Uk or Thailand??? - Page 3 - Ajarn Forum

Killing Me Softly 101 · 15th August 2008, 11:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by OEG

Would you want your kid to grow up and go to school here (Thailand)? or Would you want your kid to grow up and go to school in England?

Get the certs and qualifications to get a job at one of the elite international schools. One of the perks is free or greatly reduced cost tuition. Then you have essentially the best of both worlds. England in Thailand. Is that cool or what?

You get 100,000 baht a month (or more), the kid gets a 400,000 baht a year education and connections with the elite (can he marry one?) and you get the nice climate.

Cheers.

Recommendation: find out how to get all the right certs and credentials before he is ready for kindergarten.

Mr Bean · 15th August 2008, 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by OEG

I thought you were over here Bean old chap, didn't you came out here to teach?

Aye, I did. Even had the flight booked, then got this stonking job offer so I postponed it and decided to check the job out and bank some cash. I figured LOS would be there tomorrow, and the day after.

I never posted about it in fear of getting banished to the other forum

and missing my chums on Ajarn.

Anyway, now I've settled into the job and it's got dead boring (cash is handy though)

I still have a bad case of 'should I, shouldn't I'.

ellroy · 15th August 2008, 14:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Bean

Nay lad, the biggest prob I may have is that it might be a case of 'grass is greener' with me. I'm still in the UK, hanging onto quite a well paid job and trying to stash some cash to go into partial retirement before I'm 50.

What gets me the most is a) the weather b) the infrastructure (crap bus services, expensive trains etc) and, well, the majority of the population seem to be really miserable. None of the above is era-specific.

Agree with you on the music scene though chap.

Agreed. Damn it. Have some green.

martyboy · 15th August 2008, 15:49

Hi Peter,
I think you have hit the nail on the head there. 'Enjoy the same lifestyle'. The UK must be one of the most expensive countries in the world and unless you have saved a personal fortune, you could never live the same as in Thailand with a well paid job (in Thai standards) It must be difficult for you expats who have been exiled for years to return here. Look at the price of housing for instance? Tick Tock and 8ball have it.
Like all of life, it's a compromise. Unless you win the lottery of course, then the world is your oyster.
If I can be of any help back here don't hesitate to ask.

Jasper · 16th August 2008, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tick Tock

OEG

Go home that is the best.

Thailand does not offer 2 things which are important to a young family.

Certainty

How certain are you that work permit rules and visa rules won't change again in the next two or three years. At what age can you afford to uproot yourself and your family and fit back into the UK job market? If you are sitting on loads of cash, then you can afford to gamble - if not, gambling with your kids future is a bit risky.

Safety Net

There is no safety net in Thailand. If you had a major accident tomorrow, can your wife support you and your kid on her own? Would she have to make frantic calls home to your family for money. What happens then with getting back to the UK after such an incident? There is no welfare system in Thailand nor subsidies or for that matter housing schemes like they have in the UK. Can you afford major surgery here?

Those to me are the two important questions to ask. Its not a question to me about the weather or education as I view such decisions as risk management.

Best post on this thread.

I'd like to add 'opportunity' as well. If you brought your kids up in Blighty, you're almost guaranteeing them a world of opportunity. Once they hit 18 they can do pretty much whatever they want. Return to LOS, travel abroad like their Pa, go to uni. You'd also be safe in the knowledge that you can retire in LOS without worrying too much about their future.

2Pac · 16th August 2008, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper

Best post on this thread.

I'd like to add 'opportunity' as well. If you brought your kids up in Blighty, you're almost guaranteeing them a world of opportunity. Once they hit 18 they can do pretty much whatever they want. Return to LOS, travel abroad like their Pa, go to uni. You'd also be safe in the knowledge that you can retire in LOS without worrying too much about their future.

Couldn't have put that better myself, there are pros and cons for either but if you think like the above then that's the best way to go.

aging one · 16th August 2008, 20:01

Seems easy but think of society as well. If you have been here a while and you have kids and a Thai wife you have to have gotten more conservative.

ralphlsasser · 16th August 2008, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by aging one

Seems easy but think of society as well. If you have been here a while and you have kids and a Thai wife you have to have gotten more conservative.

A LOT more AO, but that is a good thing. For me anyway.

aging one · 16th August 2008, 20:40

very much more,

Jon · 16th August 2008, 23:11

I brought my half Thai daughter up in the UK - she was also born here - and next month she'll be 18. She's turned out well and I think she has greater life choices having grown up here than she would having grown up in Thailand. As for me, I'm much more financially secure, and my future security is fairly certain, and life here is ok, but I also miss a lot about Thailand. Overall, no doubts that the UK over Thailand was good my little 'un. She has a great life here really.

Lor Ling · 16th August 2008, 23:39

Possibly China for a couple of years. Just started applying for jobs there. After that, Buddha alone knows!

kenkannif · 18th August 2008, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasper

Best post on this thread.

I'd like to add 'opportunity' as well. If you brought your kids up in Blighty, you're almost guaranteeing them a world of opportunity. Once they hit 18 they can do pretty much whatever they want. Return to LOS, travel abroad like their Pa, go to uni. You'd also be safe in the knowledge that you can retire in LOS without worrying too much about their future.

Can English Thai kids that aren't brought up in the UK not do that then mate? I think a Brit passport...is a Brit passport no? As long as they're brought up well over here....I don't think there's a great deal in it personally....swings and roundabouts!!!

Cyrille · 18th August 2008, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenkannif

Can English Thai kids that aren't brought up in the UK not do that then mate?

Not unless you have the money from home, or the earnings in Thailand, to send them to a decent International School and get IGCSEs, surely?

How many people can afford that? Less than 5% of the people who post here, I reckon.

kenkannif · 18th August 2008, 17:14

^ Mate....I really do think people go over the top here with all this education and saying how bad it is. If you're kid is reasonably non-retarded and can speak English well....not a lot in it. Now if parents don't want to get involved at all and educate their kids....probably going to be problems in either country to be fair mate!!!

Nothing stopping a spastic Thai/Brit kid from 'travelling' the world....same as there's nothing stopping a spastic Brit Brit kid from doing it.....you must have seen some of them on your travels?

Cyrille · 18th August 2008, 17:20

I'm guessing that Jasper is thinking of IGCSE qualifications though - getting what's needed for work and/or further study in the UK.

Your local temple school isn't going to do that, and 95% of people in TEFL can't afford INT school fees.