Discussion
I have an opportunity (at it's very earliest stages) to look at moving to the Caribbean. If I were single, and employed it would be a moments notice to fill in the application form, but I am not.
I run my own business, a one man band. We do OK, but as most of the value is personal goodwill, is of no great value to anybody, but me. Most of my work comes from just two or three clients on whom I am very reliant, and both of whom are a part of the same group. Their Parent organisation has centralised some functions, although they are keen not to see my function centralised, this is a risk.
My partner and I are not married, and from what I can see this might be an issue. One that can be resolved though! We also have a five (well nearly( year old daughter. We rent, rather than own own home.
I am seriously considering making the move. It looks like it would be a maximum of 6 years, and while the money is not great, it's not bad either. Cost of living is a bit of an issue, but hard to really judge.
Has anyone made this sort of jump? How did you find it? Was the weather and type of place worthwhile or did you end up homesick?
I'd be be grateful for any insights on this as I am in two minds as to whether even start down the road, not least because this would really need to be kept away from clients until I knew the outcome, which could well be unsuccessful. It's complicated!
I run my own business, a one man band. We do OK, but as most of the value is personal goodwill, is of no great value to anybody, but me. Most of my work comes from just two or three clients on whom I am very reliant, and both of whom are a part of the same group. Their Parent organisation has centralised some functions, although they are keen not to see my function centralised, this is a risk.
My partner and I are not married, and from what I can see this might be an issue. One that can be resolved though! We also have a five (well nearly( year old daughter. We rent, rather than own own home.
I am seriously considering making the move. It looks like it would be a maximum of 6 years, and while the money is not great, it's not bad either. Cost of living is a bit of an issue, but hard to really judge.
Has anyone made this sort of jump? How did you find it? Was the weather and type of place worthwhile or did you end up homesick?
I'd be be grateful for any insights on this as I am in two minds as to whether even start down the road, not least because this would really need to be kept away from clients until I knew the outcome, which could well be unsuccessful. It's complicated!
Edited by davidjpowell on Friday 6th August 18:56
Not much detail available at this stage. It's all a bit early, and I trying to work out if it is even worth going for.
Island is Grand Cayman, and the job is within my trade working for the gubberment. I reckon with my experience I can put a decent application together.
Island is Grand Cayman, and the job is within my trade working for the gubberment. I reckon with my experience I can put a decent application together.
Edited by davidjpowell on Friday 6th August 20:42
An old colleague of mine left our company to go work in the Cayman isles he was early 30's married with a young daughter she was 4 I think.
First 6 months was like a holiday they enjoyed it, 6 months later they were home he enjoyed working there but it was his wife and daughter they was not the infrastructure of mums and kids stuff like they were used to here they felt isolated. Also they were concerned about schooling.
A lot will depend on how out going your partner is will she try integrate herself in the new local community if she can settle and be happy it will make your life easier.
First 6 months was like a holiday they enjoyed it, 6 months later they were home he enjoyed working there but it was his wife and daughter they was not the infrastructure of mums and kids stuff like they were used to here they felt isolated. Also they were concerned about schooling.
A lot will depend on how out going your partner is will she try integrate herself in the new local community if she can settle and be happy it will make your life easier.
Si 330 said:
....Also they were concerned about schooling.
A lot will depend on how out going your partner is will she try integrate herself in the new local community if she can settle and be happy it will make your life easier.
Schooling is a major hurdle, as you can have your childs whole future at stake.A lot will depend on how out going your partner is will she try integrate herself in the new local community if she can settle and be happy it will make your life easier.
My daughter has just started at an international school in the Philippines, After doing an application test they decided she needed to go into 'grade five', in their American system. I have since found out that the other kids in her class are 10-11 years old, whereas my daughter has just turned 9. This seems a little odd, but they reckon her test results indicate that is where she should be.
She now starts school at 7:15, and finishes at 3pm. And brings home about two hours homework every night. We're in the process of asking the school what the hell is going on. Kids are supposed to learn at school, not at home, and if they need to do loads of work at home it shows the teachers aren't doing their job properly, as my wife so eloquently told them at a PTA meeting.
Other parents (Chinese, Korean, Taiwanese, American etc) suddenly started voicing their dissent too, but apparently nobody has ever complained about it before. It's just not the done thing in an Asian ex-pat community apparently.....
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff