People Who Returned To Their Home Country W/ School Aged Kids

[JimmyTheMook]

Any members care to comment on returning to their home country with their children.

How well did your kids integrate ?

Did they seem / are they happier ?

Was the move worthwhile ?

[MikeyIdea]

I cant share my own experience but am instead forwarding the opinions of 2 expat finance managers we had in our company with school age children who went back.

Should be noted that they were on expat contracts and got free international school

Manager 1) British, Bangkok Patana, went back to London, 2 kids approx 7-8 and 9-10 years old when leaving - The children wanted to go back to Thailand, didn't hear anything about seroius problems though, the father commented in email to me that he thought the education at Bangkok Patana was much better than what the school in England could offer, 3+1=4 year contract in Thailand

Manager 2) American, Can't remember the school name for sure, probably UN school (NIST). Went back to America but don't know the city, 1 kid approx 14 years old - The kid absolutely hated going back to America. Should be noted that the kid had been away from America for a long time, was in Indonesia before Thailand so 6, 7 years abroad. The father said he was worried about his son - difficult transition

[soundman]

Were they mixed (Thai) kids Mikey?

[MikeyIdea]

Manager 1, the British guy was married to a Thai = mixed. The American was 100% farang

[thommo46]

I have a 9 year old stepson ,his father did the bolt when he was 1 y/old. I met his mother 6 years ago . We have been married for 2 and half years . Her son and my wife moved to Australia in March 2009 , he could speak no English and was at school within 1 week of arriving in Australia. He was put into a normal class of his age group and also a class of other students of same English speaking ability and a English special language teacher to help comprehend our way of life and language. As each week progressed you could see improvement in his English. We have just submitted permanent residency for both of them . Neither my wife or son have any desire to return to Thailand.We have had 2 trips home in this period.He could not swim before , but now can't keep him out of the surf or swimming pool. As Australia is very multicultural he does not feel left out as many of his mates have parents from different countries. I suppose each case is different but where our son come from where he had very little and no Papa he loves his new life . That's my story and I can recommend it .