2012

[thegame925]

If you have serious health problems you need to consider where your Health Insurance will work.

I have considered moving to Thailand for the last three years, but my ever-mounting health problems preclude any area where I cannot get Medical Insurance Cover for existing conditions.

Thailand (Bangkok particularly) has wonderful Hospitals but my insurance company would not cover treatment for known existing conditions other than on a short vacation.

I have ended up in one of the last places I would have wanted to be - England -only because I can get full coverage on my medical insurance for most stuff and that which is not covered I can get on the UK National Health Service.

I have three kids living near New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles ad it would be more enjoyable living near them (or at least my grandchildren) rather than the UK, but there is no way I could get Health Insurance Cover in the USA.

So, for me Medical Insurance Cover was the key factor.

Job wise, it depends on your skill sets.

There are jobs that pay more money than teaching.  

When I looked into possible part-time jobs, I was offered Admin and Accounting jobs for multi-nationals (and I speak no Thai and am not an accountant and, as you know, I am way beyond normal retirement age; Restaurant Manager and Hotel Management (and I have never been in the hospitality industry - although I look quite good in a suit) and various Sales Jobs (selling to multi-nationals where Ex-pats do the purchasing (and I do not see myself as a salesman, other than being able to "sell" myself).

[TEXASMAC]

I dont need to be busy all the while as I receive great enjoyment from reading books. A good music with some old music in the background and I can be happy for hours. I think the apartment idea and learn the areas is an excellent idea. I would like to be by the water as I get great relaxation there. I have no children, only 2 sisters and I only see them if I go visit them, they never visit me. At 51 I think I am still young and the only health issues have been 5 hernia operations in 5 years. The last two years I have had none. As Pac suggested earlier I just started checking on how to move my 401k money. I do appreciate all this information. One thing on my visit this past June I ate no junk food for 10 days. The only soda was mixed with Jack Daniels. I had no issues and lost 12 pounds.

[BlueBallz]

You know Tex I am not an expert although I spend A LOT of time in Thailand. Just make CERTAIN you will hvae more than enough money to live a comfortable existence. If you have doubts, or think you will be scrimping and scrounging, I would not do it. If you have to worry about spending an extra 25 baht at a laundry or not tip because you have to use the extra 50 baht for a meal-dont do it....

Also, I would make DAMNED certain that you have outside interests. Trust me you will get sick of whoremongering 5-6 nights a week even if you have enough money. You will wake up one day wondering why you are spending so much time with bargirls and the human jetsum and flotsum that is associated with the scene. I am not saying you wont/shouldnt have fun and lots of it but YOU CANNOT LIVE LIKE A TOURIST!! IMHO that is a recipe for disaster.

As to where to live, wherever it is you go first-rent. Buying is quite a commitment. At first it might be a buzz living in Pattaya knowing that the LBs are just a motorbike ride away. After a while, you might just want some distance. You can always have a looksee at some beach towns nearby i.e. Bang Saeng, Sri Racha, hell even Jomtien, outside Jomtien or even Rayong!! After spending time there, you will find somewhere more to your liking/needs.

As far as health issues go, the good hospitals over there are bettre than 90% of the hospitals in the USA. I have an ongoing slight ear issue and I go to Sametivej in Bangkok and that place is TOP CLASS!!!

Like I said, I aint no expert but its just food for thought.....

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!

[TEXASMAC]

Wow, LBQ I think I heard that back on that 1970's television show with David Carridine, "Kung fu".

[TEXASMAC]

I received an email from Richard today and he has already started teaching. He and Ohm just celebrated 1 year together and are happy. He received is EFL Degree from The Teach and Text Academy. They have schools in Pattya, BKK and other cites.

[L B F]

(TEXASMAC @ Jul. 04 2011,07:31) Wow, LBQ I think I heard that back on that 1970's television show with David Carridine, "Kung fu".

All my own words, I promise you!

[L B F]

(TEXASMAC @ Jul. 04 2011,07:33) He received is EFL Degree from The Teach and Text Academy...

Dontcha mean "Text-and-Talk Academy"?

[TEXASMAC]

Ooops sorry for doubting your words and you are corect on the proper name for the Academy. He did say its tough teaching 17- and 18 year okd who dont want to lear. Thank god hear in the states all the studeents work hard on their education.

[strocube]

Following this thread with rapt attention. I'm the same age as you, Texasmac, 51, so at least in that respect, we are in a similar situation. Am fucking sick of my "life" here in farangland and contemplating . . . something, perhaps a move.

As far as teaching English, I've got an MA in English literature and an TEFL certificate from Oxford something or other, that I got years ago but have never used.

Considering possibly living frugally here for 6 months, saving money, and then living 6 months in the LOS. May still be able to keep my health insurance that way. But then that would preclude saving for the future and all that bourgouise stuff.
Fuck, who knows, so much to think about . . .
Anyway, best of luck with whatever you decide,TM.

[kevin4252]

Some very good advice you're getting here Tex, particularly from BB, he, TTChang and myself had a similiar conversation in May while in BKK, with both TT and myself agreeing and thanking our lucky stars we did not discover LOS while in our 40's. Early 50's does sound like a prime age though and congrats to you for soliciting the opinions of the BM's who actually live there.

And on a bit of a non sequitur, as a participant in the LBQ NFL Pool, you can look forward to many sumptous lunches, if you have the good fortune or skill, like I did, in winning the NFL pool for the 2010 season, all on BB, and you wouldnt have to travel halfway around the world, like I did to collect.

[gizmo]

(kevin4252 @ Jul. 05 2011,22:49) Some very good advice you're getting here Tex, particularly from BB, he, TTChang and myself had a similiar conversation in May while in BKK, with both TT and myself agreeing and  thanking our lucky stars we did not discover LOS while in our 40's. Early 50's does sound like a prime age though and congrats to you for soliciting the opinions of the BM's who actually live there.

    And on a bit of a non sequitur, as a participant in the LBQ NFL Pool, you can look forward to many sumptous lunches, if you have the good fortune or skill, like I did, in winning the NFL pool for the 2010 season, all on BB, and you wouldnt have to travel halfway around the world, like I did to collect.   

You would travel any distance for a freebee

[L B F]

The teachers who fail here in Thailand and end up packing their bags with heads slung low are the ones that try to teach!

(I'm obviously not talking about corporate/private jobs where they pay you to actively make the students get better at English.)

Chances are you'll start off teaching kids and learn about the 'game' of teaching that way.

Make it entertaining and be popular with them. Don't worry to much if you haven't taught them too much. They are kids!

Don't forget to give them all pass marks. This way you are also impressing their parents. (Parents pay the fees!)

Impressing the parents means more sign ups - this way you impress the school board.

See how easy it is to make everybody happy?

Years ago I was told by the owner of the first company I worked for that I was a 'good teacher...'

She had NEVER seen me teach a minute of English ever!

But the kids had fun and the parents kept signing up for more so I know what she meant!I was good for business!

One final point - Thais (and your fellow teachers) are VERY VERY nosy and judgmental!

Keep EVERYTHING with your employers on a professional level.

Don't let them know how old you are, where you live or what kind of music you like. If you start being inter-personal with them you will fuck up some how someday and not even realize it... and it WILL come back to bite you in the ass.

Be friendly, approachable and willing but keep everything about you to yourself.

Be careful what you say, too. Choose your words carefully.

One teacher got fired where I worked after a student asked him how much he drank. He innocently replied "Oh, about two beers a day!"

He returned to base after the class and was told that the school didn't want teachers that drank in the day! That's a true story.

You have much to learn!

The biggest thing about living in Thailand is try not to live in your home country at the same time!

That will make sense to some people reading this and won't to others!

[BlueBallz]

Well, Kev the reason we had a sumptous lunch at Tony Roma's is coz I like you and you are a Mets fan!!! If you were some schlub not as charming as you, it might be a bowl of 30 (probably now 40) baht noodles on the side of the soi!!!!

BTW I still owe Adrian a lunch but he is NEVER is BKK the same time as I am!!!

[TEXASMAC]

A Met"s fan? WOW I am sorry to hear that. They will be the second team to file for bankruptcy thos year. The TIGERS will be there till the end.

[Dabbler]

(thegame925 @ Jul. 02 2011,16:12) I have three kids living near New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles ad it would be more enjoyable living near them (or at least my grandchildren) rather than the UK, but there is no way I could get Health Insurance Cover in the USA.

Hi. In view of your age, shouldn't you be automatically eligible for Medicaid? (assuming that you're a US citizen here).