Thread: We're already Married????

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I disagree. I think it'll do them more good than having kindergarten for a couple of years.

If i take the job there is no reason they cant go to nursery there anyway.

VIS has better results per annum than our local school they would go to. Not that they would be there for long, 18months ish.

Originally Posted by Gerbil

If you're doing it yourself, with no guarantees of repatriation if things go wrong, you're going to be stuck funding that out of your own resources.

You've already mentioned the company you're dealing with wont even let you use the company vehicle for personal use. Seems to me you're going to be fighting against all sorts of issues just to get settled down there and if things do go wrong, it could get very tricky.

Sorry, but to me it just seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Thank you, i am happy to get different opinions.

I best just explain a little. I have got at least a 1yr sabatical from my current job, so 12 months time i can walk back in the door and say hi.(long story how this came about but they owe me one). However 2 years might be really pushing it.

Funds.
I have a pension of about £600 ($1000) a month. Now i know thats not alot, but it should cover food and elec bills.
I then have a lump of $11000 i have just put away. Flights are not part of this.
Rent has to be paid upfront so that $4800 if we have a $400 a month house.
So we should still have $6000+ spare. That will go into my mothers account for disasters.
For the next 5 months i am also recieving a payment of £1000 a month as part of the "they owe me" deal.
For 3 months we will also get the kids child benefit and tax credits at £840pcm.
So thats a total of £2450 (£1000+£550+£840)coming in without working about $4000 but only for 4/5 months. After that we will be down to the $1000 a month and eating into the $6000 with my mother if we have too, if we need to fly back then that moneys there to do that.

We can return at anytime, rent a house and carry on with life so just not sure why it should be a disaster.

If i take the job, then i agree some serious thinking needs to be done.

Originally Posted by Gerbil

They are usually on some sort of expat deal with a large salary, family benefits, housing, transport, and covered by insurance, etc if anything goes wrong and they need to relocate again in a hurry.

If i take the job i can have all that. The company has been great, car aside.

Like everyone says though schooling will be effected so if im going there i may as well just have the year to 2 years living fairly tight but enjoying it.

If we find the schools are as good as people in VTE are saying then we may stay and i take the job.

Gerbil is wrong. There are lots of good things in Lao such as family values, friendliness etc which are lacking in many western countries. Living in another country will do your kids the world of good.

Laotians are even worse drivers than the Thais. And the lot who come to Udon are bunch of ignorant kunts (I assume they're govt types who steal from their people and drive around in V8 Tundras).

Throw caution to the wind , i bet it works out for you , i came on a 6 month work contract that was 7 years ago , married with 2 kids now and at this point cant see myself leaving

Agreed marmite, Lao,s drive like Kunts

Obviously i have little experiance of Laos, most of my time was spent in Thai.

When we went to Laos as we could never stay together we only spent a few hours 3/4 times.

I must admit what i saw didnt exactly excite me, it was dusty roads, and the area we went to must have been quite poor as the houses were all very cheap, ram shackled affairs.

However after looking on youtube and speaking to guys on here it really looks far more developed than when we were there.

Play parks for the kids along the Mekong, the chinese market has loads of kids toys especially battery jeeps which they have here and will kill them leaving.

Jomo cafe looks great and then i see the planned development and think maybe this is the ideal time to do this.

We have no fixed stay time, no fixed agenda, and can just learn as we go with little pressure.

The only concerns were health care and schools. Schools look and sound fine. Health care we can just stick to Thailand.

Originally Posted by navydoubs1977

Health care we can just stick to Thailand.

Most people in Vientiane seem to visit Wattana Hospital in Udon.

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Most people in Vientiane seem to visit Wattana Hospital in Udon.

Yeah and for the smaller things apparently the AUS embassy has a clinic.

i usually get my arse over to udon or nongkhai when ive got problems , the aussie doctor at the embassy is rarely in ive found ,and is also expensive , Recently i was sick and really didnt feel like going to thailand so went to the new international clinic at settathirat hospital they had an old french guy for a doctor who was very thorough and a cute filipina nurse, Typhus was the problem, im on the mend now though still of the beer and smokes which cant be a bad thing ( the missus is chuffed, Also near my house and opposite hospital 103 is a LAO Viet clinic which im told is also quite good but you will need the wife for translations

Lots going on here at the moment in preperation for the asean summit construction 24/7 and lots of roads getting paved ,the new hotel on the river frontage is massive and the villas that will be used to house the delegates are impressive , apparently they will be sold to the public after the event but i suspect the HISO have already got dibs on them , There is even a mall called World trade centre going up Fock knows where all the moneys coming from

"Jomo cafe looks great"
Joma is expensive. The Scandinavian Bakery is far better and has more expats rather than Lonely Planet tourists.
The Aussie clinic is expensive. BLD try the Vietnamese clinic opposite hospital 103. They are very good and thorough. - Sorry, just read your post again. They are good!

"There is even a mall called World trade centre going up Fock knows where all the moneys coming from." China!

yep the chinese are pumping the bucks in , There are plenty of Lao people with money in vientiane but are there enough of them to actually fill a few malls with shoppers rather than twats just milling around in the aircon ?

I think this is why the company are looking to expand in Laos.

Im a building Maintenance Engineer / Manager in the UK and its that role i would be working as, sounds like a good time to be doing that kinda thing in Laos.

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

Lots going on here at the moment in preperation for the asean summit construction 24/7 and lots of roads getting paved ,the new hotel on the river frontage is massive and the villas that will be used to house the delegates are impressive , apparently they will be sold to the public after the event but i suspect the HISO have already got dibs on them , There is even a mall called World trade centre going up Fock knows where all the moneys coming from

Theres plenty of construction going on now , maintenance is a new concept though, usually a new building will look like its 20 years old 1 year later, You will have a job for life i reckon

Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker

Theres plenty of construction going on now , maintenance is a new concept though, usually a new building will look like its 20 years old 1 year later, You will have a job for life i reckon

Yeah its well paid too, well its as good as i get here which is a fortune there. It could really be the right time.

And they dont tax the arse of you here , livings cheap, but they arent hiring a farang for nothing The Laos need a lot of supervision due to what can only be described as a laidback work ethic , the job gets done eventually but you will be the one pushing that along , just be firm but fair dont loose your patience or blow a fuse and you will get the best out of them, Your company will want there pound of flesh , when you arriving by the way? PM me and we can hook up for a beer

I suggest both of you also join ANZBA. $50.00 pa, a monthly meeting with food and wine and a very good opportunity to network.

Thanks Vientiane boy ive been to one of those, not really my cup of tea, prefer to spend the 50 on beer down my local networking with other pissheads

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Laotians are even worse drivers than the Thais. And the lot who come to Udon are bunch of ignorant kunts (I assume they're govt types who steal from their people and drive around in V8 Tundras).

After having lived in Thailand and Cambodia an driven thru laos ( up country and Vientaine and LP) I think the Cambodians are the WORST!!! not regard for laws or any kind of safety

Am now here in Shianoukville and I am the ONLY one ( in car, motorbike, tuk tuk) that stops for lights or drives the correct way on the correct side of the street.!!!

Originally Posted by Phuketrichard

since have been living in the uk does ur wife hold a uk passport or id card?
if so should be no problem.

as i read the law i think all u need do is go to the Laos embassy as someone said with marriage papers and register.

I think going back with your kids as they are young for 2 years is a great idea. Gives them a chance to conect with their inlaws and pick up some of the Language.
Although i would not extend it past there being 5 or 6.

Hi PR,

No she doenst have a UK passport or ID.

Yeah i think so too, i will have to see how we get on but the original plan was a couple of years, so around 5/6 heading back.

Already looked into the ANZ bank so will do that too.

Just need these bloody visa's back! Taking so long. I will end up loosing the job if it doenst come soon.

Navydoobs, ANZBA is not the ANZ Bank. It stands for Aust NZ Business Association. It is an organisation designed to promote os business in Lao, and not just Aust or NZ.

Fair enough, BLD, when ND arrives why don't we all meet up somewhere and have a beer or two?

Good idea