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PattyFlipper
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 572
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 Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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.. double post
Last edited by PattyFlipper on Sun Dec 07, 2008 6:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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PattyFlipper
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 572
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| Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Pelican_Wrath wrote: |
A lot of things that cost silly money in CHina won't be so expensive in Thailand. In China, a beer in a shop costs about 2 RMB and in a bar, 20-25. In Thailand, it's much more reasonable.
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Depends where you are and what you drink. Wine is absolutely extortionate in Thailand as are Western spirits. (tax is, I believe, 500%), whereas in China I could get a perfectly acceptable bottle of local plonk for 30 RMB or a bottle of imported gin or bacardi for 80 RMB. On my last trip to Thailand I paid 250 baht for a glass of mediocre wine in a mid-range bar/restaurant (not in Bangkok). That's about the same as central London. Thailand is not particularly cheap if you want to indulge in Western comforts, rather than live like a local.
| Pelican_Wrath wrote: |
This dichotomy means that in China, most ESL teachers tend to just get beers in and hang out at home watching DVDs, where in Thailand they have a bit more of a social life, but that also means it's harder to save money in Thailand.
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If you read a lot of threads on here responding to newbie questions about money, there is a recurring theme running through many of them along the lines of "live like a Thai" or "learn to do without". That does not sound to me like a particularly rip-roaring existence. The only way I could afford to live well in Thailand was by dipping into my savings - and I had what would be considered as a reasonable job. In China I lived extremely well, travelled extensively around the country in some style (flying and staying in decent hotels), and still saved money. Quite a few of the long-term Thailand TEFLers I knew who had no alternative source of income to fall back on lived little better than bums. They couldn't even afford the flight out to somewhere else.
| Pelican_Wrath wrote: |
I do know that when I lived in China, and I looked at my friend's pictures of his life there, social life, going to the islands at weekends etc, I felt, to be quite honest, green with envy. It's hard to have that quality of life in China. But then he has an international school job. |
And what percentage of the farang teachers in Thailand work at one of the handful of real international schools for a real salary? Perhaps 5%? Fewer? As I said on another thread the vast majority of TEFLers in Thailand are certainly not jetting off to the islands every weekend. Many of them are moonlighting in order to make ends meet. TEFLing in Thailand generally means you have to run just to stand still. Your perceptions of Thailand are skewed by your friend's experiences, which are a long way from being representative. If you ever do work in Thailand, your own experiences may be quite different. Mine certainly were. |
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bradley
Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 235
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:21 am Post subject: |
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| You should check out the south of China. It's still colder than Thailand but there isn't a true winter; it never snows here. And it's still a teacher's market here. |
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Master Shake
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 1202
Location: Colorado, USA
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Teaching in Thailand doesn't have to mean skimping and saving to make ends meet and teaching 30+ teaching hours a week...
But you must find a good school, one that is not run by Thai management.
I too have heard stories of teachers with Thai bosses being forced to teach extra hours with no compensation, being fired for taking sick leave right before a vacation, no visa assistance, no medical insurance, etc., etc..
But I teach at a Bell school in Bangkok and had my flight paid, 8 weeks vacation, about 21 teaching hours a week, health insurance, help in getting a visa (although it was still a lengthy and confusing process).
Avoid Thai bosses at all costs. As others have said, most of them have this 'feudal lord - serf' mentality that is hell to work under.
And another thing: On the average teachers salary iof 30,000 to 40,00 baht a month you can live confortably in Thailand. Sure you won't be flying to Phuket or Ko Samui every weekend. But beer is cheap and other necessities, like food and a flat, are practically free. |
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bradley
Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 235
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:24 am Post subject: |
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| I agree with Master Shake. I made 35,000 a month or so and lived well, but I wasn't in BKK. I was in Ratchaburi. But it was a convenient place and I still managed to save as well. |
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bradley
Joined: 28 Mar 2005
Posts: 235
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 6:26 am Post subject: |
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| I forgot to add that I was teaching at a uni and just teaching a few extra hours a week.... |
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