Hi, I am a US trained board certified Emergency doc, who is considering a move to Bonaire. Does anyone here know if US MD's are needed/welcomed there? Is the medical job market on Bonaire closed to US docs? Anyone here a US doc who relocated and works on the island? Or perhaps lives on bonaire, and works on curacao? I am in no hurry, my wife and I are just starting to map out are relocation. I love to dive, so Bonaire is high on the list! Any help is appreciated! Cheers! Sean

I can give you a 99.9% no as to being legally employed here. If you speak Dutch, English, some Papiamentu and Spanish there might be a glimmer of a chance. Aruba might be an alternate choice,however. I suggest an American owned dive island where you would have a much better shot at a job. As an alternative, we do have two medical schools that are always looking for instructors and they do employ foreigners.

Thanks. I planned on learning Papiamentu, as it seemed like that was the most commonly spoken language, and if I was going to live there, I would want to be somewhat fluent. Also we are planning on starting a family, so the children would need to know papiamentu I suspect.
How reliable are the flights to Miami out of Curacao, and those from bonaire to Curacao? If we wait a few years, I would only need to work about 4 days a month in the states, to support our family on Bonaire...

Sean, I think it's a requirement that you speak Dutch also. But good luck, it's everyone's dream to move to Bonaire... sigh...

Actually Mike, work is going to be second in line to life, in my mind. I appreciate your attempt to help me, but Aruba is hardly an alternative to Bonaire. Diving is no where near as pristine, and I am looking for a peaceful quiet place to raise my family, with a sense of community and joy in nature, not a casino town in the caribbean!

regards, Sean

Actually Doc, Bonaire is an ideal place to raise kids but presently the education system beyond grammar school is really sad so home schooling is probably your best bet. There are a number of flights from Curacao to Miami and in a year or two when divi opens the new resort, I expect flights direct will commence.

Hi, just for info, be aware that the legal and administrative status of Bonaire is about to change from an island in the Dutch Antilles to being a full fledged part of the Netherlands and thereby full EU member as well. What does that mean in your case? I have no idea! But moving to Bonaire in theory should then be no different from moving to any other EU country between Finland, Portugal and Romania. Now whether an American doc can practice in the EU is for you to find out. Good luck!

Sean, Norm, nobody knows exactly how the new relation between Bonaire and the Netherlands will work out. We are about to move to Bonaire from the Netherlands and did quit a bit of research on the subject, but the Dutch gouvernment is still making up their minds on how (and when!) to implement their regulations on Bonaire, Saba and St Eustacius... This will take a lot of time. Frank

Thanks so much everyone for your insights! What a valuable resource this forum is! Well from what I learned here, it is likely impractical to expect work as a doc on the island. I also want to have my child there by about 5 years of age, no more than 7, so assimilating the language will be easier. May have to home school after grammer school. All that is ok. If I work hard the next 5-7 years we should be financially secure enough I would need only 4-5 12 hour ED shifts in a US hospital(likely south florida) to make an adequate living for life on Bonaire, which means one trip to the states a month for a week. This would give me 24 days or so a month to spend diving on Bonaire, and enjoying my family, raising my child in a place where material wealth is not as important as friends, family, community, and ecology. Home schooling one child thru high school will probably be fun. Well this is my dream. Hopefully one day we can continue conversations between dives, or topside over a beer! You folks will get tired of seeing my posts here over the next few years I think!Cheers! Sean

There are two flights most days from MIA to CUR. They are jets on AA (not AE) and are reliable.

Service from BON to CUR is very reliable during daylight hours only via Divi Divi.

Hello Im a dentist and i want to know if there is a Dental school or any place for me to work as many people my dream is to live in Bonaire I think is too difficult to work there as a Dentist
Thanks
Al

You probably could get a job teaching at one of the Medical schools, but to practice the chances are slim to none. You need to be Dutch or Antillean although we do have a South American if I am not mistaken.

Thanks Michael yes South american I'm Peruvian I know there is a big group of Peruvians living in the island do you know any peruvian ???actually now Im working in Alabama I know there is a medical school but the question is if there is any Dental school .

Al, are you living in bonaire and working in Alabama...and are u a md or dds, dmd?

Sean I am following your posts with great interest. IMHO when you visit hunt out as many dutch families as you can that have moved to Bonaire I believe seeking what you want and talk to them, but also their children, about the pros and cons of life on Bonaire.
Me? I am a 52 yo college educated mom, raising 3 kids who has homeschooled one son for 3 years in the states. Homeshooling can be done easy in the days of the internet and has pros and cons. I would move myself to Bonaire in a heart beat, but would have worries moving my kids over. Again it is the pros and cons balance.

My eldest was 12 when she started diving and visiting Bonaire. She is 19 now and an undergraduate studying environmental science at UCSD. Right now, she wants to be Jane Goodall when she grows up. She loves Bonaire, but would not want to live there.

I guess my point is that you appear to be doing all the right things to build a solid family life, continue to do your research and remember to wear your "kid" glasses when evaluating. The best of luck to you and your family.

No i'm living in Alabama and my dream is to live in Bonaire Im a DDS

i don't blame ya!

Hi Jen. Don't know how I missed your post earlier...anyhow, thanks, that is good advice. I suspect a child in their late teens may want to be in the states...I'm hoping it would be a fun place to do grammar school, and that homeschooling would work. I get very scared when I think of raising a child in the states these days. seems so much of the good old fashion morals and ethics are draining away, and common sensewith it. Seems our modern world is becoming ever more materialistic, and self absorbed(kids spending hours on the computer or playstation, where my childhood was filled with hours outdoors with many friends playing team sports and games, and running/biking our hearts out...I was hoping to find a more simple way of life to raise my child with a lot of respect for the natural world around her. I have a lot of things to study and experience before making the decision...and I will try to keep those "kid glasses on" ...thanks for your advice!

You might address some of your questions to Linda and Jake Richter, they have 2 children and live on island. They have been there for several years and can probably give you the answers you need. Jake and Linda are the ones who started Bonaire Talk and the Bonaire Web Cams.

great andy and dave, thanks for the heads up!

What are the chances of working as an RN or nurse practitioner on the island? In private practice or at the local hospital?

As good as your Dutch & Papiamento.

Excellent! Thanks, T.

I am an Aruban medical doctor, with work experience on primary health care, emergency medicine, occupational health, sports medicine and currently I am working as a controlling physician for an insurance bank. Where should I have to turn in to to check vacancies for doctors in Bonaire. How much does a doctor earn in Bonaire.