PlanetX

Hi Everyone thanks for writting me ! I guess if I get sick and am all alone I can just post on here and bunch of farang can bring me a chang in the hospital ?

So ya, here I am in Canada, and is safe and all that, but I get bored I guess. I really can't get anything to eat after dark where I live but fast food, I can't afford hotels or taxi....

I think I could do alright in Thailand, I have a little online retail biz that generates about roughly $500 a month on average, although I might be

able to increase that if I really needed to. But that could wash up one day too, who knows.

I can also build websites and make graphics.. not sure how that might fly in Thailand.

I know the whole visa thing is going to be a pain, I have been to Thailand 4 times for about 3 months each time, so its not like i don't have a good idea about what people go threw to stick around there, but you know, it would be worth it.

PlanetX - no I don't have a degree (don't know why this bold type is stuck on) I have community college certificates in new media and some other things, but I don't think those would fly. I would however consider a ESL course here if I thought it might get me in somewhere part time, as I said I have a small income already.

One other thing I wonder is, as I have a large extended family here, is what happens when they get ill, as my mother already is, or when cousins get married, i wont be able to fly back and forth on my budget, its on thing I wonder.

But yes... Breathing.. I assume the air is acceptable most days outside of burning season.

Its nice to hear about some fellow Canadians who have left, I know alot go to the USA to get rich, but for some reason when I am in SE Asia I always wonder what my life would be like if I just stayed there, I think it would improve.

Thanks for your thoughts they are very welcome.

You don't need a degree to teach English, most places don't know the difference between a good English teacher and a bad one......hence, the reason we have so many English teachers who have simply taken a short course here. However, because of the infamous Thai hierarchial ladder, someone with a degree will be viewed as 'more intelligent', which we all know is a load of BS. Therefore, the opportunity of a higher paying job will probably be available.

That is dangerous advice. You technically do need a degree to teach LEGALLY.

The kid is already setting himself up to be a resident on a tourist visa so what is the harm of suggesting he work ILLEGALLY on a tourist visa as well...

get real

Don't bring a lot of stuff. Get settled in a furnished apartment and chill for a while.

Do you plan on working?

Do you have a degree?

If so, I would *highly* recommend getting your Canadian teachers certification before you leave Canada so that you would have your pick of schools to work at if that is what you are planning on doing

After having lived in Chiang Mai and repeatedly having excellent food, beer, etc in great ambiance local Thai restaurants, I do choke when I have to spend 3-4x in a western restaurant. Its a nice "once in awhile treat" but I really enjoy Thai food and dont feel as is I am missing anything by not spending the 3-4x more

Last night with 3 friends we had several brilliant fish, great soup and a few chicken dishes along with about 15 local Thai beers and spent 250 baht each. It was a great time. I just think once you appreciate the value of the baht and how far it goes if you "eat/ drink like a local" then you do automatically think twice about running to a western establishment.

Check out the University Winnipeg UW-Asia program.

In Chiang Mai, the classes are being hosted by Nakornpayap International School (I am not sure where they are hosted in Bangkok)

You can also click on the Nakornpayap International School Chiang Mai homepage and look for the UW icon on the right side of the page

Best of Luck

Just wondering if a menu was available online?

I definitely believe in the Easter Bunny!!!!

Whether directly (or indirectly), was responsible for many great egg finds and beautiful chocolate candies galore

What country are you from?

If US, there are several options to secure a US state teaching license by passing exams and having a bachelors degree.

If Canadian, there is a program through the University of Winnipeg that is offering a BEd and has classes in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. A Canadian BEd is considered a licensed teacher for teaching at International Schools.

You cannot survive a day or two without alcohol ????

Every person that uses this forum is not a retired expat whinging about one day of no beer

It is a simple question of what days are bars open

As for exciting, I'm in living in the Kansas City area, about 25 miles from Lawrence Kansas (the University of Kansas), where I'll be tonight to celebrate our 4th national championship.

Yeah, um.. I think your plans to battle your neighbors over leaves are going to work out about as well as your plan to celebrate a national championship...

Maybe you should consider a move to rural Kentucky? No neighbors and an actual national championship to celebrate! Sounds like a win-win scenario for you.

-Mestizo

But you better do it soon, because in 3 years kentucky will get the championship taken away because their coach is a cheat

I definitely respect and admire your enthusiasm and love for this holiday - unfortunately I just don't find myself enjoying it that much and prefer to travel during the break

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Better yet, get out of Thailand altogether. You're always complaining about something.

You're as ill-suited to the climate as you are to the culture.

The concrete boxes most of you live in make ideal solar ovens but very poor habitats in a tropical country.

Wooden houses with plenty of cross-ventilation, raised on posts with a circulation of air underneath make sense.

Traditional designs could be combined with some sensible modern innovations to free you from air-conditioning and the the general kawk-moo lifestyle you're in now.

You've had your foreign experience. Your horizions have been broadened. Now go home.

Based on your complete lack of "jai yen" I would offer the same advice to you

The whole city is suffering from smoke inhalation and they haven't even attempted to enforce any burning restrictions

I doubt very much they will enforce red light offenders

Hopefully this doesnt end up like the KONY 2012 online campaign and lead to the founder running around Chiang Mai in the nude

Bangkok Definitely!

For the younger crowd CM is doable for backpackers/TEFL teachers but if you have the funds to enjoy both, go straight to Bangkok and come up and visit CM. You can see the CM sites/ bars/ restaurants in 3 days and then go back to the awesome variety and spice of BKK

All of my under 30 friends that have lived in both cities definitely prefer Bangkok

it could be a case where "he would later succumb to his wounds after posting a last ditch effort plea to the good people of TV"

I've always hated that "best in the world" mentality. I think the US is ONE of the best, but it also helps that I can afford healthcare etc etc.

I don't believe there is a best place, just the best place for you.

Well, it produces lots of Nobel Prize winners. About the only thing about it that is "best".

Quality of life there is not good. Heath care is outrageously expensive. No vacation time. Police state is out of control. I could go on and on.

While i agree with you for the most part... it is interesting what some folks think determines "quality of life"... for some, it is Walmarts/Target type of shopping... McDonalds or KFC for dinner... being able to shoot a gun out of your car, or many other things that do NOT define a quality life for me.

As for vacation time.. compared to MANY other nations, USA is indeed short on the stick on that measure. Although after 10 yrs working for local govt., i had 3 weeks paid vacation and 3 weeks sick leave every year, and 15 PAID holidays on top of that. What i saw as part of the vacation problem was that many americans don't take their vacation..preferring to get paid out instead and then their work performance and family life suffers as a result of that.

HEalth care IS out of control, cost-wise... and depending on your access points, the quality might not even be very high.

The police state is frightening... my friend from USA, married to thai, living here happily married for 25 yrs had to move back to California for family reasons. He had never been stopped by police or had police at his home (in sansai) .. in the whole 25 yrs he was here.

Within the first 3 months of being back in USA... police were at his home 3 times - called by neighbors cuz they thought they heard "fighting". His wife answered the door and told them they were crazy, leave us alone, no fighting and go away... the guy has a loud voice, but he and his wife just don't fight... he yells during a hockey game and the police show up - called by the neighbors.

He got 4 moving violations in his first 3 months... too slow, too fast, improper lane change, etc...

I speak with him regularly...he can't wait for his kid to finish up school so he can return "home" to thailand...

I wonder how many current american residents of thailand "can't wait to get home" to America?

What do you really know about quality of life for Americans in America?

As with anywhere else, the culture and seemingly different ways of living your life are both unique to the individual and the community. Of course its going to seem different to you because you have an entirely different cultural lense that you view life through.

Hopefully, as you travel and become accustomed to differences in cultures and individuals, you will recognize your own cultural bias and the limitations of your own cultural lense in which you view others through and relax on the judgements and criticisms.

I would venture to guess the high profile missionaries play a role in making it seem like there are a bunch of Americans.

There is also the pretty active consulate, VFW, some popular restaurants, and a few major International Schools that also have a high percentage of American families.

Chiang Mai is obviously a great place to live and its an OK place to work. Even those working as non-qualified teachers can sustain a pretty decent life style. I am sure the highly qualified teachers that work at the international schools (especially PTIS) have a very high quality of life.

You can't keep a burger thread down, in Chiang Mai.

There are so many variables. Location being an important one. For my money I challenge anyone to say they've ever eaten a better burger anywhere, let alone in Chiang Mai than the one that Nicky makes out at The Orchard in Mae Rim. It's both epic and delicious. My best time for finishing one is about 40 minutes.

I've heard excellent things about Nicky's place, but I'm not such a fan of burgers that I would go to Mae Rim for one.

only a big fan of burger threads...

If you`re a foreigner, need a work permit.

Any foreign vocalists, need a work permit.

you didn't even read the post.

The Sunday Brunch is very nice and is buffet style. I believe it is 1200++ per person.

The Four Seasons Mae Rim is really pushing this so expect a very nice spread.

I haven't been to the Sunday brunch in a few months but I have been to dinner several times and I have always enjoyed my meal. The prices are also *relatively* reasonable when considering it is the Four Seasons. I have also been happy with the quality and quantity of the meals I have had. The beautiful views and outdoor atmosphere might be tempered with the burnings and poor air quality though - have not been there for several weeks.

You completely missed my point. I don't want to be Chinese. To accuse me of that is just a display of ignorance. I pointed out, with Thai government statistics, that the Ford investment of $500 million is around 2% of the total Chinese investment of $24 billion in Thailand in 2011. They are far more important to Thailand than the USA, UK and Australia together. You may not like it, but you need to get use to it.

However, If you're talking about exploitation, can you tell me why the majority of US citizens cannot afford basic medial treatments. The Thais can afford them. The Chinese can. However, Americans can't. America can afford to send its uneducated youth across the world to kill and die in the name of 'democracy' though.

US foreign aid is about 26 billon a year. More than 150 countries receive financial assistance from the US. Medical care in the states tends to be expensive but if you can't afford it you will receive it for free. Did you ever hear of welfare recipients?

You can prove whatever you want with statistics. That the US gave some small amount to 150 countries is meaningless. Most countries make a small donation whenever disaster strikes. Afghanistan donated funds to the US after Hurricane Katrina.

I'm with Loaded. China is the world's next economic power, especially in the developing world. No country in Asia or Africa is going to turn down Chinese investments, investments which the west cannot afford to make.

At the puppet level China will out-invest the US in developing countries

At the top of the pyramid (where it really matters) its still all owned by International Banking Cartels

It'd be pretty pointless to recommend a single place; they're everywhere. So just go explore.

I keep hearing about these mythical establishments that are apparently everywhere but no one seems able to tell us exactly where they located, or the names of these places?

Here is a wonderful business opportunity for some of you guys supposively in the know. Why not become a guide (for a fee) and show the way to those that apparently are not adventurous enough or considered too lazy to go seeking for themselves?

I’m sure there would be many and enthusiastic fun seekers willing to take advantage of the guides knowledge and expertise.

Yes! Or dont post about 'other places' which implies there are places that are unknown to most of us - then dont tell us where they are! I think i know just about everywhere but am willing to learn that there 'maybe' other places - so tell us

They are the small Thai restaurants that are lit up with christmas lights. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE

Learn some basic Thai, drive down any street, and poke your head in

I doubt that it is cheap.... but it may be an option for people trying to get a degree in teaching. I haven't read about it anywhere, just someone told me he is planning to enroll.

http://www.nis.ac.th...d%20&%20MEd.pdf

http://education.uwi...ia/uw_asia.html

B.Ed course, University of Winnipeg, based at Nakhon Payap school in Chiang Mai.

yes checked it out. fees are 4 times higher for foreigners. is this a government uni and so subject to subsidies or is this just another 2 tier system of foreigner pays more ?

You have to already have a BA/ BS degree to be eligible for the program. It is a second bachelors program. The pricing reflects a discount for Thais - the foreigners price is the same as charged at the home institution in Canada.