Teaching in the sticks

31 cool and awesome things about living and teaching in rural Thailand

Before we get into the list I just want to mention that everything is written in good fun. Expats and Thailand veterans will understand more than first timers. Certain sentences and parts reflect my own specific experience more so than the general one. Some of it might come across as sappy, but I've had a very positive experience in Thailand and the glass is half full for me.


Surviving Thailand's roads

How to avoid becoming just another statistic

Most Thais do not have any understanding or desire to learn road safety. If you grew up in my generation you had Tufty and his gang drilling the green cross code into your brain, and those lessons never get forgotten as the years pass by.


Oh boy...I went to Loei

Amazing travel experiences in North-east Thailand

Even if it's just for a handful of days, hopping back into the traveling circuit is an epic feeling. I love my job and I'm happy everyday, but there's this euphoric buzz that runs through me every time I clip on my Osprey bag and wedge myself onto another box-on-wheels.


Thailand: the land of smiles and helpful hands

Even in the darkest moments, people genuinely want to help

We soon realised that something more serious was going on. A knife appeared. A big, scary knife. Things start to feel a bit more real when there's a knife involved.


A day in Ayutthaya

Temple-spotting is a fine way to spend a Buddhist holiday

Apparently, Monday was (loosely translated) Buddha Day. It is therefore fitting that I should visit temples for the day, and thanks to an invitation from a lovely fellow teacher at school, that's exactly what I did! Ayutthaya is a mere hour and some change train ride from Bangkok.


Old things from the village

Keeping the memories of those olden, golden days alive

My foreign friends and students who know my life habits ask me why I love old things; old houses, old wood furniture, and even pieces of an old rice mill that I keep underneath my old wooden house in Bangkok. It seems strange, doesn't it?


The house of horrors (final part)

The fourth and final part of Ralph Sasser's amazing story

The third update to the story came in late 2010 when Ralph entered into a long court case (are there any other kind in Thailand?) and was left with a half-finished building. Surely things could only get better? So here we are in mid-2012. Did Ralph's house of horrors story finally have a happy ending? Read the fourth and final instalment.


What to expect when you move to Thailand

Life in the sticks and other oddities

I packed my bags and moved to Thailand to eventually become an English teacher. I was offered jobs in different parts of Thailand, but I quickly decided to move to a village in the North East region of Thailand, as opposed to a city. Moving from a city in Canada to a village in Thailand is a radical change but it's the type of challenge I was looking for.


What you may not know about her

Tales from Thai society

The story begins with a new foreigner who came to our village two years ago. He was an Australia man, strong and handsome, not so old, but he spoke no Thai and never smiled. I would see him sometimes, with his wife, at the local noodle shop. She was from the tambon, the small town about fifteen minutes bicycle ride from my farm.


Arai Na?

English in Thai vocational schools

I came here 1.5 years ago and it was all planned as a 10-month experience. I had a high paid marketing job back home in Europe and everybody told me that it was crazy to leave my career and become a ‘teacher' here in Thailand.


Showing 10 tagged items out of 18 total Page 1 of 2



Featured Jobs

NES English, Math and Science Teachers

฿60,000+ / month

Bangkok


English, Science and Math Teachers

฿42,300+ / month

Thailand


Nursery & Kindergarten Teachers

฿45,000+ / month

Bangkok


Whole School EAL Teacher

฿60,000+ / month

Bangkok


Primary Math Teacher

฿45,000+ / month

Bangkok


Full-time Teachers

฿52,000+ / month

Laos


Featured Teachers

  • Evgenii


    Russian, 56 years old. Currently living in Thailand

  • Ankamah


    Ghanian, 40 years old. Currently living in Ghana

  • Christina


    Filipino, 42 years old. Currently living in Philippines

  • Facundo


    Argentine, 30 years old. Currently living in Argentina

  • Ayberk


    Turkish, 27 years old. Currently living in Turkey

  • Ian


    British, 67 years old. Currently living in Thailand

The Hot Spot


The cost of living

The cost of living

How much money does a teacher need to earn in order to survive in Thailand? We analyze the facts.


The Region Guides

The Region Guides

Fancy working in Thailand but not in Bangkok? Our region guides are written by teachers who actually live and work in the provinces.


Will I find work in Thailand?

Will I find work in Thailand?

It's one of the most common questions we get e-mailed to us. So find out exactly where you stand.


Air your views

Air your views

Got something to say on the topic of teaching, working or living in Thailand? The Ajarn Postbox is the place. Send us your letters!


Teacher mistakes

Teacher mistakes

What are the most common mistakes that teachers make when they are about to embark on a teaching career in Thailand? We've got them all covered.


Need Thailand insurance?

Need Thailand insurance?

Have a question about health or travel insurance in Thailand? Ricky Batten from Pacific Prime is Ajarn's resident expert.


Contributions welcome

Contributions welcome

If you like visiting ajarn.com and reading the content, why not get involved yourself and keep us up to date?


The dreaded demo

The dreaded demo

Many schools ask for demo lessons before they hire. What should you the teacher be aware of?