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An adventure or madness?

7 replies

ItsGonnaBeGreat · 12/07/2017 19:33

DH has the opportunity to go for a job in China for 3 years which would pay off the mortgage and give the savings pot a healthy boost. The whole family would go, we've been looking for another adventure for some time now (lived abroad a few times and have itchy feet again) but I'm in two minds whether it's the right thing to do. Financially it's a no-brainer but I don't want to go just for the money as there are other things to consider like quality of education for the kids (dd 10, ds 8), pollution, language etc. The city we're looking at is one of the healthiest from a pollution perspective but I know it can't compare to Europe and there is an international school there and two more scheduled to open. The thing is we're at a stage where we've been on the move due to dh's job for a few years and have finally settled down, bought a lovely house, kids happy in school, grandparents nearby. I just don't feel settled where we are (didn't want this last move) and I know my husband is keen to expand in his career which this move would give him. I'm stuck between being sensible and staying here now we are where we wanted to be from a lifestyle perspective or giving the expat lifestyle one last go. WWYD?

OP posts:
Justhadmyhaircut · 12/07/2017 19:35

Itchy feet =move. .
Fantastic opportunity. .

PossumInAPearTree · 12/07/2017 19:36

If you moved how difficult would it be for the dc to come back at 13yo and 11yo? Would it be tricky for the older one starting at a new school, etc? That would be my concern.

ItsGonnaBeGreat · 12/07/2017 19:42

Possum that is also worrying me, plus it's looking like the school there does the International Baccalaureate which would probably mean a private education on our return. The kids have been moved from pillar to post over the last few years (dd is on her 5th new lot of friends) and are pretty hardy by now but I can imagine that gets harder as they get older?

OP posts:
PossumInAPearTree · 12/07/2017 21:49

I've never lived abroad but I have a 16yo Dd and have to say that moving school at 13yo would have been a lot harder for her than at 10yo. Not just academically but from a friendship POV.

Even though it sounds a great opportunity I'd seriously be doubting if it's the best thing for the kids....but then you know your kids best and maybe they would be ok with it.

ItsGonnaBeGreat · 13/07/2017 15:52

Thanks so much for the advice, it's good to get another perspective, we're going to postpone the adventure till another time!

OP posts:
Welshrainbow · 16/07/2017 16:58

Go for it, it sounds like a great opportunity. I have always had itchy feet, purposely haven't bought a house yet because I like being able to move whenever I like (every two years or so).
From a child's perspective my dads job took us abroad many times and all over the uk, I loved moving around, exploring new countries, we came back to the uk for me to start GCSEs at a uk school and I had no problems settling in or with the work. Moving so much has made me confident and able to make friends wherever and given me a bit of a wanderlust, I don't regret moving around so much in my childhood at all.

Welshrainbow · 16/07/2017 16:59

Oops sorry just saw you are going to postpone. Ignore previous reply then lol.

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