Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
@JamesAlexander89
Welcome to Cambodia.
It's a fantastic country at least to me.
Your skill set is fantastic and just what this country needs.
My friends build data-centers, as do I.
Banks, Embassies, Offices, Condos.
By all means get yourself a TEFL and start out teaching, but please don't limit yourself.
I can help you for sure - got all the contacts you need in this particular sub-set of the Construction Industry.
I'm not rich but then again I am not poor and I became here far more than I ever was due to the loyalty, commitment and respect shown by the Khmer people.
Come and bring your skills!!!
Welcome to Cambodia.
It's a fantastic country at least to me.
Your skill set is fantastic and just what this country needs.
My friends build data-centers, as do I.
Banks, Embassies, Offices, Condos.
By all means get yourself a TEFL and start out teaching, but please don't limit yourself.
I can help you for sure - got all the contacts you need in this particular sub-set of the Construction Industry.
I'm not rich but then again I am not poor and I became here far more than I ever was due to the loyalty, commitment and respect shown by the Khmer people.
Come and bring your skills!!!
- Cowshed Cowboy
- Expatriate
- Posts: 2033
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 4:25 pm
- Reputation: 978
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
When I visited SE Asia on a year out and decided it was where I wanted to live I went back to my home country and looked for a job with a multinational with operations in the region, best move I ever did and once you get that first job it opens far more possibilities. A couple of points, not everyone on a professional career path wants to relocate abroad and if you've spent a bit of time already in the region and liked it, companies will look on you as less of a risk in what can be an expensive relocation exercise for themselves. I'd be looking and approaching US companies in your field with operations in the more advanced economies in the region as your route in, get yourself established and if they expand in future years to the developing economies like Vietnam, Myanmar and possibly Cambodia you have more chance of being in the right place at the right time.
Your current plan is a potential disaster and within 6 months going down that route you'll realise it.
Your current plan is a potential disaster and within 6 months going down that route you'll realise it.
Yes sir, I can boogie, I can boogie, boogie, boogie all night long.
- cautious colin
- Expatriate
- Posts: 1199
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2017 9:47 am
- Reputation: 490
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
@JamesAlexander89
Whilst I agree with Cowshed about looking for a job in your current field, it is the most beneficial option but your original plan is also OK. Your current skills will also be valuable over here
As long as you have a safety net, if it doesn't work out you can always go back & with a bit more life experience to boot.
To those discouraging and saying to work until you retire or have a few mil in the bank, come on now. I came over here when I left my decent-paying job back at home when I was 23 & never looked back
Whilst I agree with Cowshed about looking for a job in your current field, it is the most beneficial option but your original plan is also OK. Your current skills will also be valuable over here
As long as you have a safety net, if it doesn't work out you can always go back & with a bit more life experience to boot.
To those discouraging and saying to work until you retire or have a few mil in the bank, come on now. I came over here when I left my decent-paying job back at home when I was 23 & never looked back
- JamesAlexander89
- Expatriate
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:03 am
- Reputation: 20
- Location: https://www.facebook.com/jimmyth3hat
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
I have been speaking with Dave personally via facebook messenger for a few weeks now. His videos are a slow and methodical but it gets thr job done. Thanks for the responsepissontheroof wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 4:25 am Here’s a start for you / this guy dave ..
Dave does cambodia , check him out .
- JamesAlexander89
- Expatriate
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:03 am
- Reputation: 20
- Location: https://www.facebook.com/jimmyth3hat
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
Thanks for the advice! I'm definitely not moving there for the party life although I loved partying in Thailand and vietnam on the island full moons lol. My mind and personality are way too strong to fall into that trap but the threat is very real I know. I'm more of a talk and get it for free type not a pay to play guy but I guess sometimes you gotta f what you gotta do?Soriya wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:02 amYour story sounds similar to mine. My family couldnt understand why i gave up a lucrative job and life to live here. But i am the happiest i have ever been. I wish you well. Dont fall into the drinking day and night and grab a hooker all the time scenario and i think you will love it. You see to many people go down the wrong path. Have a back up plan and enjoy yourself.JamesAlexander89 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:22 am Hello everyone,
My name is James and I currently live and work in San Jose, California, United States. I work as a data center and fiber optics technician in the silicon valley. I build server rooms and data centers, structured cabling, fiber optics, phone lines, access control and other security aspects involved in network infrastructure. After a three month vacation all around Asia at the beginning of this year I fell in love with the south east Asian culture, people, and way of life. Upon returning home to California I couldn't help but feel out of place and very unhappy back working in the tech industry.
I did some research and decided to earn my TEFL certification in my spare time while working my normal gig with the intent to teach English abroad. Now I am moving to Phnom Penh, Cambodia in January 2020 and would like to meet other expats and native locals. I do not have much support or understanding from my family and friends in my new life direction, they cannot begin to comprehend why I would leave the silicon valley and a great career to live in a third world country teaching English for a fraction of my current salary. My area of California is very obsessed with material acquisition and job title, it very much defines your life success in the silicon valley. Point being is that I would really like to meet some supportive like minded people in Phnom Penh when I arrive. I have become very passionate about teaching in these last few months and want to contribute to the community through teaching English.
I have already set up some interviews with schools and am quite confident in finding work but if anyone has some tips or pointers in terms of schools looking for teachers I would be more than happy to hear about it. Also if there are any opportunities to use my current tech and network infrastructure skills as a side occupation I would be very interested in knowing if that can be utilized in Cambodia.
I guess in conclusion I just would like to introduce myself to everyone in the community and I am looking forward to chatting and meeting with you!
thanks!
- JamesAlexander89
- Expatriate
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:03 am
- Reputation: 20
- Location: https://www.facebook.com/jimmyth3hat
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
Seen a lot of travelers go through that in Thailand I'm just not that guy I dont get emotionally attached even in the states. But point taken.
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
By all means have fun. I do. Just remember that scene can suck a man dry(literally pretty quick.JamesAlexander89 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:21 amThanks for the advice! I'm definitely not moving there for the party life although I loved partying in Thailand and vietnam on the island full moons lol. My mind and personality are way too strong to fall into that trap but the threat is very real I know. I'm more of a talk and get it for free type not a pay to play guy but I guess sometimes you gotta f what you gotta do?Soriya wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:02 amYour story sounds similar to mine. My family couldnt understand why i gave up a lucrative job and life to live here. But i am the happiest i have ever been. I wish you well. Dont fall into the drinking day and night and grab a hooker all the time scenario and i think you will love it. You see to many people go down the wrong path. Have a back up plan and enjoy yourself.JamesAlexander89 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:22 am Hello everyone,
My name is James and I currently live and work in San Jose, California, United States. I work as a data center and fiber optics technician in the silicon valley. I build server rooms and data centers, structured cabling, fiber optics, phone lines, access control and other security aspects involved in network infrastructure. After a three month vacation all around Asia at the beginning of this year I fell in love with the south east Asian culture, people, and way of life. Upon returning home to California I couldn't help but feel out of place and very unhappy back working in the tech industry.
I did some research and decided to earn my TEFL certification in my spare time while working my normal gig with the intent to teach English abroad. Now I am moving to Phnom Penh, Cambodia in January 2020 and would like to meet other expats and native locals. I do not have much support or understanding from my family and friends in my new life direction, they cannot begin to comprehend why I would leave the silicon valley and a great career to live in a third world country teaching English for a fraction of my current salary. My area of California is very obsessed with material acquisition and job title, it very much defines your life success in the silicon valley. Point being is that I would really like to meet some supportive like minded people in Phnom Penh when I arrive. I have become very passionate about teaching in these last few months and want to contribute to the community through teaching English.
I have already set up some interviews with schools and am quite confident in finding work but if anyone has some tips or pointers in terms of schools looking for teachers I would be more than happy to hear about it. Also if there are any opportunities to use my current tech and network infrastructure skills as a side occupation I would be very interested in knowing if that can be utilized in Cambodia.
I guess in conclusion I just would like to introduce myself to everyone in the community and I am looking forward to chatting and meeting with you!
thanks!
- JamesAlexander89
- Expatriate
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:03 am
- Reputation: 20
- Location: https://www.facebook.com/jimmyth3hat
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
The interest alone from my investments in the statesLonestar wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:21 am James,
I have lived in Cambodia almost 20 years. If you pm me, I will be happy to offer any advice or help that I can. However, my first piece of advice is...unless you have already made your fortune, or have family money...you are about to commit financial suicide. English teachers do not make much more than they did 15 years ago, and the costs in Cambodia are continuing to climb. After just a few years, your skill set and contacts in your industry will have withered away, and you will be stuck in a very menial existence. You won't even be contributing to Social Security while you are here...so after a few decades scraping by, you can look forward to being too poor to look after yourself when you get older. I have seen several expats die because they could not afford to get a medical condition checked out before it was too late.
You are nearly always better to make your money in your home country and spend it in Cambodia. If you had a transferable skill set...and maybe you do, then I would provide encouragement. I have seen someone come over as an English teacher, and become a CEO of a company within 5 years....but that is one out of several hundred if not thousands.
I continued my career in the U.S. while living in Cambodia half the year....and it was the best decision I ever made. I have many friends who put their head down and kept working until pension/retirement/wealth permitted them to not have to ever worry about working again, and every one of them is happy they made the right call.
I would strongly encourage you to step back, and make this important decision guided by your head and not your heart.
can sustain me indefinitely in the states but I choose to work or I'd go crazy. Same for Cambodia. I'd like to contribute to local community I think teaching english is a great way to do that. I'm a pretty smart guy financially and professionally. I appreciate the advice it's great to hear that it's not all flowers and sunshine. It's a very real possibility things can go south and I value that you are bringing that aspect to the conversation.
- JamesAlexander89
- Expatriate
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:03 am
- Reputation: 20
- Location: https://www.facebook.com/jimmyth3hat
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
Same as I said to him the monthly interest on my investments will more than sustain my life there but I'd like to work or I'd feel pretty useless. I think I'm fully prepaird for it in terms of living I will be there to live and work not live like a visiting tourist. I think there is a huge difference in mindset between those. Before these responses I have not thought as deeply on how bad It can possibly be there with the things you are bringing up so I appreciate it. It cant be all positives and I appreciate you putting these cons in my mind along side the pros I am already thinking about.TWY wrote: ↑Wed Oct 23, 2019 7:13 am I would second what Lonestar wrote.
Don't think that your going to live well on $1000 a month. And don't think that everything you see as a tourist is how things are day to day in "real life" SE ASIA.
I"d also tell you to think about the parts of your current job/career that you enjoy. Will teaching (which you don't mention if you've ever done) provide the same interest, pride, dedication as your current career. If you think there is much "status seeking" where you currently are - you'll find just as much if not more here in Cambodia.
There is no safety net, life here without money is hard. Don't even think about this move unless you have a nice nest egg that you've already earned. If you have a few million to provide you with passive income then perhaps your in a position to take the leap - but otherwise I'd really consider the practicalities of what your planning.
Decent health care often means going to Thailand and paying cash. Do you intend to go back to the States for things like weddings, funerals, other life events with your family? Minimum $1200 a pop. Going to buy a car in Cambodia? Check out that 100+% import tax. Several hundred dollars a year for visas & work permits.... etc etc. The list of potential financial hits is very long.
Whatever you do I wish you luck. Unless your VERY unhappy with your career, I'd strongly urge you to understand all the financial impacts/risks your move will entail.
- JamesAlexander89
- Expatriate
- Posts: 69
- Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:03 am
- Reputation: 20
- Location: https://www.facebook.com/jimmyth3hat
Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020
Hahaha I seriously laughed at this one . it is the stereotypical reason people move out there for women but I haven't met anyone in Cambodia I am arriving completely solo and blind that's why I am reaching out here. Of course there will be women I wouldn't go more than a week without a woman in the states . But I genuinely want to help raise English proficiency whenever I travel it has become a passion for me the more and more I learn about teaching and how english can help others as well as get paid for it.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 84 Replies
- 16892 Views
-
Last post by PSD-Kiwi
-
- 32 Replies
- 7783 Views
-
Last post by Clutch Cargo
-
- 1 Replies
- 1607 Views
-
Last post by CEOCambodiaNews
-
- 66 Replies
- 8074 Views
-
Last post by Kenr
-
- 4 Replies
- 2248 Views
-
Last post by Kammekor
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Alex, angsta, armchairlawyer, barang_TK, Bluenose, Clutch Cargo, drozd, Freightdog, Google [Bot], Ingvar 7788, Kammekor, khmerhamster, lurcio, Majestic-12 [Bot], orussey98, WildAlaskaKen, yongchi and 708 guests