The great Isaan teacher shortage

Postbox letter from Bob The Black Poet

The reality is that there is a severe shortage of teachers up there in Iassan and schools, in a state of almost desperation, will bend the rules to hire teachers. That's the reality of life in poor areas.

Should I stay or should I go?

Getting to grips with life as a teacher in Thailand

I flew in to Bangkok and spent four amazing days and nights there. I was about to head out towards Ubon to start looking for work when I was tipped off with a potential opportunity in the Si Sa Ket province of Isaan.

It's not what you know

Postbox letter from Raphaella

I work in a government school in Issan which employs several teachers that do not possess degrees or fake degree certificates.

My dinner with Ning

A call for traditionalists in the classroom

We were an unlikely pair. Me, a 51 year old Canadian English teacher who is jaded, cynical, and has had more negative experiences with Asian women than I care to admit; and her, a 31 year old Thai Science teacher who, in my opinion, is looking for a foreign status symbol.

Vegetarian eating in Isaan

eating healthy in the wonderful North-East of Thailand

Most Isaan towns and cities have a number of veggie restaurants of note and there is little that these establishments can’t do with tofu and fungi.

Safe as houses

Why the global economic crisis probably won’t hit Isaan

Isaan is the least touristed area of the country so a drop in overall visitor figures to Thailand won’t really make an impact on the local economy.

Finding work in Isaan

How easy is it to get jobs in this region?

General Internet searches tend not to provide a very complete picture of employers because many of them don’t have websites. Those that do are unlikely to show any interest unless you’re in the immediate vicinity.

All about Isaan folk

What keeps them smiling exactly

What are Isaan folk like to work with? There are always going to be exceptions and I have worked with one scallywag outfit myself. But, on the whole, people here don’t go in for back stabbing or office politics. In my office we speak a mixture of English, Thai and Chinese and we always have a good laugh.

Isaan insights

Some background on this fascinating area of Thailand

Isaan folk are by far the easiest to get along with in Thailand. In four years of living here I have only had two of those encounters where a local that you know, for no apparent reason, suddenly starts ignoring you. And even those exceptions went away quickly.