Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

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JamesAlexander89
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by JamesAlexander89 »

explorer wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:15 am
JamesAlexander89 wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:50 am One thing I dont understand is what people spend their money on. A lot of people have commented saying I will be broke and miserable but from my calculations I shouldn't have much trouble. A friend already in Cambodia teaching said I should expect 1,300 to 1,600 USD a month with my TEFL and some prior experience working with kids. On the lowest range figure 1,100 to 1,200 USD a month.

(Figuring lowest possible wage of 1,100) With a decent apartment costing say 240 dollars USD a month (could go lower) and say 60 dollars a month electricity that should be 300$ a month give or take depending on actual electricity and water usage if water not included. That leaves roughly 800$ USD a month left over for food, taxi, ect..
Some people earn less than that. Some don't work a lot of hours. Some are on a lower salary.

It gets down to how good you are, how professional you are, and getting onto a good job. You may start out on a lower paid job, until you find a good one.

There are some English teachers who are not very professional. But they work cheap, so some people employ them. I met one English teacher who would get drunk each evening, and go and teach the next day. He was not very smart, but he worked cheap. Some places would rather hire someone cheap, than someone good. It is all about making money.

The better places do want good teachers.
Great insite thank you
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JamesAlexander89
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by JamesAlexander89 »

stupid-barang wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 12:12 pm The truth is that Cambodia is a shithole, why am I here (I can see you asking that in your head), well thats a discussion for another time, but I won't be here for that much longer. Khmer people can not be trusted, as a foreigner, if you ever have a problem with a Khmer, you will lose, no doubts about it. Things can be different if you want to pay. If a Khmer wants to fuck you, they definitely will (speaking from experience). If anyone tells you otherwise, they are either naive or just stupid or perhaps one of those flower smelling hippies that think everything is gravy b/c someone smiles in their face; a yes man/woman.

I lived in a major city here, for $500 per month, that included a furnished apartment in a new building with aircon, food, booze, and the occasional whore. Once I lived in Toul Tom Pong for $170. (rent only), and the apartment was huge, corner unit, I miss that place to the day. If I were you, I would stay far away from here, that is unless you have no problem with giving up your rights. Speaking freely about the government or other sensitive topics can land you in jail.

It was mentioned that some schools were promising you $1400 a month, well, the schools promise a lot of things, but when push comes to shove, it's all bullshit. When I first came here I worked for an international school, but after a few months, I started a business and now work for myself. Why? I won't go into the inherent racism b/c I noticed that you mentiond yourself as 'white' in one of your posts, thinking this to be a positive attribute. So I am under the assumption that you, along with many others here in KH, pride yourself on being white, superior and make this known to set yourself apart from the 'rest', it's funny, mainly for those that have studied psychology, it screams inferiority complex.

Not a grumpy person, this is the reality.
Actually I am Mexican. Just light skinned. The reason I mentioned white since you are completely taking that comment out of context is because a fellow teacher mentioned that the private education system can charge a parent more for tuition when they have white faces teaching their children. That's a harsh reality for sure but it was mentioned strictly to convey a point not for superiority. Now that we are on the subject i have actually taken and passed a couple college level psychology courses what college did you study at I'm curious where you studied.
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JamesAlexander89
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by JamesAlexander89 »

explorer wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 12:35 pm If you do move to Cambodia learn the language. You cant make friends with people you cant talk to. I can live in the same country as many other foreigners, but in a different world.

I have been, and plan to continue, living in Australia and having long holidays in Cambodia. When I no longer travel for financial or health reasons, I plan to be living in Australia. Maybe consider something similar.
Yes I have been learning Khmer for about two months self teaching and practicing with a tutor online. I dont plan on living in a foreign country and not k owing the language that would be foolish if you ask me. But to each their own
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JamesAlexander89
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by JamesAlexander89 »

Kammekor wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 12:39 pm
JamesAlexander89 wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:50 am Thanks for all the replies everyone. The good, the bad, and the confusing it is all welcomed. I feel like I have a better understanding on what to expect and the pros and cons involved.

One thing I dont understand is what people spend their money on. A lot of people have commented saying I will be broke and miserable but from my calculations I shouldn't have much trouble. A friend already in Cambodia teaching said I should expect 1,300 to 1,600 USD a month with my TEFL and some prior experience working with kids. On the lowest range figure 1,100 to 1,200 USD a month.

(Figuring lowest possible wage of 1,100) With a decent apartment costing say 240 dollars USD a month (could go lower) and say 60 dollars a month electricity that should be 300$ a month give or take depending on actual electricity and water usage if water not included. That leaves roughly 800$ USD a month left over for food, taxi, ect..

I really dont see what expenses will eat up the rest of my money and make my life miserable and uncomfortable unless everyone is just partying every day and buying girls every night and not very smart with money management.

the math seems really simple to me plus I will have a ton of savings on top of that. I just dont understand why a good amount of people are spelling out that I will be broke and homeless in 6 months and committing financial suicide. Cant anyone explain am I missing something here?
Transportation - PP (or basically any town in this country) is not a nice city to walk around
Western food from supermarkets, or basically anything from outside Cambodia
Clothes & shoes
Mobile phone / internet
A nice dinner out
Medical costs
Weekend activities / sports
Inflated electricity bills
Paper work, work permit, visa
Trips back home
Regional travel
Saving some money
Your daily latte
Language classes (if you’re serious about staying longer)
Etc etc

You can live on 1,400$ in Phnom Penh, without doubt, but compared to what you’re used to now it’s simply going to be a few steps back in life style / comfort.
You can live cheap here, but any luxury making life a tad nicer and bearable is relatively expensive here.
You can rent a nice 260$ apartment if you don’t care about the smelly dirty stairs and the trap it is in case of a fire.
You can have a 1.50$ breakfast every day consisting of rice and pork and some soup from pig’s organs if it doesn’t annoy you after a week.
You can have a 1.50 haircut in a steamy alley if you can stand the heat and the itchy neck afterwards.
Or you can have all this at a more comfortable level - in that case 1,400$ a month really isn’t that much.

And I’m not even talking about social security, you have to arrange it all by yourself.
Thank you I appreciate the factual concise reply free of absolute negativity and threats of death and dispare lol. Means a lot to me haha
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stupid-barang
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by stupid-barang »

JamesAlexander89 wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:25 pm
stupid-barang wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 12:12 pm The truth is that Cambodia is a shithole, why am I here (I can see you asking that in your head), well thats a discussion for another time, but I won't be here for that much longer. Khmer people can not be trusted, as a foreigner, if you ever have a problem with a Khmer, you will lose, no doubts about it. Things can be different if you want to pay. If a Khmer wants to fuck you, they definitely will (speaking from experience). If anyone tells you otherwise, they are either naive or just stupid or perhaps one of those flower smelling hippies that think everything is gravy b/c someone smiles in their face; a yes man/woman.

I lived in a major city here, for $500 per month, that included a furnished apartment in a new building with aircon, food, booze, and the occasional whore. Once I lived in Toul Tom Pong for $170. (rent only), and the apartment was huge, corner unit, I miss that place to the day. If I were you, I would stay far away from here, that is unless you have no problem with giving up your rights. Speaking freely about the government or other sensitive topics can land you in jail.

It was mentioned that some schools were promising you $1400 a month, well, the schools promise a lot of things, but when push comes to shove, it's all bullshit. When I first came here I worked for an international school, but after a few months, I started a business and now work for myself. Why? I won't go into the inherent racism b/c I noticed that you mentiond yourself as 'white' in one of your posts, thinking this to be a positive attribute. So I am under the assumption that you, along with many others here in KH, pride yourself on being white, superior and make this known to set yourself apart from the 'rest', it's funny, mainly for those that have studied psychology, it screams inferiority complex.

Not a grumpy person, this is the reality.
Actually I am Mexican. Just light skinned. The reason I mentioned white since you are completely taking that comment out of context is because a fellow teacher mentioned that the private education system can charge a parent more for tuition when they have white faces teaching their children. That's a harsh reality for sure but it was mentioned strictly to convey a point not for superiority. Now that we are on the subject i have actually taken and passed a couple college level psychology courses what college did you study at I'm curious where you studied.
Mexican, oooh. Yeah you can throw $1400 or $2000 a month right out the window. Since it was mentioned, you must identify as white, or else it would not have been mentioned.
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by Mishmash »

JamesAlexander89 wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:45 am
Mishmash wrote: Wed Oct 23, 2019 4:48 pm
rogerrabbit wrote: Wed Oct 23, 2019 4:36 pm
Even though Cambodia is pretty centrally located, roads and amount of flights connections are still pretty poor and thus flights are more expensive when compared to neighboring countries and bus/car trips tend to take long... and I mean very long.
Yep - traffic, nowadays it takes me a week to get from my house near the airport to the places next door to the hostess bars that I never visit.

Before, it was a 20 minute trip - max!
I learned while in thailand to just take a moto taxi or rent a scooter. I highly doubt I'd take a taxi, drive a car, or get a tuk tuk. Cuts the drive time down by more than half. I'd assume it's the same in Cambodia?
That's by moto! (hyperbole aside) and using the sidewalks as the extra lane....

By car takes a month from the airport to the riverside :lol:

I have heard of a few people stranded in town now and live in their cars...

Image
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John Bingham
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by John Bingham »

People who post that you can't trust the locals, the place is shit, you'll lose, they won't pay you etc are usually just butt-hurt individuals who have messed up and now blame their inadequacies on others. When they get called out and call you naive or stupid for having a better experience than them you know you are dealing with someone who has serious personality issues. It's not much of a problem as you can just ignore them in real life, and they are bound to disappear soon.
Silence, exile, and cunning.
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by phuketrichard »

Wow, i am utterly amazed at some of these comments.
Wonder how any of ya, enjoy ur life in cambodia....
You'll do fine and if its not to ur liking.....move on. Ur not stuck teaching....
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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stupid-barang
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by stupid-barang »

John Bingham wrote: Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:16 pm People who post that you can't trust the locals, the place is shit, you'll lose, they won't pay you etc are usually just butt-hurt individuals who have messed up and now blame their inadequacies on others. When they get called out and call you naive or stupid for having a better experience than them you know you are dealing with someone who has serious personality issues. It's not much of a problem as you can just ignore them in real life, and they are bound to disappear soon.
Not butt hurt, I work for myself. But in all seriousness, you feel like you can trust Khmer people? It would take very little money to buy your neighbors and find everything about you. Where you work, what time you leave, even get a phone call when you arrive/leave. Getting fake charges brought against you with very little money.

I am sorry but if you think your neighbors are your friends, you definitely are naive/ignorant/stupid. I call it like it is, and Khmer people will sell you up the river faster than a rabbit get fucked.

Have you ever had a problem with someone here? Probably not. How about accountability if you get your moto/car damaged. None whatsoever, if you get ran over/killed, the driver will keep going.

I am sure you are happy, smelling the roses and your perceived freedom, but I know what's real, and if a Khmer has a choice between a local and a foreigner, it's you that will lose. I never said just trying you will lose so don't misquote me, I said if it's you vs a local, there is only one outcome.

Yeah, I do have personality issues, I hate stupidity, and the reality is there are a lot of people, probably the majority that have no problem keeping their mouth shut when seeing/experiencing an injustice.
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Re: Moving to Phnom Penh in January 2020

Post by John Bingham »

I haven't experienced your difficulties, living in a country you hate must be very unpleasant, good luck.
Silence, exile, and cunning.
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