Ni sa bula

[pmforster]

My wife and I have lived in Fiji for about three years. I am happy to try and answer your questions about life there and if I cannot answer them, I can probably put you in touch with someone who can.

Best wishes

Peter Forster

[paulb]

HI,

I am considering a contract with Fiji Telecom - based in Suva.

Can you advise on accommodation around Suva - costs, standards, size (eg 1 acre, 1/4 acre) etc. We are a family with 3 kids (boy 15yrs, girl 7 yrs & girl 4 yrs).

Also costs for vehicles (car rental, petrol, etc).

Any insights into living in Fiji we should be aware of - health, cost of living, etc. The International School looks good for the younger kids whereas the boy will finish schooling in Australia and visit during holidays.

We are coming from Perth, Australia having also lived in Brisbane, Australia.

Also what is the expat community like in Fiji - does it exist or assimilate.

Please respond to Paul@Boland-Assoc.com.

many thanks

Paul Boland

[pmforster]

HI,

I am considering a contract with Fiji Telecom - based in Suva.

Can you advise on accommodation around Suva - costs, standards, size (eg 1 acre, 1/4 acre) etc. We are a family with 3 kids (boy 15yrs, girl 7 yrs & girl 4 yrs).

Also costs for vehicles (car rental, petrol, etc).

Any insights into living in Fiji we should be aware of - health, cost of living, etc. The International School looks good for the younger kids whereas the boy will finish schooling in Australia and visit during holidays.

We are coming from Perth, Australia having also lived in Brisbane, Australia.

Also what is the expat community like in Fiji - does it exist or assimilate.

Please respond to Paul@Boland-Assoc.com.

many thanks

Paul Boland

Hi Paul

I have put some hopefully useful background information on moving to Fiji at http://www.blue-oceans.com/ohana/fiji_expat.html

There is a very active expat community in Suva, rather less elsewhere. Some people mix most with locals, others with fellow expats. The Wine Club is a good place to meet a lot of them - the last Tuesday of every month at the Kakana Talei on Victoria Parade. Also the Rucksack Club if you like to get outside a bit.

If you have lived in Brisbane you will know something about the climate - hot, humid and rainy all year around. It rains a bit less in the west, but you can experience a week or two of solid rain in any part of Fiji, at any time of year, no matter what the Tourist web sites say.

Accommodation costs vary with area. The more middle class areas (Domain, Muanikau, Nasese) will have 4 bedroom houses for between Fiji$1,000 to about $3,000 a month depending on whether you want a pool and other features, such as quarters for a home help (or 'house girl' as everyone here refers to them).

The International School provides a very good standard of education. Two of our kids went there and liked it. If your kids get their IB they will have no problem getting into uni anywhere. Cars cost more to buy here than in the UK - I don't know what prices are like in Aus. However, taxis and buses are plentiful and very cheap. I never bothered getting a car - drivers here are a bit too 'creative' for my taste. If I did buy one I would get a heap that I didn't mind seeing banged about a bit...

HTH

Peter

[paulb]

Thanks for the information. All sounds good.

If anything eventuates I may be in touch again.

Paul

[Kay]

Hi Peter

I just read your article. Absolutely brilliant! It's well worth a read even for those with no intention of going to Fiji.

Kay

[pmforster]

Hi Peter

I just read your article. Absolutely brilliant! It's well worth a read even for those with no intention of going to Fiji.

Kay

Vinaka vakalevu. There is one thing I did not mention to Mr Boland because I don't want to put him off, but... I think I ought to say that, if he is going to work for Telecom Fiji he better have a thick skin. Hardly a day goes by without a letter appearing in the national press about the overpriced and less-than-wonderful 'service' they provide. Along with FijiTV they are one of the most thoroughly disliked organisations in the country.

My phone will probably get cut off now and that is not an exaggeration. A company called TelPac dared to criticise Telecom Fiji publicly and they have not had a phone connection since.

Best wishes

Peter Forster