If you’re considering moving abroad and becoming an expat, it is very important to make sure you pick the right location before making the big move.
An expat spoke exclusively to GB News on why he picked Thailand as his destination of choice.
Sidney George has lived in Thailand for the last three years after stopping in the country for a few days.
He explained: “I’d been lucky enough to visit when I was younger and already knew how much I loved the country. I started looking into ways to stay and I now work [here] as a teacher.”
The expat has lived in Thailand for the past three years
Instagram/SidneyyGeorge
One of the main appeals the expat noticed was how safe Thailand is.
Sidney said: “It is one of the safest places I’ve lived. There’s very little violent crime, and I never feel uneasy walking around, even late at night.
“Everything is easy. Transport is cheap and efficient, food is affordable and delivered straight to your door, and life is designed to be stress-free.”
The people in Thailand are “incredibly kind and welcoming” which is shaped by the “values of their culture”.
Despite sounding like paradise, Sidney did encounter some problems. He said: “It’s hard to pinpoint negatives, but for me, the challenge is my salary.”
The expat, who works in Thailand as a teacher, is not yet fully qualified as a British QTS teacher, which limits his earnings.
Sidney said: “I don’t save much money here, which makes me worry about things like family emergencies or having proper insurance. That’s why I’m also exploring content creation and other ventures.”
For people considering moving abroad to Thailand, make sure you “do your research”.
The expat advised: “A lot of people move here thinking they can do any job, or they’ll start a social media channel and blow up overnight.
“That’s not how it works. Most jobs are reserved for Thai people, and the options for foreigners are pretty limited, English teaching is the most common.”
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The expat encouraged people to do their research before moving abroad
Instagram/SidneyyGeorge
People need to understand that living in Thailand is different from being on holiday. Sidney said: “It’s amazing, but most of my weekdays look the same as they would anywhere else. I go to work, hit the gym, and relax at home.
“Location doesn’t change your routine. You see people on TikTok pretending to work from a laptop on the beach – it’s all rubbish. The reality is, you’ll probably be in an office or at home working on a computer.”
People need to make sure they “respect the culture” of Thailand too and recognise that “things work differently” there.
Sidney said: “Sometimes things won’t make sense to you, but you just have to go with it.”
