Botswana

[KwaziiCat]

My husband is from Botswana. I am from the Falklands. We have just been accepted for jobs (should add, we are applying for transfers, we work in the same company) in Gaborone, which means a pay rise.

The DC are five, six, eight and ten (and a baby on the way). We would be moving next December, and it seems school would start in January.

My qs:
Would you go for international schools?
If anyone has any experience of specifically Northside Primary or Westwood International, thanks, but if you have any experience of intenrational schools, it would be great to hear!

Would you say Botswana is a good country to live in?
As an outside or insider view, I'd love to hear more opinions.

What will the transition be like for the DC? Botswana sounds, from research, definitely different from the UK. My DC have been brought up speaking Setswana, and I am fluent in Setswana (albeit with a mild accent) due to DH. We talk in a mix of this and English at home, mainly Setswana. The intenrational schools would be English speaking.

And are we being stupid?

Anyone?

Don't want to leave you unanswered but I think you beat most MNers for nationality-combo originality!

International schools are always a good place to make new friends when you move country.

Thanks. I don't know how long we will be there (it is a permanent place ifyswim but there's the option to transfer back, I presume) but if we go and stay, I don't want them to be cut off. International schools sound like a good option- hopefully I can make a few schoolgate friends. It starts very early (7am) at those schools,but ends at lunchtime. I didn't expect such a difference!

I don't think I've ever met a Falkands/Botswana couple yet (since living in the UK, I've only actually met one other person from there)!

Does your DH have family in Botswana?

Kind of. They have relatives but there was a big argument/split because of something or other (I don't know the details nor do DH) which basically means they didn't meet when he was a child and so on. They live on the other side of the country but hopefully if we do move, it might at least let us create a bit of a relationship, or at least find out about the rift His parents aren't alive, and his sister is in South Africa. So not much support out there.

In SA so different and yet similar. Re international schools, should be fine but in my experience no guarantee of quality, they vary just as much as gov schools. Here school day starts 745am and ends about 1 or 2, you get used to it and better in summer. I find school gate malarky much easier here- straightforward, no cliques.

Why the "are we being stupid?" About what? Seems quite natural move esp as dh's home country. But natural also to have doubts and concerns!

I am a worrier, I guess, it just seems such a big leap. Falklands -> England was easy, I was child free, and obviously it was very connected. I am also worrying about MH services there, and also because it will obviously affect their lives a lot (and ours). I know it's for the better, probably, but I think I am making it seem a bit too big ifyswim, and scaring myself.

Wow.

You are moving to Botswana with 3 children and one on the way?

You sound quite naive by the way. Have you checked giving birth to a baby there? Moving to Africa involves having injections for tropical diseases, some of which are not recommended for pregnant women.

Do they have malaria there?... must do....

Please get all the info you need for all of you.

You ask about MH (Mental Health?) services there....

Basically, there is not much health-wise in Africa.... and nothing MH-wise

I was married to an African by the way.....we have a DS. another story

If you are being transferred by the company, they need to set you up in the country.

I worked at HRM for a world-wide company and that was part of my job. Helping people to move to a new country - Western Europe mind you... (house, bank account, health insurance, schooling, etc.).

All the best.

They have relatives but there was a big argument/split because of something or other (I don't know the details nor do DH) which basically means they didn't meet when he was a child and so on. They live on the other side of the country but hopefully if we do move, it might at least let us create a bit of a relationship,

Just be aware they may will ask you for money. Cos the prodigal son came home and has a western wife... In Africa all family stuff is shared. It's normal to take care of the extended family. granny, grandpa, 2nd cousins twice removed etc

You will love Africa though. It is amazing...

Giving birth to a baby there... Are you real or just clever? So women in Botswana don't give birth to babies?

OP Bostswana is lovely, I lived there, my daughter was born there too. I still have frienspds there. The children will love it and will you. You will a great quality of life. Do you which part of Gabs you are moving too?

Some Facebook groups for you....

The Gaborone Grapevine

Fight Crime In Gaborone

The Botswana Friendship Network

Botswana is an amazing place to live, like pretty much anywhere in the world, if you have money. And if you don't mind that they currently only have four months of water supply left in the country. Constant and sustained power cuts and a high crime rate.

It is beautiful though and worth it for the experience alone. Especially as you can always leave if you need to.

Really dont know Botswana well but high crime been mentioned so from SA perspective, choose where you live really carefully - security estates are great for kids, only place they're free to roam and can be good communities. Get a biggish dog, choose house with alarm, beams and sign up with armed response.

The baby would be long born when we got there, we aren't moving until next December, so more than a year away, by which time, she should be nine and a half months. MH services are more because there is depression in the family. I had it as a teen and I know this might mean I have depression later in life. This is quite a small niggle tbh.

I think we would be living in Phakalane.

Thanks for all the advice

There are mental health facilities, they just aren't free. I assume you would be on Bomaid or something similar, just check that your band covers the facilities you want.

Phakalane is nice enough, they now have fairly big supermarkets and a shopping centre so that's good.

Schools wise, north side has a very good reputation, I'm not sure about Westwood to be honest. I think Maru A Pula is also very well regarded. (I went to both schools, albeit a very long time ago).

Hth

Dumela mma,
I lived and worked in Botswana for 5 years, albeit about 20 years ago. (so that's pretty much all the Setswana I can remember)

I loved it, the crime rate was far lower than SA, though that may have changed by now. I have friends who teach in Maru a Pula, and I would trust them with my own kids.

I found the Batswana to be quite reserved, but I actually appreciated that.

You will have a huge advantage over most non-African ex-pats there if you can speak Setswana.

I'm really quite envious of you.

Hi, I live in Gabs with 2 x kids at Thornhill Primary & an 11mth old. Have been here 4 years on DH expat contract. Please pm me so I can give you all the lowdown without clogging up the thread!

Wow... I must be really naïve then!! We moved with a two year old and a 10 day old baby in January. Of course you can have babies in Africa. Of course there are healthcare facilities. Of course there are difficulties too, but nothing is insurmountable if you want to. We love our quality of life, the outdoorness, the opportunities to travel. But equally we miss certain aspects of Western life.

Mara e Pula is our twin school and I hear it is very smart and well fitted out. You need to consider what kind of curriculum you want the children to cover. Here our girls will go to private primary schools. I doubt we'll stay long enough but at secondary they would be at an international school, although these vary wildly in quality and particularly teaching. It would be worth taking your time and visiting... I'm sure it would be possible to start the term slightly later (certainly here things are pretty laid back like that).

I hope your company will help you... we didn't get much help and it was hard work dealing with the bureaucracy . I am a bit jealous, we'd love to go back to Bots but tourism is expensive there. DH thinks we could drive it but I'm not so sure!!

I hear Africa also has schools, roads and hospitals ; )

Good luck, OP, v exciting! And Botswana a most beautiful country!