Waiting frustration

[Missymoomum]

We have been on our current assignment now for coming up for 4 years and we decided at the start of this school year that this would be our last here as it's time to move on. DH made it clear to his company that we would not renew again (have done twice already) and he's due to finish this summer. Despite him going back to the UK a couple of times and rumblings happening, we are STILL waiting to find out what the next move is. There has been vague discussion over the last few months about possible places and roles but they have died a death and finally, in the last few weeks, discussion of the move by his company has really picked up, but we're still nowhere near knowing where we're going and it's starting to panic me especially since we will need to find school places for our 2 DCs. We could be either going back to the UK for a bit or elsewhere abroad so an extremely vague area and i would really like to enjoy my last few weeks here but i just feel completely stressed by everything.
I know this is a pretty common experience for expats but I was just wondering if anyone else is going through this at the moment so we could have a support/moaning thread .

Sorry grammar appaling, I'm typing one handed only I phone while putting a very over tired two year old to bed.

Oooh wine! The non alcoholic beer just doesn't cut it at times like this, does it?

Singapore I could have written the "out of DH's hands but he's bearing the full brunt of my ranting" script myself. I have been awful to live with for the last few months. But I'm trying to make it up to him now by telling him how proud I am of him.

I'm exactly the same with my DH, I don't think there's a day that goes by without me asking if there's any news to which he always replies that he will tell me as soon as he hears anything, which of course I know he will! I just wish he could tell his HR department that they need to pull their finger out and have a rant at them but of course he can't do that as he doesn't want to jeopardise his job prospects! I keep subtly saying to him that perhaps he should email for an update and the time difference means that it's really hard to get to speak to anyone. I absolutely cannot wait for the time when he tells me that something is definitely happening, I'm going to crack open a huge bottle of champagne!

Ada, that's wonderful news that you have had The Call (I feel that it deserves capitals now as it's such an important event in our lives!). I've never lived in SF but have visited there on holiday and it's definitely my favourite city in America. How long have you got left now until baby is due?

Barbie, what a horrible situation. Congratulations on your pregnancy but also so sorry to hear about your mum. I really hope your DH's company sorts everything out asap. I looked into KL recently as that was a possibility and it looks great. Sadly that possibility has died a death.

Sharing a virtual (non alcoholic for the pregnant ladies) glass of wine with you

Our wait is over, DH resigned yesterday! New job starts a month today.

Now the hard work begins. We're off to Oman.

Good luck everyone

How exciting Hairylegs! Glad you've got some news. All systems go for you then

Thanks Missy! I've never been to SF at all - haven't been further than NYC or Boston, so dreaming about where to live is proving fun - bit like sticking a pin in a map. Googling houses all morning here. It's amazing how your whole state of mind improves once The Call comes. I really hope you get yours soon - and you too, Singapore and Barbie. It's such a relief now not to have to answer every call from DH with my heart in my mouth. I can't remember if you said where you are living now Missy (don't if you're worried about being identified obviously!)

The baby isn't due for another 2.5 weeks but I had a show a week ago, so have been on tenterhooks since. Little DS puked just now though so if there's a tummy bug in the house, I'll happily wait....

Brilliant news Hairy legs! How do you feel about Oman?

Thanks guys.
I'm very excited about Oman, it feels like 'normal' to me. We live in another Middle East country right now and I have just been so miserable. Not driving, the random daily frustrations we have here are mind numbingly grinding me down.
Our family will be able to visit - the visa office refused my DS2s wife's visa because they insisted her DH was already here, they mistook DS2 for DS4. DS4 was 15 at the time, no way was he married and had a 6 month baby. But they insisted they were right. What can you do with that level of daftness?
I'll be able to not only drive, but buy a ladies bike!!! The last time I tried to buy one here, the guy in the shop almost passed out when I walked into his shop, he refused to even acknowledge my existence.

Great news Hairylegs. Our move is also now confirmed plus we've found a house and have a school place for my ds. Just need to sort out ore-school for my daughter then we will go back to the UK for a bit before the proper move mid-August.

Oh fantastic One!
Where are you going to?
We're also heading back to the UK 'till August, roll on next month when we can finally 'escape'.

Hello again

Dh got a call today reassuring him that while the official offer has yet to be drawn up that kl would be a good move for us both professionally and family wise.

There is a 3 day holiday next week so we plan on visiting and scoping the place out. Hopefully the official offer will be in place before this so we can accept of decline and not have to make the trip.

The Dubai offer should of been here today so we could compare....it isn't.

Hopefully both will be in place by mid week
And we can finally make plans!!!!!

Good luck Barbie . I came from Dubai to KL and have really enjoyed it (although the novelty of rain quickly wore off when you are stuck in torrential rainstorms in your car!) . If you need any advise on areas schools etc feel free to pm me. One thing I noticed is that you said you may be on a local contract . I have found KL a lot cheaper to live than Dubai (although I still think the good schools here are incredibly expensive ) so may be a consideration in your thinking

Oh expat I didn't realise you were in kl!

How is it? I mean really...the safety aspect worries me. South Korea and Dubai were both so safe.

We are looking for a house around the mount Keira area so would love recommendations for schools and nurseries around that area if you have the time.

Another consideration is hospitals, I will potentially rock up at 30 weeks pregnant so I won't have time to mess around, I need to get a doctor sorted pronto.

Dh would be new boss has assured us that even on a local contract (+1 whatever that means) we are still expats and will still get almost all the benefits of being an expat, which sounds promising

Thats is good news on the package. mont Keira is a popular expat area . Nearest schools would be Garden intl (British) , Mount Keira Intl (American) , Alice Smith school (bit further away but def commutable and very popular British) and the British Intl School (relatively new but hearing good things about). Not sure about nurseries as mine are well past that stage so never looked into that . Doctors tend to be drop in not sure about antenatal care might be worth contacting the ABWM as they run a bumps and tots group so they will definatley have people there who can help you.
I think there is no doubt Dubai is safer but to be honest I haven't found it a problem . It tends to be bag snatch /house burgleries which are the main issue but there are a lot of gated communities , condos available with security and even stand alone houses tend to enforce their own security. I think you just have to be careful . I am lucky beyond an attempted bag snatch nothing has happened to us but I have had friends who have been burgled , car broken into etc so it is an issue but definately not a deal breaker . Also there are lots of positives compared with Dubai, cheap food , pubs/ wine bars, alcohol available in supermarkets without a liquor license, slower driving (although not necessarily safer!), rain (that one wears off quickly), great places to visit locally, cost of living cheaper here, really cheap cinema tickets (this is my favorite every time I go to the cinema I am amazed by how cheap it is) , all the big brand stores are here M&S, Debenhams etc.

Great news onedegreenorth, where are you heading?

Hope your trip to KL goes well this week Barbie, KL was a possibility for us recently but the job wasn't what DH had hoped so it hasn't happened, I'd have loved to have moved there though and DH loved it when he went on a visit :)
Singapore, i'm in Asia, don't like to say anymore than that though in case i out myself . Any more news your end?

We're still waiting, there just doesn't seem to be much going at the moment. DH has now requested that we stay until the end of the year and he says we should find out their decision by the end of the week. There was 1 possibilty that DH would have loved but it's come to a bit of a standstill due to internal factors so if they don't want us to stay, hopefully they may be able to gee this along . Fingers crossed we may be able to leave limbo for a couple of months very soon!! Can't wait to book my flights home for the summer !

Arggggghhhhhhh!!!!

I'm so angry, we should of been flying out to kl tomorrow but the contract and official offer hasn't been drawn up yet.

It's pointless taking the kids out of school and spending our own money and time lo

Whoops

Looking for houses and schools for them to turn around later in the month and offer us a contract which isn't worth our while.

So the wait c

Arggghhhhh

Bloody I phone!

So as I was saying the wait for us continues and our time frame becomes that much shorter....

Drums fingers..

Oh Barbie, i feel your pain i really do . Companies just don't think of the bigger picture, they just see the job which is far enough to a point when you're in a job at home but when you're abroad, you can't just leave at the drop of a hat and they just don't seem to realise this! Your situation sounds similar to ours in that they said they were in the process of drawing up a job description about 3 weeks ago and nothing has come of it, it's stalled because of 'internal matters'! Have they given you any idea on when an offer will be on the table? Big hugs

Thanks missy

Dh had a call from his London boss this afternoon who said the offer will be done by end of this week, this first however mean we will recieve it at the end of this week...

My mum has been rushed into hospital and I'm tempted to say 'screw it' and hop on the plane home.

However long term that won't help, we really need to visit schools and chose accommodation before i leave for the uk for summer.

Hopefully by this time next week the next chaper in our lives will be decided upon and we can start the next move!

Any idea your end?

hairylegs has the baby arrived yet???

Really sorry to hear about your mum Barbie. Where are you at the moment? How long would it take to fly back? In other words would it be feasible for you to go back for a couple of days?

Yes, hairylegs, has the baby arrived?!

Sorry not hairylegs, adaloveslace !!!!

Barbie apparently we should now by the end of the week too! But that will just be in terms of whether we can stay til December or not.........

Whoops I got the wrong person too

I'm currently in S.K on an island very far south. It would be 28 hours worth of travel to get back to uk

I could go home if needed but the doctors are reassuring me this is a minor set back (she has cellulis, a blood infection) after a mastectomy. She is just coming off worst right now due to being diabetic.

If needed I would just take the children and go home earlier rather than at the end of this month. My doctor too
Keen on me taking too many long distance flights.

Here hoping for news by the end of this week for us both!

Sorry Barbie you did say before about where you were, I'd forgotten! It sounds like she's in good hands and I'm guessing she's on a strong dose of IV antibiotics which should do the trick and once the infection is fought her blood sugar levels should go back to normal.
I will keep my fingers crossed for you on all fronts!