This was a thread in the Samui forum that I thought was quite interesting and I thought I would put it in the ladies forum.

I worked in TV for 5 years as a post production bookings manager. Essentially I bossed boys around, which I am great at. I fell into it straight out of uni and had a fab few years. Media in London is full on - work hard, play hard. And there is never a momentto get bored. It also enabled me to buy my flat which in turn gave me the stability I needed to make the move out here. But after I while I found the pace of the indutry was wearing me down. Getting shouted at at 9am because someone's coffee was luke warm was not my idea of fun. So I bailed out, did a TEFL and now I teach. I do enjoy my job (bossing people around again...) but do sometimes feel myself missing the energy and focus of my last job. Often work feels a little toooo easy here. But I am not complaining!!

I think if I was to go back, I would probably fall back into it. The money is great and once you are in the industry jobs are pretty easy to come by, the biggest down side though is that industry is not one geared towards working parents. Not that I am yet, but it is definitely something that goes against it as a career choice. When a show is being aired that evening, no one is particularly sympathetic of you being late due to little Timmys sore throat. Discrimination is alive and well in media...horrah!

So over to you ladies...what do you do, what did you do. Do you feel like you miss the career opportunities your home country gave you? Or is that the reason you left?

So over to you ladies...what do you do, what did you do. Do you feel like you miss the career opportunities your home country gave you? Or is that the reason you left?

In the US:

Software quality assurance, and on-site coordinator for our company's two offices - one in NY the other in Beijing. This pays the bills but required working a split shift to be available to both teams in exactly the opposite time zones.

I also started and ran a pet sitting company for six years. Not the best money, rough on my car, but gets me away from my desk, and I love taking care of animals! Somehow, these two opposite types of work strike a nice balance for me.

In Thailand:

Still doing software quality assurance, and now I can work a normal 8 hr work day. Took a pay cut, but cost of living is certainly different, so that's no problem. AND I don't need to buy heating oil!! Oh how I love saying that to anyone that will listen.

I am looking into starting a pet sitting company here as well. Seems like there is a market for it as the vets don't cater to the animals' quality of life while their families are away. Once I get settled I will look into that more seriously. Right now I'm just enjoying all my free time! In the last six years I didn't have much of that. Even on holidays the dogs must be walked...

I'm no good for this one mssabai. I left the country 2 weeks after graduation from uni and never really lived there permanently after that. No career at all

Worked in hospitality industy - from bar attendant to manager.

I then moved on to working for the government and worked for the Local Member of Parliament in a small town. Took a years leave without pay 16 years ago!!

Here: tourist trade - overseas rep. Bar Manager. Public Relations.

Less money but much more fun!!!

military, then finance

Before Thailand: catering - family business, unpaid musician, eternal student (lots of local council courses including pottery..), travel agent, junior secretary in phesbians' recruitement agy, passenger service agent, receptionist, cleaner for refugees and asylum seekers, course administrator, bar tender, chef in a nursery and in an old people's home, bilingual secretary, PA to the Directors of a multinational.

In Thailand: volunteer, volunteer coordinator, radio broadcaster, bar tender, waitress in a resort, ESL teacher and online student hopefully moving on to counselling and learning support area of education. Still doing a bit here and there in volunteering, love it.

Wow Ave - I thought I liked to keep busy! That is a very diverse resume you have.

Wow Ave - I thought I liked to keep busy! That is a very diverse resume you have.

I'm a jack of all trades ...master of none.......yet!