Job Discussion Forums

Tom Le Seelleur · Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 242

Hi
Looking into brunei. We live in the UAE at the moment (been here 6 years).
Can I bring my car from here to Brunei at a reasonable price (Hyundai Trajet)
My wife is concerned about Bugs and mosquitoes - are they common/problem?
Schooling - is it too late to register kids at the international school. Does the Shell School take non Shell employee kids?
Is there Cubs/Scouts/Girl Guides there?
Could my wife find P/T work there (Celta+ Business Degree and other Business qualifications and 10 years experience?
Is there much crime (petty) or problems with rising cost of living - how much does it cost to raise a family per month?
Thanks for your time
Tom

jsteventon · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 191

Hi Tom,

Good to hear you are considering Brunei - there is actually already an ongoing thread with lots of info on living in Brunei. It is 'Thumbs Up For Brunei.' I and others have written quite a lot on there, so maybe you could read through that and then, if you have further queries, I will be happy to do my best to help.

Just one or two answers not included there, I think:
- the Shell school only takes Shell employees, but there are two other international schools. At present, people do not need to go on a waiting list and register when they arrive.
- mosquitoes are not a problem - just take precautions at dawn and dusk - spray etc.
- cubs, brownies etc. do exist here.
there might be work for your wife as a classroom assistant , or teaching Eng privately. Prob not in business though.
Not sure about your car - i think it might be very expensive to bring - I am saying that because nobody does it - they just buy here. To get an idea of prices on 2nd hand market, check out the following:
www.bobwhatson.com
This is where people post anything they have for sale in Brunei, including cars.
Hope this helps
JS

Tom Le Seelleur · Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 242

Thanks for the advice so far
Is it relatively cheap to go out in Brunei?
Are cars expensive to buy or do they have decent purchase plans?
Is it easy to drive through to Malaysia and Borneo?
Will the accommodation be suitable for a large family/will there be mosquito netting on the doors and windows?
Someone told us that there is very little to do there apart from nature?
Is there a supportive expat community, with clubs etc...
Can you save money?
Questions Questions Questions

Tom

jsteventon · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 191

Hi Tom,

A few answers for you:
- the housing is of a high standard - large family houses are the norm - with big gardens, if you so wish. Check out the 'housing' section of the CfBT Brunei website.

- many houses have mosqito netting, but not all need them. It depends really if you are surrounded by trees/streams etc. If so, these encourage mosquitoes, so you will probably need them. if not, you will probably not need netting - I myself do not... If you feel you need it and there is none already up, you can ask the landlord to fix it, or have someone do it for you.....

- the malaysian border is about 30 minutes drive from BSB, much nearer from KB. It is simple to drive to Sabah- also Sarawak, although further. Many do this from brunei....

- Most teachers buy 2nd hand cars - CfBT offer an interest free car loan of up to Br$10,000 upon arrival. This will buy a decent 2nd hand car - or two, if you wish!

- Saving money? certainly, but how much will depend on your lifestyle of course - also, whether you are a family or single.

- There is a lot to do if you like the outdoor life - sports and swimming - also lots of socialising . However, if you want nightclubs etc do not come! lots of great family activities going on. Singles out for night life will find it boring, but families generally love it! Several clubs - sports/swimming/socialising by beach and pools.

Any other queries/ No problem...

JS

The Lemon · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 42

jsteventon's given excellent answers, but let me try some:

studmuffin · Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 16

I would like to share my perspective. I have been living in the UAE for the past 8 years and am considering a move to Brunei. The salary would probably be comparable to what I am making now, due to the fact that a large chunk of it has to go to paying rent here. As many of you may know, the cost of accomodation has gone through the roof here over the past couple of years, and it's certainly going to continue to go up.
Other issues with living here:
traffic: a nightmare in Dubai( hopefully the new sky train will resolve that, set to begin Sept, 2009); it's also becoming an issue in Abu Dhabi. It's very busy at nite, esp downtown, where it's completey clogged, and forget about parking in Abu Dhabi.
Work hours: I work at a high school, heavy work load, sign in at 7 and work till 4, stressfull, largely due to the lack of administration, and unruly students.
Cost of living: very expensive. prices on basic food stuffs have gone way up ( as they have many other places), bars, on average $6-7 a pint, thats at a pub, you can increase that to $10+ at a bar in Dubai, where often you have to pay $20-30 dollars just for entrance, no drinks. Added to the fact that if you're a single male, many places give you a very hard time getting in if you do not have a female friend with you. I waited 1 hr and 1/2 to get into a nightclub last weekend.
Brunei is looking pretty good to me. Maybe i will come back here when the sky tram is in place.

jsteventon · Joined: 08 Jul 2007 Posts: 191

It does sound like you need a change! Send me a pm or ask here if any more queries. Good luck with your application!