Job Discussion Forums

[jooooooey]

Hi, I have a question about finding a good place to go and teach: What would be the best place to go and save money if you are going with a Peruvian girlfriend or wife?

I am an experienced teacher with a bachelor�s degree. I don`t have any type of certificate or license but I do have a lot of experience and have taken teaching courses at the university. I have been living in Peru a long time but am wanting to go to Asia because it is interesting to me, but also because I am told that one can save money there.

The only problem is that my girlfiend would come with me. She speaks English fairly well, but is still learning and is not a native speaker. She has a degree as well, but in economics. I don`t know what that would entail about visas or her ability to find work in another country.

I had originally planned on going to Korea, but am told that due to the cost of living that I wouldn`t be able to save much money if she came with me. Does anyone have any advice at all? Are there some countries in Asia that would be more relaxed as for as non-native foreigners working or where one could put away a little money?

[tttompatz]

You pose 2 secenarios.

There is NO G/F visa. If you are unwed then she will have to deal with immigration and visa services on her own strengths.

IF you are married she can travel as a dependent spouse (easy to get visas).

Thailand is an option for both of you to find work.
You qualify for a visa and work permit based on your passport and having a legitimate degree. Teacher certification is not a requirement.

She can qualify for a visa and work permit PROVIDED she can achieve a score of 600 or more on a TOEIC or comparable test of English competency.

Straight off the plane you would be looking at a base salary of 30-40k thb.
Your G/F would be looking at a base salary of 15-20k thb (as much as 30 if her TOEIC is over 900).

IF you are any good in the classroom you will quickly find that the opportunities for additional income will find you and you can effectively double those incomes.

While you will see from the exchange rates that the gross income would be about the same as Korea the cost of living is substantially lower and the potential net savings at the end of the year can be the same as or better than other locations.

Monthly living expenses will vary depending on your lifestyle and how much you like to eat/drink/party in expat hangouts. In OUR house (family of 3), the monthly expenses currently run about 20-25k thb.

We don't eat out much (sort of homebodies), drink, or smoke but do enjoy our satellite TV, broadband internet and have a 3-bedroom/2-bath townhouse with A/C in all the rooms.

rent 3000
tv 1500
internet 1000
transportation 1000
food 10,000
medical insurance (BUPA) 2000
electric/gas, A/C 3000
misc 3000
Currently the exchange rate is about 30thb=US$1.

China is another option for both of you with numbers that would out and give you comparable savings (up to $10k per year.)

.

[jooooooey]

Hey, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, you�ve been a lot of help. I had honestly not thought much about Thailand, I`d assumed it was somewhere most teachers went for because it was pretty, not to make money. I live pretty simply, so that might be the way to go. Most of the schools I`ve seen that advertise online ask for some sort of a certificate like CELTA; I never did that, I don`t know how necessary it would really be once there: I assume most people get jobs just by arriving and looking around.

If anyone else has advice, I`d appreciate it. I don`t know much about the situation in China. I know they sometime help with airlines and that kind of thing. I suppose the problem with some of the more developed Asian countries, like Tiawan or Japan, is that while I could find work without problem, she might not be able to.

Thanks again.

[Prof.Gringo]

[jooooooey]

Yeah, I had assumed that about marriage. To answer your questions:

Yes, an MA in TESOL or education is the way to go, but I can`t do that until I pay back a little of my loans. It`s difficult to pay loans in Peru, and if I went back to the States now I would have to work for a while (not teaching) which I don`t want to do because I love to teach. Most of the Middle Eastern jobs require you to be more qualified (at least with a lisence or MA).

I had originally planned to go to Korea for a year and be set, but I was told that if my girlfriend went with me (whether married or not) she wouldn`t be able to work and I wouldn`t be able to save much money. I could make it fine there, but together would be too expensive. Or so they tell me.

But probably the biggest thing is that I really like living in different countries and different cultures. I like teaching in different places and learning different languages. People from developed countries can sort of trapse all over the world based on their reputation and language, without even knowing anything about teaching, but if you are from an undeveloped country it`s a pain to enter borders, finding work is difficult, racism and whatever other stigma.

So I love my girl and I`d like to make it work. She`s not a teacher but she`s competent. I`m just asking some general advice about Asia for my situation. No, I haven`t been there.

[MaiPenRai]

I dont know a lot about it, but China seems to be the most forgiving when it comes to age, race, nationality, etc. because there is still a huge need for more EFL teachers. It also seems like rising salaries and potential low cost of living allow for decent savings. Even though you would have to live in China, might be worth a look. I would guess your GF may not be able to work legally, but my understanding is that plenty of people are in that position in China. Don't quote me on it though.

Good Luck!

[mr fred]

Living with a girlfriend may be a problem in some countries and cause immigration issues for her in others.
A married couple would probably find things easier.

I rarely quote the daily mail's version, but the facts fit and I rather liked their photo.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297608/Couples-caught-having-sex-marriage-sent-prison-FIVE-YEARS-new-Muslim-law-Indonesia.html

That and they managed to get in a mention of drunken sex in the back of a taxi.

[jooooooey]

Then, I suppose China or Thailand would be the way to go. I`m not set on Asia, I just assumed that with my experience and not being alone it would be the way to save a little money. I have heard that it`s harder to get by in Vietnam; I don`t know about other South Asian countries like Burma, Malaysia, etc. I suppose Thailand has more demand.

Hey thanks everyone for the advice, it helps.