I have to thank you for posting this link. I haven’t laughed so much in a very long time, and it did me a world of good. This guy is consistently funny.
Not to jump on the “apply to JET” bus too heavily, but if you’re looking for convenient AND some decent money, it’s really a good way to go. They basically get your visa for you and pay almost all of your travel expenses. They find housing for you (which is often subsidised by your local contracting organization). On top of that, the salary is ￥3.6 mil a year, and if you do end up in a rural area, (which they are more than willing to accomodate, if I understand correctly) your salary goes a long way.
Anyway, I won’t harp on it any more, because I know it’s a bit further down your list. I’ve only been here a couple of months, but I’m having a great time, so if you do want any further details just let me know.
I’ve known many of those, also, and quite honestly, those are the ones who give the English-teaching profession in Thailand a bad name. The stereotypical farang (Western) English teacher here is male, single and an alcoholic sex maniac. I’m afraid there are quite a few who fit that description. But there are also many dedicated professionals who try very hard to make a difference in their students’ lives.
Going crazy here is another hazard. I’ve known people who went literally insane, as in had to be institutionalized against their will, and they fought tooth and nail against being sent back to Farangland (The West). It is a long, long story, but I myself on one occasion was called on to help transport a violent South African lady in her 30s to the Psychiatric Ward of a local hospital. It is a VERY long story, but myself, the South African ambassador (really) and a couple of Bangkok police present as backup were trying to calm this woman down. When she began standing in the road screaming to the heavens nonstop at the top of her lungs, and a crowd of farang backpackers began gathering and asking, “Hey, man, what are you doing to that girl?” the ambassador and I said screw it and literally picked her up and carried her into a waiting van a short distance away and off to the hospital we went. This was in the backpacker area of Khao San Road, and I’m sure to this day there are backpackers telling about how they saw these two well-dressed farangs and some police kidnap some lady. She had me in such a lock that I had to carry her into the hospital with her gripped to me like a second skin, and in the emergency room they finally managed to pry her off. I thought they’d have to use the Jaws of Life.
We coordinated with her father back in South Africa, and she finally was sent back after a couple of months. But she fought going back every step of the way. I don’t know if people go insane here or this region just attracts crazy people, but many of those get stuck here, too.
I’m reminded of the Todd Solondz film Welcome to the Dollhouse. Eevrything the brother did was geared towards looking goos on his college application, including beefing up his extracurricular activities by forming a garage band.