Any families with young children that moved to TRNC?

kiria


Joined: 15/01/2009
Posts: 19

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 03:13

I would like to hear from people with young children (under 15) that decided to permanently move to the TRNC. What were your reasons? do you feel that you made the right decision?

The atraction for retired older people to move to the TRNC is obvious, but for younger people who still may need to work, and have young children whose education and future has to be considered?

Were your children (if old enough to have an opinion) happy with your decision?

lazydays


Joined: 14/07/2009
Posts: 8

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 07:26

Hi peeps,

Kiria i just cannot understand how any young family could possibly imagine relocating to here unless you or you partner has a very specialised job or a shed load of money because all that is here for you down the line could be misery and sadness cos one or both of you will have to work and it is getting harder to get jobs here now the goverment is clamping down and nearly every young expat is working on the black thinking they cannot be touched and then when they are cought and deported its everybodys fault but their own

only my HO

Good luck lol

A

susief


Joined: 06/11/2008
Posts: 529

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 08:51

Hi Kiria



We moved here 18 months ago and have a toddler. We've made friends with lots of other expats who have young children so it's not just retirees here. But Lazydays is right to some extent - unless you have lots of money (we don't) or you or your partner have secured an "above-board" job with regular income and work permit (my husband has) then it's very very hard. Even with a job, the pay is usually alot less than UK so financially we're no better off though the quality of life is fantastic. We're only just getting to the education bit which is a worry as it's so expensive but there are reasonable schools.



How old are your kids? I think as they grow up it gets harder to entertain them - not much to do here (that's cheap anyway!!)



Hope that helps

ozankoymum


Joined: 10/01/2009
Posts: 359

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 09:44

Ive been here since April with a 7 & 9 year old, and from what Ive gathered thus far, its lovely for the younger children, but most families move back for education/entertainment reasons when children get older. We are trying the local school for the language and integration and although its early days, it seems like Im being a bit optimistic thinking that the local kids/teachers will bother too much to help integration. Im home learning alongside this which is imperative if you go down that track.



Discipline is almost non existant and children (boys in Particular) are very physical when they play which is normal here and us english cant complain as that is their way, but it is very difficult for well behaved, polite 7 year old boy to make friends in those circumstances.



Im still trying to get a bit of a network going to make sure my kids dont miss out on the interaction and play friends that they had in england, and spending lots of time covering the uk curriculum.

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 10:03

mess 1 - You'll find that we all moved here because the property was cheap.....

semtcm


Joined: 13/01/2009
Posts: 249

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 10:07

Amazing, my experience is nearly totally opposite of the one above. My kids went to local school from the age of 5 and they have learnt discipline...no way will they miss behave at school - they respect their teachers too much. It is very rough and tumble in the play ground...but really to no harm. Stick with it..the Turkish Cypriots do teach their children respect which is quite refreshing. One of the main problems we experienced was sending kids to school in Çatalköy but living in Ozanköy.The local Ozanköy kids sort of exclude them because they are not in the same school. A family i have known for 4 years have just returned to N Cyprus for their summer holiday and they know kids who have been educated in the private system and our kids. They looked after Tomas one day, and then said what a joy he was and how well educated he appeared to be...better than children who have been placed in private schools. Give it time. And yes money helps!

parkview



Joined: 12/03/2009
Posts: 1123

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 10:27

Hi Kiria



We moved here over a year ago with a 1 1/2 year old, we chose to move here because of the lifestyle, it is very safe, they learn to respect elders, its family orientated, restaurants are great with kids, its an outside lifestyle, to be honest she was the main reason for leaving the UK. She started a private school 3 days a week which costs me 90 GBP a month, or 150 for full time, great value and she is taught discipline and manners. She loves it. It is hard here without the abiliity to earn money, so you need to have savings, but we love it here. If you need any advice my email is shabbychic@sunnycyprus.net Hope this helps.

ozankoymum


Joined: 10/01/2009
Posts: 359

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 10:38

mess 5 - of course, and understandibly, its everyones main reason, although we are renting for a year first and upon reflection, as a young family with the ever changing laws and regs, and growing children, I think its wiser to rent long term, and keep your properties in the uk and your money in the bank. That way if you decide/realise its no longer the best place for your family, you just hand the keys back.



That way you can truly enjoy living here without getting involved with the stress or political polava.



England has the best education in the world and an open ended variety of opportunities and thats what older children need, this is great for us as a family 'now', you just have to keep a non selfish view and stay flexible. I feel sorry for the people ive met who have put everything they have into properties and business here and want to go home for the sake of their children and cant because you cant sell anything here at the moment.



my advice RENT!

negativenick


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 6023

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 10:41

mess 8 - wise words....



until the muddy pond clears, my advice would be to rent, too......

ozankoymum


Joined: 10/01/2009
Posts: 359

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 10:51

Sorry I meant discipline during play, I had to take my children out of one local school because of a riot including 20 children in a classroom while my children were present where one boy was getting his neck stamped on by another boy, This happened during playtime. The school they are at now is a whole lot better but my point is it is very difficult for children to integrate with the local children, its going to take time, a long time and you have to be prepared for that.

parkview



Joined: 12/03/2009
Posts: 1123

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 13:20

Mssg 8



"England has the best education in the world"



That all depends where in UK you live, whether you can either afford private, on live in a catchment area with good schools, I have had friends who have to travel miles for good schools or the schools nearby that are any good do not have space. I think you maybe talking about how the UK used to be. I decided I did not want to bring my children up in the UK as its just not a safe environment. Like everywhere there are good and bad schools but I think it is easier here with young children to intergrate as they grow up with the local children, much harder for older children if they have not been brought up out here.

ozankoymum


Joined: 10/01/2009
Posts: 359

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 14:06

Definately!! thats an excellent point.. If your children are very young its so much easier as they dont have anything to compare to and accept their surrounding so much better.



Its such an individual thing for each child, I think we might be ok with our kids given a bit more encouragement and time, but if your children are any older your going to have problems with them settling.



I have a friend who has been here 7 years, with a sucessful business, put 3 children through different schools here, private and state and she and her Cypriot husband are going back to the uk because of the education and lack of opportiunities for the children.



You just have to keep an open mind, come and give it a go otherwise you will never know, just dont tie yourselves into being financially binded here. Catalkoy is a great catchment for primary school if your thinking of local schools. If they are comprehensive age I hear English School of Kyrenia (private) is a good bet.

cyprusairsoft



Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 2066

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 17:05

HI GUYS my kids are 10 and 15 we have been here 3 years we would not change a thing



it was the right thing to do no regrets private education first class and cheaper then uk



i came here aged 48 retired from uk and sold up lock stock and barrel we dont have a lot of money we dont work the black market and we live very cheaply on a healthy diet our biggest costs are electric and swimming pool



i have no second home this is it.

couldnt give a monkeys about gc its their fault for the segregation of cyprus.



get of your ar^e and go for it

Park_Lane


Joined: 20/04/2009
Posts: 132

Message Posted:
18/07/2009 17:44

Families and children are always welcome at Park Lane in Alsancak



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