List of concerns with regard to a sudden move to Cambodia?

by **whiteboy** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 11:42 am

That's the official line, but in practice I have heard reports that the schools will often say " do you have a degree?"

"No"

" well, can you get one? Meaning, can you get a copy from Koh San Rd so I can tick this box here on my form and make some money out of you?

Certainly the bigger schools like ILA, APOLLO, VUS, VAS etc like you to have a CELTA or TESOL etc as well, but I have known people to work for them that didn't. A degree is all the law stipulates.

Are some of these bigger schools that you listed above spread out throughout SEA, with schools in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, or do the English schools in SEA tend to stick to one country?

This is something I have always wondered about because here in NEA, I have seen English schools start out in Japan and branch out to China and vice versa.

by **Mr Lovejuice** » Sat Apr 09, 2016 10:45 am

whiteboy wrote:
Mr Lovejuice wrote:
Phuket2006 wrote:"you can earn 4- 5000$ per year there."

who makes 1500-2000/month teaching English with ZERO credentials?
It's not so difficult if your a good teacher, and you don't need qualifications for that. Once in a language school they will keep you if the students like you. I also forgot to mention that in Vietnam the teachers don't have to mark exams, write the whole curriculum or the 3 term exams for no pay like you do here. Min wage in Vietnam is 15 in the cities , normally 18 - 22ph . My mate is on 35.

It isn't like Cambodia or even Thailand. From what I hear about teaching in Thailand they take the piss a bit too.

You can get a job at Westline for 1250 p m here, but with all the extra hours for exams, etc mentioned above and Saturday meetings all unpaid. Works out with public holidays and term breaks less than $2 p h in real terms. Of course you then have to half that again because the locals get a laugh of charging you double for just about everything but beer.

I was recently drinking large bottles of imported Tiger (aprx 1.5 pints) in a tourist restaurant in HCM for slightly less than $1 per bottle.
I read that to work in Vietnam, the government requires all English teachers to have a BA degree and maybe certifications as well?

I haven't done extensive research on Vietnam, but I know that Thailand has become pretty strict over the years, so I started to set my sights on Cambodia.

So far, my plan is to maybe just live in Cambodia while it is really cold here in Japan during the winter and return to Japan for the remainder of the year.

I read that to work in Vietnam, the government requires all English teachers to have a BA degree and maybe certifications as well?

That's the official line, but in practice I have heard reports that the schools will often say " do you have a degree?"

"No"

" well, can you get one? Meaning, can you get a copy from Koh San Rd so I can tick this box here on my form and make some money out of you?

Certainly the bigger schools like ILA, APOLLO, VUS, VAS etc like you to have a CELTA or TESOL etc as well, but I have known people to work for them that didn't. A degree is all the law stipulates.

So far, my plan is to maybe just live in Cambodia while it is really cold here in Japan during the winter and return to Japan for the remainder of the year.

It's about 1 or 2 degrees cooler in HCMC than PP. PP heat I find quite oppressive. HCM not as much.

Sounds like you will have time to check both cities out before making a decision.

by **whiteboy** » Fri Apr 08, 2016 11:33 am

Mr Lovejuice wrote:
Phuket2006 wrote:"you can earn 4- 5000$ per year there."

who makes 1500-2000/month teaching English with ZERO credentials?
It's not so difficult if your a good teacher, and you don't need qualifications for that. Once in a language school they will keep you if the students like you. I also forgot to mention that in Vietnam the teachers don't have to mark exams, write the whole curriculum or the 3 term exams for no pay like you do here. Min wage in Vietnam is 15 in the cities , normally 18 - 22ph . My mate is on 35.

It isn't like Cambodia or even Thailand. From what I hear about teaching in Thailand they take the piss a bit too.

You can get a job at Westline for 1250 p m here, but with all the extra hours for exams, etc mentioned above and Saturday meetings all unpaid. Works out with public holidays and term breaks less than $2 p h in real terms. Of course you then have to half that again because the locals get a laugh of charging you double for just about everything but beer.

I was recently drinking large bottles of imported Tiger (aprx 1.5 pints) in a tourist restaurant in HCM for slightly less than $1 per bottle.

I read that to work in Vietnam, the government requires all English teachers to have a BA degree and maybe certifications as well?

I haven't done extensive research on Vietnam, but I know that Thailand has become pretty strict over the years, so I started to set my sights on Cambodia.

So far, my plan is to maybe just live in Cambodia while it is really cold here in Japan during the winter and return to Japan for the remainder of the year.

by **Mr Lovejuice** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 6:57 pm

Phuket2006 wrote:"you can earn 4- 5000$ per year there."

who makes 1500-2000/month teaching English with ZERO credentials?

It's not so difficult if your a good teacher, and you don't need qualifications for that. Once in a language school they will keep you if the students like you. I also forgot to mention that in Vietnam the teachers don't have to mark exams, write the whole curriculum or the 3 term exams for no pay like you do here. Min wage in Vietnam is 15 in the cities , normally 18 - 22ph . My mate is on 35.

It isn't like Cambodia or even Thailand. From what I hear about teaching in Thailand they take the piss a bit too.

You can get a job at Westline for 1250 p m here, but with all the extra hours for exams, etc mentioned above and Saturday meetings all unpaid. Works out with public holidays and term breaks less than $2 p h in real terms. Of course you then have to half that again because the locals get a laugh of charging you double for just about everything but beer.

I was recently drinking large bottles of imported Tiger (aprx 1.5 pints) in a tourist restaurant in HCM for slightly less than $1 per bottle.

by **Phuket2006** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 1:30 pm

"you can earn 4- 5000$ per year there."

who makes 1500-2000/month teaching English with ZERO credentials?

by **Mr Lovejuice** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:36 pm

whiteboy wrote: Do people often steal even when there are CCTV's? One of my luggage bags is huge and is most likely too large for any of the lockers...unless there are places with big lockers?

My mate used to get one of those huge fiber-glass suitcases with the lips not zips. He put everything in that and locked it to the bed, or something solid, with a chain. In guest houses it would be rare for you to have your stuff nicked but the cleaning staff may take small items which you only find out about later when you need them. That's worse in Vietnam than here, but you can afford to replace them because they pay double for teaching.

Cambodia is a great place to come for a holiday to get away from the crazy traffic, well it used to be.Rush hour in Phnom Penh is no joke nowadays. Only 5 hours by bus from HCMC, Vietnam to PhnomPenh. But in general, a lot less traffic here and you can find more westernized beach facilities that are cool to hang out in (Otres , the Islands, Ream)

Also, you'll be able to afford a holiday if you work in Vietnam. Seriously, there is no debate about this in my mind.

Allow a couple of months to find your first job in either country. I'm just saving a couple of grand, so as I can get back there. It seems to be taking forever.

If your young ( under 50) and qualified (CELTA, degree), you can earn 4- 5000$ per year there. (2 schools and some privates).
If not got all those if you get enough hours about 1500-2000 per month.

by **Mr Lovejuice** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:21 pm

whiteboy wrote:I'm currently married and living in Japan, but in the near future I will get divorced and move to Cambodia to teach English there or work better jobs that might be available.

I'm aware that it is possible and cheap to apply for and buy a work visa when you arrive at the airport, but is immigration in Cambodia really strict? Will they be suspicious of me if I'm a US citizen that was married in Japan when they see things like my Japanese spouse visa in my wallet, etc.? It seems ridiculous, but I always want to know about a country's customs/immigration before I fly there.

I talked with a friend of a friend on a Skype call and he mentioned that it isn't easy to find English teaching jobs and that there is a lot of competition due to a flooding of foreigners...is this really the case?

Are there places where I would be able to use cheap/free wifi using my own laptop?

I have also read that people say that break-ins and robberies in the streets are common and to expect them? Is this true and is this the case for the big cities such as PP or SR? I have a really expensive laptop and a lot of luggage that I don't want to have stolen from me as soon as I leave the airport or a couple days/weeks down the road...

I'm have been to dangerous countries as a tourist before, but I have never lived in a dangerous country before (violent crime). I lived in China and only had one violent experience while living there almost 4 years. Would it be safe living in either Phnom Penh or Siem Reap?

Another big concern is the water/food/people. People living there have told me that I shouldn't worry about getting dengue fever or malaria from the mosquitoes in the big cities, but what about the bottled drinks? Is it easy to get Hepatitis A or B? Are there any other serious illnesses there I should worry about with regard to moving there? I have had my routine vaccinations (D-TAP) a little over a year ago, but not for Hep A,B, dengue, etc. Is this a really bad move or could I just cheaply have the vaccinations at a local clinic after my arrival?

Are there rabies-infected animals roaming the streets of PP or SR?

I'm apologize for all the questions, it is just because I'm most likely moving there on really short notice and nervous about it (possibly a little paranoid as well). I would appreciate any advice or help from anyone who is familiar with the country and its environment.

If your serious about earning a living teaching, go to Vietnam instead. Hard to save here, hospitals are bad and expensive even if you have health insurance that covers you when you need it. Easy to fall into a hole here if your not careful.

by **whiteboy** » Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:05 pm

Has anyone had a vaccination against a particular disease or infection and still got it anyway?

I have always wondered if maybe all these vaccinations aren't 100%. I know with rabies, you need boosters.

I will use this link with information on the typhoid vaccine as an example:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/typhoid/

I noticed that they are really vague about how many years the vaccinations protect you. I realize that the efficacy half-life is probably different depending on the person, which is probably why they mention vague time periods like "several years", etc.

by **BivaJao** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 5:05 am

[quote="MONEYBACKGUARANTEE"]You haven't lived until you've been beaten unconscious in the streets of Cambodia.[/quote]

Yes, I observe this. Always theives I think.

by **officialcambodia** » Sat Apr 02, 2016 12:57 am

finy wrote:If you're in Sihanoukville, make sure you have a metal door and windows.

Had dirty little hands through my windows a few times, and they robbed my neighbor.

Siem Reap seems to be better, but I'm in a big building.

You should just get a dongle.

Why Sihanoukville ?

by **whiteboy** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:04 pm

MONEYBACKGUARANTEE wrote:You haven't lived until you've been beaten unconscious in the streets of Cambodia.

That sounds terrible...has this happened to you?

by **DreadedDr** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 4:00 pm

Lucky Lucan wrote:I'm pretty sure bit was Typhoid, as in the extreme Salmonella sort of thing. Not Typhus, the tick thing. He hadn't been in the boonies much in years when that hit him.
What's with this TB test/ vaccine?

A late reply...

TB antibodies can be tested for by using the Tuberculin test. You've probably had it before. It is when you get a small paste under the skin and the Dr measures any inflammation about a week later. If the inflammation expands in this time, you have TB antibodies which means either you have been vaccinated or you have had a past TB infection. No inflammation means either no vaccination, no exposure OR active TB in process. I don't find this test too informative but alas it is scheduled in most health policies.

by **bipolar bear** » Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:17 am

On The Buses wrote:Why swap Japan for Cambodia?

And I think there you have it. What do you expect to get out of it, exactly?
Do the Pros and Cons List for staying or going to Cambodia before you do anything at all, would be my advice. It's a widely known technique for arriving at decisions but hardly anyone actually does it. Write that shit down in the columns. Weigh up whether getting on a plane from a first world country to a third world country is going to meet your needs both financially and emotionally.

by **On The Buses** » Sun Mar 27, 2016 9:01 am

Why swap Japan for Cambodia? Could you work in Japan and chill in Cambodia during the quiet teaching months? That's some thing I have in the back of my own mind.

At least try to get a Permanent Resident visa before you jack Japan in - that way you've got an 'in' any time you want to go back.

Health / medical isn't such a big deal for young folks, who think they will live for ever, but I'm a fossil, rapidly falling apart at the seams. Without a hefty health insurance policy it would be folly for me to reside in Cambodia for any length of time.

List of concerns with regard to a sudden move to Cambodia?

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