Thread: Moving to Bali with children

Hello everyone:

My husband and I are considering moving to Bali in the next few months and would like to hear your experience of moving and living in Bali with children where both parents are foreigners. One of our reasons for moving is for our children to experience community living and free play with neighborhood kids (as opposed to organized and supervised playdates here in California since everyone is so spread out). How difficult is it to mix with local kids and neighbors? Does anyone know of any quality local schools that foreign children can attend? Is there an area you would recommend for us to rent a house that is family-friendly? What is the estimated cost of living for a family of 4 if we want to live simply but reasonably comfortable (not luxiously)?

Any input or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
:)
EE

For more information about moving to Bali, you may wish to review this web site: http://www.expat.or.id/info/bali.html

Good luck with your move...and I'll bet your kids will love it here.

Thanks guys for your reply.

I actually have read most of the Bali expat-related web sites. However, I would be most interested in your personal experience of living in Bali with children. Roy, may I ask you what a typical day is like for your kids? How do they spend their time? What do you value the most about raising children in Bali and is there anything you wish be different there? Hope you don't mind me asking all these questions. Like most parents, I'm concerned about the decisions I make for my children and how they might impact them. Moving to Bali is a major change in their lives and hearing your personal experience will be very comforting to me and helps me to prepare them for this move.

Bert, thanks for all your answers. I understand you don't have kids. But if you've heard of any stories (from friends, neighbors ...) that relate to this topic, I'd love to hear them.

:)

Hi,

We moved from California six months ago with a six-year-old...I have lots of information I can share with you...

you're welcome to email me: lisembaker@yahoo.com

I'll be glad to help.

lise

Good luck with your move.

I moved to Indonesia from California 14 years ago and have since had four children. All of them are officially American citizens and when we lived in Papua the oldest ones went to the International School where I was the principal. Later the children all went to school in Bali up in Singaraja in the north. Foreign children can attend local schools. The quality of local education varies, but I have been less than impressed with it and my children were going to what many considered the best school in Singaraja. Many students take extra tuition in the afternoons with a teacher because the school day is rather short.

Instruction is done in Indonesian and children study topics like religion and the state ideology as well as math and science and the like.

There are several international schools in the south of Bali, but they are quite expensive. The quality of education there is high, and the teaching is done in English.

We recently moved to Sumbawa where I am now teaching at an international school. The kids go to a local school here and had no problems with enrollment. They like the new school, and I have been very pleased with the curriculum so far here. Sumbawa has been very surprising.

Cost of living varies widely and depends really on how much you want to spend. Food can be expensive if you want to eat like a Westerner, or if you are fond of alcohol other than the locally made stuff like arak. We spend way too much money on things generally, but since I am still working I justify the extra expense that way.

Sorry I let some folks down. I was only thinking about the original post, and to quote, "and would like to hear your experience of moving and living in Bali with children where both parents are foreigners."

My wife is Balinese, so is yours Bert, and child raising will be a whole lot different. So, I only felt I could not really offer any insight as to raising children, born of Tamu parents, and wanting to now living in Bali. Virtually all of my expat friends who have kids are mixed in marriage. So, I felt at a loss to contribute to the original request.

On the other hand, I can go on and on about how great a place on earth Bali is to raise kids, regardless of the parental "roots." Which begs the question....sudha hamil? Come on Bert, share with us!!!

Seriously, I can't think of anywhere on earth where my three boys could be more happy. My oldest, and only three, can roam the village without the least bit of concern from me. Some years ago, "roaming the village" as in NYC, would have the gravest of concerns of any parent.

In Bali, kids are not raised by their "mom and dad." They are raised by a community, a community of loving and carring folks who participate in the "community" or "adat" understanding what these kids really mean. Each and every member of the community, the village, has a chance to impart meaningful insights, that the parents by themsleves, would not be able to offer their child. This is incredible, amazing, and beyond my comprehension, which was once born of parnoia and fear for the children I raised in the US, years ago.

Bad things can happen to kids here, and it happens every day. I am not naive. There are health issues, insane motorists, venomous snakes and some insects, or the simplicity of a coconut now falling from its palm.

These dangers are for me, totally inconsequential when comparred to the paranoia of raising children in most parts of the United States. Here, in Bali, I never worry about Bima, my oldest, talking to a stranger, someone not known to him or me. I see this now as an opportunity for him to speak to an elder of our village. I see this now as what it has been for centuries....the passing down of tradition, the dispersion of culture without fear.

The original question was about raising children in Bali. Yah, no doubt about it, Bali is great for kids!

Hello EE,
I just wondered if you ever did move to bali and do you have any experiences you could share that would help other families
thanks
KLS