Topic: Do any of you like living in Thailand?

[MELEE]

Okay, if you read my other post, you'd know that I'm kind of toying with the idea of leaving Mexico for a couple of years. But the thing is I really love living in Mexico, I also have a pretty good job here, but I want my husband and daughters to have a chance to see some of the world. My husband has especialy expressed interest in Asia, and Europe would be really hard for us to swing as an American-Mexican couple so I when looking around at jobs in Asia, I saw he might be able to teach in Thailand (He has an MA in Mathematics) where as in other countries he'd probably have to be a stay at home dad (which is what he's been doing since graduating in Feb.)
But from this board, some one like me, who's never been to Thailand, would get the impression that you all hate it there. I know that over on Dave's some of the guys, like Tedkarma, worked hard to be able to retire in Thailand, so it must be nice. And when I was in Japan, other teachers would vacation there and they all raved about it. Silly me, spent my Japanese vacations seeing Japan, which was much more expensive than Thailand or Indonesia, but I just thought I ought to see the country I was living in.
So do you like living there?
What things do you like about it?

Thanks,

MELEE in Mexico.

[airpuka]

Thailand is wonderful and the people here dont really hate the country just there employer, this is a place to warn others of bad employers and on rare occasion promote a good school.I honestly think your husband would have a very hard time landing a good job here, jsut because he isint white or a native speaker( im assuming he is mexico mexican and not american mexican) Thai people are VERY racist so yo uwould have problems with that, but if he can make good mexican food you guys should open up a resteraunt thailand needs Good mexican food

[bomha]

I agree that most of us who teach here like Thailand generally, and like our students, but we do not like our employment status, visa hassles, work permit hassles, etc.  Most of us have Thai partners living with us, and can eat the food, handle the language difficulties, cultural differences, etc., even if it does not make sense.

I have lived in both Mexico and Thailand, and do not understand why you are considering Thailand.  The cost of living is probably not much different.  A Mexican national would be a rare bird here, with no demand for a Spanish speaker.  Schools here have no knowledge of the advantages of hiring a Latin American as opposed to say a Philipino, Burmese or an East Indian.  Your children probably would not find it useful to learn Thai.  If you have never been here, even a short vacation would probably not show you what it is like to make a living here.  A job is extremely time consuming, and you don't want it do drive you mad.

[hero]

Yes.  I like it too.

Although every day is not always a bed of roses I don't seem to ever hit the same stress levels as I did in the UK and don't get the long drawn out winter doldrums as there is no long drawn out winter here.

A good lifestyle is cheap as chips and although saving is hard I'm young enough not to care just yet!

I've been here four years now, I doubt whether I'll be here another four to be honest, but I'm sure I'll look back on my time here with mainly positive memories.

[MELEE]

Bomha (I still want to call you bomba) asked a good question that I probably wasn't clear on.

Why would I consider Thailand?

I have lived in Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, Japan, and visited Peru, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Korea.  I love visiting other countries, particularly for an extended period. My hubsand, who has never been out of Mexico, is interested in / intriqued by the thought of living abroad. My home country  doesn't hold a lot of attraction for us, except for the advantage of being near my parents and the possiblity to build up a stash of dollars to later spend in pesos. We are not looking to move long term anywhere (unlike another gringa-latino couple over on Dave's ) and would come back to Mexico after a year. Our level of education still grants us quiet a lot of advantages here in Mexico. It's just a desire to see the world, and give our children a broader view of the world they live in.  Actually, Japan and Taiwan would be our first choices, my husband drools over my Japan photo albums, we both have an interest in Buddhism and temple architecture.  But it just seems that in either of those cases, he wouldn't stand a chance at finding work. He's a math teacher, who could teach math in either Spanish or English, but certainly not Chinese or Japanese! Living there would probably mean he'd be a stay-at-home-dad (or tried to find some sort of on-line math tutoring gig?) So when I saw adds for math teachers in Thailand, I began to wonder. I realize that a lot of these schools are just looking for white faces to show off--and that's certainly not him.

There is another option, we've also toyed with the idea of going to the US, and entering the Texas alternative teaching certificate program and teach there for 2 or 3 years (give the girls a chance to cement their English and get to know grandpa and grandma a lot better) then we would both have Texas Teaching Certificates and could apply for an international school somewhere in Asia.

[Mods-Rockers]

Melee
In all honesty, I love Thailand but in your shoes would I come here? Sorry to say this but the answer would be no! Why? the kids of course, unless you could afford to get them into one of the better international schools then their education would suffer. Yes I realise that you could both home school as well but I would imagine they would pick up some of the less appreciated thai educational habits like cheating, laziness and losing the ability to think in school (not encouraged by the Thai).

I would go with the Texas plan initially, build up the nestegg te\hen when the kids are older maybe do Thailand, Their educational grounding would be firmer, and the Thai experience would be better for them. you could then be working at better international schools and possibly get discounted rate for the kids there as well.

Not trying to put a downer on your plans, more like being devils advocate.

[MELEE]

Thanks Rockers

The kids are only two right now. I can take another sabbatical next year, so they'd just be three. Schools not that much of an issue yet. Besides those bad habits you describe fit the Mexican education system as well, so really it'd be no different.

[Krungsri]

I don't think it would be such a good idea to come to Thailand as a family unless you've got a really good job lined up (one where dependants are catered for) or some form of support in place here - family, close friends, something like that.  Negotiating Thailand by yourselves would be a bit difficult without backup.  It's different from adventuring into a strange country as a single person. 

[anyonefortennis]

I say go for it.

If your not planning on staying long term come over and see what you all make of it. I know a few non-Thai families over here and they get by just fine rug rats and all, a lot depends on how adaptable you are.

If your kids are only two there's no need to worry about the standard of education, in fact from my experience the kidgarten schools are pretty good - although I've never understood why four year olds need to be tested 

If you are willing to spend a year just making enough to get by then don't even look toward Bangkok, the QOL outside BKK is a lot higher especially in provinces like Krabi, Trang, Phang Nga, Surathani, and Songkhla in the south of Thailand.

Your hubby will get a job no problem, it's unlikely that it'd be a job that utilizes his skills but he'd certainly get employment - tell him to tell the school that he's from central America - and 9 times out of ten they'll think he means central USA.   

If you're prepared to expect the unexpected.........then go for it, hell if you tell me when you're planning on coming and if you fancy the south of Thailand I'll try and set you both up with work - or at least do some networking for you.

Never say never. 

[Krungsri]

If you are willing to spend a year just making enough to get by then don't even look toward Bangkok, the QOL outside BKK is a lot higher especially in provinces like Krabi, Trang, Phang Nga, Surathani, and Songkhla in the south of Thailand.

Good point, AFT.  The provinces would surely easier to adapt to than BKK.  My daughter and her family (two school-aged children) came to Bangkok for 12 months, but they had lots of support.  I think it would have been difficult for them otherwise.

[fed_up]

Have a look at the photos from this link:

Click me

Now, are you really sure about coming and living in this confused country as a mixed race couple ?

[certified]

Thailand is ok unless you're trying to cross the street near my condo, or am I confused with a new outside sport called "scare the pedestrian"? Someday I'll figure it out.

[smilingnow]

Thailand is a mixed bag.

FF.

[Thighlander]

Teaching in Thailand gets a "D" or an "F".  Living in Thailand on the money you made in your home country gets an "A"; one of my favorite places on Earth.

[bomha]

I believe that Melee, the OP, decided not to come to Thailand with her Mexican husband.  But it is an interesting discussion.