International Expat

The Grand Palace in Bangkok is a series of buildings right in the heart of the city. A visit to Bangkok without seeing this magnificent compound at least once is a shame. Every time I go there I am transported back to the King and I movie I saw as a child. It really is simply breathtaking and photos do not do it justice. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is one of my favorite areas. It is quite stunning.

Lumpini Park in Bangkok Lumphini Park is a park in the middle of the massive city of Bangkok. It is located right in the business area and is over 140 acres of land. BTS Skytrain Silom Line Sala Daeng Station is nearby. MRT (Bangkok) Lumphini Station and Si Lom Station are nearby. It is also easy to take a taxi there as every taxi will be able to find the park. I would call it Bangkok's Central Park. There is a great deal to do inside the oasis from the city. You can ride bikes and train here. They have marked road signs that show you how far you bike and many take advantage of the great trails through this beautiful park. You can work out at the outdoor gym. They also have a swim place there and another gym but I love watching the outdoor gym. It reminds me a bit of Muscle Beach at times. You can take a ride on the paddle boats. There are different kinds to choose from. You will see many different kinds of animals in the park. An abundance of birds, reptiles and other critters are always out and about. You will see a variety of beautiful flowers and scenery. Some people just relax. You will see many bring a mat and tap a lunch nap or just sit and read a book. The park is very relaxing. Some people are there to play. I love playing chess in Washington Square Park and there is a group of guys that place chess here every day. Some people are there to just enjoy life. After all, you are in one of the greatest cities on earth. How could not enjoy enjoy it?

Pattaya is such an easy trip to make for a weekend. It is about 1.5 hours from Bangkok. The cost to get there via a car service is about 1200-1500 baht. I use Mr. Toom's taxi as they are reliable and offer good rates. His number is: MR.TOOM BKK. Call (+66)81-4827148 I have stayed at the Pattaya Marriott many times. The rates are a bit high for Thailand but it has the best swimming pool around. I love the hotel. If you want to book a Terrance Suite, it opens onto the pool area. Their breakfast buffet is amazing. The Holiday Inn is also nice. The rooms are a bit newer than the Marriott but they pool is not as nice. The Hilton is on top of the biggest mall in the area. It has a great pool although it is not a large pool. The rooms are nice and the staff is also nice. I like being on top of the mall. Transportation around Pattaya is really easy and cheap. I use the baht buses and they are 10 or 20 baht. They will get to close to just about every area. I think going from the town to Jomtien Beach is about 20 baht.

One of the most important things to do if you are thinking about becoming an international educator is to prepare yourself for this next chapter of your life. Teaching abroad is a major life change. And like all major life changes, you need to go in with your eyes open. It should not be a spur of the moment thing. If it is, you are asking for disaster. With that in mind, we've created this prep guide to help you figure out what you need to do in order to give yourself the best chance at having a great experience teaching abroad. · Start your preparation and research roughly six to nine months before you actually want to start teaching abroad. This will give you a chance to weigh all of your options carefully so you don't make a snap decision. · Search through international job postings and figure out what different types of schools are looking for. Then look at your own skill set and determine which ones match certain schools. This will save you from applying to a school where you will not be a good fit. · Figure out if there are any qualifications you don't currently have, but could get before you start applying to schools. · If you find a school that seems to match your qualifications, research it and make sure that it doesn't have a bad reputation or any other red flags that would indicate it might be a poor choice. · Decide if there is a specific country or region you'd like to live in for a while. If there is, find an online course to help you learn the basics of the language so you will be able to communicate a bit as soon as you arrive. · Figure out how big a cultural change you can handle, and match your school search to that. You don't want to end up teaching in the Middle East if you like to go out drinking and flirting several times a week. · Prepare several resumes that highlight different aspects of your professional history for different types of schools. · Do practice job interviews with your friends. This way you will feel more comfortable with the real thing. · Go to as many job fairs as you can, and ask a lot of questions while you are there. Don't simply talk to the people in the booths. Talk to other people who have taught abroad and seek out their advice. · Get a check-up from your doctor, and ask him or her if there are any regions you should avoid for health reasons. · Arrange for someplace reliable to keep your stuff in storage while you are gone, so you don't have to rebuild your life from scratch when you eventually decide to return to your home country. · Try to get at least three job offers so you can compare your options and know you are making a well informed choice. cc InternationalEducators.com

I ran across the great blog on the experience someone had in Chiang Mai, Thailand doing the one month Celta. https://thelifeofmarn.wordpress.com/2016/04/28/celta-at-ih-chiang-mai/

If you want a truly amazing hotel, try the Intercontinental Hotel. The place is right on the beach and very quiet. The breakfast is amazing. I have stayed here over 10 times in the last few years and truly love it. Here are a few photos. The pool is amazing and the rooms are comfortable. Be sure to get one with a day bed balcony and you will spend all your time in the room out there!

I have stayed in Bangkok a great deal over the years. I love the city! Some of my favorite hotels are: Courtyard Marriott - Close walk to Siam Paragon and the malls. It is very cheap and has a great breakfast. The VIP lounge is excellent and totally worth paying for if you are not one of their rewards members who gets upgraded for free. The Ascott - this is a fully serviced apartment building in the Sathorn area. The best gym in Bangkok as it is owned by the company that owns LIFE fitness. A nice Greek and a nice Japanese restaurant in the building. About 5 min walk to the Skytrain. The apartments are fully furnished and had washer/dryer etc.

Bangkok, known as the City of Angels is the center of life in Asia. This is the place to go if you want to find some hot exotic romance, shop at some of the best shopping Asia has to offer, partake in some of the most delicious food in the east or just hang out in a local park with the locals. Still Bangkok has much more to offer than just hot nights. This is a city with a rich culture and history; so you can dive into the local culture during the day, eat wonderful meals at night and make the most of your vacation. One of the most popular destinations is the Damnoen Saduak floating market. You can sample local food while an experienced guide will take you on a boat ride through the canals where you can purchase tons of souvenirs for friends and family back home. No trip to Bangkok is complete without a bike tour through the city and its outskirts. Whether you take a guided tour, or decide to tool around on your own bike, this is the best way to be mobile and discover the life of the normal residents of Thailand. There are many bicycle groups that organize trips in Bangkok and throughout the country. Take a look at: http://www.tourdethailand.com for a fantastic charity ride that goes from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and then down to Phuket each year. Temples abound in Thailand and will thrill nearly any western visitor with their splendor. Wat Trimitr,Wat Po and Wat Banjamaborpitr are three of the most beautiful. Plan to bring your camera and try to bring a local guide so you can learn the rich history and nuance of each and every place of worship. The Grand Palace is the most popular tourist destination in the city. For centuries it was the residence of Thailand’s powerful kings. Make sure you take time to see the Reception Palace, the Funeral Palace, The Throne Hall and the beautiful revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Just be prepared; the Thais take their temples seriously and will not let you inside if you are wearing shorts or flip-flops. If you want to be a little bit less active you can always take an overnight in a converted rice barge. The most popular cruises leave from Bangkok and travel to the ancient capital of Ayuthaya. When you are done sightseeing Thailand offers nearly every type of cuisine from traditional Thai food to classic Western cuisine. No matter what your tastes, you should be able to satisfy your hunger before your night on the town! Still many go to Thailand for one main reason, to meet and mingle with eligible single guys or gals. There is nothing wrong with that – everyone likes a little exotic nighttime fun on their vacations; after all when you are far away from home you can easily let yourself be free and assume that what goes down in Bangkok stays in Bangkok no matter who it is that you go down on. Of course, like any city, the hot spots in Bangkok come and go constantly. What’s cool today might not be hot tomorrow and new places are popping up all the time. The best thing about Bangkok is that it is ever changing.

Hat Yai is one of Thailand’s southernmost cities, located in the province of Songkhla. It is only 30 km from the Malaysian border. The city began as primarily a railroad hub between Thailand and Malaysia. Hat Yai is one of the lesser known tourist spots in Thailand and is attractive to those who wish to ‘get away from it all,’ but still have the features of a city available. The city is becoming increasingly popular among gays. There are at least 3 gay bars now and a gay sauna called GL Sauna as well. Admission is 250 baht and includes a drink. The gay bars are within easy walking distance of each other, the most popular being the G-Men bar. Hat Yai was a small village until the coming of the railroad in 1922 and has slowly, but surely increased in size ever since. The population is now about 160,000. The official name of the city is Ma Hat Yai. Ma Hat is the Thai word for a fruit tree relative of the popular Jackfruit. Yai means large or big. Getting to Hat Yai is no problem. There are buses, airline service, and obviously railroad service. Within Hat Yai there are plenty of mini buses, tuk-tuks, and motorcycle taxis. Accommodations are relatively in expensive in Hat Yai as it is not a beach town or resort city. Food in Hat Yai is mostly Thai, but some of the shopping malls have restaurants that feature ‘farang food’ and there are a few ‘farang food’ restaurants. It is best to book a room via a travel agent. You will almost always get a better rate from a travel agent than booking directly through a hotel in Hat Yai. Night life in Hat Yai includes a surprising number of bars for a small city, several of which include live music. A popular place to go is Oceana, and entertainment complex just outside of Hat Yai. There you will find a very nice open air restaurant and bar that covers two floors and is in a beautifully romantic landscaped setting, open until about 2:00am. There is a disco nearby and it seems to remain open until about 4:00am. The Lee Garden Plaza features fast food restaurants including McDonald’s, KFC, and Sizzler. There is also a modern multiplex cinema at Lee Garden. There is not very much in the way of sightseeing in the Hat Yai vicinity, but the three most popular attractions are: Wat Hat Yai Nai – Features a 35 meter long reclining Buddha, the third largest in the world. Hat Yai Municipal Park – This park is quite popular among the Thais and includes an abundance of flowering plants and a very good aviary. Ton Nga Chang Waterfall – Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand. It is a 7-tiered waterfall, the most popular being the third level, known as the “Elephant Tusk” waterfall. Here the falls separate into two streams, resembling elephant tusks. You can easily hire transportation to and from the park for about 400 baht. Many farang doing visa runs go to Hat Yai due to its close proximity to the Malaysian border. The run takes you to Dannok. From there you simply cross over the border on foot, take care of your visa renewal, and return, although there are plenty of motorcycle taxis to take you, if you wish, 20 baht each way. Mini vans are available to take you back to Hat Yai for about 60 baht, but they do not depart until they are full. The trip takes approximately 90 minutes.

Phuket is an often-mispronounced jewel in South East Asia. By far the most popular island destination in the region, it offers sandy beaches, beautiful Portuguese architecture and a rich history that will delight any seasoned traveler. The island does have a rainy season and tourists are advised to avoid its charms in September and October when it is soaking wet. For the rest of the year, particularly from November through February, Phuket’s limestone cliffs, tropical forests and powdery beaches make it a place that you don’t want to miss. The earliest history of the island comes from the Greeks. Claudius Ptolemy wrote of its charms as early as 157 A.D. For most of the past 2,000 years Phuket was used as a stopover for traders who needed to avoid monsoons. When tin was discovered, migrant workers from as far away as Portugal began to arrive and Phuket soon became one of the most influential meeting points for European traders in South East Asia. When the price of tin collapsed in 1985, the island government began hawking Phuket as a possible tourist destination. Travelers took the bait and its popularity and economy have soared. There is a diverse group of people living on the island; 35 percent of the people are Muslim ‘ representing a variety of religious and cultural histories. Hence, tolerance of all types of lifestyles has become the trademark of Phuket. While the nightlife of Phuket is always hopping, there are also a variety of activities to do during the day and as with most of Thailand, there are many wonderful western and traditional restaurants. Dino Park on Karon beach is one of the sillier tourist attractions. It is a small 18 hole golf course set in the age of the dinosaurs. It even features a dinosaur themed restaurant! All of the many beaches that encircle the island are wonderful places to snorkel and dive. At nearly any point along the coast you can find places to rent equipment and guides to help you explore the beautiful undersea vistas and the exotic fish that call the waters around Phuket their homes. Ko Kaeo visitors will not only find a beautiful sandy beach, but also a famous replica of the footprint of BuddhaKo Si-Re also features a wonderful reclining Buddha image. Cape Phanwa is home to the Phuket Aquarium, the place to go if you want to see the beautiful fish that the region has to offer, without having to go to the effort of diving or snorkeling to find them. The nearby Phuket Butterfly Farm has also been growing in popularity with the tourist trade. The Phuket Submarine offers people the chance to dive 30 meters under the sea in the comfort of full air conditioning and the Phuket Zoo is the safest way for you to see some of the regions more exotic animals. Patong Beach is tourist central and you will find a wide array of family friendly activities including go-karts, a haunted house, water skiing and Tarzan’s Water Bunny Jump. The Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary covers nearly 5,600 acres and has hundreds of different types of local protected animals. Wat Phra Thong is the most beautiful temple on the island. According to local legend whenever invaders have tried to steal the beautiful Buddha inside, hornets have attacked and driven them away. The adjoining island of Ko Nakha Noi has the regions only year round pearl farm that is open to the public. If museums are your thing the Thalang Museum has great artifacts documenting local culture. Of course, once you’ve had your tourist fun and have accumulated enough stories that you can safely tell your friends and neighbors, it will be time to head out at night and take advantage of the hot gay island nightlife. No matter where you decide to go, Phuket is guaranteed to offer you a fun experience on your vacation. We can’t wait to see you there!

Whether you want to chill out, immerse yourself in history or simply check out the smoking hot nightlife, Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand, has a little bit of something to please everyone. Like most of the cities of the north, Chiang Mai is far more laid back than the southern metropolises like Bangkok, and the prices are far more reasonable. Chiang Mai is not only one of the oldest cities in Thailand; it has also hosted western tourists for hundreds of years. The city traces its own origins back at least 700 years and there are records of European explorers writing home about this “fair and great town” in the 1500s. The long history of this town is a boon to tourists who can marvel at the archeological and historical artifacts that seem to burst out of the countryside. For much of its storied history Chiang Mai was an important cultural and religious center for both Siam and Burma, which helps explain the huge number of ruins and temples that still remain to this day. Although Chiang Mai has always boasted beautiful mountains and a pleasant climate, it did not start attracting large numbers of western tourists until the early 1990s, when people started looking for new places to relax and ways to save money. Once people started visiting Chaing Mai, word spread fast and by the mid 1990s, Bangkok tourism speculators started buying up large chunks of the city and converting them into vacation havens. Chaing Mai celebrated its 700th anniversary in 1992 and in 1998 played host to the Asia Games sporting events. During the day you will want to take a walking tour through some of the more than 300 Buddhist temples including Wat Phra Singh Wat Chiang Man Wat Phan Tao Wat Jet Yod and Wat Suan Dawk all of which are at least 500 years old. You can walk through the temples on your own or rent a guide for the day. Please remember to dress respectfully when you visit any temple in Thailand; flip-flops and shorts are not appreciated. If you are into shopping, Chiang Mai has one of the most exciting nighttime bazaars in all of Thailand. This is where you want to go in order to get great deals on silk and traditional hand made crafts. On days when you don’t feel like hiking or walking, you can enjoy any number of boat trips up and down the Ping River. Just sit back, relax, watch the scenery and let your captain take charge! Chaing Mai is known as the city to go to in Thailand if you want gourmet meals at affordable prices. There are literally dozens of restaurants in the city, and almost all of them are world class. You can find nearly any type of food you desire, and you won’t have to worry about busting your wallet. The most interesting ruins in the region are called Wiang Kum Kham. They are from a lively city that was washed out in a flood 700 years ago. By far the most popular tourist activity in Chaing Mai is to ride an elephant into the jungle. These tame beasts are so tall that you will be able to see for miles and the beasts are so tame that you will always feel secure. When we last went to the elephant farm in Chiang Mai, the elephant trainers greeted us and they put on a show for us. They showed us how they taught the elephants to paint, play soccer and basketball. All of this was quiet entertaining and just a warm up for the elephant trek through the wilderness. Riding one of these wild beasts is an incredible experience. It is simply one of the most amazing things that can be done in Thailand. The elephants helped build ancient Thailand and they are respected and revered. White water rafting is another popular activity, as is rock climbing. You can rent all the gear you will need for both activities fairly cheaply if you just ask around. There is a rock climbing wall downtown that you can practice at. It is also in the middle of many gay beer bars. If you are into people watching, watching the climbers ascend the wall while sipping on a beer is very relaxing. Thailand is becoming known for its amazing gold courses. There are many tours planned that bring US and European citizens to Thailand for a week or two of playing golf at some of the most amazing courses in the world. For those of you who like to explore on your own, local guides will be happy to prepare trekking maps that will explain how to walk into and through many of the tiny villages that dot the mountains around the city. As with most cities in Thailand, the scene in Chaing Mai is constantly changing but the forums on this site should give a good idea where to start looking for your carnal adventures. We just can’t wait for you to come visit; we know you will have as good a time as we do!

If sultry beaches and beautiful water is your bag, then Pattaya is a must see for any visitor of Thailand or the region. The name of the town comes from the Thai for the South West winds that blow in every year to signal the start of the rainy season. What may amaze the more than one million visitors that descend on Pattaya every year in their carnal quests for sandy beaches and exotic recreation is that the town as we know it did not even exist 40 years ago. For centuries Pattaya was a tiny fishing village virtually unknown to outsiders where a traditional way of life in the safety of the calm bay. Before the 1960s barely 100 families fished out their meager livings along these pristine waters. It was the Vietnam War that fueled the forces that would change Pattaya forever. As more and more American soldiers were sent to Southeast Asia, air force and army bases began to spring up nearby. More often than not these soldiers could not get enough time off during their recreation periods to make the long trip to Bangkok. So they started exploring the Pattaya beaches. Savvy entrepreneurs soon realized there was a growing market of thirsty and horny soldiers that would pay hard currency to have their appetites satisfied. The result was an ever-growing stream of bars, hotels, clubs and restaurants that would change this sleepy village into one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world! Who would have believed 50 years ago that those sleepy fishermen were sitting on what would one day become some of the most valuable tourist real estate is all of Asia? Because Pattaya is a new city it does not have any of the temples or ancient statues that are the cornerstone of most Thailand tourist experiences. This is truly a place to go when you want to spend your days relaxing on the beach and your nights looking for love. Most will probably spend our days diving in the crystal clear waters or else lounging on the three main beaches: Pattaya, Jomtien and Wong Prachsan. All of that is fine and dandy, but at the end of the day what’s the point in bronzing your beautiful body if you are not going to try to get some action with your attraction. We know that some of the best girls are really boys. If you like your men with boobs on top, north and central Pattaya have what you are looking for. Just be careful many of the transvestite and transsexual shows also attract a straight audience so be sure to ask the cute guys if they are friends of Dorothy before you make your move! These “girls” prove size matters and many of them have huge tittles to satisfy nearly any oral fixation. The Tiffany Show has the most famous transvestite show in Thailand and even hosts an annual transsexual beauty pageant. It opens early at 6:30 p.m. and stays open late. Many tee shirts in Pattaya have the right slogan: Good boys go to Heaven, bad boys go to Pattaya. True to life, Pattaya is a bit of heaven for good boys and bad boys. We can’t wait to see you there with all the other beach goers!

No visit to Thailand is complete without a trip to the beautiful resort beaches of Hua Hin. Located 200 miles south of Bangkok, Hua Hin is one of the oldest and most popular sandy destinations in the country. While many of the other beach resorts in Thailand – including Phuket and Samui – have been over developed and overrun with tourist hotels and restaurants, Hua Hin has retained its traditional charm as both a resort and a working fishing village. The beach is over five miles long and surrounded by some of the best, yet least expensive, golf courses in the entire world. The city itself was discovered more than 80 years ago by King Rama VII. He chose the place as his home away from home when he wanted to escape the heat and humidity of the capital city. Once King Rama built his palace in what had up until that point been a fishing village, other Siam nobility were soon to follow – which fueled the growth and popularity of Hua Hin. The king’s palace – called Klai Kangwon, which means “Far From Worries” – remains an official royal residence and popular attraction to this day. Public tours are easy to arrange – even when members of the royal family are staying there! Be careful outside the palace, however, because security is very tight and any type of public intoxication or other bad behavior near the palace is dealt with very strictly by the local police officers. While the main tourist activity is to lie out on the sandy beach and have locals bring your drinks or provide massages, there are sites to see when you’ve decided you’ve had your fill of fun in the sun. Most of the wealthiest families in Thailand have built their summer homes near the palace or on the beach, which means there is beautiful architecture to see as you stroll around and explore Hua Hin. Khao Takiap is a large hill that is filled with beautiful Buddhist temples and offers the best overhead view of the city, the port and the ocean. It is a four-kilometer hike, so you may want to rent a bike or motorcycle to take you to the top. The Hua Hin railway station is one of the oldest stations in Thailand and is so beautiful that it is considered one of the country’s landmarks. The Spirit Houses of Brassiere Beach has a really odd history. Legend has it that the daughter of a local fisherman was eaten by fish because she was too beautiful to live in the world. Today, men and women leave brasseries on the beach in order to ask the gods for good luck. Namtok Pa Lau is an 11-tier waterfall located about 30 miles outside of town. It is easy to get to by bus, and is particularly popular on hot and humid days. Wat Huay Mongkol was where famed monk Luang Phor Thuat lived his life. He was known for performing miracles and his former residence is now a large public park featuring a giant statue of him as its centerpiece. At night Hua Hin comes alive with a large open-air market where you can buy nearly anything under the moon, and see what types of interesting fish and fruits the locals like to eat. You can also sample any of the many excellent seafood restaurants that surround the market. If you want to sample local products, look for things made from Khommaphat, which is a type of cotton unique to the Hua Hin region. They use it to make everything from shirts to large decorative pieces of art. The one downside of Hua Hin is that it does not have as active a nightlife culture as the other beach resort towns in Thailand. Your best bet is to hit the Soi Bintabaht and Soi Selakam areas where you can find local beer bars. By royal decree, there are no go-go bars in town. Hua Hin has three important regional festivals, including: The Thailand’s International Kite Festival is held from March through May in Hua Hin during even numbered years. It features stunt kites, big kites, little kites, high tech kites, traditional Thai kites, and displays of international kites. Hua Hin Jazz Festival is held through the month of June on the beach. It attracts world-class Jazz musicians and is considered one of the most popular events in Hua Hin. Hua Hin Vintage Car Rally. Sponsored by Vintage Car Club of Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the car rally is held every December. All of the cars in the rally are vintage from the 1920s, in celebration of when the King discovered the city. Getting to Hua Hin is easy from nearly any part of Thailand. It is hooked up to most of the major rail lines and you can get a direct train from Bangkok. There are also several bus routes from both Bangkok and Malaysia. Overall, the weather is temperate. There is a brief rainy season in the spring, but the showers tend to be very short and are often over in five minutes or less – so you can get right back to the sun and fun! You should also be aware that Hua Hin is home to Thailand’s best bicycle touring company: Hua Hin Bike Tours These tours have been a huge hit with people visiting the area that many say the biking around Hua Hin was their favorite part of their trip to Thailand. Be sure to give them a call in advance and book early as they sell our tours often. You will notice that there are many, many more Thai tourists in Hua Hin than in the other national beach resorts. While westerners do come to Hua Hin, there are far fewer of them here than in Phuket or any of the other beach towns. This leads to a certain charm, because Hua Hin has yet to be completely corrupted by tourists – and you can feel like you are having a very authentic Thailand vacation experience! So, next time you are in Thailand, hop on the train and check out the beautiful beaches, waterfalls and temples of Hua Hin. Consider it a royal experience! You’ll be glad you did!

Ubon Ratchathani is Thailand’s easternmost province, bordering Laos. The name is usually shortened to Ubon. Sometimes that can be confusing because Udon Thani is often shortened to Udon. If you’re not listening carefully it can be easy to confuse the two. The city itself was founded in 1786 by a Laotian prince who had fled from Vientiane. Ubon is one of Thailand’s up-and-coming provinces and is attracting many foreigners who are looking for a more quiet lifestyle, but with all the city amenities available. Housing in Ubon is still relatively inexpensive and more homes and condos are under construction. Large shopping centers such as Big-C are already established in Ubon, with more on the way. Within the next year or two a Carrefour, among others, is expected to open. Very good hotel accommodations are available and a brand new hotel recently opened and features a very good restaurant. The Thai food is inexpensive in Ubon. You can eat high quality dinners in Ubon for less than 300 baht per person. At present there are two pub style restaurants that feature western food. One is American owned and the other is British owned. One of the biggest attractions in Ubon Ratchathani is the annual Candle Festival, which occurs in mid July. Tremendous parade floats are made entirely out of wax, carved with beautiful intricate details. The wax is infused and does not melt in the summer heat. The Candle Festival parade features, of course, the candle floats, along with music and traditional Thai dancers. One tip from the locals is that the floats are stored in a park just before and after the parade day. Rather than attend the parade many prefer to visit the park at dusk, when the blazing heat of the mid-summer day is cooling down and viewing the floats at their leisure. If you wish to experience the Candle Festival, book your hotel early. The hotels do fill for the Candle Festival. The Candle Festival marks the end of Buddhist Lent. Although the claim is that new candle floats are built every year, the locals will tell you that the reality is the floats are stored and the same ones are used every year. Night life is more laid back than cities such as Bangkok and Pattaya, but it can get wild. There are many pubs and bars. A disco is quite popular and it usually remains open until daylight. Getting to Ubon Ratchathani is easy by bus, railroad, and airline. If you wish to drive a car, the roads are good. Within Ubon there is plenty of local public transportation. The buses and trains are mostly locals and do make stops, so you can expect the trip to take about 10 hours or so. The overnight railroad service has first, second, and third class service. The first class sleepers are excellent. Ubon can be a good jumping off point for a visa run to Laos or simply a trip to Laos. There is good bus service located near the Big-C. The trip takes about an hour and the fare is 200 baht. Some of the sights to see in and around the Ubon area include: Kaeng Tana National Park – If you like the rapids, this is a good place to visit. The access roads are not in very good condition, but well worth a trip for enthusiasts. Ubon Ratchathani National Museum – This museum houses most of the important archeological artifacts that have been discovered in the Ubon Ratchathani province. Wat Chaeng – This Buddhist temple attracts tourists because it features some of the most beautiful and intricate wood carving to be found anywhere in Thailand. Wat Pa Nana Chat – This Buddhist temple is attractive to foreign Buddhists who wish to learn the art of Vipasana meditation. In February there is an annual Flower festival, including a parade with floats made from flowers. It is similar to the Candle Festival, except this time it’s flower floats. October is a good month to visit Ubon Ratchathani. There are boat races and an illuminated boat parade along the river. You will also find romantic floating dinners along the river. There is an abundance of nature trails, waterfalls, hiking trails, etc. throughout the Ubon Ratchathani province.

The administration of any school is going to be a part of any educator's daily life. That's just as true when teaching abroad as it is at home. You may even start out as an international educator, and get promoted into administration. Admins can be very helpful, particularly for teachers who have just moved into a new country. But they can also ruin the experience for everyone if they don't know how to deal with people. The way admins interact with educators is incredibly important. When done right, it will make the school a better place. When done wrong, they will make it hell on earth. With that in mind, I wanted to create a brief guide to how admins should interact with teachers on staff. · Never belittle them. Everyone has to start somewhere, and not everyone can be good at everything. Trying to make a teacher feel bad is not going to improve their performance. Instead, praise them for what they are doing well and then suggest improvements. They'll much more likely accomplish what you want them to do. · Do not ever correct or criticize them in front of the students. A teacher is only effective if he or she has the respect of their charges. If students see an admin correct a teacher, they will lose respect for them and make their teaching job considerably more difficult. · Treat men and women equally. There can be a tendency in some cultures to interact differently with female staff members than with male ones. Remember that English-speaking teachers tend to come from countries with social equality for men and women, and will not react well to being treated differently. · Do not bring up their lifestyle choices. If they are married or single, straight or gay, or somewhere in between is not any of your business. That is their personal life and is not something you should discuss with them. · Never raise your voice when interacting with them. If you feel the need to yell, you have already lost the moral high ground of your argument. · Do not use offensive language. There is never any need to use language that could be considered defamatory or obscene. You would not accept that from students, so you shouldn't practice it yourself. · Do not make teachers feel dumb for asking what you think is a “simple” question. Remember that they are often new to your culture and your school, and you want them to ask questions before they make mistakes. · Be very aware of your body language when you talk to teachers. It is easy for things to start to feel threatening without you realizing it. · Do be as patient as possible. A school is a place of learning for everyone, students and teachers alike. Helping people become better teachers in a respectful way is good for your school and your career. Lastly, understand that every teacher and administrator has to put on different hats at different times and that we will all be both a teacher and an administrator during the same school year. Teachers take on roles that help the school in an administrative capacity and vice versa. We are all in this together and that is the only way a school will ever be successful! cc InternationalEducators.com

Not everything is always roses when it comes to being an international educator. Many people have great experiences, but some of them crash and burn – quickly and spectacularly. While we like to encourage people to teach abroad, there are people who simply don't have a chance at being successful. Anyone who has taught abroad has seen this happen to people,and can generally pick out who is going to flame out after just a few days into the semester. Let's take a look at the seven types of people who fail miserably at teaching internationally: 1. The person who is looking for love. They are not really interested in teaching. They read “Eat, Pray, Love” or “How Stella Got Her Grove Back,” and figure they will find all sorts of romantic adventures and maybe even a husband or wife. This never, ever works. It's bad for the person, it's bad for the kids and it leads to heartbreak. 2. The person whose spouse isn't into it. If you are going to be moving with your spouse, they need to be just as excited about the whole situation as you are. If they are not it will hurt your relationship, you'll be distracted from teaching, and things simply won't go well. This happens often if the spouse doesn't also have work in the country, and has a lot of time on their hands to either be bored or have a million affairs with the locals while you are at work. 3. The racist xenophobe. If you think your home country is the best in the world and want to tell the world about it – and not learn how to respect other cultures – you are doomed. You'll be hated and you won't do your job right. Plus, you'll be miserable. No one cares that your country does this or that better. 4. The person who is prone to addiction. Drug and alcohol problems are super common in expat communities. You'll have many chances to abuse both, and if you are susceptible to addiction problems you'll have a really hard time resisting them. 5. The religious zealot. Different cultures practice their religions differently. Even if you are of the same faith, there are doing to be some differences. Remember, you are not teaching abroad to be an evangelical. If you can't be religiously flexible, you'll have a problem. 6. The stuck-in-their-ways person. If you are only comfortable teaching one way, you will have issues. Your new school will have different teaching standards based on their local culture. You can't simply teach the same way abroad as you do at home. If you can't adapt, you won't survive long. 7. The person trying to run away from their problems at home. There is an old expat saying: “If an asshole gets on a plane at home, an asshole gets off the plane abroad.” Teaching in and learning about a new culture is going to be really challenging. If you are just doing so to avoid personal problems or mental health issues, they are not going to magically go away simply by teaching abroad. cc InternationalEducators.com

Why do some people choose to become international educators? After all, it's far easier to just live life in the country you were raised in, surrounded by people with whom you share a common culture. Yet every year, thousands of people choose to teach abroad. And contrary to popular myth they aren't secret CIA agents, or trying to run from the law or evade taxes. (And if they are, they aren't talking about it!) So, what are the reasons why people choose to become international educators? They vary, but here are the best and most common reasons. · They feel stagnated in their current job. They may feel that they are caught in a loop at their current school, and not growing as an educator. There is no way for them to advance their skills. Going to a completely new environment is a great way to move forward with a career. · They want to learn new teaching methods. Teaching the same way year after year can be a drag. But trying to come up with new teaching methods at their current school and get them approved by the administration may be difficult. By going abroad, they will be forced to try new teaching methods and become re-energized. · They are tired of large classes. Class size in American schools is growing all the time. It makes it very difficult to reach most of their students. International schools tend to have much smaller class sizes, making it easier to connect with students on a one-on-one basis. · They want to learn about new cultures. Teachers don't simply want to teach – they want to be constantly learning, too! But that gets harder as you get older. Going to a completely new culture forces you to learn new things and grow as a person. It allows your education to be continuous. · They need a lifestyle change. Many people who teach abroad weren't teachers in their former careers. They worked in offices, and realized they had skills they could share but did not like the life they were leading. They may have been successful in their careers, but want to do something new. · It's time for a life reboot. After a divorce or the death of a parent, some people need to get away from their current situation and clear their heads. Going abroad is a way to give themselves space and start a new part of their life without being surrounded by things that will remind them of the past. · They are ready to see the world. Sometimes people realize that life is short, and they want to experience more while they are still young. This is a way to make that happen without going into a lot of debt. · They want to bulk up their resume in order to have better career options in the future. Teaching is becoming more and more competitive. To get the good teaching posts, you need to stand out from the crowd. Having international teaching experience on your resume will go a long way to making your credential look more and more impressive to school boards. · They are rogue CIA agents. As noted before this is rare, but if you are in this situation you can use any of the reasons above to buffer your cover story. cc InternationalEducators.com

Nothing in life is perfect – and this is just as true about international teaching as it is for anything else. While you can have a great experience, there are also some landmines that you want to avoid. With that in mind, we spent some time talking to experienced international educators and asked them what were the most common problems they or other educators they knew have faced. Knowing about these challenges ahead of time can help you avoid them and increase your chances of having a great experience. · Issues with alcohol. In many countries, socializing for the English speaking community will center around hanging out in pubs and bars. They are a great place to meet people – but they can easily become a habit. This can lead to drinking much more than you would back home. While they are a great starting point to meeting people, try to make sure that your interactions lead to doing things that don't involve booze as well. And, if you are working in the Middle East, there are places that alcohol is banned and to bring it in or be caught with it can lead to jail time, deportation or worst. · Stressful romances. The expat community you are entering will be a much more closed community than you realize at first. As a newbie, you'll probably find yourself getting a fair amount of attention. But you'll also become the subject of gossip. And there is often a ton of drama involved. Pick your dating partners carefully, and make sure you know the back story of the person so you don't get in the middle of a love triangle. · Accidentally violating local customs. Some local customs are well known and obvious. But some are subtler. If you end up violating a local custom, it can come back to haunt you. Do as much cultural research as you possibly can before you go to your assignment. · Food allergies. You are likely going to be eating a bunch of stuff you never have before, and that could cause you to stumble upon a food allergy you never knew you had. If you find yourself feeling sick after a meal, try to see a doctor as soon as possible and keep track of what you eat. · Money problems. If you are dealing with a new currency, figuring out and keeping track of how much it is worth can be a real challenge. It can be very easy to overspend and end up having a bunch of financial issues that will haunt you for a while. Install a currency converter on your phone, and use it whenever you buy anything. · A lack of respect from students. Students may realize that since you are new to the area, you might be clueless about some things. They may use that to take advantage of you. They will certainly test you when you first turn up! Be strong, and don't let them rule the roost. · Pickpockets. Pickpockets are not much of a problem in America, but they are common in other countries. Always pay close attention to all of your belongings, or you will end up a target. In some South American countries, you need to especially pay attention to this at the beaches. · Visa Issues. You must learn the visa process for entering and leaving your new home. Sometimes, there are rigorous procedures in place to leave and to enter. Sometimes, you must leave after so many days or months. Know what the process is before you take the job and determine if you are willing to live with those obstacles. · Transportation. While you are not in your home country, you may still be able to drive while abroad. Check out the rules for driving, buying a car or motorcycle, etc. before you take a new job. In some countries, women are not allowed to drive but in others the driver’s license can be very easy for anyone to get. Plan ahead and you will be happy that you did. · Shopping. You may be use to running to Walmart and getting everything you need, but many countries this is not the case. Some will have small mom and pop places and often the locals make things very hard to find if you don’t know where you are going. Take the essential things with you that you need for an extended stay, but plan ahead. cc InternationalEducators.com

I am currently in Saudi Arabia. I love Rio though and have been there at least 50 times over the years. I hear great things about the American School of Rio. Isn't that in Barra? I always stayed in Sao Conrado for many years at the Intercontinental Hotel there until they sold to another company.

Teaching abroad is great once you get the job. But the hoops you have to jump through to get the contract can be a super pain the tush. Of those hoops, the worst for everyone involved is the demo lesson. I've never met anyone involved on either side of the hiring aisle who's able to explain what the benefit is of a demo lesson, but it's something schools have done for so long that it has become standard. But even though it may be pointless exercise overall, it can influence whether or not you get a job offer. With that in mind, here are some tips on dealing with the demo lesson: · Find out if you can do it over Skype or another video service. It's a hassle for everyone to do it in person and given the current state of technology, there is no reason at all you should have to head down to a random office to do it. · Ask what the level of English is going to be for the practice students that the school has selected. If they've just grabbed a bunch of colleagues who don't speak any English, your demo lesson will be very different than if they are going to put you in front of near-fluent English speakers. · Set in advance how long the demo lesson will take. About 30 minutes should be good, but see if can be even shorter. Let's face it – the people taking the demo lesson are even less interested in it than you are. · Ask if there is a particular structure for the demo lesson that would appeal to them. Everyone has their own way of doing things, so it's best to get a sense of what will be expected of you. · Inquire about how many practice students will be involved in the demo lesson. Obviously you'll want to set up a different lesson plan depending on whether you'll be talking to three people or 50. · If you are doing the demo lesson from home, remove all distractions from around your camera. If your cat jumps on your head in the middle of the demo lesson, it will make you look less than professional. · Ask them if you can see examples of demo lessons they have liked in the past. This will help you figure out their overall expectations and what they want to see from you. · Make sure the teaching package they may offer you is worth it before you agree to the demo lesson. There is nothing more pointless than taking the time to prepare a demo lesson, only to realize that you are not willing to work for the school if they do offer you a job! cc InternationalEducators.com

Hello Renan! Welcome. I love Rio. What school do you work at there? Where are you from originally?

Teaching abroad can be a wonderful experience, or it could be the absolute worst! The difference will come down to various factors, but one of the most important will be the terms of your employment. Some schools offer great packages. Some offer terrible packages. And some can wind up serving up a great deal if you stand up for yourself – and ask for it in writing before you go. To make sure you don't get stuck sucked into an awful contract, here's some of the things you should look and ask for before you sign your contract with an international school. · Can I get my salary in dollars, pounds or euros? This is very important if you are working in a third-world country that could devalue its currency at any time. You want to make sure you are paid in a solid, dependable currency. · Will I have to get my own apartment? Some schools will provide you with lodging. Some will not. If not, you need to find out how hard it will be to find a place to live and what it will cost. You don't want to end up in a situation where housing near the school is so expensive that you have to get a place far out of town and spend a long time commuting every day. · If they provide lodging, what will the details be like? This is very important. Some schools do provide housing, but in situations that are... let' say, less than ideal. Will you be stuck with a roommate who is assigned to you? Is the housing in a bad area where you will be worried about crime? Even worse is if you have a place that requires you to come home before a certain time of night. All of these are problems international teachers have faced. Find out if they pay for expenses like utilities, internet and water. Some will say they do this but be sure it is in the contract. · Will I have to get involved in extra curricular activities, and if so, to what extent? One nightmare many international teachers have found themselves in is a light teaching load, but they're obligated to take part in a lot of extra curricular programs that eat away at their free time – without getting any extra pay. Some like the extra curricular work, but for others it's a drag. You need to know exactly what will be expected of your time – all of your time. · Will they hold my passport? Schools that have a bad reputation often insist on holding their international employees' passports. This is so they can't just quit when they realize they don't like the job. Do not EVER accept a contract from a school that will ask for your passport. · Will they help me with my visa and other paperwork requirements? In some countries, the paperwork can be very confusing and time consuming. You want a school that will help you through the process so that everything runs smoothly. Getting a visa and setting up a bank account so you can get paid are generally the most difficult paperwork jobs, and ones you really want the school to help you with. · Will they pay to fly me home for the holidays? Many people don't even think about this, but it is a perk many schools will offer – if you ask for it. It can save you a lot of money and make sure you aren't lonely during the school breaks. · Can I use my own curriculum? Some schools will let you, and some will not. If they will not let you, ask them what their curriculum is so that you can feel certain you will be comfortable with their teaching methods. · What kind of settling in allowance will I be getting? If the apartment is unfurnished, you will need some to get it set up. Many international schools have fully furnished apartments and the need for a big allowance to settle in is not needed. Still many will give you money to get you started in the country. Ask the school what, if any, allowance you get and how long after you arrive before getting it. · What kind of medical insurance will I be getting? Ask for a copy of the terms of medical insurance, particularly to check if preexisting conditions and maternity are covered. One last thing, if you need regular medication make sure it's available, you'd be surprised what can appear on the banned list. If you are from the USA, make sure that coverage is provided Worldwide, INCLUDING the USA. Some policies do not include coverage in the USA and some do. If you are traveling home for the summer, this is important! cc InternationalEducators.com

There are hundreds of schools around the world looking for English speaking teachers. But at the same time, there are many people who want international teaching positions. If you want to get a job, you'll have to work for it. That means figuring out exactly what the directors of international schools are looking for so you can make yourself as attractive an applicant as possible. In this essay, we are going to talk about some of the main factors that can help you stand out from the crowd. · Let them know you are interested in learning about the local culture. They don't want someone who simply wants to teach abroad, but someone who is going to make an effort to become part of their community. If you aren't interested in their culture, you are not going to fit in and will be a less effective teacher. · Demonstrate that you have learned part of their language or are making an effort to do so. Being able to speak at least a bit of the local language will make it easier for you to find ways to communicate with teachers and staff. · Show them that you are flexible about teaching methods. The truth is, teaching methods that work in one country or region might not work in a different one. So they need to know that you will be able to adjust to the situation at hand and deal with whatever comes your way. · Talk about the school and ask questions. They want to know that you are interested in their particular school, and have made the effort to do some type of research – not simply contacting every school on a long list. · Gets lots of letters of recommendation. The last thing they want is someone from thousands of miles away turning up and being a screw-up. They are taking a huge chance on you, so give them a reason to have trust in you. · Go through your Facebook photos and delete any that make you look like a party animal. One of the huge problems international employers have is people who want to work abroad simply so they can spend time partying, hooking up, and generally being a hot mess. They want serious professionals. · Talk to them about any other talents you have beyond English. That makes you seem more flexible and a greater school asset. Even if it is something like juggling or playing the guitar, it adds to your value to the school and helps you stand out. · Be fun and friendly! They want to know that you won't get super lonely and freak out once you turn up, so make it seem like you can make friends easily. That will help your chances quite a bit. cc InternationalEducators.com

No, I am not in the USA. Right now, I am in the Middle East. We also have MAP testing but 2 times per year. We grade based on many things but nothing what you talk about in the primary years. Have you decided to stay in USA or go abroad once again?

Welcome! Tests in Kindergarten? I have not heard of that before. Assessments yes, but testing, never. What kinds of tests are they having?