tonititan

appears she has been found

The girl was found safe and well on a back road by police this afternoon.

http://www.optuszoo....rom=mostpopular

Um, no, not if you read the article. That last sentence referred to a different girl.

I'm not trying to rip anyone off and have not expressed any intention of "recouping most of the cost".

I wasn't talking about you, especially since you didn't even give any specific numbers. I was just pointing out that lots of people overprice their used goods around here, and that I personally (and I think a lot of other people) wouldn't pay a high percentage of the original cost. I was trying to be honest and help answer your question.....sorry if you saw it as getting upset or targeting you. I won't try to help again.

I agree. I've bought and sold several items since living in BKK, and I'm always amazed and how many people expect to recoup most of their costs when selling furniture or electronics. No way would I consider paying even 70% of the original cost on an electronic device that is nearly a year old.

My question is, if the costs were the same, would you prefer living in Thailand or your home country, strictly from a quality of life standpoint?

Home country, for sure. I do like Thailand, and I've loved the adventure. I'm still here because of the money. If I could afford the same lifestyle back at home, I would leave tomorrow. That's not possible, though, so I'll probably stay a few more years.

Did you reserve the veggie fried rice meal on an upcoming flight? If so, then I think they are just informing you that the dish has slightly changed (it now has "mocksticks"). If they don't inform people, then there's always going to be the nasty ones who get upset that they are served exactly what they ordered. They are giving you the chance to change your meal, which is a nice gesture.

If you didn't pre-order this meal, then yes, it was a random & bizarre email!

I wonder how he feels about the fact that his picture, personal information (DOB, etc.), & the fact that he brought home a prostitute have now been all over the news.....

Absolutely, I have nothing to be defensive about and haven't defended myself once in this thread but you and others have been quite the opposite.. And again I reiterate this is not the topic, nor am I.. To refresh, the topic is about how much the OP realistically needs to live on and not who's being defensive or living above their means..

You are clearly the type of person who can dish it but not take it. You have no problem spouting off about how wonderful your lifestyle and financial choices are, and how people are "snobs" if they make more money and choose to spend it. Yet when people have views other than your own, suddenly you pull the "it's off-topic" card. My first comment about how people live within their means because they have to was certainly related to the original question, because it directly related to the OP's upcoming decision. Discussing the price of the QSI school in Phuket, simply to object with a poster who stated the facts about how much money he spends on education each month - is that any more on-topic than my comments??

But if you insist on sticking to the OP and not allowing anyone to go off on tangents like you have, then fine. To the OP I would say that yes, you can live off of that salary, but think long and hard about if you would really want to. It would be a shame to see you turn into one of those bitter, angry expats who can't stand the thought of other people being more well-off then they are.

It makes me chuckle too but since that's NOT what's happening and NOT related to the OP it won't be discussed further so you can shut off your defensive whoa's me approach..

YOU are calling ME defensive? Hilarious.

And actually it IS related to the OP (as much as your rants about people who are egotistical, frivolous, materialistic, & ostentatious just because they happen to make more money than you). I didn't know I would need to spell it out for you, but I can.....

Since people with a wide range of salaries do manage to live comfortably, the OP probably can too. Because he will have to, if he chooses to accept the job. Would it be his ideal lifestyle, if he were truly being honest with himself? Probably not. Would life be easier for him if he made more money? Yes, probably.

Maybe not for me to decide what they do with their money but I am certainly entitled to let them know my impressions. Cheap Charlie is no problem for me in fact makes me proud to SAVE money and pay less then you and others did for the same item just because I was thorough about shopping it and not buying the first one off the shelf just to show I can, don't have an ego that big in spite of those who don't know me thinking I do.. It's a lot more to be proud of then pretentiously flaunting my income like a peacock in heat..

JFYI I'm no cheap Charlie I just don't waste money on frivolous, materialistic items that serve no other purpose except to make me look ostentatiousness, I tip generously for services most probably don't tip for at all (especially those with money who I've known over my life to be the cheapest Charlie's of all) and anytime I get more service then was expected it is also monetarily and verbally acknowledged as are all other things that REALLY matter..

My impression stands and it's <deleted> to say 150 to 200k per month is required to live comfortably especially with children the age of his as I live comfortably with 2 children of similar age for a third of that per month and that was the OP's question, not what it takes for you or others to live comfortably high up on your pedestal...

It always makes me chuckle when someone tries to turn having a great job, making a good income, & living a very nice lifestyle a nasty thing. Jealousy rearing its ugly head?

In general, most people seem to live a certain lifestyle because they have to. If you make one third of the 150-200k/month being discussed, you live comfortably off of that.....because you have to. The people who say they live well off of 30k/month probably do just that....because they have to. And a person making 200k/month lives within their means.....because they have to. It's all about perspective. I bet a person making 200k/month would love to make 300k/month, and a person making 300k/month would love to make 400k. Anyone who says they wouldn't gladly accept a higher income is most likely lying to himself/herself, or to others.

Warning: For those of you who are scared of a little boobie, or who are disgusted by the act of breastfeeding, don't read the Life section of today's Bangkok Post.

To those of you who think it's a natural, and possibly beautiful thing, check out the paper. There's a gorgeous shot of a woman (in southern Thailand, if I remember correctly) feeding her baby.

Are they on these ladies' lower backs, by any chance? Then it's probably not a gang thing..... just the classic "tramp stamp."

The cost of a decent international school in BKK seems outrageous, costs more than USA and international teaching staff earn between 30-50,000 baht /month 1-2 thousand dollars.

Not sure where you're getting these numbers. I work at one of the "real" international schools, and I make over 100,000 baht/month, plus benefits like housing, plane tickets, insurance, bonuses, etc. I know of other schools who pay significantly more, and of course the more experienced teachers make higher salaries. I would put the salary range for international teaching staff more like 90k-160k/month. (And I'm not talking about English teachers - I'm talking about teachers certified in their home countries.)

As for Yingluck, Raewadee said women should not be elated simply because Yingluck is a woman, but they should look at all her policies, not just those promoting general equality. They should also see where she stands on justice, social and economic disparity.

I agree with this advice, and I think it's an important message for all Thai women, not just "feminists" (whatever that means these days - it no longer means the angry, bra-burning, butch women that people tend to associate with that word) . I'm an American, and a woman, and of course I would love to see a woman as the President of the US someday. Did I vote for McCain/Palin just to get a woman in the White House? No. Would I vote for her in the 2012 elections? HELL no! She may be a woman, but she stands for almost everything I am against.

thanks, I can use all the info I can get. I already dismissed that agency that I orignally posted.

Sure, no problem, I just sent you a very long PM.

I'm going to send you a PM later today - I may want to include some details that I don't want to post publicly.

Hey Everyone,

I just came across this forum today and has some questions. I see that the minimum people should be getting for teaching in Thailand is well over 30, 000 Baht. I have a B.Ed from Ontario, Canada and found this program that hires teachers for teaching abroad: http://www.cci-exchange.com/travelabroad/program.aspx?id=3462 It's the professional program that requires a teaching degree. Are there any other suggestions as to how to go about securing a teaching position in Thailand? Here's some highlights from the link:

• Bachelors or Masters Degree in Education, Science or Math is required
• Minimum contract length: One academic year (two consecutive semesters)
• Very generous salary: 33,000 Baht per month (~1,070 USD/month)
• 20,000 Baht (~650 USD) upon successful completion of contract
• Professional participants have higher expectations placed on them in terms of their teaching ability and performance

You also have to pay almost $2400 in program costs + your flight. I've heard of other people getting paid a lot more with everything included. Thanks for any input.

Wow. 33,000 baht/month is NOT a "very generous salary," especially for a position that requires those degrees and is aimed at someone with teacher qualifications. And you have to pay $2400 (2 months salary!) in "program costs?" What are those?!?! I think if you're desperate to move out of Canada, it could be an option, but it's definitely not your best option.

I did notice that the TEFL program offers free accommodation, a plane ticket home, travel insurance, and a few other perks. It's not completely clear whether those are also offered for the professional program - it would be crazy if they weren't, but who knows. If they were included, it would help sweeten the deal a tad. Although, the $2400 in program costs is probably paying your plane ticket home, insurance, work permit, etc!

You said you have an education degree. Do you have teacher certification in Canada? Do you have any teaching experience? You may be eligible to apply for jobs at the schools that pay more like 100,000 baht per month ($3000) and include flights, visa costs, insurance, housing, etc. To get those, you usually have to apply through one of the recruitment organizations like CIS, ISS, Search, etc. It's past recruiting season for the upcoming school year, so it will probably be difficult to find a position for the 2011-2012 school year. Recruiting is usually done between December-March. You could start preparing to apply for next year, though.

I guess it depends on whether your priority is salary/benefits, or getting to Thailand as quickly as possible. That's a personal decision.

My wife is far more judgmental than I

:lol::lol::lol:

That's funny.

Or alternatively she could try her luck at breastfeeding in public in a country under Sharia law.

See how she likes getting whipped or stoned in public.

It really is wrong to act against local 'morality' and law no matter how 'empowered' you are feeling at the time.

Your wife is knocked up, right? I'm curious to see if you change your tune at all once you have to deal with a screaming crying baby and a wife who doesn't have a blanket to cover herself with. Are you going to tell her not to feed the baby because she's being immoral? Or, as you suggested to another poster, are you going to say "Nice tits...my turn!" Although, this may not even be an issue, because based on some of your other comments in the past, I wouldn't be surprised if you even "let" your wife leave the house after she has the baby.

I don't know the official purpose of the Tourist Police, but I know that I have called their hotline on more than one occasion, and they were very helpful when I had conflicts with Thais (and they sided with me, and made sure that I didn't lose any money).

I don't have kids and my view is that if the child is hungry and the mother is being discreet enough then whatever the problem is is your own, and just because you have a sexualized view of a woman's breast does not mean 1. that the child should go hungry because you do, or 2. that its a sexual act. Its not. Its a mother feeding her baby.

If it disturbs you, don't look.

You beat me to it! That's exactly what I was trying to get at.

Oh, and for the record, I'm not a mother either.

It is a bit of strange situation for us guys though, not breastfeeding, but having a stranger pull out a teat in your view. You don't want to make her feel uncomfortable, but it is hard to know how much effort should be put into averting your gaze too.

On one hand you don't want to look like your staring, but you also want to act like nothing is going on. Looking away might also make her feel like she is making you uncomfortable.

The funny thing is that if the woman didn't have a baby with her, pulling out the goods would be a pretty big deal for the folks in the restaurant. But if there is a baby, somehow everything is different. It is a paradoxical world we have created.

Ok, but in all honesty, would you be uncomfortable if you were sitting somewhere and a woman exposed her breasts to you just to flash for fun or to try to be seductive (with no baby in sight)? I'm guessing for most guys, it wouldn't bother them. They'd probably enjoy it. Men see plenty of "teats" around Thailand, and we don't usually hear complaints. But when the the breast is exposed for a baby and NOT for a man, then all of a sudden it's weird and dirty. Hmmm. I wonder if that's the real issue that some (maybe not you, but some) guys have.....seeing breasts used as something other than a sexual toy.

If possible, I'd try go fly into one airport (Siem Reap & Phnom Penh), and out of the other. I flew in and out of PP, and it made for a long ride driving to and from SR in a minivan. I'd prefer to use that time sightseeing instead, but flights to SR can sometimes be pricey, which is why I used only PP.

I got my visa on arrival in the Phnom Penh airport. It wasn't bad - maybe took 15 minutes.

It wouldn't bother me.....certainly wouldn't make me queasy. It's a natural thing that women all over the world need to do. Personally, I don't think that nursing mothers should have to go in the other room to breastfeed. However, they probably shouldn't limit the amount in which they expose themselves during feedings. It would have been better if she used a small blanket to cover herself up while nursing- that's what I would do.

I always wonder, if people are so bothered by it, why do they watch? You said you saw her take her breast out to feed, then put it back in her bra/shirt afterwards, so obviously you were staring. Next time you see something that bothers you, I'd suggest looking the other way for awhile.

Thanks again and wish me luck, Phuket is as good a place as any to propose right?

Awww! Do you have a plan yet?

Yeah, I doubt that there's many fully qualified teachers making 30 or 40k, but the OP asked for the minimum......not the mean or the median.