailand or where you are now?
Of course, come to Thailand. My only advice is to set a timer. If you're happy and where you want to be when the buzzer sounds, then reset. If not, move on because nothing is worse than telling yourself that the food/weather/shopping is worth the hassle of being misled or outright lied to by sneaky administrators and jaded principals.
Q7. Any plans to return to Thailand one day?
I left and returned three times already. The last time I spent about six months retracing steps and absorbing all the breathtaking flora and fauna. Most of Southeast Asia is beyond description and if I go back, Thailand will be just one stop on a multi-country trek. But even if I wanted to teach there again, I know too much about how it works to put up with all the drama.
Q8. Anything else you'd like to add?
Teaching in Thailand was a great excuse for me to live out my wildest dreams of travel, but at the end of it all, the classroom is the last place I think about. My experience was uneven but I hold on to the good stuff; brilliant students, and lots of "this is why I teach moments'. When it was good, it was great.
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