Moving abroad for the summer?

[Lizzer]

Hi folks, in a weird mood today and have been for a while. Basically I feel like I want to go abroad for a couple of months, I am studying so am able to in the summer, either this year or for the next 3 years. I have been toying with the idea of taking dd away and finding some summer work somewhere and just living in another country for a while (I'm thinking Europe here, not too far!)I realise this is a minefield of a situation! Where would I get work,what would I do, who would look after dd (currently 2 yrs), how would I afford to live etc??? But just wondering if anyone has any suggestions or knows anyone who has done this with a young child in tow. I was raised abroad for a few years and I really want to give dd the same opprtunity to experience a different culture. Bearing in mind I have a 3 yr degree ahead of me (ie 3 possibly free summers) does anyone think I'm being selfish in wanting to use that time to get out there and see something of the world? I feel that now would be a good time as I'm currently unattached and no mortgage or anything to worry about (am totally broke but what's new!)I'm just in the thought process at the moment and don't know the way forward really, I'm sure you guys will be able to enlighten me a little. Does anyone think I'm mad? Please feel free to tell me what you think...

[Tinker]

Oh Lizzer - so glad you asked that because I would LOVE to do this kind of thing. Will be very interested in replies.

[SueW]

Go, Lizzer, go!

I've been lucky enough to be able to take DD to Virginia (we lived there for a couple of months with DH's job), New Zealand (we went to visit his mum there - each time I went I disappeared for two months but he didn't have that luxury the first time and only joined us for two weeks) and of course we had last year in Australia.

Now DD's at school, I make plans for what we are going to do in the long summer holidays - she gets two months off - and part of me hope that DH will be working somewhere nice we can go and join him. If not, I have family in Canada and can see me bumming around there for a few summers. When DD is about 8yo, we'll head back Down Under to catch up with family.

I think it's great to take kids away. I travelled across Canada when I was 18 and met an American woman who was on her way to Alaska. She had an 8yo daughter and she was a teacher - she had worked her way up from California after splitting with the daughter's father and it had taken her about 6 years to reach Edmonton IIRC, working a term here, a term there.

I've no experience of living in Europe really, particularly the southern countries but I wish you well. Those southern med types are supposed to be very child-friendly - maybe you could get a job in a bar and find someone to sit in the evenings.

Or paint faces/henna tattoos/nails on kids on the beach all day long to earn enough to keep you in accommodation?

GOOD LUCK! (Can I come and visit you?)

[winnie]

Lizzer, my advice would be go for it! Never again in life will you have the space that academic summer vacations give with out a myriad of other responsibilities that very quickly build up around one once on chosen career path, mortgage route etc.,,

I certainly don't have any practical advice (although I wish I done it)... I certainly don't think you are mad or selfish. Your dd is incredibly lucky to have a Mum who wants to expand her horizons.

I too am looking forward to reading other peoples advice/comments.

[winnie]

Obviously that is 'I had done it'... I swear my literacy skills are getting worse by the day!!!

[tigermoth]

Lizzer, on the subject of practical advice, you could try contacting the student travel service (if such a thing exists) and the careers service (for info on holiday and gap year jobs)at your new college. Failing that, aren't there some travel agents out there that specialise in student needs?

For work, sunshine and a creche for your dd, how about a few months helping on a kibutz - but how safe is the political situation at present?

[sml]

How about looking for a job in a holiday resort that would run its own creche?

[GRMUM]

I live in Greece and think that you would quite easily find a job looking after children for the summer.The children get 3 months holidays here in the summer (approx.15 June-15 Sept.) and many families have a second home close to the sea where the kids go, with mum and dad commuting either daily or weekly.Get my e-mail from mumsnet if you want and I can fill you in on some things to look out for.You could advertise through local english papers here or possibly try The Lady or agencies in UK.

[SueDonim]

Lizzer, there's a book called "Living and Working Abroad" which you can get at any bookshop and there are also more specific ones, such as "Living and Working in France."
Good luck and send us a postcard!!

[SueW]

Tigermoth, I'll check out kibbutzes when I go to Israel at Easter.

DH is out there this week, he says lots of security checkpoints, loads of screaming sirens and security vehicles. He says he worries when he stands on his hotel room balcony at night that someone might be practising their aim and lining up their crosshairs on him. I told him not to worry until he sees a red dot bobbing up and down on his chest

But the people are lovely and his project is very interesting. We're coinciding a holiday with his trip just after Easter and DD and I intend to spend the entire time hanging out by the pool and doing absolutely nothing cultural at all, even though he's in quite an historic area in the northern part of Israel.

The factory he is advising is owned by a kibbutz - a very wealthy kibbutz, apparently. At one point it was suggested to him he might like to stay on the kibbutz whilst on business trips but he was a bit concerned he might have to get up early and weed the ground in return for breakfast Turns out it's not that sort of kibbutz.

[Lizzer]

Ooooo, I'm really all excited now. Was really pleased to read all your replies.

I would LOVE to go to Greece GRMUM, so yes I'll ask for your email if that's still ok with you?

Suew, I can just see me henna painting on the beach, oh happy day! (got an A-level in art y'know!)Great to hear story about teacher too... Any info on kibbutzes greatly received, had completely forgotten about that option Tigermoth, thanks. I'd never thought of holiday resorts with creches, thanks sml!

Will definitely get reading up on the subject. Just checked my dad's bookshelf and there are three books on working abroad - hurray! I thought that title rang a bell when I saw it Suedonim

I'm glad you don't all think I'm mad! (well...!) I need all the encouragement I can get, but it does make sense to go now while I can, for time and money reasons as you say Winnie. Has anyone seen Hideous Kinky with Kate Winslet in Morocco, 2 kids in tow? That film put me off slightly I have to say!

Anymore advice welcome

[starmoon]

Hi Lizzer,

Let me know how you get on. What a decision to make!! My husband and I want to move to Majorca
with our little girl who is 2 and a half. Our prob is what we would do about work, we currectly
both work in the tvl business for a tour operator.
I would say go for it! Let me know how you get on.
It may then encourage is to just do it!!!

[emmagee]

What do people think about upping sticks permanently? My husband and I often talk about moving away from London (see other thread) but occasionally think 'why not just go to ....south of france/spain/anywhere warm cheap and friendly?'. What to do about family ties etc? One of my best friends moved to New Zealand - I'm not thinking of going that far, but we do manage to keep our friendship on a pretty 'normal' footing but it's still a daunting thing to contemplate. All the people I know/know of who've done it say it's the best thing you'll ever do, but what are the downsides?

[Tinker]

emmagee - I think one of the big downsides would be the family ties bit, as you say. Of course it all depends upon how close you are to them, their age, mobility etc but I know I would feel terribly guilty about depriving my mum of the fortnightly visit from my daughter. With no other family close by, I know it would break her heart - much as I would love to move abroad, if only for a few years.

[GRMUM]

Lizzer I have contacted mumsnet and told them to give you my e-mail if you still want it.

My advice to anyone thinking of living abroad is , research fully all eventualities i.e.housing,jobs,health care,education etc and if you still want to go for it DO IT. We can gain so much from other living in other cultures and for our children it can be a very positive experiance. Leaving family is difficult but certainly if you are in Europe you can always get home quickly if needed.I can get home in 8 hours if necessary(Athens - SW England) and I always feel that if I lived in Scotland it would probably take me just as long.

[GRMUM]

Lizzer,there have been a couple of adverts recently in the paper for "summer babysitters".If you are still interested let me know - I think you have my e-mail.I know that you have exams coming up and other developments in your life,so understand if you have better things going on for this summer!!Good luck with the exams and everything else!!!

[Lizzer]

Thanks GRMUM! Yes, I'll definitely not be going this year now, the organisation would be too much for me to cope with - argh! Its good to know they advertise for summer babysitters though, I think that would be a perfect way to get out and about over the summer - hopefully in 2003!! Thanks again for keeping me up to date