TallTravel

If you want to use the next few weeks to get a TEFL certificate online, my recruiter suggested [please PM this user for more details - no commercial promotions on the forum, please]

Don't even consider it! Unless you want heartache and ulcers!

If that is such an effort and expense, why not simply ship it into a nearby port and drive the car in?

Thanks for the answers! It seems a clear choice. However, with the 30-40% increase in value, it seems I might gain by bringing a new set into the country each time I go back to the states, eh?

TallTravel

I am currently in the states, but I don't really want to bring them over with me. The entire set I want I can purchase for $1400 in the states, direct from the TaylorMade factory through GolfSmith. Would it be stupid to wait until arrive in Thailand, get settled, and have them shipped in to me?

I need to have the lie adjusted, jumbo grips, and shaft extensions. I am assuming it would be crazy to try to order these from any place but the states.

Any opinions? Golf shop links?

A month ago I had precisely the same thing happen on my HP laptop. The only difference between my symptoms and yours seem to be that mine showed a cursor (movable) on the black screen. Safe mode did precisely the same thing as yours.

I am still fighting with mine. Luckily for me I have a Dell desktop as well, so I can work on the HP Laptop. I decided very early that the only solution is to re install Windows XP. Then, during the re install, the system keeps shutting down in the middle of the reinstall.

I will watch this thread to see if anything might work for me....good luck with yours.

Does anyone have the names or web sites for known, reputable importers of autos from the USA to Thailand?

Also, any links to import tax estimates would be appreciated as well.

How much do you expect in salary and benefits? Give a realistic figure and the posters here have lots of experience and will be able to tell you what is possible.

I am comparing the Thailand numbers I can get in Korea's public school system right now. For obvious reasons, Thailand is preferable to me over Korea, but the numbers I am getting for the basics in both places are:

Korea public school system: $2,000 per month, plus " accomodations ".

Thai schools (as near as I can tell): $1,000 per month, but I don't know if this includes accomodations or not.

That being said, this is a short term solution to me. I plan on using the first teaching contract to establish contacts, then move into something which allows me to leverage my business, IT, or medical sales experience into a much more profitable position.

My goal is not teaching--my goal is to see and experience as much of Asia as possible over the next 10-15 years. I have even considered eventually working as a recruiter inside some part of the myriad Asian business community.

So, as an example, the word " native English speaker " significantly increase the chances of a software search hit than not having the word " native " in the resume. I am looking for more terms like this to get my background in front of more decision makers eyes. Any keywords like " native ", TEFL, certificate, etc will be recognized by an agency/school system than not having those words for the search engine to pick out.

Once I get there I will begin making local contacts, meeting with decision makers, and getting more offers, but until then I'm simply trying to increase the number of teaching decision makers who view my background. Teach English in a Business school would likely bring a bigger paycheck than a TEFL paycheck in a school system.

Any specific keywords I will want to have in my resume?

I am considering moving to Thailand to teach. Currently in the USA, I want to " test the waters " a bit to develop some solid contacts and opportunities prior to my visit in early 2010. I am trying to decide where to teach, and want to consider other countries as well, based on the pay, accommodations, etc.

With 15 years in IT Sales, Financial Systems, and some medical sales and a Bachelor's Degree in Business from a major Univ in the USA, I want to include all the important buzzwords to help recruiters and others find the right fit for me as well.

I do not have any form of a TEFL certification at this point, but will likely get one before leaving for Thailand. I am considering posting on AJARN.com, but have not yet done so until creating as attractive a resume as possible. Having worked as a recruiter, I know many use search keywords to find resumes.

Any suggestions?

I have been reading these forums for a while, and see three groups of " imports " into Thailand more often than others. Well, at the English posts, at least! If the ex pats from Japan and China use their own forum, then my sense of the percentages is way off, eh?

Any stats about how many of the ex pats in Thailand are from each of the three countries?

Just be prepared to get the stupid question "how are these white woman in bed" got that question a couple of times and still don't know a good answer.

It seems that is one of the main concerns of thai male.

Hmm, that is probably worth a thread in itself! Side topic, though:

How about answering that question with " I don't know about white women, I know only about ONE white woman, and she and I have a great relationship. We love keeping our intimate relationship intimate and private ".

Would that work?

Does anyone know if the Red Cross in BKK does apheresis or plasma donation as well?

Or just whole blood?

I am not a dog lover but why do you want to bring in two dogs who are more suited to the temperate climes? That seems cruel to me.

This is one of those posts that proves the old adage: it is far better to remain silent and be thought a fool than speak and remove all doubt. Either s/he has never been to the SE USA, or never been to Thailand. Both are predominantly humid and hot, with the only exception being the far western region of NC, filled with mountains.

On topic: I believe the key factor will likely be the importation and quarantine issues. You'll be able to make the practical things work out. You might want to check on breed restrictions for the two breeds.

My sense is that you and your dogs are close, and I don't think you will want to part with them for as long as the pups will have to be quarantined. You know better than any of us, of course, but it seems like 30 days is a long time for someone as close as you are to your pups. That assumes, of course, that both dogs remain healthy while in quarantine. If not, all bets are off. They live to be close to you, and it will take a lot of time out of your life to visit them in quarantine throughout that 30 day period. If you can arrange to have the quarantine location close to you, or vice versa, then it ought to work ok. However, you don't know exactly what the conditions will be like, and I'll bet it won't be like their wonderful life at your side.

Once you get them there and out of quarantine I believe you will be able to smooth out any practical issues. Good luck! Maybe I'll see you on the streets somewhere, walking.

I'd get the dual core now

Quad cores will be expensive and it will take a long time for programs to be written that can take advantage of the 4 cores

I agree. I think you would be far better off getting a system now if you want it than waiting for 6,8, or 10 months.

Hi Folks,

I'm wondering if anybody has come across bread machines for sale in Bangkok. It's not something I've actively looked for before but I can't recall seeing them anywhere.

I've developed a passion for making my own bread lately in Canada and would like to continue in LOS.

Whole wheat and raisins is a fave.

Thanks!

Would the lack of pre packaged bread mixes cause a problem once you purchased the machine itself? Or did you mix your own before baking?

I appreciate this video, and having an opportunity to witness a real meeting between two people. I also appreciate finally seeing what the web site Youtube.com is all about, given the number of times I have heard it mentioned. I even found a group on the web site dedicated to one of my favorite singers, Kate Bush.

Not sure what the fuss was about earlier in the thread, but I sure enjoyed the video.

I don't know about any others who are new to the country, but to me this thread is a godsend...thanks all for your great ideas.

Is it not important enough to get accurate information from an attorney about this matter? Is that your intent, or do you really want to bind yourself to someone with such limited information about how the law works?

I think I would be at least talking to an attorney about this, if I were serious. It sounds like there is plenty of gray area in this situation, which normally means an attorney to get it taken care of properly and completely.

Just my opinion.

How long does it take to get divorced?

It depends on the money at stake, usually....I have a friend in the US with two kids and a lot of property shared between him and his ex. When they divorced, he says it took him some two years to get it done completely. I know he spent over $150,000 USD for attorney's fees, and supposedly she spent more....

I have been married and divorced once, on the other hand, with no common children, much more limited assets than my pal, and it took us only one year to get divorced.

I agree with the theme of the earlier posts, however....why not wait???? What is there to gain in doing things so rapidly? If one meets someone so special after only one day, who knows how one will feel after meeting another 5-10 potential partners?

Far more to be gained by waiting than by rushing things, but that is just my opinion. I am betting, however, that sex already happened. Take that out of the equation and I wonder if you would be as rushed?

I have used the word fetish many times, and until now thought I knew what it meant. However, I looked it up at dictionary.com, and here is what I found, much broader than only the erotic meaning I felt it had:

fet‧ish  /ˈfɛtɪʃ, ˈfitɪʃ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[fet-ish, fee-tish] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun

1. an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment or habitation of a potent spirit or as having magical potency.

2. any object, idea, etc., eliciting unquestioning reverence, respect, or devotion: to make a fetish of high grades.

3. Psychology. any object or nongenital part of the body that causes a habitual erotic response or fixation.

I learn something every day. For me, one of my habits is eating chocolate, but the use of the definitions above show it is likely not a fetish.

I dont think the average American would be able to tell you much about anything outside of there state let alone outside there country.

Hardly a truer word has ever been typed. In the US, though, "there" is spelled "their" in this context. US citizens, in my experience, depend on their media and family for most of their opinions.

I am planning my first trip to Thailand this fall, coming from the US, and when I saw the news about the coup I guessed my trip would be changed radically. However, after doing some reading, it appears things might be settled very soon, if not already.

It sure is nice to be able to rely on you people for a real sense of how things are in Thailand.

haha, i have to start getting used to all this new lingo. it took me at least a good day or two to figure out what LOS stood for, hehe.

seriously though, what does jai dee mean? sounds...scary.

OK, I'll bite. What does LOS mean?

K-Bank (Kasikornbank) is no problems, they give you both Savings account, VISA Electron, VISA Web Shopping Card and Internet banking with just a passport.

George:

I will be moving to Thailand later this year (I know, I know, any later and the year will be over!), and would like to set up some accounts as described above from the USA with a US Passport before arriving in Thailand. Any chance of that? If so, can you point me to any specifics?

Thanks.

I would like to buy a bicycle in Chiangmai. I need something with 10 speeds, good for long rides on flat roads.

Can anyone give me a name of a shop where I can also get service if something breaks and perhaps the name of a good solid bike.

I went to Lotus, nobody to help and so many models with a zillion gears I did not know where to start. It would be nice to have a basket as well.

I don't have an answer for you, but I am curious about the air quality in Changmai. Is it clean enough to make you feel comfortable being out on a bike for long periods?

I just found this site: http://www.thaivisa.com/chiangmai.0.html

Does not answer your question directly, but I am betting a bike rental shop would be a good place to start asking about purchasing a bike. Good luck.

If your Laptop has a two pronged plug you shouldnt have a problem using a Thai outlet, If your laptop plug is three pronged then you will need an adaptor, they are available just about everywhere.

Check the external power supply for you laptop. There will be a line for Voltage input .. If it reads something like INPUT 1xx-2xxV then you are fine if it only has 1xxV then you would need a step down convertor.

/SM

I will be visiting from the USA with an HP Pavilion laptop. It has the standard US 110 Volt two pronged physical connection. Are you saying here that I need not worry about the physical or the electrical issues if mine says 1xx-2xx V AND has a two pronged USA type connection?