I am on a tropical island somewhere in paradise, which in and of itself is a good thing. The bad thing is that it is not Bangkok which has subways and cheap taxis and lots of places to exchange money  and I discovered very quickly that getting around is a major hassle. 

I rented an apartment right across the road from the school, which is a good thing, but getting supplies like food is quite another thing. After walking many kilometers by the side of the road and taking my life in my hands, I saw the big supermarket but could not walk to it because of a huge ditch in the middle of the road which was impossible to get over by foot. I quickly realized I needed to rent a car but getting a car through regular channels would be impossible on a teachers' or administrators salary. What to do?

I ended up renting a ten year old car for under $400 dollars a month and you can be sure it was not with Avis or Hertz. I simply walked down the street of the my small town asking people along the way if they knew where I could rent a car. There were lots of motorcycle places but few car places. Finally a lady at the barbershop told me to go next store to the jewelry store, an obvious place to rent a car....right? The door was locked in the middle of the day, everything was dark inside but when a guy answered the door of this dingy shop he said he would indeed rent me a car.

Now you have to find a place to stay...right? Don't be so quick to decide since there are so many factors to consider such as cost, distance to school, transportation and so on. Stay put in your guest house or hotel for as long as you can because the owners will want you to deposit a few months rent
 ( which you probably do not have) and if you decide later you want to move out you will never get your deposit back. 

Take your time and stay put in the guest house or hotel for as long as possible, Ask your teacher colleagues where they live and how much they pay and get the place you want. Losing three months rent is not a pretty sight if you ultimately decide you want to live somewhere else. 
 

...and the moral of the story is that you should ask EVERYONE about how to access local buses, where to rent your car or motorcycle, where to live and so on.  Even the local jeweler!!!

The other moral of the story is to buy and read my book It All Started in Mandalay where you can find similar information but in the form if a novel. 

I am back in Thailand working in administration and there are a few cultural differences you should know about before you get yourself in trouble. 

1. Thai people hate confrontation. I am sitting in the airport in Thailand on my way to my new job. I had about 1000 pounds of baggage ( I exaggeration) but whatever it was, it was way over the limit! I feigned shock when the lady at check in said I owed a whole bunch of money. I did not raise my voice but I did wonder out loud why I was not told this before, how could it be so expensive and so on. At her instigation, she called over her supervisor who talked with her supervisor and before you knew it my baggage was on the plane without charge. Sure hope the plane does not drop out of the sky because of all of the extra weight of my golf clubs. They would rather do anything than have an argument, even though they will always get even!

2. Thais are extremely courteous people, from the wai when they greet you to their telephone behaviour. When my travel agent in Thailand was getting frustrated trying to get information about my extra baggage ( golf clubs) he kept getting different answers and instead of yelling or raising his voice he spoke more softly and gently with the agent on the other end of the line.

3. If you are old and white you are already more than a few steps up the pecking order. I am dealing with a huge bookstore chain who does not need my business to sell my novel It All Started in Mandalay, but they are so courteous and polite with me I am truly moved by their generosity and if you see the book in one of their stores, please buy at least one copy!!!  If not, at least go to the web site on the right and buy a copy anyway for good measure. 

4. Whiteness is highly valued. If you are dark it means you are lower class and probably spend your day working in the field. People here cover up their arms to keep them out of the sun and white!!! As I said above, white old males are on the top of the pecking order followed by old white females and at the bottom of the order are dark women who Thais assume are from Issan and work as farmers.  It seems to be they should be a little more respectful considering where their food comes from. 

You may also be shocked to learn that many Indians are Thai through and through. They were born in Thailand, speak perfect Thai and went to all of the best schools, but they are definitely down the ladder somewhere in the middle.

5. You are a farang or foreigner and there is nothing you can do about that unless you happen to look Thai and speak Thai. Just expect to pay more, on the one hand, but on the other hand, in the teaching world you will be highly respected.

I had dinner in Bangkok last night with three teachers in their late 60's who are still teaching. I kept asking them why and I think the most satisfying answer I got is that is still gave them a "buzz." I can think of no better way to put it. 

Why do baseball players, for example, who are multi millionaires in this day and age take jobs as coaches well after retirement from playing. The answer is clearly that they want to give back and/or they love the game so much they don't want to ever leave it. What a nice thought that you still want to do what you have been doing long after you finish getting paid for it. That is not to say that you will not be paid for teaching in Asia because you will and you will be able to live well.

So maybe I am not so crazy after all. In my sixties, having written a novel, traveled the world, and so on, I just took another administration job in Thailand..... Considering what I wrote above, maybe I am not so crazy.

...and having a golf course nearby in in the middle of winter is not a bad perk, wouldn't you say?

Work Permits
The school will take care of your work permit so if you have the proper documentation it will not be a problem. All countries want to protect their own citizens so they do not take kindly to "foreigners" taking jobs in their countries, especially high paying jobs like teachers at international schools . You will be paid far above the average workers wage for teaching. Therefore  the paperwork will be onerous but if you have all of the required paperwork some human relations person will do it and not you. 

Having said that, you better bring all of the paperwork they ask for which will probably be a police check, original copies of your degrees, transcripts from your university and so on. I hate to give original copies of degrees because they sometimes get lost and you will have a lot of work to get your university to issue another copy. 

Here is my advice. As soon as you get your work permit, ask for your degree back. If you are lucky, they might accept a lawyer's affidavit that the "copy" of the degree you give them is true and original. That way you can keep your degree locked up at home where it belongs but check this out before you leave your home country. If they are sticky you will not be able to work overseas.

Why is getting the work permit important?

Here is why. Asian countries are close together and you will want to go away on long week-ends to another country. To get a visa before you leave in your home country is expensive and cumbersome. Do you want to have to do it again from a foreign country? 

I thought not. Therefore you want to get a multiple entry visa so you can go and come as often as you wish. No problem, right, you just pay a little more money and you buy a multiple entry visa.

Wrong. You cannot get a multiple entry visa UNTIL you have a work permit and getting a work permit takes time because of all the bureaucracy the school has to go through, assuming the school is efficient. If you start in September, and you get a holiday in October, do not be confident you will be leaving the country that holiday!!!

Just a word to the wise about planning holidays. It could take a month or two to get a work permit... and you need a work permit before you can get a multiple entry visa!

By Michael Allan Charles

I have been doing it for years and it is probably the most fun you can have with your clothes on. By working in Asia as a retired  teacher you are invariably well respected and treated as a true professional with knowledge to spare while making enough to live well. I have lived and worked in Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and had the opportunity to travel throughout South East Asia during holidays. You can read more about the types of experiences you will encounter abroad in my latest novel, published by FriesenPress, entitled It All Started in Mandalay.

 In my novel, I chose to create a composite account of four teachers and the owner of an international school in Mandalay. The reader will follow their stories for twenty years as they became intertwined with each other in so many ways. Although the book is a work of fiction, I developed the story, the characters and their adventures using inspiration from my own experiences. When my wife read the book, she immediately told me that “no one would believe this stuff. It is way too unrealistic. Everyone knows these things don’t really happen!” I was writing for public consumption so let’s just say that more than a few of my stories were censored but they are all inspired by true events.

When I wrote the book I had to carefully choose which stories to weave into a novel since there were so many of them to choose from. After developing the characters and general layout of the story, I had to start omitting stories. It was a difficult process since there are so many. Some of the stories that did not make the cut: the drug dealer who was using the school computers to advertise and was eventually escorted out of the school in handcuffs, the teacher who threw a transvestite out a hotel window in Thailand when he discovered she had body parts he did not anticipate or the teacher who used to swim miles alone each night in the Pacific Ocean.

One of the fascinating things that happened when I was writing the book is that I quickly learned that life is much more fascinating than art. Literally, when I was on the computer one night, inventing the birth of an illegitimate child that ties the book together, a former teacher of mine saw I was on Skype and dropped in to say hello.  She then proceeded to tell me her story. She told me she had always wanted a child and fell in love with a French guy. She travelled to Paris to be with him, discovered they could not live together and returned home to the United States. When she was home she discovered she was pregnant.  Struggling to determine how her life would play out, she decided to have the child alone. From what I gather both mother and baby are terrifically happy. What made this story so unbelievable is that at that very moment when she told me her story,  I was writing the fictional account of an unwed mother, trying to convey a story that this friend of mine so naturally told. I did my best to mirror the reality of this woman's experience but as I quickly learned, literature pales in comparison to real life drama.

The book touches on all of the themes you will encounter when you work in Asia. Living in Asia, you will learn so much about Asian culture and how it differs dramatically from our society in North American. As a teacher, you quickly learn the differences between the Confucian Model of Education versus the Socratic Method. Meeting friends from all over the world, you cannot leave without learning so much more about yourself. What makes this book different, I think, is that we see international schools from the inside out, or from the teachers’ point of view. Because the book is centred in Myanmar, I tried to describe what I saw and experienced in that amazing and exotic country that I would advise you all visit. If I tweaked your interest you can buy the book online from Amazon or the FriesenPress Bookstore. I enjoy sharing my story and would love to come to speak at any events or gatherings you have, to talk about working and living in Asia. If you want to book me for any of your events, please check my website at www.michaelallancharles.com. I look forward to working with you here or abroad.

 

I came across this web site http://www.ideasworld.org/education/  and there are all kinds of jobs listed. I then cut and pasted this statement about ideas. I do not know anything about them. If you have worked or volunteered for them please write in and describe your experience.  It looks like a great starting point to work overseas!

In 1997, IDEAS was founded by a group of innovators who wanted to change the face of traditional cross-cultural work. The vision was to bring more authenticity, creativity and professionalism to the scene. As time went on, more like-minded professionals joined us.Today, IDEAS has many skilled Christian professionals working in a variety of exciting fields! Our projects and programs are located in countries around the world. We offer volunteer and paid positions, both in short-term and long-term opportunities. And we are growing!

We love what we do and we invite you to learn more about IDEAS and how you can join us. You can continue to work in the profession in which you have been educated and trained. Whether you are just starting to explore this big world of ours and seek a brief experience, or you are ready to live the rest of your life overseas, we have a program for you.

YOU can be a part of IDEAS global community of professionals leveraging our skills to restore hope! We invite you to take a small step forward and try our fun, interactive Where in the World Do I Belong? Quiz, or if you are ready to begin the adventure of your life-time, GET STARTED today.



Our Mission: To demonstrate love – serving forgotten and overlooked people by meeting their social, intellectual, physical and spiritual needs.

Our Vision: To see transformed lives in communities of contagious hope.

Our Values:

• Community formed by intentional relationships is the context in which we collaborate, help, serve and care for others in an environment of grace, love and forgiveness.
• Authenticity in our identity, professional skills and roles gives us freedom to serve others with credibility and have transformational impact.
• Partnerships reflect our belief in the value of connectedness, community and combining resources to better serve others.
• Personal Character drives us to demonstrate uncompromising integrity and wise financial stewardship in all of our organizational activities and in the locations of our Associates where dependability, courage and perseverance are paramount.
• Cultural Respect is demonstrated by entering as sensitive and respectful learners of both local languages and customs.
• Creativity and Innovation allows us to be nimble and adaptive to changing situations and opportunities.
• Life-long Learning considers each person’s skills and development from initial endorsement through their time with the IDEAS. Every person is encouraged to continue to learn and grow through academics, training, and developmental activities.

Our methodology centers on assessing community and professional opportunities and creating transformational projects and businesses which meet tangible needs. These projects allow IDEAS Associates to integrate their faith in their lives and work. It is our intent and hope that the relationships formed between our Associates and the communities they serve will lead to life transformations.

Our methodology is a proven and powerful approach which responds to human need with innovation and compassion. This multi-step process has been successfully launched within communities in more than 13 countries:

1. Assess needs in partnership with local community.
2. Develop projects which are valued by local community.
3. Implement projects and build on relationships.
4. Serve and work with excellence, allowing individual lives and communities to be transformed socially, intellectually, physically and spiritually.

Our methodology is applied to five project categories: Agriculture, Business and IT, Community Development, Education, and Healthcare and Wellness.

Blogging and Emails
I am sure you will have many stories to tell everyone back home. You can do this is a number of ways. One way that I did it was to keep a blog where I posted my pictures and stories so you do not have to write individual emails all the time. It will also be a great archival record you can always have, something like keeping a diary in the "old days" You have the choice of opening your blog for the whole world to see or just your friends.

When you write emails, I always created "lists" so I did not have to repeat myself all the time so I have lists such as family,  friends, work colleagues and so on. It is fast and efficient and if anyone wants more detail they will write back and then you can write a personal email.

Talking
Recognize this picture? You probably don't see very many of them in your home country anymore but they actually still do exist in south east Asia. However I do not recommend you using them to call home. 

I use skype. I buy minutes very cheaply and call anywhere for a few pennies a minute. Safe, convenient and affordable. 

You can spend a lot of money with other alternatives, but there are so many free alternatives now that you do not have to. Check out the alternatives in whatever country you end up because each country seems to have their own free services using voice over protocols. 

Valuables
Your passport and credit cards are not the Mona Lisa. They are MORE valuable. Unless you want to spend a lot of time and heartache if your valuable possessions get lost, make a copy of all of the "important stuff" and keep it at home with a trusted friend or family member. You will thank me many times over if things do get stolen or "lost" It will just save you a lot of time and aggravation.

Another word to the wise. When you are walking on the street, keep your valuables in the hand or pocket opposite the road. Motorcycles in places like Vietnam race by and grab purses  so you have to be careful at all times. 

A friend of mine kept two wallets with him when he walked on the street.. One with almost nothing  in his pocket and the "important one" tucked in his shirt or somewhere. If you are a man in south east Asia you will likely be the only one walking home with a tie so you will stand out like a sore thumb as if your face was not a giveaway!

Vaccinations
Depending on where you are going, make sure your vaccinations are up to date. You will need tetanus, Diptheria, Pertussus and Typhoid. You may also need malaria depending on where you are going, but unlikely unless you are really going to a rural area. 

Please check with your doctor a to see what the recommended vaccines are. 

Health Insurance
Generally your school will cover your health insurance needs but that is something you have to check out before you leave your home country. If you are not satisfied with their coverage, buy additional coverage before you leave. Health care is remarkably cheap in Asia, but if you get into some kind of catastrophic situation like a car accident, you may be thankful to have additional coverage from your home country. 


I did fall off a motorcycle in Vietnam and went to the doctor in a public hospital. The cost was about $3.00 and she prescribed some medicine ( antibiotic). I figured this was really where they were going to get me, until I found out it was about fifty cents for the medicine!

Passports
Make sure you have at least one year left on your passport. If you don't it will be a huge problem in the country you are going to if you have a year contract. Another very important tip which I did realize until someone told me is that there are two sizes of passports. One with lots of pages and one with less pages. Since you will probably be travelling a lot, pay a few extra dollars and get the larger passport. You will not regret it since you will not be going back in a year to buy a whole new passport. You should have lots of stamps and visas all over it. 

As a rule of thumb, the smaller the country, the more expensive their visa and the bigger their stamp, so beware! Your passport tends to fill up quickly. 

If you get a chance, by the way, buy a multi entrance visa so you do not have to bother with a lot of expense and time every time you return to your country. 

In the next post, I will discuss setting up your own blog, mailing lists of friends versus relatives and setting up skype account with telephone!