way2muchcoffee

Almost unanimously, the advice was to go to Labour Court. Let that be a lesson to....advisors and advisees, I guess.

Actually, withholding test results would do no harm to the students. Even a more or less noncorrupt Thai school, like my third employer, can get along fine without your version of test results. They alter and forge academic marks at will. I did not withhold my grades with malice, but the third school never even bothered to call me and ask about the marks. I let them keep about 6K of earned wages, too.

I've worked at 2 EP's who do not change grades. Withholding exam remarks would indeed harm students as they would not get the grade they deserve. Parents wouldn't have a reliable indication of the strengths and weaknesses of their children. They would not have the information to determine whether tutoring was necessary. This could in turn effect university admissions as students aren't getting the assistance they really need. Strong students could get a lower grade than deserved, which could harm their academic future. Weak students getting high grades could lead to university admissions staff concluding that grades from a particular school are meaningless, hence applicants from that school could have lower chances at admission. There are numerous ways students can be harmed by this action. Active participation by a teacher in this kind of thing is highly unethical. That's just my opinion.

I started at 35k about six years ago in BKK. I've changed schools since then. Now I am making more than double that amount. My teaching load is lighter, I teach only the subjects I'm competent to teach (mathematics and physics) at the level I enjoy (M4 to M6). My present school is well-funded, well-supplied, and has forward thinking management. I am satisfied with the changes that have taken place in my career here over the last 6 years.

...hold on to the exam results untill they pay up.

Excellent tactic. In Thailand when it comes to money, it's all about leverage, not ethics or contracts.

Wrong. The worst tactic imaginable. You threaten to harm a student in order to leverage the admin? Teachers are not in the business of harming students. In my opinion, any teacher who would knowingly or intentionally harm a student lacks the requisite ethics for the profession.

The bottom line is, having a work permit, contract and doing everything by the book means jack s%$! in this country.

Had you bothered to go to the Ministry of Labor as people suggested you almost certainly would have received the full amount owed, and it wouldn't have taken 7 years. You are mistaken in your analysis of contracts meaning nothing. You simply failed to follow the advice given to you.

How could any maid legitimately think you would loan her 6,000 bt? This just doesn't make sense. She gets a salary already. If there was any kind of loan one would think that would be and extraordinary circumstance and would have been discussed explicitly. Whereas a maid given money to make household purchases in conjunction with her duties would be the completely expected.

I completely disagree with longball. The maid is simply trying to get over on her new employer. There was no loan. There was no implied loan. She stole the money - pure and simple. She may intend to pay it back, but that in no way excuses the theft. I would have her work until the debt is repaid, then terminate the employment and find a new maid from a different company.

I charge between 700 and 1200 bt/hr. The only people still at 700 bt/hr are ones who I have been working with for a couple of years.

My typical starting rate is 800 bt/hr if it is very close to a BTS station.

1000 bt/hr if it involves significant travel.

1200 bt/hr if there are more than one student.

I tutor physics and mathematics (through calculus).

I worked in 2 (top tier) international schools in Pattaya. I was quite disturbed to learn that they categorically dismiss any western males who are living in Thailand already whether they are sinle or married with kids to a Thai lady. They hired local western females even if they were married to a Thai man, but not vice versa. When I brought this up with the head and the owners or board the answer was "its not worth the risk as to why they might already be here".

Shocking and discriminatory yes, but what to do eh? TIT

I suppose someone could be a little hesitant in the case of the single guy, but married with kids? That seems totally ridiculous. It doesn't seem fair for the single guy either.

To be fair, it would take a good, solid teacher between 6 and 10 years continuous service at the school in order to reach that level in the pay scale.

My son is in K2, so also have concerns about his education, but would a lower tier school really be that much better than the best EP's in the country? I'm not convinced of that, as yet. The main difference would be in the curriculum (Thai-translated vs. foreign). Wish I could teach the latter, as the former doesn't cater the the needs of many students.

I strongly believe that a really good EP is much better than a bad international school. The EP I work for sent teams to two academic competitions last year. Here were the results:

1) English, Math, Science, Social Studies Competition. 18 EP's participated. Our team took first place.

2) Mathematics Competition. 8 International Schools and 1 EP in the competition. Our grade 7-8 team took first place, and our grade 9-10 team tied for first place in their age group. We didn't field a grade 11-12 team. The competitors were all international schools including ISB, Harrow, two teams from Ruamrudee, and a few other less reputable schools.

Regarding the curricula, the better EP's use only western textbooks and have curricula nearly identical to what would be taught back home. For the teachers and administrators here is a logistical problem of identifying how the MoE Thailand curricula are being met, but that is just the paperwork. What is taught in the classroom mirrors international western curricula.

Salaries at some EP's can also be competitive. The highest paid teachers at my school earn over 85,000 per month, teaching no more than 20 periods per week. Add a contract completion bonus, health care, 12 month contract, and opportunities for extra classes and the package is much better than what many international schools offer.

Stickers on appliances, stickers on furniture, stickers on computers, stickers on other electronics goods, stickers, stickers, stickers stickers, stickers!!

And let's not forget the ridiculous plastic wrap stapled to furniture. I recently purchased a nice dining room table and chair set. It was delivered put together - with the screws drilled right through the plastic protective wrap. Had to take the whole table apart just to get the plastic off. Let's not even talk about sofas. Stupid.

My thoughts were that when a Thai does a favour for a Thai, and you're included, then it's not for your benefit. Also, the way that Thais do business with each other is an area that we will never be allowed into.

Ok then. We agree and can chalk it up to an internet misunderstanding.

Briggsy & PhilHarries both make good points, and are good experienced posters. The few that suggest it's the Thai way to get ahead are misleading you. It's the Thai way for Thais to get ahead - your not Thai.

I respectfully disagree. In the six years I've been teaching in Thailand I've made numerous Thai contacts through private tutoring. These contacts have led to more and more work with increasingly higher prestige and pay. Occasionally I'll be asked to do an all expenses paid weekend seminar, which affords the opportunity for even further contact development. One or two of these contacts have even crossed over into becoming friends, and these people have been especially helpful in numerous ways. The private tutoring circuit is all about reputation and word of mouth. Any contacts you can make are useful.

When I started private tutoring 6 years ago I was earning only 400 bt/hr on average. Now I am able to charge a minimum of 1000/hr. This is largely due to word of mouth referrals. These referrals, of course, came from contacts I made earlier. As another example, a friend of mine has niched himself as an IGCSE/IB Chemistry tutor and is affiliated with one of the better British Curriculum schools in BKK. He now has an office at the school, is given a room to teach students in after regular class hours, and commands 1500 bt/hr. He collects no money from the school itself as it all comes from the parents. In fact, it was the parents who convinced the headmaster to provide the room and office to make the tutoring more convenient.

I say go for it. To echo others here, these are my reasons why:

1) The rate isn't so bad for tutoring upcountry. It'll bring in a little extra cash.

2) You have the opportunity to make a very useful contact. You never know when a highly placed Thai friend or acquaintance will be helpful.

3) This could lead to other private tutoring work if you are interested in securing more hours.

4) You will be doing your boss a favor. This is a very good thing to do in a society that operates primarily under a patronage system.

5) If you can work it out so that the lessons occur during your regular hours then it is a win-win situation for the extra cash.

I wouldn't worry about making an enemy. If you do a good job and show up on time there is nothing to worry about.

their bad reputation is caused somewhat by them being cheap. for instance, when i was a thailand novice i remember traveling through Thailand and having those experiences where i find out a guy has been sitting at a bus station waiting for 5 hours so he can save 99 baht on a cheaper ticket, or the time my girl friend and i shared a taxi and he insisted the bill be split 3 ways and not half - i just paid the entire 60 baht and he had this look of great appreciation on his face like he won the lottery.

many of them have a very weird aura and the Thai people are very paranoid of them.

Perhaps he was earning only 30,000 bt/month, trying to save a bit for a trip home to see the family, and just getting by on the fumes from his meager paycheck.

I don't know what you're on about with the 'aura' comment though.

Many times "UP TO YOU" is followed by the unspoken "AT YOUR PERIL"

lol - especially when coming from the lips of the wife or gf.

You should have pulled over & let him by, if you could. Of course they were in the wrong, but try to do something about it - 3 to 1. I will have to say where I live in LOS, the drivers are the picture of politeness, compared to what I was used to in USA. I would not dare to ride a motobike there. You would be "dead meat" sooner or later.

You must be kidding. Motorcycles anywhere in the USA (except perhaps California) have a full lane to themselves. Safe as can be really. None of this trying to squeeze between cars nonsense.

Safe as can be???? When was the last time you drove in Phoenix or urban Florida, to name a few? If you think the full lane rule is going to protect you or that drivers will necessarily abide by this, you are in for some surprises. Hit & run is also fair game & common with bicycles & pedestrians. The last six years I lived in USA I would usually see at least one accident per day in condidtions not as congested as you find in Thailand. Drivers "flipping off" each other also common. I have never seen this in Thailand.

My motorcycle riding was limited to Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. Mostly northern/western states with a lot of open territory and mostly friendly drivers.

You flipped some guy the finger and got beaten up for it. It took you how many years before you learned that lesson?

The guy deserved the finger, he was driving negligently and rudely. For the driver and his friends to have responded with violence is a criminal action that cannot be condoned. The OP should have taken a license number down. reported the assault and battery to the police, and paid the 'police fee' to ensure prosecution.

ur living up in clouds

Have you ever tried reporting to the police? I have and I guarantee there is nothing 'up in the clouds' here at all. Tourist police will usually do the right thing without any monetary consideration. Regular police just need a little monetary motivator and they'll do their job as well, unless they get a better offer from the guilty party.

You should have pulled over & let him by, if you could. Of course they were in the wrong, but try to do something about it - 3 to 1. I will have to say where I live in LOS, the drivers are the picture of politeness, compared to what I was used to in USA. I would not dare to ride a motobike there. You would be "dead meat" sooner or later.

You must be kidding. Motorcycles anywhere in the USA (except perhaps California) have a full lane to themselves. Safe as can be really. None of this trying to squeeze between cars nonsense.

You flipped some guy the finger and got beaten up for it. It took you how many years before you learned that lesson?

The guy deserved the finger, he was driving negligently and rudely. For the driver and his friends to have responded with violence is a criminal action that cannot be condoned. The OP should have taken a license number down. reported the assault and battery to the police, and paid the 'police fee' to ensure prosecution.

Spring for the shaving cream next time.

Hold on,

your wedding was about 120K and then it included hotel for the guests? Don´t get me wrong but I don´t want to get overcharged. The wedding is to be in a air force base, so no fancy stuff at all.

And to the rest of you all: yes, another "sin sod thread". Before I was laughing at them to but it now I am at the wrong side of the stick:(. Help, please.

Who made your wedding arrangements?

Hotel for 3 guests (my brother and 2 friends). My wife's grandmother assisted a bit, but mostly my wife and I made all the wedding arrangements. I have a truck so we arrived a few days before the wedding. Picked up tent/tables/dishes from the village head. Ice from a local vendor. Pigs from the pig farm. Vegies, fruit and flowers from the local market. Sauces, Beer, Whiskey and other sundries from the Makro. We had a DJ for 2 days. Hired some dancers and musicians for the wedding procession. We had all the clothing made in BKK before going up for the wedding. It was really a lot of work, but in the end was completely worth it.

Deleted.

1. 300.000 baht is more than +2000 baht/person after other expenses have been paid. You wouldn´t even have to have this amount in dear old Europe for a homemade garden wedding.

2. 100 guests! This seems to be a big show of mainly for her mom. Is a thai wedding just a show off for the parent to gain respect or is it a ceremony for me and my bride to be?

3. I only know a few people in Thailand, but why should the mom do all the invitations? There will mainly be guests that I (and my girlfriend) don´t know and not care about, and they certainly don´t care about me . It even would be more familiar if I would post a big sticky on thaivisa " everyone invited".

Any comment on my post will be most welcome since I need to know if my points are correct or not.

1) Are you sure you have your numbers correct? My wedding cost around 120k for around 50 people, set in a village. I imagine it could easily be much more in BKK. Additional expenses could include hotel rooms for guests, gifts for certain guests and family members, a band or dj, lighting equipment, delivery drivers, ice, etc etc. etc. Catering could be 800-1000 per person. What about alcohol expenses? Decent alcohol can be expensive.

2) Thai weddings tend to be big affairs (as are many back home). You are celebrating your entry into her family and vice versa. It isn't just about you and your bride. You would do well to remember this because it is likely to effect your lives together in countless ways in the future.

3) Mom can feel free to invite whoever she wants.

I try for 8 hours, I have always been told that your body needs 8 hours to repair itself properly and if you get less than that on a regular basis it is cutting your life short, also the good news is sleep is cummlative so if you are short during the week but sleep in on the weekends it offsets it.

You could be right,but something to maybe consider is 8 of 24 hours is 1/3 of your life asleep.

Interesting notion. If a person sleeps 8 hours per day and lives for 72 years they will have been awake for 48 years.

The person sleeping only 6 hours per day can die at 64 years of age and will still have the same 48 years of waking life.

Then if you only sleep 4 hours per day you can pass from this Earth after only 57.6 years, content that you got your full 48 years.

Cool - I think I'll have me anotha' cuppa....

I had told her today, you are no virgin, have had kids but refuse to let me have full sex, so, no sex, no relationship, no marriage.

That about sums it up!