Australia on top of the world for expat kids
Mar 15th 2010, 5:57 pm
#16
If I have to explain...
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Where ever the road takes me
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Mar 16th 2010, 2:24 am
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Brisvegas
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Re: Australia on top of the world for expat kids
My kid has grown up as a Western Expat in the Middle East. He went, and is still going to a private school. There are different nationalities in his class including Arabs, Asians, South Americans, Canadians , Europeans. We have an Asian person employed in our home. He sees poverty and wealth, sometimes extreme in both cases. We talk about all aspects of Expat life, lifestyle, opinions, nationalities, religion politics. He can experience / see some of the things we talk about "hands on". He has a lot more knowledge about many things than children at home do, simply because he actually sees them. He sees people doing good, people committing atrocious injustices etc. He is very balanced, eco conscious , hates waste and injustice.
I can't say it is not good for him to grow up here, one thing is for sure, he spots a "wanker" from a mile away. lol
I can't say it is not good for him to grow up here, one thing is for sure, he spots a "wanker" from a mile away. lol
Mar 17th 2010, 9:23 am
#20
why ayeeeee man!
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Disco Gardens...
Posts: 11,370
Re: Australia on top of the world for expat kids
We'd like that very much, but getting residency sure isn't easy pet, mrs spugsy was out there for 4 years when I met her as a traveller, and we'd love to go back there - we still have good mates over there, only thing is it really is so far from home.
Mar 17th 2010, 9:35 am
#21
If I have to explain...
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Where ever the road takes me
Posts: 3,999
Re: Australia on top of the world for expat kids
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Last edited by Roadking; Mar 17th 2010 at 10:03 am. Reason: Oops, wrong thread, stoopid!
Mar 17th 2010, 10:00 am
#22
ex-expat
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: in front of my computer - in sunny Sussex!
Posts: 2,162
Re: Australia on top of the world for expat kids
I'm just thinking, back in the UK, there are loads of initiatives that actually make a difference - at home, volunteering, at schools, etc. Over here, even with the best will in the world, it's nigh on impossible to be "eco-conscious" and "hating waste" just ends in frustration.
Here in the UAE, believing in such grand causes just feels a bit like a middle class person observing the plight of the less fortunate (like middle-class regency women used to visit prisons and asylums) in order to feel "part of it".
Anyhow, aside from that, we're moving out before our children get to school age.. I don't want my children growing up as part of such a backward hierarchical system.
Mar 17th 2010, 11:47 am
#23
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Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 2,675
Re: Australia on top of the world for expat kids
Alexa, I'm genuinely curious here... I think it's great that your son feels this way, but surely, here of all places, there's a certain powerlessness with regards to doing anything meaningful with regards to the above?
I'm just thinking, back in the UK, there are loads of initiatives that actually make a difference - at home, volunteering, at schools, etc. Over here, even with the best will in the world, it's nigh on impossible to be "eco-conscious" and "hating waste" just ends in frustration.
Here in the UAE, believing in such grand causes just feels a bit like a middle class person observing the plight of the less fortunate (like middle-class regency women used to visit prisons and asylums) in order to feel "part of it".
Anyhow, aside from that, we're moving out before our children get to school age.. I don't want my children growing up as part of such a backward hierarchical system.
I'm just thinking, back in the UK, there are loads of initiatives that actually make a difference - at home, volunteering, at schools, etc. Over here, even with the best will in the world, it's nigh on impossible to be "eco-conscious" and "hating waste" just ends in frustration.
Here in the UAE, believing in such grand causes just feels a bit like a middle class person observing the plight of the less fortunate (like middle-class regency women used to visit prisons and asylums) in order to feel "part of it".
Anyhow, aside from that, we're moving out before our children get to school age.. I don't want my children growing up as part of such a backward hierarchical system.
Mar 17th 2010, 12:29 pm
#24
ex-expat
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: in front of my computer - in sunny Sussex!
Posts: 2,162
Re: Australia on top of the world for expat kids
Well, you can do something, you can start at home. And looking around, you see a lot of things that are not right. Which can be a good thing, because you will be all the more conscious of them. Sure, the big picture is frustrating, but again, that teaches you to deal with what you have in the best possible manner. I find it always helps to see what NOT to do. Especially with young adults.
Mar 17th 2010, 1:24 pm
#25
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Re: Australia on top of the world for expat kids
