|
Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Justinelebonne
Joined: 11 Jun 2009
Posts: 42
Location: UK
|
 Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:32 am Post subject: A little daunting |
 |
|
Hi,
My fiance and I are getting married in November and then moving to Bangkok in January. We both want adventure and to be young and free whilst hopefully making some money.
I feel completely overwhelmed. There is so much information on the net, a lot of it conflicting. I have some questions, I hope you can help answering them.
1. I have TEFL and a degree, my fiance just has a degree. He was a University lecturer and I have some TEFL experience. What kind of jobs should we go for? What salaries should we aim for? Could we possibly get a job together?
2. We step off the plane, we get in a taxi, where do we head to? Any recommendations on cheap but nice guest houses, which could be used for a long stay. We wont have more than a few thousand dollars between us. Is that way too little?
3. Say we manage to get a job in a week or two, our first pay cheque is only a month from when we start. Do most people stay in guest houses until then? Where would be good areas to look around for jobs? We would like to be somewhere which is fairly peaceful with nice restaurants etc but with easy access to the city. Any ideas?
4. Any recommendations on estate agents who can help us find an apartment? Will we find a 1/2 bedroomed apartment with a kitchen, with a swimming pool for 10,000 or so?
5. What deposits would you usually need to put down? 1/2 months? How do people usually cope with putting those deposits and affording to live?
6. Is it possible to save money with a few trips to the beach a month?
7. I think I am worrying about having a life in Bangkok, where we eat well, exercise regularly, see friends, visit temples, markets, cinemas and visit the beaches on weekend and not get drawn in to the more hedonistic side of Bangkok. I guess I am worried that Bangkok isnt exactly conducive to marriage.
Thoughts? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
kid ehglish
Joined: 17 May 2004
Posts: 15
|
| Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
1. I have TEFL and a degree, my fiance just has a degree. He was a University lecturer and I have some TEFL experience. What kind of jobs should we go for? What salaries should we aim for? Could we possibly get a job together?
2. We step off the plane, we get in a taxi, where do we head to? Any recommendations on cheap but nice guest houses, which could be used for a long stay. We wont have more than a few thousand dollars between us. Is that way too little?
3. Say we manage to get a job in a week or two, our first pay cheque is only a month from when we start. Do most people stay in guest houses until then? Where would be good areas to look around for jobs? We would like to be somewhere which is fairly peaceful with nice restaurants etc but with easy access to the city. Any ideas?
4. Any recommendations on estate agents who can help us find an apartment? Will we find a 1/2 bedroomed apartment with a kitchen, with a swimming pool for 10,000 or so?
5. What deposits would you usually need to put down? 1/2 months? How do people usually cope with putting those deposits and affording to live?
6. Is it possible to save money with a few trips to the beach a month?
7. I think I am worrying about having a life in Bangkok, where we eat well, exercise regularly, see friends, visit temples, |
1. The TEFL norm is kind of a myth. If you live in a small city and if you're good looking and well dressed you'll be alright.
2. the airport shuttle is the key. Get off near Siam Square, go to Soi 1. There are maybe 8-9 guest houses there.
3&4. You should have an idea where the schools are before you leave. Google can help you. The school where you are to be accepted will help you with housing, or a teacher there will.
5. Landlords can be shrewd. Take photos of and booboos so you'll be able to back up your request for a refund. I never paid a deposit not once in 8 years. But most are one month.
6. depends of your life style and wage. How long is a piece of string?
7. Plenty of gyms in BKK. The air and traffic is bad. Maybe jogging at one of the parks is better.
Sounds like this is your first time away from home. If you feel a lack of confidence you can't live with a little inconvenience maybe it's better to stay home. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bangkok Hound
Joined: 28 Oct 2006
Posts: 66
Location: Bangkok
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:36 am Post subject: Re: A little daunting |
|
|
| Justinelebonne wrote: |
1. I have TEFL and a degree, my fiance just has a degree. He was a University lecturer and I have some TEFL experience. What kind of jobs should we go for? What salaries should we aim for? Could we possibly get a job together? |
January is not a great time to find jobs, but there will certainly be some out there. You shouldn't have any trouble finding jobs at the same school. Salary? From under 30,000 at a gov't school to over 50,000 at a private bi-lingual school. The more money you bring with you then the easier it is to say 'no' to crappy job offers.
| Quote: |
2. We step off the plane, we get in a taxi, where do we head to? Any recommendations on cheap but nice guest houses, which could be used for a long stay. We wont have more than a few thousand dollars between us. Is that way too little? |
Book a decent hotel for at least the first 2 or 3 nights. I wouldn't say $3,000 is way too little, but I would say, bring more, especially if you are arriving in January.
| Quote: |
3. Say we manage to get a job in a week or two, our first pay cheque is only a month from when we start. Do most people stay in guest houses until then? Where would be good areas to look around for jobs? We would like to be somewhere which is fairly peaceful with nice restaurants etc but with easy access to the city. Any ideas? |
Have you ever been to Bangkok before? Best advice: find a good job, then move to an apartment that is fairly close to it.
| Quote: |
4. Any recommendations on estate agents who can help us find an apartment? Will we find a 1/2 bedroomed apartment with a kitchen, with a swimming pool for 10,000 or so? |
Agents won't be interested in finding cheap apartments. You're on your own here. Depending on the area it is possible to find a one bedroom apartment even with a pool for around 10,000, but I don't know about a kitchen.
| Quote: |
5. What deposits would you usually need to put down? 1/2 months? How do people usually cope with putting those deposits and affording to live? |
Of all the apartments and houses I've lived in, I've had to pay 2 months deposit and one month rent up front. So if you find a 10,000 place that's 30,000 or $1,000 gone right away.
| Quote: |
6. Is it possible to save money with a few trips to the beach a month? |
Two people making say 40,000 per month each... maybe. Going to the beach a few times a month- that's practically every weekend. I don't know anyone who does that.
| Quote: |
7. I think I am worrying about having a life in Bangkok, where we eat well, exercise regularly, see friends, visit temples, markets, cinemas and visit the beaches on weekend and not get drawn in to the more hedonistic side of Bangkok. I guess I am worried that Bangkok isnt exactly conducive to marriage. |
Again, assuming 80,000 between the two of you, I think you could live a very nice life. As for not getting drawn into the "more hedonistic side of Bangkok," that depends on how strong your marriage is. The whores aren't going to drag you into the bars.
Come in March and bring more money! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PattyFlipper
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 572
|
| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: A little daunting |
|
|
| Bangkok Hound wrote: |
The whores aren't going to drag you into the bars.
|
They might try to drag your husband in, though. Particularly if he is a 'hansum man'.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
