My life in Thailand
My name is Ramsy and I have officially emigrated to Thailand since March 2013. That in itself is not surprising, since I am not the only one who has made this choice, however: I am only 37 myself and am therefore probably a lot younger than most emigrants.
It all started in 2011 when, after a broken relationship, I went on holiday to Thailand for the first time. The striking thing is that I got the idea from my ex-girlfriend. She loved tigers and her dream was to go on vacation to Thailand and visit the tiger temple there. I booked a group tour with Kras and went on my own. It was my first long journey outside Europe.
Once I arrived in Bangkok I was amazed. The trip took three weeks, starting in Bangkok and then moving on to floating market, Ayutthaya, Petchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Cha-Am, Hua Hin, Chumpon, Surat Thani, Khao Sok, Don Sak, on the ferry to Koh Phangan, Ko Samui, and then at the end of the holiday, via Don Sak and Surat Thani, travel back to Bangkok by train, where we decided to visit Patpong and the infamous Ping-Pong show on the last evening to visit. An evening not soon to be forgotten.
I immediately felt at home in Thailand, the land of smiles – it was a holiday to remember. The swaying palm trees, the nice weather, the delicious food and the beauty of the mystical oriental women is what I remember most about that first vacation.
I saw the country in a different light
When I returned to the Netherlands, I immediately went back to work at the company where I had been working for years. A few years earlier, the company (Hagemeyer) had already been taken over by a French multinational (Rexel) and the company culture slowly started to change and not for the better. I was already busy saving for my second trip to Thailand.
During the summer holidays (construction holiday) in 2012 I decided to go on holiday to Thailand again, this time with a friend, basically following the same route I had made the year before, but this time I had only booked the hotels and transport .
Of course we started in Bangkok and went again to Khao Sok, Koh Phangan and Ko Samui. We had four weeks on this vacation, two of which we spent on the islands. During this holiday I no longer had that overwhelming first impression that I had in 2011, but saw the country in a different light. I also got to know her dark side.
During the last few days in Bangkok I got into a conversation with an American on Khao San Road who had been an English teacher in Thailand, in the Isan for years. “The Isaan is my home”, as he impressed on me several times. The stories he told me really appealed to me.
All of this, of course, while enjoying an ice-cold beer on a terrace on Samseng. At one point I got curious and asked him if it was possible to settle here for a longer period of time (or maybe permanently), to which he replied: “You can become an English teacher, as I am.”
I decided to take the step
Back in the Netherlands again, I did some research and came across a bachelor's degree in TESOL, here in Bangkok, at a reasonable price. Meanwhile, the relationship between me and the employer had deteriorated and I decided to take the step. I registered for the training, handled my affairs in the Netherlands, booked a ticket and arrived in Bangkok on March 2, after which I immediately started the training on March 4.
I got my TESOL certificate, took six weeks of bachelor's degree and on April 18 I started working as an English teacher at a summer camp for a government school in Bangkok. In the meantime I started my second semester at the same school, completed the first year of my education at university.
I have five different classes, with kids ranging from 12 to 17 years old, exactly the same classes as the first semester, and I really like it. I have found my calling: teacher. In the meantime I have been together with my Filipino girlfriend for six months, we live together and work at the same school. Life's good!
Of course living and working here is a bit different than on vacation, but I think so, rather in a warm tropical country in the 9 – 5 routine than in our cold little country. My girlfriend has been here for seven years and has no plans to go back yet and I can see myself growing old here too.
Moreover, by the time I am pensionable, there will be no pension for me to fall back on and we will have to pay 100 percent of our healthcare costs ourselves. Similar to what it is now in Thailand, but it is a factor cheaper here and I foresee that the East will become the new West. Whether I'm right or not, we'll see in 34 years, when I retire.
In the meantime I got to know Thailand, the Thai culture, the Thai history and the Thai people and it is all a lot less rosy than I thought during my first holiday in 2011. But I realize that it is something everywhere and I will leave it at that for now.
We'll save that for next time.
Submitted by Ramsy
– Reposted message –
Not only is there no pension, there is also no AOW for you. And – I think – you have an annual contract (like me) that has to be renewed every year. If you work here like you do, you should actually forget everything you were used to in the field of work in the Netherlands and never compare: salary, days off, health insurance, WAO, etc. Then you have a great life here. If you keep comparing, you will get frustrated or even depressed and then the only solution is to go back to the homeland.
Hi Remy,
I have been wanting to do what you have done for several years, but I have always been told that Thailand only hires native English speaking teachers (UK, USA, Australia...). So it doesn't seem to be true when I read your story? Living in Thailand is even easier for me since my wife is Thai and she has been living with me in Belgium for 5 years now, has learned Dutch and now works here, but we want to go back to Thailand to live there anyway (sooner or later, but Given the climate here, preferably early :0).
My English is quite good (both spoken and written, lived in the UK for a few years) and still want to take a TEFL course (what's the difference with TESOL)?
I would like your reaction, feedback, advice... If you want, I can give you my e-mail address, is it easier?
thank you in advance
greetz
Erwin
Brave decision and beautifully and nicely written.
Hi remy and erwin.
I too would like to do that course and become a teacher.
Only I'm 54. Would that be too old?
Please some more info remy.
And… tough of you!
Dear Erwin, I am a math teacher in Thailand at a private school in my school's English language program. I am not a native speaker either, but the English teacher is (American). Not a native speaker, so no English teacher. It's that simple.
There are non-native speakers (Africans and Filipinos) working at other schools in the region, but those schools do not have an English programme. So you might have a chance there.
However, I do live and work in a province, Narathiwat, with a travel advice code red. If you are not afraid of the possibility of a bomb attack and are satisfied with a salary of 20-25 thousand baht, you certainly have a chance of getting a job in this region.
Dear Danzig
I'm quite happy with 20-25.000 THB. We normally live in Rayong province, so the South is not an option to work. I have also read on this blog that you are not allowed to be older than 40 years old... I am from 1966 so... too old, if I understand correctly?
mvg
Erwin
Many schools, or agencies that mediate for them, explicitly state that you do not have to respond above 45 or 50. Unfortunately, discrimination based on age, race, country of origin, etc., is still very much alive in Thailand.
Hans says.
If you feel happy here, do it.
My friend's son's girlfriend is Spanish, now 32 years old.
She first worked at the call center here in Changmai when she was 26 years old.
She then met my friend's son.
Later they had a child, everything neatly arranged, child 2 passports, they also go to Spain every year, for 2 months.
Because the child grew up is now 3 years old, she completed teacher training 2 years ago,
Written. (She was already a teacher in Spain)
She has been teaching English and Spanish at school since last year after she graduated.
When my grandchildren were here in October, they talked to each other, and I just listened.
She also said financially they have less here, she earns 30000 th.b per month, her friend 20000 th.b per month, but good by Thai standards.
But she feels happier here, and there is no work in Spain.
Her parents and family come here regularly.
And my friend babysits her little daughter every day.
.
Dear,
You forgot to mention that as a NON NATIVE ENGLISH speaker, you must have a bachelor's degree to start this course...
and not older than 40 years
important before you give many false hopes, or try to warm them up 🙂
Dear Bert,
I obtained a Bachelor's degree, but in evening classes. I have no teaching experience (have never taught, worked in sales for 30 years) and am almost 52 years old... if I understand correctly, it is better to forget about this teaching option?
Best regards,
Erwin
Not only as a non-native, but also as a native speaker, the requirement nowadays is that you must have a bachelor's degree. Many longstayers don't have one, but newbies should definitely meet that requirement.