Hey,which picture turns your crank? Are you intrigued by the boy in Myanmar and what he is wearing on his face or are you more into a tranquil setting of Thailand on the right? Or are you an amateur archaeologist who is fascinated by ancient temples found in Cambodia.
Here is the deal. All international schools and kids are virtually the same. The good ones have great resources, great expectations of their students and a lot of pressure from parents. They are fun to teach in and you can't go wrong as a professional. But as to which country to choose there are so many factors to consider.
Here is the deal. All international schools and kids are virtually the same. The good ones have great resources, great expectations of their students and a lot of pressure from parents. They are fun to teach in and you can't go wrong as a professional. But as to which country to choose there are so many factors to consider.
I guess the question is not how much money you want to make but how much money you want to save? If you want to come home with a bunch of money to pay off student loans or put a down payment on a house or something like that go to a developing country like Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos where the prices are cheap for food, transportation and accommodation and you can save.. If you go to a Singapore or Thailand and live in a city like Bangkok you will likely end up spending your salary. You will have enough to live on comfortably, that is for sure, but you will not take home a lot to your home country.
What do you want to do on week-ends? Do you want to go to a beach that is an hour or two away or in fact work in a beach community.? There are lots of opportunities all over Asia. You know, even if you live in a city like Ho Chi Minh you can still get to a beach one hour away at Vung Tau or if you are in Bangkok you can go to a place like Koh Samet two hours from Bangkok which is like paradise on earth. Look at an Asian map and if you are interested in beaches you sure do not want to teach in Beijing for example. In that vein, if you want heat stay south in Asia
Culture is also very important. Part of culture is religion, of course and as a foreign teacher in Indonesia, for example, you have to be willing to respect Muslim culture or if you choose to teach in Myanmar, for example you should be well aware of Buddhist religion and its impact on culture. In Thailand, for example, you do not talk about the king and in Myanmar you do not talk about family or religion. I find that all of these cultural differences to be the reason I travel and work in these countries but if you are a devout "whatever" you better be empathetic to other religions and cultures or go to a country that has your religion as the dominant on.
What kind of food do you like to eat? No matter which country you go to each has its unique attributes. No mater which Asian country you decide to live, I can tell you when you come back to the west you will be much healthier. My blood work is always fantastic when I return after a year away. If you love bread, you can't go wrong in Vietnam where they make beautiful breads, probably as a result of the French occupation. If you love noodles, Singapore is not a bad bet. If you love vegetables, Thailand is the way to go. If you can't do without rice, work in the Philippines, or if you cannot live without dim sum China is the place to be.
Lots to think about, right? Start looking now for next September and if you have a choice of a few schools, please write in and ask for advice from me or the readers of this blog. Let's be frank. All of the above factors are critical, but the real issue is that you must be happy in your work environment or the most beautiful beach on the weekend will not make up for a terrible week.
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