When you teach at a typical Thai school, you usually teach one grade level. Right now I teach eight M4 classes (kids aged 15-16) and three M2 classes (13-14). I teach each class twice a week for about 50 minutes each day, though the kids are always late, so there's probably only about 35-40 minutes of actual teaching.
Each class is numbered based on their ability. My 4/1 class is filled with very bright, respectful, well-behaved kids, and they are a joy to teach. My 4/13 class, on the other h
"Pay attention to your customers"
That is my definition of service.
I worked in the customer service business for over 20 years, so it's something I think I'm qualified to discuss.
Do you see that guy who just walked into your bar? That's a "customer". He wants to give you money in exchange for product and service - he wants a drink AND he wants someone to "serve" the drink to him.
That customer is the most important part of any business. Without him, your business doesn't make an
"You are robbing Thai students of an education!"
So said one key board warrior on a popular Thailand-based message board.
How was I robbing them of an education? In his opinion, I and most other Westerners teaching English at Thai schools were not real teachers because we were not qualified to teach in our home countries - at least that's how I interpreted his statement.
That's true. I could not teach English in the USA with my current credentials.
But for Thailand, I am more t
You and I plan. We wake up and say to ourselves, "Today I'm going to go the the mall. Then I'm going to eat lunch. Then I'm going to go home and take a nap." etc., etc. Thais don't do this, at least not as much. From my experience it appears Thai people wake up and say, "I'm going to go outside, and then whatever happens, happens."
This most affects me at work. Western-minded me, I am given a schedule of classes, so I follow the schedule and show up at each class on time (usually early
Thais laugh at everything. Whoever thought of the "Land of Smiles" slogan was probably referring to this trait, but they obviously didn't know Thais very well. Yeah, they're smiling and laughing, but not for the reason you think.
Part of it is the "saving face" thing. When someone gets angry, the Thais start laughing. It's their way of allowing you to get out of your embarrassing display of temper. Sort of like, "Oh, yes, you are just joking about being angry. Now let's calm down and co
Lady Drinks. Okay, here goes . . .
Guys, you don't have to pay crazy prices for drinks to get laid in Pattaya, though many bar owners would have you believe that.
First, service levels in Thailand are much lower than in most of our home countries. In Thailand, unless you're at a high-end restaurant, what you typically get is:
"Here's the menu."
"Can I take your order?"
"Here's your food."
"Tell me when you want to pay".
Thai servers seldom check on your during your meal. "Is every
As I grow older, I have developed an appreciation for the female posterior.
I used to not care about my partner's ass. I wasn't gonna be fucking it (still not into anal, though I have tried it), so I really didn't care what she looked like walking away.
That has all changed.
Now I'm just as likely to choose a girl based on her ass as her tits.
I like 'em round and firm, not flat and shapeless.
I love an ass that, when viewed in profile, curves out from the waist and then curves
Those of us who live "up-country" belong to an unofficial fraternity.
We have foresaken the falang comforts of Bangkok and Pattaya. You might be able to impress your friends back home with tales of your "exotic" life in downtown Krungthep, or paint a bohemian picture of life in your "bungalo" just off Jomtien Beach, but us "up-country" pioneers know you are living stumbling distance from a McDonalds and a Starbucks.
I give credit to any Westerner who has had the balls to venture out of th
"Have you eaten breakfast?"
That's a reasonable question, especially if the questioner has some breakfast food to offer.
"What did you eat?"
That's getting a little nosey, but okay.
"How was it?"
What is this, the breakfast inquisition?
At least 3 Thai people ask me these 3 questions everyday. Then I'm asked 3 more times about lunch. Luckily I am usually at home alone after I have my dinner or I'd be asked 3 more times.
Why are Thais so obsessed about food?
I think back
I came to Thailand for the bargirls. I stayed for the teaching.
Funny how the joys of prostitution led me to a job I enjoy. Well, most of the time.
The most difficult part of teaching in Thailand isn't the kids, or the strange local customs, or the low pay, or the language barrier, or even the heat. The most difficult part is dealing with your fellow Thai teachers.
My ex-Thai girlfriend could barely say, "Hello sexy man" when I first met her, but after spending most of two years with
Back in 2006 my then gf and I had an apartment in a big Thai city. We had A/C but soon discovered how expensive it was to run it, so we relied on our two fans: One on the wall, supplied by the owners, the other a small fan we bought.
One day the wall fan poops out. I go by the office and, with my poor Thai and a few hand gestures, explain the problem to the lady in charge. Just to be on the safe side I have my gf go by and remind her. No problem, the gf assures me, they'll take care of
And now a word about Thai men.
Obviously most of us who come to Pattaya on holiday don't deal with Thai men, at least not to any great extent. Motorbike taxi drivers, gogo and club doormen, hawkers - that's about it.
Having lived and worked here for several years now, I have delt with Thai men much more extensively. Co-workers, neighbors, business owners, students, even a couple of cops - I've gotten to know quite a few. Some are great, some are jerks, but most of them have one thing in
Do you want a "good" Thai wife or girlfriend? Start visiting schools.
Not for the students, you pervs, I'm talking about the teachers.
There are so many hot Thai teachers, many of them fresh out of university, and curious about falangs. They are the smart cousins of those Pattaya bargirls you've been spending money on. Most are a bit more reserved, though occassionally you'll find one who likes to party. Hot, 20-something, and educated to boot - great wife material.
And therein li
I arrived Sunday afternoon. I met with the principal Monday morning, showed them all pertinent documents, agreed on a salary, and was teaching that day.
It's a governmnt school with about 1500 students in a growing town, about an hours drive from two good-sized cities.
The kids are well behaved. The town is friendly. And, as with every Thai school I've worked at, they don't communicate with the falang.
7:50 AM, I'm sitting in my classroom, going over my lesson plans for the day. My
I was teaching near Pattaya, and I had to get away.
Too many lost weekends. Get off work at 4:30 on Friday, drive home, shower, pack some stuff for overnight, catch the baht bus up Sukhumvit, transfer to the Naklua baht bus, check into my fav hotel, dinner with a big Leo, then start the "serious" drinking.
I always planned to go home Saturday afternoon, but it seldom worked out that way.
I'd end up sitting at a bar Sunday afternoon, occassionally looking at the time, rationalizing th
