Bali Expat Forum - Bali Travel Forum

Hi all, this is my first (and definately not last) post as I have heaps of questions re moving/working with children. Have been looking at postings for while now but just too many to cover so thought would post my own questions directed at what I need to find out. Am looking at moving to Bali around Oct/Nov 08 as single parent with my 3 children aged 14/10/8. Will be working full time therefore will not have the option of homeschooling so need few suggestion on schools to look into and fees. Not sure at this stage of where I will live, have trip planned for May to sus out some areas (any suggestions??), but would like to be somewhere near other Australian families with children so my kids don't feel totally isollated. Few other questions:
1) Is is normal process for employer to sort out visa or will I need to look into this myself
2) How long does it take to organise paperwork?
3) Have few interviews lined up for my visit in May, but would like idea of usual wages for office/managerial work so know what to expect.
4) Is is hard to find furnished houses to rent? Jobs I am applying for are in real estate offices so hopefully bit of advantage.
5) My kids are really into sport - do they have organised sporting groups (soccor/football/dancing) that they could join?

thanks in advance for any helpful replies
shellybelle

Will post more questions as they come to mind!!

Read your post, very inspirational, have been to Bali 3 times and love the place. What do you plan to do there for business ?
How did you come to the conclusion that Bali was the place to move to ?
I like the tone of the "I am coming" feeling from the message, most are more reserved.

Hey ShellyBelle,

I've been here in Bali a few years now with my wife and children (13 yo), so I can sure give you then answers from my experience anyway. Are you sitting comfortably?

1. In my case my employer organised everything, and from what I can gather that's fairly normal. Still had to attend various Govt offices for obligatory photographs, signatures, fingerprints and so on, but local businesses mostly use an agent that walks you through the whole process (much quicker than trying to do it yourself).
2. Initially the visa's to get here were processed by the Indo embassy in Sydney and took a about 3 weeks (several years ago, so check again). After arrival, the work permit and KITAS took about a month, but no problems.
3. Wages will vary a lot depending on the industry, company and experience. But cost of living is really good here, so you'll probably end up ahead (but not living like a King, no matter what they say).
4. Lots of accomodation available in lots of areas. No problem. Tourism is still recovering, so plenty of empty apartments and villas still about and quite competetive. Having a realtor as a boss will really help. Beware though, it is customary to pay 1 year rent in advance here (not compulsory though - we didn't).
5. Here's the best news. Your kids will love it here. Heaps of sports and outdoor activities, all pretty cheap and easy. My kids reckon they are in the middle of a vacation that has lasted 3 years so far, and it would take a bulldozer to get them back to Aussie to live (although they love visits back down under).

I was worried before I came here just like you - that's natural. I have met people here who hate it - if you want Bali to be Australia, you'll be dissappointed again and again. But if you accept (and enjoy) it's differences and relax, I hope that you (like me) will find it the best thing you could have done for yourself and your family.

Cheers

Mike

Mike...welcome to the forum. Hopefully we will be “hearing” more from you, and Shelly.

If it were up to me to award “gold stars” for “outstanding words” it would be because of this:

“I was worried before I came here just like you - that's natural. I have met people here who hate it - if you want Bali to be Australia, you'll be dissappointed again and again. But if you accept (and enjoy) it's differences and relax, I hope that you (like me) will find it the best thing you could have done for yourself and your family.”

Thanks Mike, it was good to read of your experiences and to hear how much you and your family love living in Bali.

I have just returned 2 weeks ago after finally meeting with my new "boss" so I feel like i'm on my way, hoping to arrive end October. We discussed visa, insurance, wages etc. so I have more knowledge with "the system" from when I first asked for help back in March. Also, late nights with my keyboard has also helped. How did people ever organise anything before technology and the internet??? I would be lost without it.

Mike wrote:Still had to attend various Govt offices for obligatory photographs, signatures, fingerprints and so on,

I wasn't aware of this process as yet, so another question to add to my ever increasing list of questions to ask on my next visit in August, which is supposed to be holiday with friends to celebrate their wedding however, my list of things must do whilst there is growing.

If you don't mind me asking, what area do you live in/near and where do your children attend school?? This is my next challenge. I am interested in looking at properties around Jimbaran as this is close to where I will be working and I have heard that there is good expat community there. Also, everyone has different recommendations for the schools to send kids to and although they all have really great web-sites it is very difficult to make decision based on looking on internet. I will organise meetings in Aug to visit the 2 or 3 preferences and decide then. It is much harder than finding school in Aus, especially when you are from small town where if you choose to send to public school they go according to zone allocated or you send them to the private Catholic school.

Forgot to mention that my children came with me this last visit, which was actually their first time in Bali and they absolutely loved it. I had to continually remind them though they we were on holiday and it wouldn't be like this when we actually lived here, they would still have to go to school and have routines as they do at home but they just can't wait to return.

We are really looking forward our new life and the challenges it holds.

I'm sure I will have many more questions regarding the move as it gets closer if I can't already find the answers on this fab forum.

Cheers
shellybelle