danstarr

If I'd never been to Thailand and you told me your story, A5, I'd have been mortified. Even living here, still, that's one effed up thing to do. You have to think then, that Buddhist funerals full of respectful people are, essentially, complete frauds.

"Mortified?!"

What about the bloke inside the truck? He's mortified.

Roy Orbison - Love Hurts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjNcJ2YlcHY

Thanks for all the input.

I'm not expecting there to be any shortcuts but with regard to the school, as I'd probably have to do the legwork myself, I do want to be forearmed with all the information I might need if this is going to be possible.

Once again, much appreciated.

When the school approached me last year about the prospect of employing me part-time, they actually looked into getting me a WP but for reasons unclear, told me that they were unable to - it's a small, private school (homeschool?) so I don't know if this had anything to do with the MoE.

Should this plan actually get going, my initial visa application would be done via the farming foundation so I guess I'd have to secure my Non-O or Non-B & WP through them and then find out if it's feasible for the school to take me on as well. However, I think I'd need to get the list from immigration (as Mario suggests) myself and then tell them what they need to do, step-by-step.

I'd love to find a way forward for this. As usual, thanks for the very helpful advice.

OK. I remember from before that I had to do my extension of stay every 90 days (1900 baht) so if I would have to follow the rules for being a teacher, what would I need to do? (I'm beginning to think that this idea is a non-starter!)

Ok thank you very much. Just want to try to get it right.

Responses much appreciated.

If you can get the 2nd employer added to the work permit your current visa/extension would not matter.

The problem will be the work permit. Adding a paid job to an unpaid volunteer work permit will be the problem.

So essentially, in order for the second job to be added to the WP, the first job / role would need to be a paid position, right?

The first employer would agree to the school being added to the WP so I don't think that there would be a problem there.

Technically-speaking though, I thought that in order to teach, a Non-B visa would be required. (I'm not married and have no kids).

Can anyone clarify this?

I have previously worked as a volunteer at a sustainable farming project for which I had a Non-O and a WP. There may be an opportunity to serve at the project again only this time with more focus on teaching English to local staff so that they can then provide training to others.

Furthermore, there is a non-formal private school in the area that would be interested in taking me on part-time to teach English. I have CELTA and UK teaching experience and am currently studying for a degree but am not currently able to work.

Here are my questions:

1. For both roles, can this be done on a Non-O or do I need to request a Non-B visa?

2. Can I add a non-formal school to an existing WP supplied whilst on a Non-O?

Any advice gratefully received.

Well-done to the op for being up-front about this - far too many don't reach out when crisis strikes,

Sounds like he recognizes that professional help is required but it should be added that there are people in the community up here who can lend an ear and give support and who may be helpful as part of an all-round care package.

IMO we all have a responsibility to look out for one other, especially whilst we are so far away from the familiar support networks of home.

Al Green - Belle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EJsmZbS-vg

If you have the time, do it. You might end up wanting / needing similar certification in future and as this is a Cambridge certificate, I'd go for it (if the CELTA hasn't killed you already!).

I did my CELTA in the UK and personally-speaking, found it very challenging but nonetheless very worthwhile and rewarding. It is intense and I found that for the four weeks I was on the course, most of my spare time was taken up doing the assignments and lesson plans. Some drop out because it is a demanding course. Listen to what your instructor requires of you, implement the feedback from your observed teaching practice and you will be fine.

Bloodstone - Natural High

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1gKVkHSp0o

Deniece Williams - Free

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu0tt20UJag

David Bowie - Sound and Vision

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRc2_-BCljQ

Jean Carne - Was That All It Was

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrIE266rqnw"

The Jones Girls - Nights Over Egypt

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTkstA0HxkE"

Billy Stewart - Sitting in the Park

Musique - Keep on Jumpin'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L054naK3pb8

Is it financially worth buying a well-maintained 'grey' SR and going through the rigmarole of the emission tests etc; to make it legal rather than shelling out 200k plus for a new one?

In a nutshell

No, the days of 2nd hand imports seem to be long gone.

That's what I thought but getting hold of an SR with its import taxes paid and then going through the process to register it properly / emissions tested etc; to get a legal Green Book has got to be more financially viable than shelling out for a new one, surely?

Is it financially worth buying a well-maintained 'grey' SR and going through the rigmarole of the emission tests etc; to make it legal rather than shelling out 200k plus for a new one?

Hi

Interested in people's experiences with asthma when changing countries/climates

I (from NZ) developed asthma last teens - years of inhalers, nebulisers and overnighters in hospital.

Except for the years I spent in my 20s living in Australia - Sydney and perth where asthma became a rare event for me, and just the odd Ventolin 'as required'

I've been a competitive distance swimmer and triathlete at national level, though always had the trusty Ventolin at hand 'in case'. Healthy living, even a dietitian!

On my first holiday to Thailand the asthma more than faded, it practically disappeared. I was running and cycling like I'd always wanted to, restrictions gone. First time ever i felt I could give a genuine 100% with no excuses. And many thoughts of 'if only' when looking at competition results that could have been better

Returned to Thailand for 5+ years and no issues whatsoever, decided that just as I had grown into asthma I had grown out of it.

This year I went back to NZ April-July and it hit me the worst of my life, from the very first day till the last - i went for 6mths work but called it quits at 3. Granted it was winter, and it was quite a shock going from high 20s to low 30s to daily temps of 8-9C and overnight lows of minus 2 (but no, I was not sleeping outside).

Back thru Bangkok and it's gone again. Arrived home 4 weeks ago and not a hint of breathing issues.

Simply put, seems I have a reaction against the climate/cold air. Allergic to NZ! I have to go back briefly early 2015 and am dreading it - can't see any way of avoiding the same problems I've just had; I've felt so much better overall minus the medication - and stress that comes with relying on it.

Can't be alone, surely? Anyone else had similar exp returning to a cooler eg UK climate? And how did you manage it?

thanks

I'm from the UK and this is virtually the same as I've experienced. My parents always said that the onset of my asthma was shortly after I was born (am now in my 40s); my schooling was affected and my parents told me that there were a number of times that they thought I wasn't going to make it whilst having attacks. The family doctor was pretty useless though and was always reluctant to send me to hospital.

They then tried intal (spinhaler) but this didn't seem to have much effect and I remember being simultaneously prescribed some type of tranquilizer which was used in conjunction whenever I had an attack.

Asthma took away a lot of my childhood and in the late 70's I ended up as an emergency case in the local hospital. But this is when my life totally changed - they gave me Ventolin for the first time - and it has saved my life. That and the preventer, Becotide, enabled me to have a new life - I found out that I could play football and cricket for the first time and started doing active outdoor activities.

Long story short, I'm now living here in Thailand and I need Ventolin far less often than I would if I were in the UK and I live in a pretty polluted city here. I even completed my first ever mini-marathon a couple of weeks ago because my breathing is significantly better here than in the UK.

I admit that I don't use my Becotide as often as I should but my Ventolin inhalers now last me a far longer time compared to England. My condition is far more stable here and I just hope that I can afford to stay!

Nevertheless, my Ventolin inhaler is my constant companion and probably always will be.

Thank you very much!

Dear all,

Does anyone know how I can pay a shortfall in my NI contributions whilst I'm here in Thailand? I've looked on the Direct.gov website but can't seem to find out how to actually pay.

I did a pensions forecast a couple of years ago and it's this period I need to make up because I know there's a time limit on it.

Does anybody have any recent experience of this or know of a way of contacting them directly?