Year abroad with kids: Oceania? Asia?

I think it depends on what your objectives are, as well as where you're currently residing.

For me: I live in Canada, so I would scratch that from my list right away. I would cast a wide net and really consider ANYWHERE. It sounds like you already have a few places in mind, but do your girls want to go there? Do they have an interest in those places you mentioned?

For instance, my girls go to French immersion school, so for us, our #1 choice would be to go somewhere that speaks French. Even so, I know that they would miss their friends and family back home, so having good telecommunications (internet / phone) would be important.

I, personally, would love to go to Southeast Asia for a year, but I know my girls wouldn't like it so I would search for that happy medium.

There are plenty of ngo's around that may be interested if they don't have to pay you, but the visa issue will be largely dependent on what your country is. If you cannot obtain a working visa and you are not being paid then you could look at countries that issue longish tourist visas and just exit to renew. I can't think where you could go, but I am in India and you could probably find an interested organization here, but you would be forced to exit the country for at least 2 months during the year. (I know people who have had to do this regularly). The only Pacific Island country I know well is Tonga and the visa situation is equally difficult there. However, if you link in with the right group then a year long visa may be possible (it is about who you know).

Does your country have any national volunteer scheme that you could involve yourself with? Or is this more work that you were hoping for?

As for schools - I have no idea where you would get that small, easy-going, school in Asia and even the Pacific. Intense rote-learning tends to be the trend in these places and individual thinking isn't usually encouraged. There are exceptions (I have my kids in a small local school that, thankfully, isn't like this) but they are fairly rare.

Family of Six,

That is funny. My kids are in French Immersion too. We were thinking of that.... Mauritius? Not interested in Mali and West Africa though. And only oldsters spoke French in Hanoi and that was almost two decades ago.

Nice to connect with a Canuck! It this is indeed a private message, zap me back and we can trade some notes and dreams if you like.

Cheers,

George

Okay... not a private message... a bit of a proud neo-Luddite here...

:-)

Thanks for your kind reply and congrats on getting your kids away from rote learning abroad! Not easily done.

I just posted something very similar to you (should have read down the other threads first). If I were you, I would be inclined to go for somewhere French speaking, ie, maybe one of the Pacific Island nationals like New Caledonia? I also remember coming across a lot of French speaking locals in Syria but this was a while ago so maybe this has changed. This would be an interesting place to spend some time (if you could swing it) and your kids could also learn Arabic which I think will be an increasingly handy (and very cool!) language to have in future.

Empressnasigoreng,

Terimeh Kasih and sublime gado gado to you. New Caldeonia is sur le radar for sure. Wonder about visas and such. This seems to be the rub, most anywhere: go an scope out the landscape, or get in touch with an NGO gig... have time to ponder. Merci.

Kembali, isaragof (although I am not actually Indonesian - the name a bit of a joke from an Australian tv commercial! :)).