TimBKK

Viva on Soi 8?  

11 hours ago, keemapoot said:

Well f*** me mate, I shop exclusively at Tops and only wash fruits and vegs in the most passing of ways.  F***! 

 

Actually, from an update on channel 3 news this morning, things are worse than in this article. 41% contamination at open markets, but over 60% contamination in food stores like Tops, Foodland, etc... Even those expensive "organic" section veggies tested positive for pesticides. I suppose the reason the stores have higher levels is that they are marketing a better looking product. The takeway from this is to make sure to wash veggies carefully (soak actually) in baking soda and vinegar, but there is a powdered product you can use which does the job too.  Nothing is safe. Also, the channel 3 newscast mentioned that the imported veggies and fruits of all types were found to be much lower in pesticides, and from experience, Makro has tons of these and is cheaper by far anyway.

6 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

Never accept an opened beer. Never get "your" lady friend to get you a beer, always get a "waitress" to do it. 

 

Etc

Etc

Etc

 

Oh and the name of the bar is irrelevant can happen anywhere

That's good advice and something I've got to remember to do more often.  Is it me or do most places bring the beer over already opened?  Seems like it...

7 hours ago, newnative said:

    Some good advice has been posted.  Certainly there are some advantages and disadvantages to both renting and buying.  I think some people are happy being renters with the flexibility to move and not have a lot invested in property.  For myself and my partner, we like owning and being able to make each condo our home that reflects our personal style with our own furniture and artwork.   We have rented at times out of necessity and hated it--we are owners at heart.

   We have bought and sold a number of condos in Pattaya, always at a profit.  We are in the process of buying a small Bangkok condo as a getaway place.  We bought off-plan at a good price from a very well-known Thai builder that does a good job of maintaining its buildings.  The condo is being built in an excellent location near the skytrain/subway.  Likely to at least maintain its value and if we decided to rent it at some point it should attract renters with the good location and building amenities.  It's important when buying to do your homework and take your time.

Which builder did you go with?

Maybe the Coffee Club, opposite side of Wireless towards the American embassy, 5 minute walk from the Athenee.  I think its an Australian chain.  There are street food options on Wireless too, some really good, but very busy at lunch.

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Is Merril Lynch Intl used by anyone here?

I did, biggest mistake of my life. Run away.

What happened?

All I want is a fee-free access to my stateside accounts.

L

Pedophiles should be named and shamed, this seems as good a place as any.

Unless I'm missing something shown in the OP I fail to see why this incident is being shown as newsworthy here in LOS. Maybe Thai Immigration records show he transitted through Swampy en route to Cambodia, or came here on a 7 day holiday?

Seems like the visa was cancelled by CBP...they saw the two day overstay when screening her at her last entry, and decided to let her in, but also cancel the visa full stop.

A bit overzealous but of course they have the right to do this. Technically, however, i dont think she would be inadmissible. If memory serves, there is some period of leeway beyond the period of time she was legally granted on the I-94 before she runs afoul immigration law. Im fairly certain of this...

With her travel history, i would be surprised if she isnt able to get a new visa. I think the consular officers might be a bit more reasoned when deciding whether or not she qualifies. Unfortunately, its now a red flag so get your ducks in a row...

See this:

"Overstay of Less Than 180 Days

If your overstay in the United States was for less than six months (180 days), then you are not legally inadmissible in the future. You can be granted another visa, or even a U.S. green card (lawful permanent residence). However, if you are applying for a temporary (nonimmigrant) visa, and its one of the many that requires you to convince the U.S. consular official that you will leave the United States when your permitted stay is over, you may have a tough time making this showing if and when the consular officer becomes aware of your past overstay."

http://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/can-visa-overstay-be-forgiven.html

Good luck to her.

Sorry, what is an EP school?

Don't discount the high salaried Bangkok EPs. I'm on a basic salary of 55k but I get a 20k increment for teaching G10-G12 classes, 5k for being a maths / science teacher & 500B per homework period, which is within the contractual hours. Also we are allowed to use the school facilities, free of charge, to teach private lessons for 500B per hour per student. If you can get 3+ students it's worth 10k+.

Also there are a lot of cancellations due to extra curricula activities, ceremonies & also rehearsals for said activities which can take up to 3 times the time of the activities themselves. I'm also free to teach the students what I think is relevant (as opposed to the vague, piss poor Thai curriculum) as the admin don't care a hoot about what happens in the classroom.

I wouldn't trade my current job for a 2nd tier international, such as St Stevens, for a minimal salary increase, 30 contact hours with no cancellations, having to teach to a rigid curriculum & I've heard the extra-curricula activities & pastoral care take up all your free time; you'd better love teaching.

The attached pic is near ban krut, after Christmas this year. Literally not another person in sight...If Prachuap has good gym facilities and good access to beaches like this, that might be the OP's solution, especially if he has zero interest in nightlife, bars etc.

Further down the coast line from Cha-am you'll find Chumphon & Langsuan. Cracking beaches and just about zero farang tourists so proper Thai prices

The attached pic is near ban krut, after Christmas this year. Literally not another person in sight...If Prachuap has good gym facilities and good access to beaches like this, that might be the OP's solution, especially if he has zero interest in nightlife, bars etc.

Further down the coast line from Cha-am you'll find Chumphon & Langsuan. Cracking beaches and just about zero farang tourists so proper Thai prices

I think the U.S Refugee program is one of our most admirable. People...governments do some f***** up things to others for no fault of the victims and the fact that we accept some of them - about 70 thousand last year, literally a drop in the bucket to the millions that immigrate annually - illustrates some of our better qualities as a country.

785 comments and growing...

I *really* hope the German press picks the story of the attack up.

Best wishes to that young man, probably scarred for life

anything more to say...!!!??

"Thailand 'one of the most dangerous tourist destinations on Earth': Expat investigation lifts lid on dark side of the Land of Smiles"

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2833369/Thailand-one-dangerous-tourist-destinations-Earth-Ex-pat-investigation-lifts-lid-dark-Land-Smiles.html#ixzz3JJXUvHPO

Did you mean skimming? Or is that the Romanians...

i thought Russians are better in scamming?

I would look into a bodyweight workout regime, especially if you do not want to join or do not have access to a good gym. As above there are plenty of options online and lots of good info as well. I have been using the You Are Your Own Gym program by Mark Lauren. Not sure if I can include links, if not just google it...

https://www.marklauren.com

http://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Your-Own-Gym/dp/B00AM7EQYC

https://itunes.apple.com/eg/app/bodyweight-training-you-are/id416981420?mt=8

Great results, easy to use the app and vids (NOT an easy program at the upper end - this dude is fit)

Maybe one of the P90x programs would work as well.

Haha...I hear ya, but sometimes intercedes. I do appreciate the comments though, trust me.

Brian ....geez mate... This is my point... You did the hard yards from 21 till 48...

Anyway. The OP hasn't even poked his nose in since his op. Clearly doesn't have a lot of interest.

My advise to anyone starting another start in life is ....

GET WITH THE PROGRAME.

otherwise know as contribute!

I would be more than happy to live comfortably and let my current savings sit untouched while teaching pays the bills...if there is anything extra at the end of the month, all the better

Temper my expectations - done. Expect the unexpected - done.

Good advice, thanks.

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In Thailand you earn enough as a teacher to live comfortably but not additional for retirement.

Being older and no experience I wouldn't expect to work at an international school.

But private schools pay is enough.

Thailand is a great place to be a teacher but be relatively in your expectations and long term needs.

That's a really important point jacksam, thanks for bringing it up. I think I'll be ok financially as I've been thinking about and planning something like this for a long time - will have about 13 million baht to help me get through the 9 or 10 years until I can access retirement savings without penalty, then will eventually have 401k, pension, social security to ease myself into retirement. Believe me, I have heard about and read of too many who are in dire financial straits in Thailand, rightly or wrongly, to want to let this happen to me.

Starting teaching in Thailand at 46?

How much money do you think you will have behind you upon arrival. I may sound negative but if your coming here at that age with little funds, what's the long term plan?

Teaching jobs don't pay a lot in Thailand

Thanks Aaron - I will have to do more research into IB...I don't want to get ahead of myself, or bite off more than I can initially chew, but if it is as valuable as you say then it would be silly to overlook it. I guess I need to think carefully about what level I want to teach at. I am really curious about how others came to that decision...

Go with the elementary education license, it's much more in demand. If you want to work international schools, often they don't pay the ESL instructors so much and in fact often they don't care so much about qualifications of those fellas. Having said that, sort of pointless to do the elementary license if you don't want to teach K - 6.

On a side note, many states allow you to add on an additional endorsement by sitting the exam and having the relevant degree. You may be able to add on an endoresment to teach your bachelors degree subject once you have your initial license.

I see that the program offers a PYP captsone course for the IB curriculum. I've not experince there, but have heard from others that experience with that is highly valued by many international schools. May be worth doing the extra course for that as well...

Brian, thanks for your thoughts and feedback, I do appreciate it. Good tip on observing a class, I had not thought of that but will definitely look into it. I have always had a notion that I might take up teaching some day, just didn't think it would be this late in life. All good things come to those who wait? Or be careful what you (I) wish for? Let's hope it's the former...

Usually a school will allow you to observe a class if you tell them you are going into the teaching profession.

In California you are required to observe the age level you plan to teach about 20 hours before starting the program.

Thailand is requiring long term teachers to be licensed. May create more competition at the better schools. Teaching experience in America is valuable but at 46 might not be worth the delay in coming to Thailand.

Teaching a subject at private schools in Bkk you might get 50,000 to 70,000 baht per month.

I hear international schools pay a lot better but expect a lot more.

I would expect a degree on elementary education would be more valuable.

Being a native English speaker is enough to get Esl jobs.

Teaching elementary school takes a lot of energy but the kids are adorable.

Teaching Jr. High and high school is dealing with teenagers but rewarding when they mature.

Starting at age 46 you might find the endless energy of primary kids wears you down.

I came to Thailand 4 years ago when I was your age (but no education degree ). I started teaching English to K1, P4. Enjoyable and lost weight.

I now teach high school math to teenagers.

It is exciting when they get accepted to good universities.

I feel happy being asked to write letters of recommendation for them.

If you have the heart for teaching and love helping others then you will enjoy teaching in Thailand.

I am planning a move to teaching overseas in 2-3 years and am trying to best figure out what I can do to ensure a smooth and successful transition. I am pretty well committed to teaching as a second career, not a 2 or 3 year diversion, and have decided that a M.Ed in education with state licensure (I am in the U.S.) is probably a good move. This is the program that I am most interested in, by the way:

http://fasttrain.gmu.edu

At this point I am not planning on teaching in the U.S. once I have the degree and state license, as I'm inclined to head right overseas. I understand that this may preclude me from being competitive for teaching jobs at the better (or best) international schools. Is this a fair assessment? I want to be as compelling a candidate as possible (more so as I'll be 46 by the the time I start teaching) but also don't want to waste time and money on a degree that may turn out to be overkill for the type of position and job that I will most likely end up in. I sometimes think that a Celta along with my bachelors degree (history, not education) and being a NES might be just as good...

The program I noted above has a track for pre k - 12 with state licensure in ESL, and a program for just elementary education. I don't know yet what level of student I would most like to work with - what should I be thinking about as I contemplate which of these two tracks to go with?

Thanks for any thoughts!

Yup, east coast of MY is pretty sweet, agree 100%. Enjoyed Kuantan quote a bit, lots of coast to explore there. Under the radar a bit, I think, at least to the non-offshore crowd.

Laza Tron,

Try Malaysia. Beautiful place and the best Chinese food in the world. The beaches north of Kuanton on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia are beautiful. When I was working temporarily there there was a three month visa given at the airport coming in.

Press the U.S. Embassy - not sure where the perpetrators are from, or from where their visas were (or are in the process) of being issued, but definitely reach out:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/mobile//contact.html

They'll be receptive if you have specific information that would make the attackers inadmissible. A conviction is not always necessary to jam them up at the visa issuing stage, either. Same to revoke an already issued visa.

The State Department issues the visa but U.S. Customs and Border Protection makes the decision at the airport whether or not to let them enter into the U.S. I suppose it couldn't hurt to give them a heads up, especially if visas have been issued and these pukes are getting ready to start university soon. The only local Thai number I can find for CBP is +662-205-5391.

Best of luck...

Mr. Wang and Mr. Chang( full names cannot be disclosed for legal reasons) planned to attend university as undergraduates at Purdue and Cornell Universities in the United States respectively.

Hope they will not be granted visas with a criminal record.