Job Discussion Forums

[vallillo1983]

hey guys! just looking at hearing from people who've been in BKK for a long time! esp those who've been there since their mid-20's! whats life like? any of you planning on setting up home in BKK? after numerous years do wages increase over 40,000?

What's keeping you in BKK!

[maximmm]

I've been here in Bangkok for the last 3 months. I came here after hearing stories on this forum how this is the most amazing country in the world, etc.
I am beginning to wonder whether this is true.
Thai people are nice, that much I admit. There are, however, many problems that exist in this country....
MOD EDIT It's an easy job with good wages, and many people here seem to have no moral issues with this kind of work.


Wages here are low... and often enough, you wouldn't even get paid vacation, hence many contracts are for 10 months only (also, this way they don't have to pay you yearly bonus)
Again, wages here are low but only in comparison to many other countries, such as Korea, Japan, etc.
In the minds of Thai people, these wages are sufficient, given that they are much higher than the wages of Thai teachers.
But I think everyone knows ahead of time that saving money in Thailand is not an easy task.... so I guess that issue can be ignored.
It's why most foreign teachers I met here up until now are over the age of 40. Often enough, people who live here are 45-50 and older. MOD EDIT
I wonder if this is why this country is called heaven.... because it may well be that for people of that age?
In all honesty.... it's sad to see such things. It's sad to see so many parents geting their kids to workin stores rather than send them to school.... and these kids ending up growing up without even the most basic education... without future.
I wish Thai government put more effort into the education system... and teach not only students but parents as well.
And the problem with education system is such that.... laziness becomes obvious once more. Thai teachers quite often are lazy.... and do not enforce discipline, and this makes it more difficult for us to teach those kids. I think it also creates the problem where kids after having gone through this education system end up rather lazy, slow and unorganized.
Another problem with Thailand is the visa requirements... they are quite steep (many companies are too lazy to adhere to those requirements). Hence visa runs are not uncommon. This year there seems to be a major shortage of foreign teachers, but due to visa runs, even I'm thinking of leaving Thailand for a country where there is more order and yearly visa is not difficult to get (Though I have to do visa runs due to the incompetence of my agency who don't even know what procedures should be taken to even get a non-b visa. It's their first year, OK, but should they not have done some research prior to opening their agency, rather than asking me to research it myself??)
Ah... in my school there should be 2 foreign teachers. While I stuck around, the second teacher has been changed 3 times and we'll see if they do find someone who decides to take on the job. One teacher said, "this school's system is a complete Chaos" and left:)
Perhaps Thailand can be described this way just as well?
I am 27 years old....
. I want some peace, and that can be found here while on vacation. However when it comes to work.... Chaos is the word. MOD EDIT
But who is to say.... perhaps when I turn 50 years old... and if for some unknown reason I'll find myself still being single, I may drop by Thailand once more... and then I may opt to call it heaven.
For the time being though.... this does not seem to be a heavenly place for me, and I suspect that I'll be leaving fairly soon.
I fear that I have not answered your question... sorry:)

[Coco the Monkey]

Thailand is Heaven? Where did you hear such a thing? Perhaps if you are basking away on Koh Samui or Koh Phi Phi on holiday, then yes, Thailand could be a kind of Heaven. Perhaps if you are a tourist with oodles of cash to blow on bar girls, then Thailand could be a kind of euphoric experience...at least for a little while. Living and working in Thailand is much different than spending a few weeks soaking up the sun while enjoying Beer Chang and phad thai. Go to Thailand. Try it on for size. If it fits, you'll stay there. I lived there for two years before moving on.

Try having fun after grinding out a full work day from 7:30am until 4:30 pm. Get stuck in Bangkok traffic for two hours. Get pick-pocketed on the BTS. Find out the girl you've been chatting up is really a boy. Get overcharged at hotels, restaurants, clubs, and the market. Sweat through your shirt and tie in the blistering heat. Is that heaven? I have so many fond memories of teaching and living in Thailand, so I don't want to rant, but be realistic. Thailand, like any foreign country in SE Asia, should be approached with caution if you are considering making the leap from tourist to resident.

To get an idea of Thailand, look in your wallet while you are in your home country. Do you have disposable income? Now imagine looking in your wallet while living and working in Thailand. Forty thousand baht can go quickly and for most newcomers who are used to throwing around holiday cash, a reality check soon ensues once your first Thai paycheck arrives. Budget carefully, but you'll never save like you can working in other countries.

Thais are not lazy as was described in a previous post. That is the typical comment made by a foreigner who has not lived there long enough to see how some Thais work amazingly hard. My Thai supervisor was one of the hardest working women I've ever met and I've taught in America, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Thailand is in SE Asia. It's flippin' hot here. Go anywhere where the weather is tropical and you find a slower pace of life. That's not laziness in my book. I will try not to get into blanketing phrases about what Thailand is and isn't; learn that on your own. To live and work in Thailand can be an amazing and rewarding experience, but to spend a whole lifetime there takes some serious planning. Good luck.

[frankly speaking]

I am glad to hear that this MAXIMM will be leaving. This country doesn't need low class ignorant people. It upsets me to think that this person was allowed to write such disrespectful things against the notion of Thai women. I guess if this person believes all women in Thailand to be of ill repute and servants than I cannot wait for him to go back to his country. Just for your information there was no reputation of prostitution in this country before the US military came here in the 1960's-70's.

Apart from my years at University, I have lived here most of my life and I have never once seen a bar girl or a prostitute. I guess he sees what he wants to see. If you go looking in areas with low class people you will see yourself most likely.

What bothers me most is this person claims to be some kind of expert after being here for three months. No wonder so many Thai people would rather not have the Foreigners here. People like you with your narrow minded conceptions have ruined the reputation of this country. How can you ever call yourself a teacher? Please tell us when you are leaving so that we all can celebrate having one less narrow minded person living here.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

If you are into posting racist and/or sexist comments, you are on the wrong board. Go elsewhere as you are not welcome here and you will not be tolerated.

If you have any problems understanding this, PM me. I will explain it to you in greater detail.

Locked.