Is it too early to start applying to schools?

imo you're fine to start poking around now but yeah most of what's up is last minute fill-ins. the real wave for May/June starts hitting around late Feb through March, that's when schools actually know their budget and which teachers aren't coming back. if you're flexible on location or subject you'll have way more luck then vs trying to snag a mid year slot

one thing nobody tells you is a lot of the better bilingual schools in places like Bang Na or Nonthaburi do their hiring closer to April because they pay less attention to the official calendar. so if you're not set on a top tier international school you can prob find something solid even in late March

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Honestly, it's not too early but you're hitting the tail end of the random openings. Most decent schools here start their real hiring push around February or March for the May term, so if you're not desperate, I'd hold off a few more weeks and watch for the bigger waves to hit.

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May/June is the start of the main academic semester for most Thai schools, so hiring tends to pick up around March and April. Right now you're seeing the leftover jobs from the October intake or schools that had a teacher quit mid-year. It's not too early to apply if you're aiming for a specific school you really want, but you'll get more options if you wait until February or March. Some of the bigger international schools in places like Thong Lo or Ekkamai start their recruitment cycle as early as January though, so it depends on the tier of school you're targeting.

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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