So now, let's get the big question everyone has been asking out of the way - "Where are you guys going next?" And the truth is, we don't know. (As of May 22nd) Our thought process has been this:
A) Mexico. Ella has some leads on a university position there. Pros: Good food, cheap, close to the US. Visa process is super easy. Cons: Low salary. We'll have to make sure areas we travel to are safe.
B) Japan. We both want to work there. Pros: Safe, modern, easy for me to get a job. Cons: Expensive. Visa process for Ella is difficult.
C) China (Likely Guangzhou). We both can find jobs there. Pros: Safe, huge modern city. High salary. Near Hong Kong. No visa issues. Cons: We've been to China before.
So we're going to try in that order. If A or B works out, great. If not, C is always an option. In truth the salaries in China are really skyrocketing, so from a financial standpoint I think that would be our best bet. And we've never been to Guangzhou before. That's such a massive collection of large cities in one place (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Macau, Hong Kong), it could finally be the big city atmosphere I miss from Bangkok (Yes, I know how that sounds). However, I also really want to live in Japan. Because it's just weird enough to intrigue me.
But let's wrap things up for Thailand. Wait, didn't I do this before? Yes, I did! Back in June 2015, when I tried to leave Thailand for the first time. But this stupid awesome country pulled me back, and now I'm stuck saying goodbye for the 2nd time. For all the right reasons however! This time I get to leave it with my best friend, and I am really sure that it is time to move on. So, let's click on the link together and stroll down memory lane as to what I thought of Thailand a few years ago.
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Alright, actually I pretty much agree with everything that I said there. I'm not sure I have much more to add, so let's leave it at that. Seeya!
Alright, I am going to give them some credit in that they made the 90 day check in much easier than it used to be. In fact, you can do it online now. Still, the immigration system is a bit complicated. China and Taiwan do it better, amazingly. As far as positive things, lets remove the one about police officers being helpful. I really lucked out the first year I was here, because after that I got to experience just how annoying they can be. Despite my US Driver's License being valid (according to their government, and my embassy), it turns out the beat cops just don't care. Your choice is either to pay a $10 bribe, or spend a day in the police station getting it cleared. Ugh.
I will say that I certainly never expected I would be here this long. Hell, I was a bit surprised I made it a year. In the back of my mind I always thought that I would give it a go and then go running back to Taiwan, but it's been a wild ride. During my time here, I've visited all four neighboring countries, made it back to China and the US, a sort of trip to Vietnam, plus two trips to Singapore. Not bad for three years, which I can attribute to Thailand's infectious love of time off. I've gone through periods here of working the hardest ever (teaching two jobs while getting my Master's Degree) versus months of no obligations (pretty much my life since February). It truly is an amazing place that you can lose yourself for weeks and months at a time, palling around different beaches, jungles, mountains, and cities without a care in the world. And while I've pretty much explored every noteworthy corner of Thailand, there are still far many more undocumented (in English) villages and other interesting sites only the locals would know about.
So, if you ever find yourself at a crossroads in your life, I can't recommend Thailand more highly. Take a few weeks off and "find yourself", for lack of a better cliche. Wander aimlessly without hurry, and you'll probably find a few incredible experiences while consequently forgetting about all your worries. Try not to take things seriously (they certainly don't). It's easier said than done, but the Thai attitude towards life has been sort of starting to rub off on me, which is a great thing. Take things as they come, don't sweat the small (or large) things, and "Sabai sabai".
With that said, let's take a look back at my favorite Thai photos, minus the first year.
I'll miss you Thailand. You're one of the few countries where I can definitely say, I know I'll be back one day. (As a tourist)
