Greetings Everyone
I have read through this site on many occasions ad often wanted to post but was scared of the responses that I may get. But just like my move to Thailand, some times you just have to go for it and remain positive. I am a 23 year old African American female that is moving from New York to relocate to Thailand to teach. I received my degree in English and I have a minor in Biology.
One of the many reasons that I was reluctant to move to Thailand is becasue of my skin color. I have talked to many different people and heard many different results. I decided it best to just put my question out here on this site. Will it be a great hurdle for me to obtain employment teaching becasue I am black?
No matter the responses, I will still be moving! (I just really want to try to prepare myself for what I may encounter)
Thank you for your responses and taking the time out to read my post!
---Update---
*and
Originally Posted by Jacksotn01
maybe a greater hurdle but not a great hurdle. find some social support quickly too, so that the inevitable disappointments don't crush your spirit too much. you'll get a job. just don't sell yourself too short or take the ignorance and prejudice too much to heart. there are a lot of very fine people in thailand.
Not an insurmountable hurdle but yes it will.
To your benefit however you are young and female which are sought after attributes due to their rarity in Thailand.
Prepare to have lots of positive contact followed by silence and excuses once they see your photo or meet you. Not much you can do about it except to keep applying and find a school with a more modern HR manager.
Good luck and welcome to the board.
We could all sit outside on banana lounges discussing the best way to rebuild a 4WD transmission and agree, through shared stories of conquests supporting our assertions, that there is no basis to the proposition that those least assured of their persuasions are the first to condemn others for theirs.
Thank you for your honest and kind words, truly appreciate it!
The fact that you are black will count against you, however, the fact that you are female will very much be in your favour. I would recommend applying for positions with young learners. Private language schools and pre-schools would be a good place to start. These establishments like having female teachers and the fact that you have a degree in a related field is also a bonus.
I would be lying if I said you wont have to put up with shit... however, it is highly unlikely that it would be physical or even verbal... unlike, perhaps... in the west. When you apply for jobs, do so in person or attach a good photo (Smart, professional and smiling) this will save you time with time-wasters.
Welcome to the board!
This is it... The apocalypse.
Black only makes difference until they realize you are American and not African.
Yes, you will find work.
Yes, it will be the same as any other NES.
Yes, you will find some bigots (more often foreigners than Thais but there are plenty of both).
Yes, you will have to work harder to get your first job. Being a young female with a degree, transcripts and a clean police check will be a big help.
If you are any good you won't have any problems after that.
.
That's right. Enough to offset the "Colour". You'll do fine. I've worked with two "African African" female teachers in the past. One from S.A, the other from Cameroon. They had no problems getting work. Factor in your American accent (and passport) and you should find it even easier than they did.
^^ The guru fortune teller.
Girl, being Black has a lot more to it than skin color. You are blessed (IMO) with a dominate gene. Bleach yourself white and you'll still be Black.
In my eight years I've seen Black people find work but it seemed mainly because they were willing to teach at a lower rate. Accepting a lower rate of pay will make you more attractive than good looks ever will.
Some places in Thailand are more accepting than others and unfortunately nobody here could present a list of them to you.
It's usually the kid's parents - who pay a big chunk of their salaries for EP enrollment - who will complain that they paid for White and got Black.
A good marker of a culture's acceptance of dark people is in their concept of beauty. If skin whitening creams are sold by the gallons, as they are in Thailand, be assured dark is not in vogue this Fall.
progress is being made though. voranai vanijaka, thai trendsetter and thinkster, openly states that he actually seeks out the sun and likes to get brown.
yep, as you've probably heard, asians, in general, prefer white skin over dark skin. like some westerners might think a tan looks healthier than pale skin.
anyways, over the years, i've known a few black teachers who've done quite well in bkk.
"girl"?
yep.
"Fear and Guilt are your only enemies. Love and Awareness are your true friends" -
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^What, you mean the topic that has been covered on this forum once a week since the dawn of man?
Thank you again everyone!!!!! Essentially what I took from some of your many comments is... if you want something work for it, hurdles are put in place to see just how bad you want something. While my race may be a minor hurdle in Thailand, I love who I am and I will embrace it no matter where I will be living. I will work hard to find a job and keep all of your comments in my mind. Hopefully I will be able to meet some of you in December
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