Life offers you a 'do-over!'

[dummy_plug]

Sigh...so no use in hiding that it's me! I'll pepper in some more details and fill in more blanks...all is not what it seems in Thailand...

[grunyen]

When you come to a fork in the road, take it!

[blonde_havoc]

I'm 26 years old and have a teaching certification in Language Arts...

Think I should go and teach in Thailand for a year???

[marshal]

Without a doubt, if you already like thailand- your home will still be there when you return and probably good employment oppurtunities!

[Rocket J. Squirrel]

I would.

[blonde_havoc]

(marshal @ Feb. 21 2009,05:46) Without a doubt, if you already like thailand- your home will still be there when you return and probably good employment oppurtunities!

I finish my graduate degree in Spring of 2010. I've considered teaching overseas many times.

There are just a few worries...

I have to pay student loan payments of about 100$ per month (they're on deferment now). I also have a car payment of about 220$ per month as well.

Would I even be able to make enough in Thailand to pay for those bills, and a place to live, and personal expenses? I'd have to live on the extreme cheap, right?

or maybe I could just sell the car and not worry about it? I won't even need it after college (the only reason I have it now is because I commute to school).

And last of all... where do I even find a *legitimate* resource for getting a teaching job in Thailand (and I stress legitimate).

[dummy_plug]

Unfortunately it's not that easy. I'm doing the math right now in my head for my own situation and sadly, the numbers don't look very good. On 70k thb/month, which by the way, is a pretty good salary for a teacher I hear, you can live a decent life in Thailand and that's about it. I mean, it's a good sum for your living expenses, but it doesn't leave you a lot of room to save, travel (especially back home), or buy things you may be accustomed to buying such as gadgets/nice clothes/etc. Also, to compound this with the savings portion, it's forgoing the opportunity to sock away what would have been a substantial amount from working in your home country. It's a long-term thing, but anyone who knows anything about compounding interest knows that even missing out on 2-3 years at an early age can amount to tens of thousands "lost" 20-30 years down the road when you are set to retire.

For your situation, given your existing expenses back home - which don't seem like too much - you probably would have to make a pretty good paycheck to have a decent lifestyle and afford the bills at home. As I said, in general, I don't think most teachers make very much. The figures I've seen vary wildly, but a new teacher like you might make between 30 to 45k thb/month to start for the first year or so.

[rxpharm]

blonde_havoc, there was a very good thread about teaching and finding an apt in Bangkok by nhscotsman here: Finding an apartment & teaching in BKK

As far as taking chances go - back in 1995 the hospital I was working at downsized, from 400 beds to 120. A corresponding number of people were laid off and/or offered severance packages. While I had enough seniority to avoid being pink slipped, I was at the bottom after the newer people were to be terminated. I decided to take the severance package and work overseas in Saudi Arabia. That started a 13 year adventure that I am very happy I took. I've traveled to places I would never have considered if I stayed home, gotten to know a lot of lovely lbs and a bunch of international friends.

It's not always about money, although it is important. So really it boils down to - what is the most important thing in your life? Will you take the chance on that, or is the money the driving factor?

[Stogie]

I'll bet my bollocks that DP does not take this opportunity.

[kahuna]

I'll wager the same...

Trust this old guy DP..."...nothing can bring back the hour Of splendor in the grass..."

[Stogie]

OK... I suppose i better tell you why!

1 - He's a momma's boy.

He will need approval from his family. To get that he's gonna have to lie about either where the contract is or how much he's making or both. I don't think he's a good liar so... strike one!

2 - He's a snob. (Don't be offended... the best people are snobs!)

70,000 baht may seem like a good amount to survive on but it'll take some sacrifices and serious compromises. Frankly for DP to even think about this he's gonna need around 100,000 a month to even consider it. Let's face it... he may be Asian but he's not gonna want to be eating dog food off the streets every day just to have enough for the rent! Strike two!

3 - He was raised to be a money whore.

Like a lot of good middle class American families ascending the status and class ladders of suburban USA, the power of the dollar is too strong to resist. The fly in the ointment is about how he could have done if he had stayed at home working for benefits to allegedly better his future. Ultimately the risk of losing that edge will keep him stateside.

Strike three!

4 - Finally I think even he knows that after a few weeks the novelty of living in one of the dirtiest and noisiest cities in Asia is going to take it's toll. Simply put - he ain't up for it...

Strike four... You're OUT!

Maybe I'm wrong... I'm just guessing based on what I know, reckon and guess!

[kahuna]

He was actually OUT after 3 strikes...

But the sad part is, you didn't throw him any BALLS...

[pacman]

Here's something dummy_plug may wish to consider - the US economy is heading for the mother of all crashes; in the not-too-distant future the world will start rejecting the US dollar as the de facto world currency.

It appeared that the next sale of US Treasury Bonds was going to default due to no takers, the same embarrassment Germany has just endured with part of their last bond sale. China announced last week that they would support the sale as "where else can we put our money?"

This gives the impression that China is happy to go along propping up the US dollar, nothing could be further from the truth. They just don't want the damn thing collapsing while they still have so many of them, 1.7 trillion dollars worth at the last count.

I actually think the next few years would be a very good time to be well out of the US, the coming turmoil will not be fun & as for the compounding interest of DP's retirement fund.....well the return on a hyperinflating currency isn't going to compensate for its reduced purchasing power.

Sometimes these opportunities arise in our life for a reason, it is my opinion that DP has received a gift, a chance to break out of his current routine & possibly find his destiny.

I realise that sounds very fanciful but just such openings have occurred in my life & I can tell you these opportunities need to grabbed with both hands because they don't come around too often or too regular.

From one BM to another: dummyplug, you are a longtime dead & the regret you are going to experience for not having the courage to take this up will gnaw away at you for a long time. Stop procrastinating & get out of your comfort zone.

[Stogie]

Well, I could have used a test cricket analogy but that would have taken a fookin' week!

[Chinaman]

Aren't we talking about 2 diff people and diff jobs here? Or have I overread part pf the conversation?

I didn't think DP was in for a teaching job, Blond Havoc was.

Personally I think, if you question things too much, you should perhaps stay away. Going abroad and living in a different country and society is an adventure and unless you waste yr life drinking or otherwise, there will always be opportunities.

I left home 3 times and never regretted it. First stint was working for cruise ships - yes, I was a male Julie or alike when I was pretty young. Cruised the Mediterranean, the Caribbean,went to South Africa and South America, felt like a kid in chocolate store. Then went back home to start a decent life but a few years later signed up for a semi-governmental job in Havanna - 4 years and all the girls one could dream of.

Back again and another career start. Had my own small business and did quite well for 13 years until the "far-away-sick"-bug bit me again. Discovered teaching and despite not being a native speaker have been doing it in the Middle Kingdom for 4 years now. However, I'm thinking of retiring early or at least taking one or two sabbatical years, and travel and enjoy life.

The main thing is that once you get used to being away, you mght never eel completely satisfied at home any more, but it all depends. Listen to your inner voice.

The car cannot really be the problem, get rid of it. The 100 bucks for loans should be manageable. And there will be opportunities ...

Just my 2 cents or whatever ...