Job Discussion Forums

Tainan · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 120

Okay, I'm getting a little concerned. Over the last year or so, a number of people have filled the Laos-related threads with things like "I'm going to Laos!" "I'll be in Laos in three more days!" "I'll let you all know what it's like after I get there!" ......

.....and then we never hear from them again.

Now, I understand it could just be that they're having so much fun in Laos that they don't have time to post here, but the whole thing seems quite odd to me. So, if you're one of the people who's been saying things like "I'll be in Laos in September!!!! I can't wait!", could you give us a bit of a follow-up? Please? Just let us know what you found when you got there?

This would be especially useful in this case. There are a number of posts here describing Laos which seem to fall into the "sounds too good to be true" category and a bit of independent confirmation would be great.

Tainan · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 120

Looking into the matter more deeply, the whole thing seems stranger and stranger.

In the last Laos-related thread, we had Justinlebonne saying:

BigGuy · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 34

Interesting question, OP.

There seem to be more and more unstable, unreliable people out there, i.e. fly-by-nighters.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Tainan · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 120

I want to make clear that I'm not passing negative judgement on the people I mentioned--there's nothing wrong with changing one's mind! And I was relieved to see that at least some of the "I'm going to Laos!" crowd are still posting, albeit on different fora--it at least demonstrates that they weren't abducted! But in all, the whole phenomenon still strikes me as rather strange. Still waiting for answers from the people mentioned and others. I understand nobody has a responsibility to post anything here. But there are people (I'm one of them) who are interested in Laos. If you had a reason for deciding not to go there that was not purely personal, it would be a service to us to let us know about it.

soundsgood · Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Travelling

I may never have posted one of those "I'm on my way" messages, but I am currently teaching English in Lao PDR.

I had a prearranged position so have not personally experienced the land-and-try-for-work approach, but I know a couple who tried exactly that. They are leaving, as they have been unable to secure any positions that would pay well enough to make it worthwhile.

eclectic · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 1122

**this is quite dissssssssssturbing as I was also thinking of checking it out there from a few really super duper positive posts ----------- now it loox like it coulda been the a public relations ploy, as the OP says not a damn 1 of the "here I come Ventiane" boys came forward with any damn info.

gajackson1 · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 210

One of my best friends from SoKo (I met him the day he arrived in Seoul, and he's been there the last 5 years) has decided on Laos. He went there as part of a vacation, and really, really fell in love with the life & lifestyle.

However, he's currently back in Korea, working & saving up money to be able to finish up a TESOL course before returning.

If he was on DESLC, I'd have him post, but here is the short version:

He knows that he will be happy living, DJing, and finding odd little part-time jobs doing English web design, editing/clean-up English work, etc.

But he is also VERY well aware that he will slowly, slowly be losing out over time, in regards to travel & flexibility. You can make good money for Laos, while in Laos.

But you aren't going to be making money to travel to Europe or the Americas while living & working in Laos, either. Same with a lot of places in SEAI/M.

Heck, same with a lot of places all over the world.

His answer to that will probably be along the lines of teaching/working an 'intensive' 1-2 times/year in someplace like Korea or Japan, and bringing it all back to Laos - much as people used to do pre-IMF with their Korean jobs - work a contract, then go to Thailand & stay until the money runs low. Wash, rinse, repeat.

G.

khmerhit · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 5:29 pm Post subject:

"....bringing it all back to Laos."

What a great phrase. Sounds nearly as good as ...."bringing it all back to

C A M B O D I A!!!"
try it and see Cool

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

I was in Laos for three weeks in January 2007 and spent two of those weeks walking the pavement in Vientiane looking for work. I did not get a job, though I did find that there are at least two serious schools that have students and jobs. There were other schools that had no students, though they were happy to receive a copy of my resume.

My sense from the time I spent there and the reading I have done here on Dave's is that there is work there, but it might take some time to build up enough hours to pay the way, or even to just find a job.

I am also unclear on the cost of living there as compared to Thailand. I spent two weeks in Thailand immediately before arriving in Laos and found Laos to be significantly cheaper, but again and again in recent months I have found posts saying that Laos is more expensive that Thailand. Perhaps things have changed in the past three years.