Job Discussion Forums

amy_kakes · Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 14

We have been offered a job teaching whatever grade and whatever subject we choose in a bilingual school near Bangkok. Salary is 35,000B for each of us, housing (furnished with AC) and lunches at the school is included, plus my husband would receive a 3,000B housing allowance. We have the opportunity to receive a 3,000B raise after 3 months. We have access to the Internet in the library and a nice sized swimming pool.

What would you do? Take it or leave it?

Thanks for any and all advice - we are newbies!!! (and newleyweds Smile

PS - Anybody know anything about bringing cats into Thailand??????

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

Forget about the cat.

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Not a bad job I suppose. But bear in mind a lot of schools will promise you the earth, but you actually end up with a small garden in Bognor!

My mate bought his cat over, no big shakes. What do you want to know?

amy_kakes · Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 14

Is there any quarantines when taking a cat to Thailand?

What documents/ shots/ exams do we need before leaving the US and upon returning?

What types of supplies are available in Bangkok (litter, food) and are they reasonable?

Thanks so much for your help!

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Hello Amy:

Yes, I'd take the job. As long as the school delivers on its promises, you'll live quite well on a combined income of 70,000 Baht with housing included in the deal.

And don't worry much about shopping for your cat. If you can get him to Bangkok safely, you'll find everything here that you'd find at a department store or supermarket back home.

The big discount supermarket chains here are: Big C, Tesco Lotus and Carre-Four, and they pretty much have it all.

The Master Index (located at the top of this forum) has links to both the Big C and Tesco Lotus websites; just scroll down to Virtual Bangkok.

Meow! Mr. Green

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

I've got my mates cat here (that he brought over from Texas) and indeed food etc. is not a problem at all. Although I'd be dubious about letting the cat roam freely as if it's a nice cat like the one I've got, chances are someone may well steal it! Although my cat is pretty special (it's the biggest cat I've ever seen, huge!).

I've e-mailed my friend and asked him what he needed to do to fly it over here and as soon as he responds I'll let you know!

amy_kakes · Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 14

Thank you!!!

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject:

Cats, no problem.

Depends on where you live too. BKK, probably needs to be an indoor cat.

I have two cats on Phuket - and live in a quiet neighborhood - the cats come and go. The neighbors all know them, talk to them, and treat them well. Even allow them to wander in and out of their houses. One hangs at the neighbors' houses (whomever is home) when no one is at my house. Thais love animals!

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

The job sounds okay -- the only thing that worries me is the "near Bangkok" phrase, sometimes this means two hours or more away. Plus the hour of traffic you'll deal with trying to get around the city can mean a lot of hassel. You may want to buy a Honda Wave (small motorcycle) once you get here -- about 40,000 B. On the plus side, though, I'd be a little nervous bringing my newlywed husband to Thailand and living right in the city with all those eager carefree girls around to adore him...

As to the cat... The first other-American I talked to here was living in a house out in Bangkapi (the far eastern edge of Bangkok -- about an hour to get to Siam Square from there). I was sitting in his house and chatting about the Thai lanaguae and working in Thailand (I hadn't yet chosen a job) when a mangy half-furred animal dragged itself through the screen door and laid down on the tile about three feet from where it came in. It's breathing was slightly audible -- I realized it was a cat.

"Is that your cat?" I asked him.
"Yeah. He was a normal cat when we brought him over six months ago..."

Your cat will also have to stay in the house most of the time -- packs of semi-feral dogs abound in Thailand ("soi dogs"), even in urban areas, and they don't have anthing better to do than pack up and chase your cat until its hair falls off.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

amy_kakes · Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 14

He's an indoor cat, so the mangy dogs and such won't be an issue, but does anyone know anything about actually getting him into the country? I've gotten a lot of mixed messages concerning quarantines for Thailand.

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

Dear Amy:

I'm sure kenkannif will get back to you. Cool

In the meantime, you might go to this website and click on the 'Contact Us' link on the left. You could write to them with your questions and get an answer --- straight from the horse's mouth. This is the official Thai Customs homepage:

http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/indexEng.jsp#

Here's another link with some general information. This one says that a quarantine *may* be required. My gutt feeling is this: If you have the required health certificates, rabies vaccination & import permit in hand, and the cat looks OK, you'll breeze through Customs without a problem.

http://tracking.alliedintl.com/customs_reports/TH.asp

And from the Bureau of Disease Control and Veterinary Services of Thailand: (this one has the details!)

http://www.dld.go.th/dcontrol/move/menu31e.html

*

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

My friend is in the States and a bit slow at replying. I know for sure his cat didn't have any kind of quarantine at all. And he kept it under his seat the whole way there (via Korea).

He's responded (bear in mind he bought his here a few years ago):

for the cat--one needs to have updated shots--i think
within 30 days of travel, to have the papers from the
doctor to show the vaccinations and their dates, and a
physical---then arrange to have yr animal brought in
the cabin with you--not all flights do this--the carry
case must be regualtion size--each airline will have
info either on the wevsite or by phone on all
this--and the cost--usually a couple hundred dollars
extra---once in thailand there is no quarantine--but
bringing the animal home may prove a problem for
quarantine.

^ I hope this helps?

Take care and all the best!

ChrisP · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 29 Location: Shenzhen

There is no problem bringing your cat into Thailand. You need a rabies certificate that is at least 30 days, but no more than 1 year old. Depending on the airline you use, you may need a health certificate issued within 30 days before the travel. You get both from your local vet. There is no quarantine. I brought my cat from Korea to Thailand. The rabies certificate was in Korean, but it was no problem.
Food and kitty litter are easy to get. Unless you get a house with a fenced yard, the cat will have to stay inside because of the dogs. Thais like cats and dogs and won't hurt them. Vet fees in Thailand are ridiculously cheap.