wapipatjohn

Of course, there are some exceptions, such as green-suited boys who never grow up............

Yes there are always exceptions but I personally would be very wary of any 55+ teachers coming to Thailand wanting to teach children when there are more suitable teaching opportunities available for them and I would also question their motivation for doing so. But hey that's just my personal opinion.

I do know a great 58 year old teacher but he has been working here for many many years and has a wife and kids. You see there are exceptions

If I were the wary type of worrier, I would be more wary of younger, unattached men, with higher libidos. Especially those who have no more suitable teaching opportunities available for them; I would question their motivation, too, if I were a doubting type.

I started instructing or teaching at age 19, again at age 24, and at age 53, and this last time at age 60. Maybe I'll do it at age 64 or 71, as well.

I agree, I have met many young unattached men teaching here in Thailand, and I would be very wary about their motives in teaching young children. Most do not plan to make a career of teaching, but just plan to travel around asia, not staying in one place long. So they are not dedicated teachers who put their students welfare first. They gain their trust then move on when it suits them to.

The older person is more stable and I feel more trustworthy, because most want to stay at one particular school for a long time and not Butterfly like the younger ones.

An older person is better at controlling the students, mainly because the Thai students show more respect the older you are. I have seen young barely out of Nappys ( diapers ) teachers completely destroyed by their rebellious class because they do not have the experience of life to handle the situation.

Also unlike some younger teachers we are not all looking for that cushy job, despite our age we are still up for that challenging job. :

So stop knocking us oldies, we have a wealth of experience of life to offer our students ! What have the younger inexperienced teachers got to offer them? It's certainly not stability.

I have already posted this as a reply to village life, but felt it had a place in the teaching forum.

I used to live in a village near Kumpawapi full time, in fact I was the only Falang to live here despite 5 other Thai Falang marriages and one gay couple. I have been told that the other Falangs all stayed in hotels because they couldn’t handle the dirt/dust, flies, no hot water etc.

I didn’t mind all that, my problem was the boredom.

I got up with the family around 6 am had a cup of coffee, then sat around for a couple of hours then had breakfast at a more civilised hour.

If my dodgy internet connection was working I would check emails and surf the net until lunchtime.

I would then have a light lunch and return to the computer with a beer, I made it a rule of mine never to drink before noon !

The highlight of my day was to go shopping with my wife in Kumpawapi or Udon Thani.

During the day my wife did all the things Thai women do, a few chores, and a lot of eating, sleeping and of course non stop gossip !

I would go to bed around 8 pm.

Next day I got up with the family around 6 am had a cup of coffee……etc, etc, etc,

.

BORED !! I was!

Because I had always led an active life, I found I was not ready to curl up and die just yet, ( Retire !! )

So last January I decided to go on a teacher training course down in Ban Phe. My wife was horrified when she found out that it cost nearly 70,000 Baht. She did everything she possibly could to try to stop me, even after I qualified she was telling me to stop being silly.

But I am now an English teacher in a fairly large school 3 hours south of my wife’s village.

A house is supplied with the job, and my wife and our 2 year old daughter live with me most of the time.

I teach 1,200 students a week from the age of 13 to 18, and now there are not enough hours in the day for me. My wife gives me very little support despite being told that I am a good teacher ( something she doesn’t want to hear as she was sure I would

“ Crash and Burn” when I started teaching ). I know I am not a good teacher yet, but one day I will be, as I get on well with the kids and my fellow teachers ( they think I am a crazy Falang teacher ).

I only drink at weekends now ( and then not to excess ) and I now live in a small town population approximately 12,000. I am the only Falang living here, and there are no western amenities, just a couple of Thai Karaoke bars just outside of town. We haven’t even got a 7/11 here, so I now have to go shopping at Tesco’s in a nearby large town 30 kilometres away.

I decided on Teaching after I visited some friends in Pattaya . where I felt embarrassed to be a westerner. I looked at all the brain dead, western morons there, most of whom have never seen Thailand,

( Pattaya is Pattaya and is not representative of Thailand !!) and felt that there was more to life than Sun, Sex and Beer,

I didn’t like the way the western males treated Thai people especially the women there.

Most of us who live here know that Thai women do not work bar because they like it, (one once told me that,”it was a dirty job but the money was good”) most have young children they have to support, and nearly all their money is sent home to their families. Most of the Pattaya type males show no respect or understanding for these Ladies. Of course there are some Thai women who enjoy the lifestyle, but I am sure not many.

So if like me any of you are not ready for the scrap heap just yet, and can’t face endless days of dull boring routine inactivity, try going on a teacher training course, age is not a problem. Once qualified you could even teach privately in your own village, it doesn’t have to be a full time job and it will give you the chance to have something to aim for in life, instead of just filling the days until you eventually die.

My only regret is that I didn’t find out about teaching years ago. I really enjoy the work, and the Thai kids are great, they are very respectful to everyone, unlike Western Kids !!

When I lived in a village I was 58 going on 70. Now I am teaching I am 58 going on 30 !!

I used to live in a village near Kumpawapi full time, in fact I was the only Falang to live here despite 5 other Thai Falang marriages and one gay couple. I have been told that the other Falangs all stayed in hotels because they couldn’t handle the dirt/dust, flies, no hot water etc.

I didn’t mind all that, my problem was the boredom.

I got up with the family around 6 am had a cup of coffee, then sat around for a couple of hours then had breakfast at a more civilised hour.

If my dodgy internet connection was working I would check emails and surf the net until lunchtime.

I would then have a light lunch and return to the computer with a beer, I made it a rule of mine never to drink before noon !

The highlight of my day was to go shopping with my wife in Kumpawapi or Udon Thani.

During the day my wife did all the things Thai women do, a few chores, and a lot of eating, sleeping and of course non stop gossip !

I would go to bed around 8 pm.

Next day I got up with the family around 6 am had a cup of coffee……etc, etc, etc,

.

BORED !! I was!

Because I had always led an active life, I found I was not ready to curl up and die just yet, ( Retire !! )

So last January I decided to go on a teacher training course down in Ban Phe. My wife was horrified when she found out that it cost nearly 70,000 Baht. She did everything she possibly could to try to stop me, even after I qualified she was telling me to stop being silly.

But I am now an English teacher in a fairly large school 3 hours south of my wife’s village.

A house is supplied with the job, and my wife and our 2 year old daughter live with me most of the time.

I teach 1,200 students a week from the age of 13 to 18, and now there are not enough hours in the day for me. My wife gives me very little support despite being told that I am a good teacher ( something she doesn’t want to hear as she was sure I would

“ Crash and Burn” when I started teaching ). I know I am not a good teacher yet, but one day I will be, as I get on well with the kids and my fellow teachers ( they think I am a crazy Falang teacher ).

I only drink at weekends now ( and then not to excess ) and I now live in a small town population approximately 12,000. I am the only Falang living here, and there are no western amenities, just a couple of Thai Karaoke bars just outside of town. We haven’t even got a 7/11 here, so I now have to go shopping at Tesco’s in a nearby large town 30 kilometres away.

I decided on Teaching after I visited some friends in Pattaya . where I felt embarrassed to be a westerner. I looked at all the brain dead, western morons there, most of whom have never seen Thailand,

( Pattaya is Pattaya and is not representative of Thailand !!) and felt that there was more to life than Sun, Sex and Beer,

I didn’t like the way the western males treated Thai people especially the women there.

Most of us who live here know that Thai women do not work bar because they like it, (one once told me that,”it was a dirty job but the money was good”) most have young children they have to support, and nearly all their money is sent home to their families. Most of the Pattaya type males show no respect or understanding for these Ladies. Of course there are some Thai women who enjoy the lifestyle, but I am sure not many.

So if like me any of you are not ready for the scrap heap just yet, and can’t face endless days of dull boring routine inactivity, try going on a teacher training course, age is not a problem. Once qualified you could even teach privately in your own village, it doesn’t have to be a full time job and it will give you the chance to have something to aim for in life, instead of just filling the days until you eventually die.

My only regret is that I didn’t find out about teaching years ago. I really enjoy the work, and the Thai kids are great, they are very respectful to everyone, unlike Western Kids !!

When I lived in a village I was 58 going on 70. Now I am teaching I am 58 going on 30 !!

Hello,

I am new to this forum ( or any forum ) and I have a Thai wife from the Isaan. Next year I will be going to upcountry to visit her nine brothers and sisters and ageing parents. My wife comes from the Khaen sub-district of Wapeepathum.

The reason that I have joined this forum is to ask those of you that live there or have visited the area for some or any information on what I can expect.

For me, the thing that worries me the most is the food as I can not eat isaan food for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and the insects don`t turn me on at all. Is it possible to get farang food. As far as accommodation goes what is the best and the worst place to stay. Can I get a taxi or another form of transport to her village and back without relying on her family. In fact any information would be greatly appreciated.

In reality, my wife will probably organize many things for me but better to be prepared.

Thanks for any input.

Hi my name is John,

I have only just come across your post, regarding Wapipathum.

I am English and I live in Wapipathum, I have been told that I am the only Falang living here, so if you still need any help let me know. As for Falang food Tesco Lotus in Roi-Et in the easiest and best to get to. Roi-Et also has a great park to relax in.

When I go back to the UK I usually bring back food items I cannot find here, like good tea, Oxo cubes etc. It's also difficult to get good cheese here unless you go to the major citys like Bangkok or Pattaya.

Don't try to organise local travel yourself, the family like to take care of the Falang and you may upset them if you try to be to too independant.

As for Wapipathum, according to internet information, the population in the town is around 12,000, but if you include all the nearby villages the population is nearer 25,000.

You cannot buy Falang food here, you have to go to Roi-Et or Maha Sarakham. In fact there are no facilities for Westerners here, only a few Thai Karaoke bars just outside of town. But the people here are really nice and we also have a small market here on Monday and Thursday.