Anyone in Angola?

[Lollypolly]

Hi All!

I am new to Mumsnet but hoping to find some information about a new posting. You all look like a pretty well travelled bunch so I thought I'd ask here

DH works in oil and gas (no, not literally!) and has been offered a posting in Luanda, Angola for 2 years. We have a daughter who will be 3 in October and probably another one on the way by then (although I would have the baby in the UK).

By all accounts, Angola is pretty safe at the moment (Nigeria was the last offer - we turned that one down!) and DH's future with the company may be affected if we reject this one too. We have lived abroad for a while in Singapore, Dubai, Azerbaijan, France, Spain etc but have been in the UK (Scotland) now for over 3 years so well entrenched in our comfort zone.

Is anyone in Angola at the moment? Has anyone been recently (I know that it has improved vastly over the last few years)? Does anyone have advice from living in similar places with children? Previously my expat life consisted of getting a job and making sure I was safe - there is so much more at stake this time around.

Thanks all in advance - looking forward to lots more posting on MumsNet!

My cousins DH did Angola, but only on his own, he would not let her come with him. Sorry this is probably not much help.

Your company should offer you information on local issues such as schooling, shopping, safety etc. If you are not sure you should go on a LSD trip (look see decide). Sorry can't give you direct advice, but I'm an expat myself.

We're going on an LSD trip next month but wondered if anyone had personal experience of the place (company information is fairly dry and objective).

Not sure if it's more fair on us to see DH / Daddy a couple of times a year for the next 2 years, or go with him. Also, because we relocated to Scotland from overseas, we don't have family / support network here.

Bree - how long was your cousin's DH in Angola?

A year before her DD was born and a year after. He came home every 6/8 weeks IIRC.

Thanks Bree. Trips home this frequently would not be an option for us.

Lolly, we have been in Cameroon for 3 years with plenty of oil and gas people, many of whom went/had been to Angola.

Some very good friends have or are just moving there now. From what I believe it is a very close knit community, a very good international/american school, however the cost of living is quite high as everything is imported and meets the demands of the expat oil and gas community. You can of course travel easily back and forth to SA, but travelling and exploring the country is quite difficult due to the lack of infrastructure outside Luanda and the landmines that have yet to be cleared. Noone has mentioned issues with security and so I assume it is like living in any other large African city, you watch your back and don't take any unnecessary risks but otherwise everything is fine. FWIW my friend has a 4 year old and a 6 year old and is happy to be taking them back to Africa after 2 years in the US following their Cameroon posting. My dc are 5, 3 and newborn, the 2 eldest have spent most of their lives living in Africa and will soon go back as we are moving from a year in Somerset to Nairobi in the new year. HTH let me know if I can help any further

Hi Cameroonmama

Thanks for your reply. I've heard that Cameroon is a pretty good posting too (as far as oil and gas destinations are concerned - just waiting for a discovery in the Maldives )

It's nice to hear some positive stuff too - most people think Angola and run a mile. We're pretty seasoned expats (although Africa has never been on our list for some reason) and the more I find out, the more positive I feel. Friends of our were in Angola during the civil war and were offered Vietnam but felt it was a step down!
Hope Cameroon to Somerset isn't too much of a stretch

Thanks again for your help

hey lolly better Angola than Sakhalin Cameroon was great fun, even if it was a bit sweaty. Somerset with 3 dc, small house, rainy summer and no help is much harder.

As seasoned expats you should have no problems settling into Angola and think of all those wonderful trips around southern Africa you can have Do let me know what you decide.

ooh,Angola sounds great.

Lolly,we have lived in some wacky places and i would go to Angola like a shot.My dh is in Tajikistan at present. I always fancied Azerbaijan too.