libbyc

I have questions!

Thanks

Libbyc

Toontje

Just post your questions and eventually someone will give you answers.

Forres

What questions do you have?

libbyc

Well lots really but I can't bombard you with all of them! My husband has been made a job offer in Esbjerg that we are seriously considering. I currently work part time as we have a toddler. Over there I wouldn't be working initially. I guess mainly I'm after information on the finances over there and the costs of living and your experience of moving and settling there. Ooh, housing too. Hope you've got this far and that you can offer advice!

Thanks.

Forres

Unfortunately I cant give you much advice. But how ever I worked in Esbjerg for 2 1/2 years from 1996 to 1999 and I am about to start again in Esbjerg late in January.
I find it a great place to work and they are very nice people and very friendly. Taxation is very hi but how ever living standards are very hi too.
I have been moving around the world for the last ten years and moved back to the UK in April 2006 but the UK is not for me much as I love my country.
I am going to move back to Lithuania where I have an apartment and rotate out of Esbjerg I also have lots of friends in Esbjerg.
My advice to you would be "Take the job and go for it".
I was about to take a job in Australia but changed my mind when the offer to go back to Denmark came up. There are lots of Brit ex-pats in Esbjerg and I am sure you would both love it.

libbyc

Thanks Forres. Some good positive advice there. We're getting lots of negatives from people we've been discussing it with. In fact only one person has said that they would emigrate!! We have decided that if we can afford it then we are going to go for it. Hopefully we're going over to have a look in 2 weeks. It certainly is daunting and there's so much to think about.

Thanks again.

L

Forres

I assume the people you are getting negatives from have never moved to another country before or travelled much? I have been travelling the world living and working in various countries since I was 18 years old. Thats 22 years I have been doing this. From Germany, Holland, Denmark, Libya Russia, Kazakhstan, South Africa and the U.S.A. I have worked in many more.
The best way to find out is for yourself. Thats always been my philosophy. Sure people have tried to give me negative advice over the year but I prefer to find out for myself. The UK does'nt really have much to offer apart from hi tax's, hi proerty prices, lots of indirect tax and never ending bills. My standard of living has dropped quite substancialy since moving back to the UK. At the end of the day if you dont like it you can always go home.
I assume your husband works in the oil and gas industry if its Esbjerg your going to?

libbyc

Hello again,

I think you are right about trying it out. We've more or less decided now that we'll go for it but it all depends on the finance side of things. I think it'd be rude not to give it a go!

No, he works in engineering!

Forres

What ever your decision may be. Best of luck and hope everything works out. Take care and stay lucky!

libbyc

Cheers!

snowbunny

You might try expatica.com?

This is completely tangential but I watched a programme about footie hooligans, and supposedly Denmark has the nicest supporters in the world. They invite the England supporters to party with them and no one gets hurt!

Just a thought.... are there any expat wives/husbands already working there (in your husband's company) that the company could put you in touch with?

Best of luck!
Amy

libbyc

Ooh they have lovely hooligans over there!!

There is just my husbands boss and his wife who moved over there 3 years ago so they are being really helpful. We're going over for 2 nights this weekend for a look around.

Thanks Snowbunny!

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Peter Christiansen

Hi there!

Being a native Dane, I can agree with qoutes mentioning the high Danish tax. Yous should know however, that if your husband gets a very well paid job (i do not remember the exact amount), he may actually be able to use the "scientist-programme". It is a public programme, which were started in order to attract specialists in may fields to Denmark, and the main thing is that you will pay less in tax :-)

Regarding fincances, Esbjerg is not the worst place to move to. Although prices has gone up in Esbjerg, it is still located i a part of Denmark where you can get reasonably priced houses - although not in the center of Esbjerg. You can check your self on the websites from different real esate companies like Home and Danbolig, or on the central website www.boligsiden.dk which simply covers all major companies. There is a searchengine there, and even though it is in Danish, you should be able to get some results.

Esbjerg itself, about 100000 inhabitants, has a nice citycenter and nature is close by.

Best regards and good luck!

Peter Christiansen

expatcoach

I am in Esbjerg too! Moved in October and am enjoying life here with husband and 3 children. It's a great place to be - especially with kids and with the summer coming soon...

libbyc

Hiya, not stalking you but did you receive my email from a few weeks ago? I put my new email address on it.

Hope to hear from you. We sail on 6/5/07 and are coming over on 18/4 for a week and a bit.

Elizabeth

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