Where would you choose to go if...

[Bathsheba]

...you had the choice of these countries to relocate to for up to 2 years? DH is considering working for his company as an expat. These places could be on offer soon:

* Singapore
* Hanoi (Vietnam)
* Shanghai (China)
* Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
* Vanuatu (Port Vila)

There are always jobs at less appealing countries like Western Samoa, and Papua New Guinea but I have ruled out them as being too unsafe for my family.

All relocation costs and airfairs (business class) will be paid for so we won't be out of pocket no matter how far afield.

Please say 'why' you would choose a particular location, or if you wouldn't go at all!

[Pandora]

Would he/you have to be in a compound in Dubai?
I would probably go to Asia ahead of UAE.

[Beach Mama]

I would probably go to Singapore as Ive heard its very clean, safe, (my girlfriend is teaching over there at the moment) people are lovely and it isnt too far from Australia if you want to come home for a break or visit!

[feeb]

China or singapore would be best for a family!!
singapore is clean and nice.

vietnam a frined just came back from a holiday ther and spent half her holiday with stomach upsets.

Dunbai would be nice but not really that safe for a family but still a place i would love to viist!!

[Bathsheba]

Ray, I think you can just live in a normal apartment if you choose to live in Dubai... but either way it wouldn't bother me. It's an amazing city, you wouldn't be restricted in any sense. The big attraction with Dubai is that you pay NO income tax. In Asia you still pay tax, just not as much as here.

[Astrolady]

My step-dad quite often travelled to the UAE with work and always had amazing stories to tell of stuff that he experienced.

Love

[*las*]

A friend has just come back from 18 months in Singapore while DH worked there.

She loved it there, transport is easy and lots of Aussies working over there that were in the same boat as her.

[Pandora]

lol. no tax. i wouldn't have many other questions, given you think it'd be safe/interesting place to live

[Antheia]

I wouldn't choose China. i have been there and i would never take my family there nor will i ever want to go back there. I found the people to be rude and dirty. I just found the whole place to be quite dirty. One thing i really hated was that everyone spits, it is my pet hate. They even spit indoors, like in shopping centres etc. While i was there most people refused to speak english and were very rude when you tried to strike up a conversation with them.

[sushee]

I haven't been to any of the other countries mentioned but I am from Singapore originally and have to say that expats there lead a charmed life. The country itself is very clean, the people are very friendly to expats and the food is wonderful and cheap as chips. The public transport system in Singapore is amazing too.

But it isn't as family friendly as Australia, and the people there work long hours, and then party late into the night, so you'll find that life there carries on well past 10pm. The shops mostly won't open before 10am and don't close until 10pm, so that gives you an idea of the hours in the day that Singaporeans utilise. Before 8am, the city is a virtual ghost town.

My DH had thought of looking for an expat position there when we were first married, as like I said, the expats are paid well and looked after, and it would have meant me being close to my family (back then) But the truth is, I preferred to raise my children in Australia.

[Bathsheba]

I think I agree with you Tegan, I haven't been to China but the spitting thing would really get to me too... i even did a soapbox rant in BB about it once! LOL

[Bathsheba]

I agree Sushee, you can't beat Australia for raising children... this would just be for a few years... but who knows, if our first stint in Asia/UAE goes well then maybe DH would go for a more prestigous job in Europe or the UK. I have gypsy blood.... the idea of DH's work funding world travel is incredibly appealing!!!

[Bathsheba]

True Niass, I'm the sort of person who could find something positive about any place I found myself in. If it was China i would focus on their amazing ancient heritage. Local "friendliness" does play a big part though. i have heard that Singaporeans can be very blunt! LOL apparently they don't hesitate to tell you if you need some aspect of your appearance fixed ie "oh that colour doesn't suit you" and they ask very personal questions like "how much does your husband earn" without shame LOL I'm a fairly open person anyhow so I think i could deal with this.

[Rouge]

I would definitely go to Dubai because it looks awesome and like Niass says its so fascinating. Dubai is the only place on early like Dubai iykwim?

[Antheia]

Having said China is not for me, the sightseeing there is quite interesting. I especially loved the terracotta warriors for example. Though i really dont know how i survives 2 weeks there, let alone 2 years. I don't mind chinese food but over there it wasnt very nice, so all i ate for the entire time was fried rice.

[sushee]

Lol Bath yes it's not considered rude to ask what your house costs, how much you earn and to tell you you look fat/short/ugly in Singapore. But I thought that was only among locals! LOLOL!

[PlonkeeMumma]

I would chose Dubai. I have a friend who has just moved out there and is having the most amzing time. Granted she doesn't have kids but the lifestyle, cleanliness and variety plus that it seems safe and unrestrictive would definitely sway me there!

Where ever you go, no matter how great the place is there will always be some negatives about being away from home. You just can't replace friends and family and that has been really hard on me. but i guess you already know this and plus that you are only planning on two years (maybe!) i would say go for it!
good luck choosing
Julie x

[Bathsheba]

I know Cai, I've been checking out all the Dubai websites i can find... and hanging out in some expat forums hehe but not for too long, much better here! I have learned all these interesting details about each country but need to kind of glue all the details together with some personal recommendations. For example, 1 litre of cow's milk in Singapore is $3.20 apparently OMG our kids will need to drink soy/rice milk! But like Sushee said, food in general can be very cheap, especially eating out... we are not fussy eaters so I'm sure we could adapt in that way. Oh and I have found good schools in both Dubai and Singapore for DD. There is an Australian school in Singapore... NSW curriculum.