Catch 22 and Smelly Gamers

I am going to be brief for now as the odour from these youngsters playing online games is becoming too much for me to endure.

Sorry to the online gaming community that do not smell. It is not a generalisation just a truth at this time. This odour coupled with a bad internet connection is not making this bout of blogging / checking e mail the most enjoyable.

Not just smelly. Loud too. Yeesh. Get away from my chair.


Anyway. I am currently in Nong Khai. I have been struggling to find a nice environment for me to sit at a length of time to bring my Blog up to date and so I'm just going to tell it like it is right now.

I decided to stop here in order to study Muay Thai. Tom and Tim have continued into Laos, as was our original plan. We shall no doubt meet up again a bit later on down the road but there is nothing set in stone.

I hope to catch up with them in Siem Reap, Cambodia so that the three of us can go to Ankor Wat. We had spoke of hiring motor bikes and seeing as much of the massive ancient site of ruins as we could in one day and so we shall hopefully still make this a reality.

For now though I am still surrounded by noisy smelly youngsters whose eyes are either fixed on computer screens or whom are running about behind me creating unnecessary commotion. What's with all the commotion.

Today I am a grumpy old Farang.


I am in a Catch 22. I stayed in order to study Muay Thai and that was fine and I really have enjoyed what training I have done. Each person I met though said it would be easy for me to find teaching work here.

I think that would be true if there were not just a month of school term left. Each school I have visited has seemed keen but once the academic term starts up again. I don't imagine at the end of term with no funds left any department would be hiring, let alone hiring a Farang. It would also mean arranging my 3 month Thai work Visa, which again, I imagine any school wanting to hire would do so at the beginning of term to not only have the funds to pay but also have a greater chance of longer commitment to work.

So - Heres my situation. I have paid for a months accomodation, which is fine as it means that I have got it at a better price than when the three of us were paying day by day. I am, however, now somewhat resigned to staying in Nong Khai. I need the work in order to justify paying for training but despite people helping me find work, not enough opportunities have yet arisen.

Nong Khai is a nice enough place, but if the training in Muay Thai does not seem viable due to cost restrictions then I think I would rather move on. Then with food, travel, accomodation costs rising a bit - I may as well stay. ... but with no job, meaning no training, then .... well you get my point.

Catch 22 and smelly gamers.