HELLO FROM SINGAPORE
Oct 12th 2007 | 3:18 am
#1
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Posts: 4
HELLO FROM SINGAPORE
Hi There
This forum has been an excellant source of information for me and my wife Rubina. I have, after months and months of deliberations, finally decided to move to Barbados! Though I am a British citizen (since I was born in Cambridge, but lived only the first few months of my life in England), we are from an Indian background from the city of Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). Am also a Permanent Resident of Singapore and have been living and working in Singapore for the last 4 years.
Singapore is such a wonderful place (and near India) that it was an extremely difficult decision to move to Barbados, which is at the other side of the world! But I am quite an adventurous person by nature and that explains why I have lived and worked over the last 10 years in India, then Singapore, then Oman in the Middle East and then again in Singapore. Now moving to the Caribbean. We have a seven year old son.
I look forward to hearing more from all of you wonderful people before we move in December later this year. I wish to seek some information mainly because on my wife's almost pre-meditated view that Barbados is not going to be a good place to live in! In particular, I would like to seek your views on some of her concerns:
1) Its unsafe in general (well...any place on earth can be deemed if compared to Singapore, but then that is an unfair comparison)? Can my wife roam around the city freely without fear or discomfort? In Singapore, one would not even ask this question, but where we lived before in Oman, this was a major issue (and the answer was a big NO).
2) Will schooling for my son be an issue? We need to send him to a private school, with emphasis on English (which shouldn't be an issue in BBD) and follows either IB or English system.
3) Is it very very expensive as a place to live in? We are not extravagant people but neither are we miserly. So looking at something balanced. Realistically, in B$, how much would be total monthly costs broken down into 1) rental (2 bedroom in a condominium), 2) school fees (private for son), 3) ousehold incl food, internet, utlities, telephone etc, 4) cost of maid who comes in once every day for 2-3 hours and 5) transportation costs like petrol etc?
4) How is the public transport like? Can we manage with taxis all the time, in case we do not buy a car immediately? Is it safe? How costly is it? Eg, in Singapore, to travel approx 16-18km costs about S$14, which is approx B$19.
5) Are maids available easily and are they safe to engage at home? Coming from an Indian background, this is very important as we are used to several domestic helps at home (for no other reason than Indian labour at that level is very very cheap!). My wife will simply not go there is keeping a maid on a part- time basis is not possible. Even in Singapore, we get full time live-in maids from Indonesia, Philiipines etc.
6) Are there Indians in Barbados? I mean the Indians of the globally-mobile professional types who are basically first generation professional Indians outside India? This means NOTHING to me, but appears to mean a fair bit to my wife, who is quite comfortable on that front in Singapore. She has this impression that there are no/ hardly any Indians in Barbados and therefore may not be socially somewhat isolated.
It will be wonderful if someone can revert with some information on the above, which are primarily my wife's concerns. I am set to go to Barbados, but there is a strong chance that my wife and son will not follow me, but return to Calcutta to stay with family. Unless, I can convince her that Barbados is no traumatic place but a potential paradise!!
Thanks and regards
Arijit
This forum has been an excellant source of information for me and my wife Rubina. I have, after months and months of deliberations, finally decided to move to Barbados! Though I am a British citizen (since I was born in Cambridge, but lived only the first few months of my life in England), we are from an Indian background from the city of Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). Am also a Permanent Resident of Singapore and have been living and working in Singapore for the last 4 years.
Singapore is such a wonderful place (and near India) that it was an extremely difficult decision to move to Barbados, which is at the other side of the world! But I am quite an adventurous person by nature and that explains why I have lived and worked over the last 10 years in India, then Singapore, then Oman in the Middle East and then again in Singapore. Now moving to the Caribbean. We have a seven year old son.
I look forward to hearing more from all of you wonderful people before we move in December later this year. I wish to seek some information mainly because on my wife's almost pre-meditated view that Barbados is not going to be a good place to live in! In particular, I would like to seek your views on some of her concerns:
1) Its unsafe in general (well...any place on earth can be deemed if compared to Singapore, but then that is an unfair comparison)? Can my wife roam around the city freely without fear or discomfort? In Singapore, one would not even ask this question, but where we lived before in Oman, this was a major issue (and the answer was a big NO).
2) Will schooling for my son be an issue? We need to send him to a private school, with emphasis on English (which shouldn't be an issue in BBD) and follows either IB or English system.
3) Is it very very expensive as a place to live in? We are not extravagant people but neither are we miserly. So looking at something balanced. Realistically, in B$, how much would be total monthly costs broken down into 1) rental (2 bedroom in a condominium), 2) school fees (private for son), 3) ousehold incl food, internet, utlities, telephone etc, 4) cost of maid who comes in once every day for 2-3 hours and 5) transportation costs like petrol etc?
4) How is the public transport like? Can we manage with taxis all the time, in case we do not buy a car immediately? Is it safe? How costly is it? Eg, in Singapore, to travel approx 16-18km costs about S$14, which is approx B$19.
5) Are maids available easily and are they safe to engage at home? Coming from an Indian background, this is very important as we are used to several domestic helps at home (for no other reason than Indian labour at that level is very very cheap!). My wife will simply not go there is keeping a maid on a part- time basis is not possible. Even in Singapore, we get full time live-in maids from Indonesia, Philiipines etc.
6) Are there Indians in Barbados? I mean the Indians of the globally-mobile professional types who are basically first generation professional Indians outside India? This means NOTHING to me, but appears to mean a fair bit to my wife, who is quite comfortable on that front in Singapore. She has this impression that there are no/ hardly any Indians in Barbados and therefore may not be socially somewhat isolated.
It will be wonderful if someone can revert with some information on the above, which are primarily my wife's concerns. I am set to go to Barbados, but there is a strong chance that my wife and son will not follow me, but return to Calcutta to stay with family. Unless, I can convince her that Barbados is no traumatic place but a potential paradise!!
Thanks and regards
Arijit
Oct 13th 2007 | 3:42 am
#2
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4
Re: HELLO FROM SINGAPORE
Any comments/ response? Would be greatly appreciated. Regards Rubina
Oct 20th 2007 | 2:41 pm
#3
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Posts: 4
Re: HELLO FROM SINGAPORE
Hi - Still no reply or comments? I guess, I shouldn't have expected much in this case, though would have greatly appreciated any help.
Still hope to hear from someone. Maybe a private message reply would be better.
Still hope to hear from someone. Maybe a private message reply would be better.
Oct 21st 2007 | 12:46 am
#4
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 669
Re: HELLO FROM SINGAPORE
Hi Rubina, I think that my greatest advice to you would be to travel here 1st to see if you like it and like the way of life. I understand that it is quite a trip but that would make the most sense I believe.
Do you have Skype? I would be happy to speak to you via Skype to answer your questions.
Do you have Skype? I would be happy to speak to you via Skype to answer your questions.
Oct 21st 2007 | 2:31 am
#5
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 385
Re: HELLO FROM SINGAPORE
Morning,
1) Its unsafe in general (well...any place on earth can be deemed if compared to Singapore, but then that is an unfair comparison)? Can my wife roam around the city freely without fear or discomfort?
Perfectly safe to walk round...
2) Will schooling for my son be an issue?
Codrington school follows the IB program - http://www.codrington.edu.bb/cs/public/default.asp
3) Is it very very expensive as a place to live in? We are not extravagant people but neither are we miserly. So looking at something balanced. Realistically, in B$, how much would be total monthly costs broken down into
1) rental (2 bedroom in a condominium),
depends where abouts you choose to live, you can search around on the internet a little
http://barbadosvillavacations.com/barbados_long_term_rentals_list.cfm?size_restrict= 2|2
but really you need to visit and travel round the areas, also depends where your work will be based and which school your son goes to as traffic can be an issue in rush hour
2) school fees (private for son), look at web site i sent re school
3) ousehold incl food, internet, utlities, telephone etc,
not sure, around 2000 - 2500 a month at a guess (someone else may know better)
4) cost of maid who comes in once every day for 2-3 hours
I have someone who charges me 50 BBDS$ a day for 4 hours or so, she comes to me twice a week, but I am sure you can pay more
and 5) transportation costs like petrol etc?
Petrol not hugely expensive, my car costs 100 BBDS$ to fill up and lasts me a week
4) How is the public transport like? Can we manage with taxis all the time, in case we do not buy a car immediately? Is it safe? How costly is it? Eg, in Singapore, to travel approx 16-18km costs about S$14, which is approx B$19.
Not used taxi's, the buses are $1.50 and are regular. $1.00 for your son. Cars are very expensive to buy here.
5) Are maids available easily and are they safe to engage at home? Coming from an Indian background, this is very important as we are used to several domestic helps at home (for no other reason than Indian labour at that level is very very cheap!). My wife will simply not go there is keeping a maid on a part- time basis is not possible. Even in Singapore, we get full time live-in maids from Indonesia, Philiipines etc.
You can get live in maids, you would be best to contact an agency. Again something you need to do whilst here.
6) Are there Indians in Barbados? I mean the Indians of the globally-mobile professional types who are basically first generation professional Indians outside India? This means NOTHING to me, but appears to mean a fair bit to my wife, who is quite comfortable on that front in Singapore. She has this impression that there are no/ hardly any Indians in Barbados and therefore may not be socially somewhat isolated.
There are some Indians on the Island but I have no idea on the type/number, will your wife not socialise with non-Indians?
It will be wonderful if someone can revert with some information on the above, which are primarily my wife's concerns. I am set to go to Barbados, but there is a strong chance that my wife and son will not follow me, but return to Calcutta to stay with family. Unless, I can convince her that Barbados is no traumatic place but a potential paradise!!
I think your wife will need to visit and see for herself how she feels. I find Barbados a very good place to live, I have made several friends here, my daughter (3) is happy inher school. But it is down to the individual, if you come here with the thought you will not like it, then quite possibly you won't...
Sue
1) Its unsafe in general (well...any place on earth can be deemed if compared to Singapore, but then that is an unfair comparison)? Can my wife roam around the city freely without fear or discomfort?
Perfectly safe to walk round...
2) Will schooling for my son be an issue?
Codrington school follows the IB program - http://www.codrington.edu.bb/cs/public/default.asp
3) Is it very very expensive as a place to live in? We are not extravagant people but neither are we miserly. So looking at something balanced. Realistically, in B$, how much would be total monthly costs broken down into
1) rental (2 bedroom in a condominium),
depends where abouts you choose to live, you can search around on the internet a little
http://barbadosvillavacations.com/barbados_long_term_rentals_list.cfm?size_restrict= 2|2
but really you need to visit and travel round the areas, also depends where your work will be based and which school your son goes to as traffic can be an issue in rush hour
2) school fees (private for son), look at web site i sent re school
3) ousehold incl food, internet, utlities, telephone etc,
not sure, around 2000 - 2500 a month at a guess (someone else may know better)
4) cost of maid who comes in once every day for 2-3 hours
I have someone who charges me 50 BBDS$ a day for 4 hours or so, she comes to me twice a week, but I am sure you can pay more
and 5) transportation costs like petrol etc?
Petrol not hugely expensive, my car costs 100 BBDS$ to fill up and lasts me a week
4) How is the public transport like? Can we manage with taxis all the time, in case we do not buy a car immediately? Is it safe? How costly is it? Eg, in Singapore, to travel approx 16-18km costs about S$14, which is approx B$19.
Not used taxi's, the buses are $1.50 and are regular. $1.00 for your son. Cars are very expensive to buy here.
5) Are maids available easily and are they safe to engage at home? Coming from an Indian background, this is very important as we are used to several domestic helps at home (for no other reason than Indian labour at that level is very very cheap!). My wife will simply not go there is keeping a maid on a part- time basis is not possible. Even in Singapore, we get full time live-in maids from Indonesia, Philiipines etc.
You can get live in maids, you would be best to contact an agency. Again something you need to do whilst here.
6) Are there Indians in Barbados? I mean the Indians of the globally-mobile professional types who are basically first generation professional Indians outside India? This means NOTHING to me, but appears to mean a fair bit to my wife, who is quite comfortable on that front in Singapore. She has this impression that there are no/ hardly any Indians in Barbados and therefore may not be socially somewhat isolated.
There are some Indians on the Island but I have no idea on the type/number, will your wife not socialise with non-Indians?
It will be wonderful if someone can revert with some information on the above, which are primarily my wife's concerns. I am set to go to Barbados, but there is a strong chance that my wife and son will not follow me, but return to Calcutta to stay with family. Unless, I can convince her that Barbados is no traumatic place but a potential paradise!!
I think your wife will need to visit and see for herself how she feels. I find Barbados a very good place to live, I have made several friends here, my daughter (3) is happy inher school. But it is down to the individual, if you come here with the thought you will not like it, then quite possibly you won't...
Sue
Oct 21st 2007 | 3:23 am
#6
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 743
From: UK
Re: HELLO FROM SINGAPORE
Have a read through all the topice, that might give you a better idea
Good luck!
Good luck!
Oct 21st 2007 | 4:09 am
#7
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4
Re: HELLO FROM SINGAPORE
Hi Sue
Thank you very much for your detailed reply. It is clear to me that its the best for my wife to go there, see the place and then take a call on whether she wishes to stay in Barbados or move back to India/ stay on in Singapore.
I am moving to Barbados in mid-December and my wife (and son) will come with me for a month initially. That will give her a decent idea of whether she wishes to stay on or not.
As far as I have understood, Barbados seems to be a very good place to live in. I have no doubt about that. Apart from the sheer distance to India (which cannot be helped), there is nothing else about Barbados which should be any issue for me or my family.
I greatly appreciate the time you took to reply to my queries. Wish you and your family all the best.
Regards
Thank you very much for your detailed reply. It is clear to me that its the best for my wife to go there, see the place and then take a call on whether she wishes to stay in Barbados or move back to India/ stay on in Singapore.
I am moving to Barbados in mid-December and my wife (and son) will come with me for a month initially. That will give her a decent idea of whether she wishes to stay on or not.
As far as I have understood, Barbados seems to be a very good place to live in. I have no doubt about that. Apart from the sheer distance to India (which cannot be helped), there is nothing else about Barbados which should be any issue for me or my family.
I greatly appreciate the time you took to reply to my queries. Wish you and your family all the best.
Regards
