Thailand - a pleasant dream or a nightmare?

Postbox letter from Adrian in Bangkok

There is a reason they say Thailand is for Thais only! I am now 31 years old and I'm going back to Europe. Good luck to you all.

Bye, bye Thailand

When poor evaluation strategy and lack of communication mean one thing - the exit door

I have taught at five schools in Thailand and only ONE has let me finish the semester and given me a recommendation letter. I've had enough of this place to be honest.

Which partner will 'yield'?

Deciding which country to live in with your Thai partner

Cross-cultural relationships are challenging in the best of circumstances. One party within the couple needs to have a strong desire to take on the other party’s culture, language and lifestyle. Even where the Thai partner speaks good English or the Westerner has learnt Thai, one partner often needs to ‘yield’ more than the other

Moving on

The lives we teachers touch and the impact we have.

There are always those days that make you wonder what it is you’re doing with your life, but I would argue there are few professions that can allow a person to make so many direct contributions to the lives of others.

Don't get angry, just have an escape plan

Postbox letter from Anon

Salaries have been frozen here for years, the cost of living has rocketed and the workloads have increased. I now have to work online too to make a decent salary.

Chasing the big bucks

The ongoing and exhausting search for a well-paid teaching job

I'm just not making enough money to make it worth staying at my current posting. What with student loans, a mortgage, and other bills to pay, not only am I saving zilch for retirement, but I'm also barely breaking even month to month.

Why I've had enough of teaching in Thailand

It may work out for others - just not for me

It's not so much that I've had enough of Thailand, it's just teaching really. I'd say a good 90% of teachers at my school are women over the age of 50. None of them are open to change.

Thailand doesn't seem to want me

Postbox letter from Gary

The gaps between finding work were becoming untenable - months at a time, this time specifically five months without work.

The bureaucratic runaround

And all for the love of a good woman

With just over a month left in Thailand, having sold my motorbike and soon to be leaving my apartment, I met the new love of my life, which suddenly threw a spanner into the works. On our last day, we went to all our favourite places before sharing a tearful goodbye at the airport.