Should I move our life to Shanghai??

[4pinkbabies]

DH and I have both been offered a job at an international school in Shanghai. Very well paid, free house, free private education for all 4 DD's, private health insurance. Initially for 2 years with a possibility to extend. DD's are 7, 6, 4 and 1. We are all happy here, have loads of friends although could do with a bigger house, which atm is not possible. My Mum would break her heart, but says go (as you would). DH really wants to go. I am dithering, this is the second time we have been offered this..last time I was preg with DD4 and could not even consider it. Thoughts please.

Yes I would go, experience of a lifetime!

I have friends who have been in Shanghai for about 4 years and Nanjing three years before that. There are a lot of pluses about living there, most of them are listed in your OP. And Shanghai is an interesting and fascinating place (I've been to visit). BUT, you (they) have to live an expat lifestyle. They're not 'allowed' to live just anywhere, they have to live on a compound with all the other expats. They've met great people from all over the world but the population is transient: there is no-one there now who was there when they came four years ago. The female of the couple definitely finds the temporary nature of the friendships difficult. The children are happy, though, and the school is pretty good, but again, there's no consistency of staff because it's a private school for expats and the teachers tend to be passing through for a couple of years.

I think my friends would say it's been a fantastic experience, and they are still there, though that's because his career has gone really well there. Otherwise I doubt they would have stayed so long.

Hi my husband has just been offered a job in shanghai and I am currently looking into pros and cons of moving there with two small children 2 and 4yrs. I have just joined [email protected] and hope to get advice there. Awaiting replies? Also www. shanghaiexpat.com pretty helpful. Any advice on london versus shanghai welcome...please the more I can find out the better!
Despite the pollution its a pretty exciting prospect I think?

Best wishes lissiex

Hi my husbend has recently been asked to do a stint in shanghai for work. So we are currently looking at the pros and cons of moving with 2 young childen 2 and 4yrs. I have just joined shanghaimamas network ( a yahoo group of mums in shanghai) and posted a message, also shanghaiexpat.com has been helpful. Please any advice would be really helpful if you are out there or have been out there with young children. Despite the pollution (any comments?) I think it would be a pretty exciting prospect.

Lissiex

Ok you see I havent posted a message on mumsnet before so please ignore my double post! thanks lissiex

Hi Lissie, always good to hear of someone in a similar situation. We are definitely going!! We need to go in August, so things are moving very fast now. Yes, I agree, it is exciting. My eldest girls are very impatient to get there. Luckily we have friends already there with 2 small kids, so who will work at the same school and we know the Head really well, but packing our lives into 6 suitcases is daunting. We will be able to pay off the mortgage in 2 years and travel to places otherwise impossible. We would be mad to turn it down. The biggest worry for all of us is leaving friends and family. The friends already there absolutely love the lifestyle and their kids aged 4 and 2 are very happy.x

Hi there..we are still in early stages..speaking to wives in shanghai for some idea what expat life is like. Also DH still has to talk more about job, package etc to see if it is viable etc. Would be really interested to find out about schooling...have you joined shanghaimamas yet? Recently joined and has been invaluable....international school seems v good.as you know!!. wd appreciate any help if you know anything about dulwich college in Pudong? good schools/kindergarten for a 2 and 4 yr oldx

On the topic of missing family, I think 2 years will go very quickly anyway. It seems most people go back home in the really hot summer when it is school holidays. I plan to set up a skype network too, although my mum plans to use us as a base to travel...not sure who will be more disapponted if move doesnt happen!? Its hard but I paying off the mortgage and private schooling all included...WOW! x

honestly go, my friend has gone to HK for 3 years initially. she went last Jan (2009) and we are all in touch lots with facebook/Skype, and they come home for the summer hols. in many ways we see more of them/more quality time together now than before, and i feel as in touch with them, if not more so than friends who are here all the time iykwim.

Any news Lissie? We are moing fast towards going now. I have spent the last 2 weeks clearing the house of non essentials and selling stuff on ebay! I blow hot and cold about it all, especially as my Mum has now gone into a depression about us leaving. We are signing contracts this week. We will be living in Pudong, but intend to use the time to do some travelling. Everyone over there is so positive about life there with small kids and say the kids have an even better quality of life there. The average time of staying seems to be 3-4 years. We have agreed that if any one of us is unhappy, we will come back. x

go go go enjoy the experience make sure you do a good scrap book for the children Life is what you make it and you will make friends and its no bad thing to make local friends I truly envy you saw a doc' on Shanghai it looks like New York have friends who live there and love it. Ps you can have a ahma for the children, wonderful.!!!!!

Looks like we may well be moving there in October...If it happens will have sooo much to sort out before we go.
Hopefully your mum will come and visit? Have you managed to learn any mandarin or can you speak it already. I have just started a thread on this, any help would be appreciated. xx