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Bonaire Talk: Local Items: Archives: Archives 2001- 2004: Archives - 2003-05-01 to 2004-06-30: Any Australians in Bonaire?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julie Peel (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 2:34 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We are an Australian family moving to Bonaire in Jun 03...and we have not been there before.. any info appreciated...schools, medical insurance etc...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julie Peel (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #2) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 2:40 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Aussies here again! Of course you don't have to be Australian to help me out... as I am sure that most people on the island can tell me where to get a nice cold beer (Thanks Bruce..)... any vegemite, Tim Tam, or polly waffle requests will be considered...or stroop waffle as we are going via Netherlands...

See You all soon. Is there anything I should bring from the UK that is difficult to find on the island???

And Jake...Thanks for the very informative input on the other threads, you have already answered many of my questions.. I'll shout you a beer!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4275) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 2:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

A Foster's or Black Swan for my wife - I'm not a beer drinker (but there's some great Australian Port wine I had when I was in Melbourne a number of years ago).

As far as Aussies on Bonaire, I suspect you'd be the first... Congrats!

How old are your kids?

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #493) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 3:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I doubt that you can get that tasty black tar called Vegemite on the island. Bring a good supply with you, there are places in the states where you can order it off the internet, but the shipping costs will be a killer. The best way to get it and the other items when you start to run low is to put a request on 'Everything Else' for someone to bring you some down.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julie Peel (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #3) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 3:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Jake! Wow that was quick! I'll search out the beer! But need a bit more info on the wine...Red/White, Shiraz, Chardonnay etc...(How many bottles are we allowed to ship in???
No, Honestly...

We have a boy 4.5 yrs and a girl 7.5 yrs...Is there an English speaking school?, I am afraid that Us Aussies aren't very multi Lingual..But if there isn't then can you recommend a compassionate school that the kids would feel welcome in?? I'm sure they will learn whatever soon enough...

We have also been advised to have a zillion vaccinations... Yellow fever etc.. are these really essential or is it just that over prescribing stuff that Airlines do...

Do you know what sort of health cover we should be looking at?

Thanks for the help...

I noticed that you didn't jump at the stroop waffle offer...Hmmm...

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julie Peel (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #4) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 3:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey!!! Now you're really scaring me.... Can I buy wine on the island???

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4276) on Friday, May 16, 2003 - 4:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We have lots of wine here on the island, including some Australian vintages, but not Australian Port (a fortified wine - sweet - sipped with cheese or dessert).

Your kids' ages aren't far from those of our children (boy 6 and girl shortly to be 8). Ours go to the local schools where they are learning in other languages. There are no schools for English-only speaking children here though. You either have to drop them in the local schools and hope that they learn by immersion (tends to work well after the initial frustrations are overcome), or home school. Most of the teachers can get by in English, and most of the kids know some English from watching TV here.

No vaccinations needed to come to Bonaire (unless you get here via South America). We don't have malaria or yellow fever, although there is the rare case of dengue #1 here (for which there is no vaccine).

Medical insurance options - you may want to explore local insurance for basics, and then external or private insurance for catastrophic. We use www.imglobal.com for the latter, but I don't think it's open to non-US citizens (at least for those living outside the U.S.).

Since Bonaire's a Dutch island, waffle stroop (syrup) is widely available here (that's why no jumping in excitement over the prospect) :-)

What will be bringing Aussies to live on Bonaire, if I may ask?

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julie Peel (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #5) on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 3:47 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

What brings Aussies to Bonaire!.!..well after 4 years in Scotland...it's gotta be the WEATHER!!! And we have had many a snorkling holiday in Beautiful Lord Howe Island off East Coast of Australia, so I'm sure we won't find Bonaire too ardous...But on a serious note...My Husband(greg) is a pilot, and last week was offered a job with DEE (Dutch Eagle Express)... Any others out there??? so we are very keen on a change of scene, even though Edinburgh is a beautiful city. Can you recommend a school to write/e-mail to... and what is a nice area to rent a furnished villa, we can probably afford about nafl 2000 to 2800/mth... Is this conceivable, and what areas..??

I hate to lean on you Jake, but I have to sell house here, pack and move in a matter of weeks and I haven't found any good links for the above queries. Some early footwork would help.

Thx.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1040) on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 8:30 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

It's good to hear BonairExel has hired at least one pilot :-)). 2000 Nafl should get you a decent house with enough space for your family. Belnem is a good option (close to the Airport), Hato and Republiek are good neighbourhoods too.

Welcome to Bonaire Julie!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julie Peel (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #6) on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 10:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks Marc! I have since found good info at Sunbelt site. I will keep searching.

Julie.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4279) on Saturday, May 17, 2003 - 3:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Julie,

All the schools on Bonaire are public schools, and frankly none seem to be much better or worse than any others. The only difference among them is that of the four in the Kralendijk area, three are run by the Catholic church, and one is run directly via the government. We have our kids in the latter (called Kolegio Reina Beatrix) - and while that removes mandatory prayer time, it does not appear to remove discussion of religion in the classes (at least not in Kindergarten). The schools don't have e-mail as far as I know, unfortunately.

For the price range you're able to pay, you can get a very nice home indeed, incidentally. Take a look at both Sunbelt and Sun Rentals (http://www.sunrentals.an). Both are excellent and offer long term rentals via their clients.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julie Peel (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #7) on Sunday, May 18, 2003 - 12:18 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi!

Can anyone tell me when the Bonaire summer school holidays start and finish? and is there a Library on the island with English books, or maybe children Galt educational books or a book exchange..

Thx.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4284) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 9:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The school holidays start on July 1st and end on August 10th.

And yes, there is a library with some English books, plus I'm sure we could work a lending deal on the books my children hoard (plus if you're into sci-fi, fantasy, spy thrillers, mysteries, or dramas, we have an ample grown-up selection :-) ).

No idea what "Galt educational books are". There are a number of book exchanges of English-language novels at various dive shops/hotels here.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Erhard (BonaireTalker - Post #53) on Monday, May 19, 2003 - 10:15 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Julie,

There is one Aussie I know of on Island. Steve Jevon, the manager of Toucan Diving at the Plaza Resort, is from Australia. He has been on Bonaire for several years now. He's a nice guy and runs a great dive operation.

Tom

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julie Peel (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 3:49 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hi Tom,

Would you mind asking Steve Jevon if he could contact me, if he doesn't mind.... I would like to know what Aussies need to do for Health cover.

Thanks, Julie.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1657) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 12:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I thought Sreve was from Manchester....As for insurance, if you or your spouse is working here you recieve coverage from SVB....You also can purchase additional insurance from a few local companies.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tom Erhard (BonaireTalker - Post #54) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 1:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Now you have me guessing, Michael. I thought he told me he was from down under. I have been wrong once or twice before. Ask my wife! :-)

Julie, Steve can be reached at info@toucandiving.com.

Tom

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Julie Peel (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #9) on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 2:59 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Tom, thanks, I got in touch with him...and between you and me, I've found out Steve is MI5... But don't tell anyone. If he wants to say he's an Aussie..well shucks! Who can blame him! Don't tell anyone.

................Julie.(alias Red Fox).!

Destroy this message after reading.....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1659) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 1:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

If we see you talkling through your fins then we will know for sure that you all are at least connected to one company or another....

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1053) on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 3:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

So does this mean the new James Bond movie is going to be shot here? "Gold Fin"? :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jac (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #1) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 8:49 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I was reading your posting today. Just yesterday I read something about the Bonaire youth appearing in the australian magazine 'Cream Magazine', distributed by Quantas an Australian Airline company. The mother of Romina Herrera Malatesta, the stylist of the article, lives in Rincon.

What I read is in dutch but here is the link to it: http://www.amigoe.com/artman/publish/article_2112.shtml. Maybe this information may help you set a link between Bonaire and Australia. Succes with moving and I hope/know you are looking forward to some really good/laid back years on Bonaire. ....Wish it was me...siigh ;-)

P.S. Maybe somebody knows where the children of the employees of Transworld Radio used to go school?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4367) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 11:33 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

TWR kids did and still do (although the last one I know of just graduated this past weekend from a home school program) their schooling in one of three places:

1) At home
2) In Bonaire's schools (Reina Beatrix up through grade 6, and the SGB after that)
3) At boarding school in Venezuela

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael gaynor (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #1663) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 7:44 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

there are very few if any TWR kids left on island.

 


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