Crash and Burn?
Crash and Burn?
Hello All,
I'll be coming to Cambodia within the next 3 weeks, and I have about $1000 to my name. I'm currently working on my TEFL, but I do have tutoring experience and have worked abroad last year. I'm wondering what are my chances of finding work once I arrive. This is my main concern, because I only have $1000. This is my plan:
*Pay for 3 month visa on arrival= ~ $100
*Find apartment that's decent =~ $150 + first month's deposit
*Food for a month =~ $100
*Bills $40
During the first month I'll be working online, which will give me about $250-450 per month. This is not always steady, but it will cover rent and food.
Because I do have experience, and right now enrolled in a TEFL program,in addition to finishing my degree in teaching, will I actually be hired? I don't have those things right as of this moment. So, I'm not sure about my chances.
I'm also not white. I'm not in a position to save more money. I have to be gone from here by June 1st.
I will have a good 12K coming in a couple of months, but that's in a couple of months. So, I'll only have to do this for about 2-3 months. What are my chances?
TL;DR
Only $1000
No Tefl (half way completed)
No Degree (half way completed)
1 Year of Experience
Not White
I'll be coming to Cambodia within the next 3 weeks, and I have about $1000 to my name. I'm currently working on my TEFL, but I do have tutoring experience and have worked abroad last year. I'm wondering what are my chances of finding work once I arrive. This is my main concern, because I only have $1000. This is my plan:
*Pay for 3 month visa on arrival= ~ $100
*Find apartment that's decent =~ $150 + first month's deposit
*Food for a month =~ $100
*Bills $40
During the first month I'll be working online, which will give me about $250-450 per month. This is not always steady, but it will cover rent and food.
Because I do have experience, and right now enrolled in a TEFL program,in addition to finishing my degree in teaching, will I actually be hired? I don't have those things right as of this moment. So, I'm not sure about my chances.
I'm also not white. I'm not in a position to save more money. I have to be gone from here by June 1st.
I will have a good 12K coming in a couple of months, but that's in a couple of months. So, I'll only have to do this for about 2-3 months. What are my chances?
TL;DR
Only $1000
No Tefl (half way completed)
No Degree (half way completed)
1 Year of Experience
Not White
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[quote="LexusSchmexus"]WHY ARE YOU GOING TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY WITH ONLY $1000 TO YOUR NAME? Wait for the 12k to come in. What's the rush? And why don't you also finish your degree while you're at it?[/quote]
The $1000 will last longer there than in the states. Again, I'm not in a position to wait for that money. I have to be out of my current residence by June 1st. My degree can be finished online, all I need is my laptop. Besides, I'd rather gain more experience with something that I'm going to be doing for the next 10-15 years. I hope that cleared some of that up for you?
The $1000 will last longer there than in the states. Again, I'm not in a position to wait for that money. I have to be out of my current residence by June 1st. My degree can be finished online, all I need is my laptop. Besides, I'd rather gain more experience with something that I'm going to be doing for the next 10-15 years. I hope that cleared some of that up for you?
You will probably be bored, with balls the size of watermelons. I'm sure you've heard the phrase 'no money no honey'. Or u could go for a 10 buck glue sniffer if u fancy a slice of that pie.
Yesterday I drove a tuk tuk and I saw some 50+ y.o. American scanning the garbage bins in front of the palace. I'm sure his idea was his money would last much longer too.
You're right, 1000$ lasts longer here than back home, but unless you have excellent qualifications, a great idea or you're really well connected it's much tougher to make a 1000$ too. The 1000$ you'll bring will last a month, maybe two, maybe even three months, but they might also last a week if you get some nasty disease or some 3000 kg SUV or something else will run into you. I wouldn't test my luck in PP with no return ticket, no teaching license, no special qualifications whatsoever, no connections, no medical insurance but with 900$ in my pocket (100$ spend on visa, remember? BTW, there's no 3 month visa available on arrival).
<edit>
One more thing, Cambodians in general do have 'issues' with black people. It's a major handicap when applying. Not sure if it applies to you, but you mentioned 'not white'.
</edit>
You're right, 1000$ lasts longer here than back home, but unless you have excellent qualifications, a great idea or you're really well connected it's much tougher to make a 1000$ too. The 1000$ you'll bring will last a month, maybe two, maybe even three months, but they might also last a week if you get some nasty disease or some 3000 kg SUV or something else will run into you. I wouldn't test my luck in PP with no return ticket, no teaching license, no special qualifications whatsoever, no connections, no medical insurance but with 900$ in my pocket (100$ spend on visa, remember? BTW, there's no 3 month visa available on arrival).
<edit>
One more thing, Cambodians in general do have 'issues' with black people. It's a major handicap when applying. Not sure if it applies to you, but you mentioned 'not white'.
</edit>
If you do decide to risk coming here with only $1000, make sure you at least have comprehensive travel insurance!
If you want to find a cheap place to stay until you do have money coming in, consider sharing an apartment with others, there's usually people looking for flatmates here... https://www.facebook.com/groups/PPhousing/?ref=browser
EDIT: By no means am I encouraging you to come here with $1k bucks to your name, but you sound determined, so may as well offer a little assistance.
If you want to find a cheap place to stay until you do have money coming in, consider sharing an apartment with others, there's usually people looking for flatmates here... https://www.facebook.com/groups/PPhousing/?ref=browser
EDIT: By no means am I encouraging you to come here with $1k bucks to your name, but you sound determined, so may as well offer a little assistance.
I'm not a negative person, I encourage people all the time...it's usually to f**k off! But, whatever.
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- Making Khmer girls cry since 2003
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What makes you so sure that you'll definitely be getting $12,000 in 2-3 months? Money that is promised or anticipated often doesn't arrive as the recipient expects.
Follow my lame Twitter feed: @gavin_mac
$1,000 saved? The Teflers get that once a month and go back to $0 before next payday so you should be fine if you can get a teaching gig right away.
"Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach, teach English."
Credit Jacked Camry & LTO
Credit Jacked Camry & LTO
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Besides the aforementioned travel insurance...
Do you have a way to get home if you run out of money and end up on the street? If yes, then go for it... If no, then, I would seriously reconsider.
Do you have a way to get home if you run out of money and end up on the street? If yes, then go for it... If no, then, I would seriously reconsider.
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We've had a few prior threads asking "Should I move to Cambodia with limited funds?" The last one is here:
Difficulty of finding ESL teaching job in Phnom Penh
Difficulty of finding ESL teaching job in Phnom Penh
Follow my lame Twitter feed: @gavin_mac
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Let's go through a reality check:I only have $1000. This is my plan:
*Pay for 3 month visa on arrival= ~ $100
*Find apartment that's decent =~ $150 + first month's deposit
*Food for a month =~ $100
*Bills $40
During the first month I'll be working online, which will give me about $250-450 per month. This is not always steady, but it will cover rent and food.
Because I do have experience, and right now enrolled in a TEFL program,in addition to finishing my degree in teaching, will I actually be hired? I don't have those things right as of this moment. So, I'm not sure about my chances.
Asher arrives at the airport: 100$ visa=900$
Tuktuk ride to the city: 6-8$=892$
Guesthouse for 3 days: 5$/day MINIMUM=877$--862$
Food for three days: 9$/day MINIMUM=850$
Hunting for an apartment/motodops: 6$=844$
Apartment+deposit: 300$=544$
Internet connection hookup: 35$=509$
Food for one month: 120$=389$
Job hunt motodops/bicycle:10-40$=379$
Potential clothes purchases for job hunt: 30$=349$
Misc purchases (cooking equipment/house items): 25$=324$
Inevitable beer/restaurant/coffee: 25$=299$
Laundry: 25$=274$
Phone (assuming you already have one): 5$=269$
INCOME: 250$=519$
Rent+utilities: 175$=344$
Food:
Internet:
Laundry:
Transportation:
...
As you see, it would only be possible to last a month and a half or two tops... These figures are very conservative and rent can easily be 200$-250$ as 150$ places are quite hard to come by now (unless you want a total K-style place). Lots of other expenditures could be higher. Given your total lack of qualifications, I'm not sure finding a job would be that quick or easy. How will you go back home? I honestly don't get it. Finding a menial job that pays the bills is pretty easy in the west. We have enough penniless foreigners washing up on the shores here who end up homeless and on the streets, we don't need another one. Try to accumulate a small cushion (minimum $3000-4000 I'd say) before heading over. In my opinion, one should always maintain the minimum dollar figure for an emergency flight back home in one's bank account (given that I didn't even put in health insurance in your addition). Your $1000 probably doesn't even cover that. My 2c.
Last edited by LexusSchmexus on Sat May 23, 2015 9:59 am, edited 2 times in total.
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