DavidSL

Ah that's cool, it sounds OK then. I'd be a little nervous at first with the parents and everything, I'm used to meeting parents now but I still feel uncomfortable as I know how fickle things can be here. I'm 29, I'm presentable, I'm polite, but it still makes me uncomfortable to be stared at and scrutinised. Assembly sounds fun, though. Not sure I'd be uncomfortable in front of 500 kindergarten kids at all, but having all the teachers standing there would put me off, not to mention parents hanging around making sure I was making their school fees worth it!

This is an interesting thread, especially to someone who has wondered what it's like to earn over 70k a month in a nice comfortable 9-3.30 job. I guess now I know the truth, and I respect you hardworking teachers all the more for it. I've tried applying for an International Kindergarten position (I have experience teaching here) but was turned down instantly. Though I did get a nice email telling me so, so I didn't mind. You guys and girls work a LOT harder than us 'TEFL' teachers do, that's for sure. Honestly, I like having my afternoons/evenings free, though I have found that if I find a couple of nice part-time jobs which take up a little more time, being a 'TEFL' teacher can be quite lucrative. That said, I think the doors open up here a lot more for International teachers.

I doubt I'm going to add anything to this topic that other people haven't already, but I'll pitch in with some of my experiences anyway. I've been working at four different kindergartens and one primary school, so I've had some experience with naughty students (though not THAT naughty, to be honest). Currently I run a Saturday class where the students are pretty crazy, but it's more just outbursts of energy than anything. The things I've learnt from my boss (a teacher herself), my assistants and other teachers are the following:

1. You can, to some degree, make the students look foolish. In a Country where loss of face is one of the biggest cultural no-nos, this works wonders. It's also an accepted method of discipline, without being that harsh. Don't try it in high schools, though! Basically make the student stand in front of the class, with one leg in the air, or something similar. It might not work if the naughty student has a lot of friends in the class (as they often do, being so confident), but it's worth a try. If it doesn't work, single out the naughty student to volunteer in front of their classmates to sing that song they are learning, or show the dance to the song. If they are anything like my students, they'll probably enjoy it, but at the same time at least they are doing something other than being naughty.

2. Ignore them. Simple. Just ignore the naughty ones. This can be hard, but I mean really ignore them to the point of pretending they aren't even there. When you play a game, pick the students to play but don't even acknowledge the naughty ones. They soon get the message when they see all their friends playing. If they start acting up or crying, keep ignoring them, it's a cry for attention most of the time. Obviously know the limit to this, don't let them get away with anything just because you are ignoring them - just stare at them, tell them to sit down, and get on with your lesson. There's only so much ignoring a child will take.

3. Make sure you have something that keeps them occupied. When I first started teaching here, I was dripping with sweat, not from the heat, but from being so nervous. Why? Because I was convinced that if I didn't have all the kids sitting down playing a game, listening politely and not talking, then all the teachers would hate me and I'd be talked about and mocked my whole time in work. When I realised that this wasn't the case at all, I started to really enjoy teaching. Sure, starting at a new school still terrifies me, but now I know my limits. So what I'm getting at with this point is this: when you play a game, try to play a game that keeps everyone happy. TRY. Not do, because you can't keep every student happy, no matter what you do. I know this, because I currently teacher three siblings on Saturdays, aged 14, 12 and 9. The 9 year old doesn't speak English, the other two are near fluent. The 12 year old, however, looks extremely bored in lessons until it is her turn to play the game. The 9 year old sits quietly and listens, and the 14 year old is attentive the whole time. Even with 3 students, one can still get bored (though the varying level here with the 12 year old being in the middle might have something to do with it)! A game I like to play is this: pass an object around the group (based on the current module) and get the students to say the object. Then pass it around again and say some grammar (if that is what they are learning). Then pass it around again and get the students to ask their friend the question, their friend answering, and keeping it going around the whole circle. But as you play this, make it faster and faster. Any students not quick enough get taken out of the circle. Those left get stickers. It's simple, but it does keep them occupied.

NOTE: No matter what you do, there will always be naughty students. Always. Especially at a young age. I have a couple of students who I cannot control, no matter what. I always need an assistant to help with them. Their parents know it, too, because they are naughty kids at home. Sometimes we cannot control them - we don't speak enough Thai, or they aren't scared of us (after all, a lot of the time we are friends more than teachers in class), or they just don't care. They are young, and they are all wildly different. We can try, and we do, but we will never be the equivalent of a Thai national walking in to the room and scolding them in their native language. I bet English teachers at home have the same problems, though. Sometimes you need another face to be the bad guy, the scary monster next door. I use one of my assistants as that person, because the students know she won't take any crap! Me, I'm like a big white teddy bear or something, who reads them funny stories and sings silly songs.

Good luck, though - I feel your pain!

Hello all,

I've just been offered a part-time job at a not too far away kindergarten to fill in the gaps of my currently lacking schedule. I work at a few kindergartens currently, but I'm turning up to teach and then leave. This new job is at one kindergarten for 3 days in the week, and it means I have to turn up at 8 (I start teaching at 8.30) for 'gate duty and assembly'. What does this normally include? I've never had to do this before. I did work at one kindergarten at which I would often stand waiting for the kids to go in before I did, greeting the parents with a polite wai and, 'Sawasdee Krab' but that's it. Then I would just walk in. If anyone could enlighten me, please do. It seems silly after a lot of experience teaching to be nervous about something so silly, but I do feel very under-pressure when being scrutinised by the parents.

The problem with life is that we are all born with a great disadvantage. That is of not knowing the future or our fate.

If only we could have been given the gift of glimpsing at the right and wrong paths to take so we had the choice ourselves, then we could have ensured our own happiness. Although we do have choices and options up to a point, we are still blind time travellers, not really knowing what’s around the next corner. In fact everything we do in life is a gamble and that’s the way it is.

So actually our happiness is determined by using common sense and mostly by luck and good fortune.

I doubt if anyone can say they are a 100% happy and would have maybe done something’s differently if they had their time again.

"2. Give up your need for control"

'thequietman' has a point with this list, and I know what he's trying to say. Today I have been offered a job that will mean I am working 6 days a week (2 part time jobs) but for nearly double the salary I've been earning the last two years. This is a huge deal for me, but I feel anxious and a little depressed about my life changing to the point where I no longer have full weekends to enjoy lazing about. But you know what? I don't control that - I have to make a choice. Happiness cannot be bought, but if I work hard for this next year I will save a lot of money. If I save a lot of money I get rid of a lot of the burden of worrying about it. Happiness is not always 100% one way or the other, sometimes it comes from compromise or a decision that makes you feel unhappy at first. If you let go of your need for control, and your fear of change, you are opening more doors in your life to the opportunity of happiness.

Yes, we are all born not knowing fate, but many wise people have said in the past that often, getting what you want is not the answer to happiness. If all your dreams came true, if everything in life worked out how you wanted it to, then you would never understand the true meaning of happiness. Happiness cannot be actively pursued or bought, it's something that exists with you all the time, and you open and close the right doors to let it in (or not). No one is happy all the time, but I do believe 'thequietman''s list will help some people to have a little more in their lives. It's not about leaving all that stuff behind, it's more about knowing that if you try to grip onto control and familiarity you are only shutting off the chance of something else happening in your life. It's a risk, but that's what happiness is, it's easy to be sad all the time.

It is your responsibility to accommodate the pedestrians. Getting from A to B quickly is not an acknowledged priority here. It's all about the journey not the destination, jai yen yen.

Or move to a country that values efficiency and safety.

Bl**dy H*ll, man, have you ever been near a Thai road? Jai yen yen? Thailand has some of the most selfish, frustrated and downright awful drivers I've ever seen. Inconsiderate, unable to think two steps ahead (as all drivers should do), incourteous - these are just a few words that come to mind when out on the roads here. There are awful drivers in England, too, but we're too regulated now to do anything 'daring' like they do here. Jai yen yen, indeed! Tell that to the minibus drivers ferrying passengers as quickly as they can, or the taxi drivers who have no regard for safety - no seatbelts at 100km/hr is a little daunting.

As for the OP, I'm in agreement with others, you had at least one other option. You should have a bell, or wait for traffic to pass. If you go around clipping people walking in the street (however wrong they might be) you are just another arrogant cyclist giving your fellow riders a bad name (and it's not like cyclists don't have enough of a bad rep already).

The perfect (not so perfect) post for me to comment in, since just over a week ago I was the unfortunate victim of a dog bite from one of our local (and usually VERY friendly) soi dogs. One of the gang got into a dispute with a domestic dog, and nearly lost his eye because of it (this gang is very friendly but one of the males is becoming a bit boisterous with other dogs after being a timid dog for so long), with the domestic dog trying to pull this soi dog through the fence by sticking his teeth in the poor dogs cheek. Luckily the dog got off with some minor cuts, but during trying to break up the fight, one of the gang (a very shy dog normally) decided to stick his teeth in my leg. I think he was protecting the other dog, since it probably looked like we were trying to hurt him whilst breaking up the fight. We care a lot about these dogs, they are very friendly and are looked after by some of the locals here who feed them every day, and for the most part are very domesticated despite being wild animals.

ANYWAY, after getting bitten and having blood pouring down my legs, me and my girlfriend rushed to the hospital and were asked how long since the bite. I was panicking a lot, and I really don't like hospitals, but we had to wait a good 40 minutes to see anyone. So it was within about two hours of being bitten that I had both a tetanus and anti-rabies injection, and was given a sheet to come back for four more doses of anti-rabies within a month period. I've now had my third injection as of last Sunday (exactly a week from when it happened) and have had to have my dressing changed every day for a week (as of Sunday I was told it's fine to take off and just keep a bandage on the main wound). My legs looks pretty bad but it's getting better.

Prices: First visit: Tetanus injection and vaccine injection (including consultation fee and nursing charges - 1,684 baht.

Changing dressing every day for a week - 120 baht a day (for this I went to my local clinic which is 80 baht cheaper than hospital)

Second visit: 2nd vaccine injection (including hospital charges) - 878 baht

Third visit: 3rd vaccine injection plus consultation/final dressing change - 1,321 baht

I'm supposed to have a consultation with the doctor at the hospital next Sunday to check my wound, but I'm going to visit the clinic again instead since the doctor there has been dressing my wound all last week and is very nice, plus it's a lot quicker and there are no cheeky hospital fees thrown in (the hospital charged me 400 baht for a 'consultation' with the doctor that lasted no more than 30 seconds).

So I have another two injections coming up, plus a consultation at the clinic (about 100 baht) which means 2x 878 baht more.

I'm not complaining. It's no small amount of money (for those that couldn't be bothered I've added it up to: 6,459 baht) but for something like this I would rather pay than take the risk. We see this dog every day, and like I say he is very friendly and not at all wild, but I do still worry and so am continuing the full course. When we first visited the hospital we were given a bill of something like 4,500 baht total, but that was just for the injections.

Thought I would post a bit in depth for anyone concerned or just reference for the future. If you want to save money, go to a clinic and have it done. I just personally rushed to the first place I thought of for this kind of thing, and despite the cost I'm glad I did. I hope no one has to go through this, but there's the information if you are unfortunate enough to be bitten!

The Thai customers weren't linguistically challenged. Maybe you are?

If I were selling to immigrants in the UK and they couldn't order an apple or whatever in English, I'd charge them double.

Then I hope you get charged double for everything you pay for in Thailand. Xenophobes like you have no place being out of your own Country, so what are you doing here?

it seems like the persons who spend a lot on rent and day to day living are geting ripped too shreds by people

living a bit more modestly to put it politely .......

lighten up ,its a country of great contrasts and due to the internet ,we are all able to compare prices without taking into account te varaiables

some can say he lives well on 10k a month ,another says he would go bust on less 15 k a day

there is no right or wrong answer ,some people may need to pay houses ,kids cars ,schools etc

maybe living in a expensive area is necessary for someones job ,life is short and to quote an old saying

" tis no pockets in a shroud "

You are right, we shouldn't let this descend into nonsense arguing, though what 'Cooked' is bringing to the thread above you is anybody's guess...

However, the OP made it quite clear that he is coming here on his own, not with a family, not with monthly outgoings like a car, schooling or house payments. Therefore I think it's a good idea to quote him on his circumstances. There's no need to add threads where all you are saying is, 'I couldn't live on less than 15k a day because I'm a massively rich bastard' when this doesn't apply at all to the question the OP is asking. If you are rich, and you have a house, car, kids, maids, butlers, slaves, dogs, cats, mice, lizards, in-laws, ex-laws, the local bar, the bar owner's daughter, her sister, their parents, their maids and their buffalo to look after, then fine, you can't relate to the OP's situation directly. What you could maybe do is look back to when you didn't have all these things, or simply look at what you would do if you were single, or what you spend on yourself daily, and go from there. Sure, 10 years ago Thailand was obviously a lot cheaper than it is now (from what I've heard), but I'll be honest, you can live very cheaply here still, and treat yourself to a nice holiday once a month. There's really no hardship not having an eight-bedroom house and a 60" plasma screen in every room.

Good luck OP, going by what you've said (and taking into account drinking and visa-run), I think you'll be fine for a good few months before you start to worry about cash-flow.

Lady Gaga says something for more attention. SHOCK. Without Lady Gaga's nonsense (under the guise of 'bizarre') being spouted left and right, she wouldn't have anything to go on. Her fame is based on her image, which is that of a self-titled 'freak', and that is all she has. Her music is no different than the countless pop stars before her, so she constructs stupid sentences to bemuse people and make them wonder what it's all about. A shallow, empty pop star, just like Britney or Rihanna or any other of the many, many cardboard cutout celebrities we have all over the World. She says things like this all the time - it's to get attention, and it works.

I wouldn't waste your time, but I have caught a little of Gaga's act on a DVD they were playing in a DVD store here a few months ago, the banal 'chatter' in between songs is unbelievable. It's only made worse by the screaming fans who will cheer for anything she says. I really do resent celebrity culture.

What everyone else said, although I do worry about the Kindle taking over actual books. Also, it's the 21st Century.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but I've noticed a couple of times at least the direct rivalry between Big C and Tesco Lotus. Where I live we had a Tesco Lotus go up in the perfect location, right in the middle of a no-shop zone. A few months later, a Mini Big C went up right next door. I've seen this happen with a Tesco Lotus and 7/11 near the airport, too, and I predicted that one happening as soon as the first building went up. It's easy to see the reasoning behind it, I think in the West we've come to learn more and more about fair business practice and being original, it's not something they get taught here, it seems. I wouldn't risk opening any business here if it wasn't something I knew only I could do, or at least something I could make enough money from to move on to a new location down the line.

I have no advise to offer. It's a purely subjective question. And that is what worries me - when people speak about their experiences with money in Thailand they are arguing from their perspective and that makes it meaningless as a debate. One person's definition of a good apartment is another person's idea of hell.

The thing that concerns me is that Thailand is an emotive subject: it exerts a hold on people that makes them do irrational things and make terrible mistakes with their lives; they sacrifice so much in order to be here in a way that makes me question their grounding. Ive seen it happen so many times in my eight years here.

So when someone comes on here and talks about how long they can stay for 4k it rings alarms for me; the focus is on longevity, not on enjoyment.

Frankly, I would never encourage anyone wanting to live in Bangkok unless they had 100k minimum, Pattaya/CM/Hua Hin for less than 75k and other places like Isaan for less than 50-60k a month. THose are minimum figures to me.

But that's just a personal choice.

I know others have wildly different views.

So - for me - smokie got it about right. 4k sterling? No more than 3 months, maximum. Probably more likely 2. Particularly on holiday.

Fair enough, but I don't really agree with your estimation for coming to live here. If the OP is coming here with money and wanting to work, then I think they will live a lot cheaper than if they were on a holiday, sure, and advising against coming here without at least 100k to your name makes sense, but it's not necessary. You are right in that every comment on here is subjective, but surely most threads on these boards are subjective, unless we are discussing visas. The fact is that 50-60k a month here is quite a luxury for most of us. A huge amount of expats living here are teaching, and for many that's their only income. I made it quite clear on my situation and made sure to add in that I don't drink or smoke, as that is a huge expense once you start adding it up. But I always like to represent the lower grade of income in Thailand, as these threads do become discussions over how much people CAN spend or how nice apartments SHOULD be rather than how much they can save and how nice an apartment can be if you are looking for something a bit cheaper. I think that's an important side of the argument. For me the focus is on my future as much as my enjoyment now. I want to save money so next year I can worry about saving it less. But I enjoy my life rather cheaply, and if what I get out of living here is a relaxed lifestyle with less stress and some money saved at the end of it, then I'm happy. I could chase women, go out every night and get wasted, but quite frankly, I wasn't designed for such a lifestyle.

Adding to this discussion rather than derailing it with cynicism can only help the OP and perhaps others looking for advice on the same subject.

The thing that strikes me about this kind of thread is how people love to clamber over each other and boast how much they could make it last, as if living some kind of ratsh*t existence is a badge of honour.

Sure you could make it last 6 months or 10 months, but do you really want to? It sounds awful to me.

The other thing to consider is opportunity lost: those months living a squalid life in Thailand on a tight budget are months when you have no income coming in anywhere else.

So what advice do you have to offer?

You're not wrong, there is a lot of boasting here, though I like to think I wasn't taking part in that, I was honestly offering advice on a lifestyle based around simple pleasures (like eating...) and not throwing your money away. I think all of the boasting on this thread is coming from people gladly sharing just how many thousands of baht they spend in a day, I don't think anyone here has shown off how poor they are...

That said, this kind of thread has been on here before - I remember arguments breaking out over how much rent should be in Thailand. There was anything from 'no less than 60,000 a month to live comfortably' to, '5000 a month will be too much'. The subject of money does not bode well on an Internet forum, especially a forum as full of conflict as this one.

If I drop 1 baht my girlfriend bends down to get it so quickly it lands on the back of her head - makes it easy for me to pick up.

What if you spent so much time and energy on picking up the offending coin, your social status dropped as well Sent from my HTC One X using Thaivisa Connect App

If you are that worried about your 'social status', surely you'd be using an iphone?

I dropped a 1 baht coin in 7/11 the other day, didn't think%2

I have limited experience of teaching here, and I've never taught above Primary level 3, so can't really comment too much on students sharing their knowledge as what experience I do have has been teaching basic level English for students to have fun with. However, one thing that has shocked me is the attitude of those in charge. I have experienced a Headteacher come into a school and after serving for a year ask every teacher to change the results of the tests throughout the whole school because they weren't good enough. Not re-test the students, or even impliment some sort of new programme, just change the results. Why? To make her look good. When several teachers asked to have a meeting with her to discuss this, she flat out refused, and told them to just do it. So yes, the losing face thing is taken several steps too far in schools, and unfortunately, it's always going to be the students who suffer. But what does that matter when an older person looks good to the parents?

It's not the only time I've experienced or heard such a tale. A colleague of mine marked a young students paper and the results were not great. So the student got a low grade. The mother of said student demanded to our boss that my colleague be fired for giving her daughter such a low grade, using the (probably now classic) threat, 'Don't you know who my husband is?'

There's a huge problem with education here. Deluded parents who want to buy their kids grades (and this seems to be common), and teachers who don't want to look bad to parents. I've several times been told not to give kids grades that are 'too low' and just average them out because of parents complaints. Changing grades seems to be part of the job.

Thanks, I'll look into it some more. I'll probably just get one sent over (provided it is properly packaged, though from what I've seen that won't be a problem). It was an awful decision for Nintendo to make, and I can't see ANY reason behind it, to be honest. That said, there are only three or four games I REALLY want to play right now, all available from the UK quite easily.

Hey all,

I've just been offered a job by Fun Language. They seem pretty good, and have a LOT of Westerners already working for them. The salary is a little better than I've been earning in my last teaching job, and it seems to be similar work (teaching Kindergarten and Primary school with a Thai teacher as part of the team). Does anyone work for them, or have experience of doing so? What can I expect, and are they good to work for?

Thanks all!

Hey all,

So, nearing 30, I'm looking at buying a 3DS. Now I know many of you will look at this as a bit strange being a 30 year-old on one of these, but I honestly think they have more to offer me than any other system at the moment. I miss the days when gaming was fun and suitable for all, and I'd like to return to Mario Kart and the Zelda games, if I'm honest. I've only asked at one place in Bangkok, and that was a market seller in Central asking for over 8,000 baht, which is more expensive than at home. Is there anywhere selling factory-sealed consoles in Bangkok? I don't fancy the MBK market sellers, to be honest - I'd rather somewhere I can completely trust. Also, if I buy one here, it's likely to be from China, so is that Europe region (as my PS3 games seem to be...) or US? If not, I'll order from the UK and have it shipped here, but I'm concerned about shipping a system so would like to look around first...

Thanks all!

It's probably been said, but you've seen 'your' Bangkok. You've stayed in 5 star hotels and 2 star hotels, but unless I missed it, you've never lived here. Soi Cowboy isn't Bangkok, it's just a street. That bar you were sitting at with your friend is just another street. Yes, Bangkok is overcrowded and lacks the natural beauty of the Countryside, but you just have different experiences of Thailand than those of us who live in the city. I've travelled Thailand a bit, and I love the Countryside as much as the islands, but I do like living in the city (or just outside it). Bangkok is pure Thailand, it's just busier and noisier than you're used to.

Some people will eat anything....

And many will only eat what they think they 'should' be eating to appear as superior. I'll take enjoying myself over ignorance.

I suggest trying the tuna sandwiches, though they often seem to be sold out. I'd also suggest the 'croissant' sandwiches, of which the bread is more like crumbly pastry. Those who say that 7/11 sandwiches have no taste have been eating too much spicy food.

Having read this thread, the last few days I've been sampling the culinary delights of my local 7/11 stores.

I've tried a Tuna pie (25B from the oven), Chicken Burger (20B, freshly waved), Chicken Steak Burger (37B, freshly waved) and a Big Pao Minced Pork and Egg (16B, freshly waved).

Seriously. What the **** is the matter with you people? There was nothing enjoyable about any of that ****.

Not tried any of that, but glad you didn't like it. 7/11 is a treat for people who want some of the simple delights from home. It's not a retreat for your culinary side to explore the wonders of International cuisine. What the **** is wrong with you? I'd suggest not taking advice from an Internet forum and going back to eating what you enjoy, and let us enjoy our little treats. There is nothing enjoyable about listening to **** like your reply.

Some words there which I never thought you would see in a sentence together:

"simple delights" and "little treats" in reference to anything availible at 7/11, but then again suppose people who are making comments like this would be of the opinion that MacDonalds offerings are haute cusine and KFC should awarded a Michelin star for culinary excellence

You would suppose wrong, though. But as you are a 'supposer', I can't really be surprised by stupid comments. I'm also not at all surprised that you ignored my comment about 7/11 NOT being a culinary outing but rather a 'simple delight' for our tastebuds. Either you lack the intelligence to understand my comments, or your 7,000 plus posting time on this board has turned you into somewhat of a tosser. I'd imagine the second, since this board is full of them.

By the way, why are you posting on a thread you have absolutely NO interest in? You don't enjoy 7/11, so you must be here to create conflict with those of us who do? Suggest you get out in the Country a little more, and take in some more of the 'sabai, sabai' lifestyle...

Having read this thread, the last few days I've been sampling the culinary delights of my local 7/11 stores.

I've tried a Tuna pie (25B from the oven), Chicken Burger (20B, freshly waved), Chicken Steak Burger (37B, freshly waved) and a Big Pao Minced Pork and Egg (16B, freshly waved).

Seriously. What the **** is the matter with you people? There was nothing enjoyable about any of that ****.

Not tried any of that, but glad you didn't like it. 7/11 is a treat for people who want some of the simple delights from home. It's not a retreat for your culinary side to explore the wonders of International cuisine. What the **** is wrong with you? I'd suggest not taking advice from an Internet forum and going back to eating what you enjoy, and let us enjoy our little treats. There is nothing enjoyable about listening to **** like your reply.