My dh just put his name in to be interviewed for a position in another country. I have been researching the schools in that country online this morning. Of course, its all up in the air, he hasnt been interviewed at this point and who knows if this will all actually happen.

I am wondering after researching the schools... what in the world is wrong with the USA!!! Their schools look amazing. My kids barely get any art instruction here (once a week or every other week!!) we get NO foreign language unless we pay for it after school at diff times of the yr. I havent seen it offered in the last year at all! We have pretty large class sizes. These schools offer a foreign language EVERY day, along with English. They have guitar and violin, art, small class sizes. I even read that one school has 2 teachers up to 3rd grade along with the small class size. If you move into the area (like we would be doing) they offer tutoring for your child until they pick up the 2nd language. By 8th grade the kids take on a 3rd langauge. So the kids then have English, Spanish and French. The first 2 they are taught until they can read it, write it, speak it fluently. I am impressed! I dont understand why this isnt a priority in the USA?

Dh knows a guy who moved his family to Japan and they have been there 2 yrs and decided to stay on for 2 more yrs there. His kids seem to be getting an excellent education too!!

I had heard the schools were great in this country dh is interviewing for. After reading about it, now I am really starting to get my hopes up that dh will get the job! Now dont get me wrong I know there are cons to other countries as well. Uhhh, like, I'd be an awful long ways from my sister...

I guess my question is what are some of the cons you can think about living in another country. Did you feel isolated or did you find that you could get around and get involved fairly easy. How often did you travel back to the states to visit family. Did you rfamily come visit you often? What did you think of the schools where you were located. Did it make you question our education here in the US? Is it better to sell my house or lease it? Oh boy, I have alot of questions!! lol

Going anon and I am not naming the country as my dh will not want me discussing this yet!!

By Christylee on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 02:38 pm:

My son is in pre-school and is learning spanish, has since he turned 3. Why he isn't learning more? Well being an American (especially a Texan) I can see why he'd benefit from Spanish, but French? Honestly don't see when he'd ever use it.

I wish you guys the best of luck in deciding what to do, good luck if it's what you want to do. I (knowing myself) would never want to live anywhere besides the USA.

By Alberobello on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 04:01 pm:

I think living in another country is a great experience, depending how long you do it for and what are the conditions. Although it's a big change -and especially for children- it can be a positive thing to do. Also, now travelling is cheaper and easier to do so you are never that far from your own country (well, if you go to the other side of the world then it's a bit more difficult but not impossible). This is my experience:


I live in inner London, and it's really good for children's services. I have never felt isolated as there are lots of people from different countries which i suppose are far from their homes too so it's easy to meet people and make friends, especially because there are many social programmes for families to come together. I used to go to all of them when my ds was little: the parent and toddler group; the one o'clock club; toy library; story sessions; you name it. That's how i met most of my friends with children.

I am quite lucky i guess because i have lived in the same area for the past 7 years and most of the people i met when ds was a baby are still around and we still see each other, including my two best friends. The area is not one of the best but it has a real sense of community and as for services it has everything you need within waliking distance(banks, post office, supermarket, schools, libraries, leisure centres, etc). It's quite a deprived area but the schools around here are quite good. I am also involved in my son's school and in other community projects and know a lot of people who are so i guess that makes a big difference and that's why it feels like living in a small town rather than living in a metropolis.

I miss Mexico sometimes but i have adapted well to this city. Sometimes i would love to live in a nice house in the countryside, surrounded by trees and birds instead of traffic and noise and to have a better quality of life because life in London can be a bit too fast and too hectic. But i know we won't stay here forever and that keeps me happy to be here.

I don't know if i answered any of your questions but just wanted to say good luck and that if you decide to go, do as much research as you can before you go, and choose a nice family oriented area for you live in.

By Pamt on Friday, October 7, 2005 - 05:08 pm:

I haven't lived in another country, but we have several sets of close friends who are missionaries to Germany/Turkey, Belarus, Ukraine, and friends who live January 2 for mission work in Peru. I personally would be all over getting to live overseas. We actually seriously considered moving to England before DH accepted his current position in Louisiana. I think there are many benefits to living in another country. The biggest consideration is culture shock. I think you have to seriously consider how living in a different country and culture will affect your family, particularly your children. Moving is very stressful for everyone anyway, but when you throw in different foods, different language, etc. it can be very emotionally taxing. Not saying that that would dissuade me. I just think it's something to carefully consider and plan for before you make the leap. If my kids were older than 12 I would not move overseas just because at that age the adjustment is really difficult.

By Bea on Saturday, October 8, 2005 - 01:38 pm:

We lived in Germany for five years and hated to come back. I had my second son there and our oldest started school, but attended a Department of Defense school. I personally spent as little time as possible on the military base and preferred to shop and make friends off post. I had the advantage of learning German as a student, but didn't need to speak the language in most retail situations. Many in that country have studied English. We adopted German customs and food into our lifestyles and embraced the chance to broaden our horizons. We travelled all through Europe, and rarely went AMERICAN, ie: big franchised hotels or resorts, preferring to stay at campsites and pensions that the locals used. We wanted to experience the culture or the places we visited. I'd say "Go for it" I think our time in Europe was a fantastic opportunity.