Job Discussion Forums

[travelinbri]

Any suggestions? I rarely see jobs in these areas posted.

[bnix]

There are not too many opportunities in either place.(Notice I am not using uppercase letters...no, that was a thread on Africa).No,I digress.

Seriously,I see something on Laos occasionally on the Jobs Offered Forum...apparently there are a few jobs there...although I do not rmember specifically the names of any schools.Cambodia?Probablystill revovering from some of theeffectsof the KhmerRouge and all of that...if there areany positions(I have never seen ANY advertised for Cambodia.Of course ,that does not mean they don't exist...but....)

Interesting you are now in South Korea,but are considering Laos and Cambodia.Your business,of course,not mine...but would that not be "from the frying pan into the fire?"Anyway,good luck.I think the "pickings" are pretty sparse in both Cambodia and Laos..for TESOL teachers.

[nasigoreng]

I was in Cambodia for 10 days couple months ago. There's probably a steady stream of backpackers/travellers teaching there so there's little need to advertise (much easier to find someone in-country).

I think the Cambodians are wonderful people; very friendly and optimistic about their future. Right now it's a bit like the wild west (check out a booK called GUNS,GIRLS, AND GANJA: OFF THE RAILS IN PHNOM PEHN).

I suspect that people teaching in Cambodia aren't doing it for the money but for the experience and the existence (living in Phnom Pehn must be a trip).

[scot47]

Either take the necessary vow of poverty or make sure that someone back home will wire you money when you run out. Slimpickings in both countries. Lots of backpackers with all that implies. And a hostile environment.

To me it seems strange that Third World countries hold an attraction for western youth. You want a challenge, go to Russia !

[khmerhit]

Living in Phnom Penh is indeed quite a trip.
Here are some facts and figures.

Scot47, if i didnt know any better, i would suspect
you lived in Cambodia and were attempting to limit
the number of newbies to shore up your salary!

No, its not a hostile environment. Challenging,
yes, but that has little to do with the students,
who are quite enthusiastic and (nowadays,
increasingly) clued up on Mcculture, Britney
Spear, Popeye, etc. A few years ago they didnt
know what a busstop was.

Phnom penh is a challenge because there are
no limits-- none. The heat makes you nuts, but
the freedom is worse. This is too much for many
people to bear, needless to say, and if you
can keep your head while all about you others
are losing theirs, then youll be a man my son.
Sorry, did i say man? I meant person. Any
rate, a lot of people spin out right before your eyes.

Solid blocks of work, it is true, are not too
easy to come by for the unqualified, but many
people can string together hours here and there
at different schools, and many have good jobs at
the 'established' schools, of which there seem
to be more all the time. It is a growing market.
There is nowhere to go but up!

You need about 7 - 800USD a month to live on,
tho some get by on less and many on much more.
I was earning about 1100. Rent is anything from
70 a month to 200 a month and more. Most
teachers seem to pay rents of round 150 to 200.
It is a renters market and the rents are still coming
down from their historic highs in the early 90s.
Landlords are coming to grips with laissez
faire economics only now, ten years later, so they
are understandably reluctant to face reality,
but there it is. Rents are coming down.

As for the rest, everything is cheap except western
style food, which is cheaper than in the west.
Drugs, alcohol and cigarettes are cheap and very
available.

There are few tourists there now, the place has
been sarsified like everywhere else in the
region, so it might be a good time to find a
job in Phnom Penh. Id say go for it.