Moving to hong kong in June -help with renting in discovery bay

[TheBrit]

Or 4) They don't move to Hong Kong until they have secured a school place.

[Colzers]

Or 4) They don't move to Hong Kong until they have secured a school place.

I am not sure if everyone on here is being rude or if I am reading this wrong but bottom line is I was under the impression that education is mandatory and a high priority here that said before he signed a contract for this job I looked in to many international schools and talked to my current school for advice and had no idea the strict restrictions on home/online schools. That's a piece of culture shock I guess for assuming it was fine if the system is offered there. I will commute to get her to school if that is what it takes. She is my number one priority and I will do everything it takes to secure her in a good school. I also didnt realize I could not apply until she has a stamp on visa. Otherwise this would already be done.

Side note I have heard great things about the people who live in Hong Kong (great support groups, very welcoming and so on). The comments some of you have made not all but some give me a rude awakening to the reality of how people can be cold and talk down to others no matter how many nice things you here about them. I am just looking for an insiders advice so if you have rude or negative comments to make please find someone else to direct them too. This is a very scary and exciting move for me and I would like to think that if you are on this site you are here to help not hurt. Thank you and have a nice day.

[Satay Sue]

TheBrit is not beIng rude here (neither was I nor most of the others).

[HowardCoombs]

Dont understand what you are considering rude or why even taking this personally. You asked a question and you received very valid answers in return. The options that were given to you are ones that are regularly chosen by those in the same predicament.

....had no idea the strict restrictions on home/online schools. That's a piece of culture shock....

A small bit of advice to follow on from your comments that I've quoted. I mean this with sincerity and with no disrespect:
You are moving to a new country with a very different set of laws, practices, value system, history & language. It would be in your interest not to expect things to be the same as "back home" nor make assumptions based on your country or pure logic for that matter.
Get ready to be shocked again and again on many fronts with schools being just one part of it.
Read, ask, learn, experience, embrace and enjoy; you'll love some aspects and hate some but I guarantee it will be different.

[Mat]

TheBrit is not beIng rude here (neither was I nor most of the others).

yeah for once he behaved... :-)

[Satay Sue]

Now now, not necessary Mat...

[Dreadnought]

A small bit of advice to follow on from your comments that I've quoted. I mean this with sincerity and with no disrespect:
You are moving to a new country with a very different set of laws, practices, value system, history & language. It would be in your interest not to expect things to be the same as "back home" nor make assumptions based on your country or pure logic for that matter.

Get ready to be shocked again and again on many fronts with schools being just one part of it.

Read, ask, learn, experience, embrace and enjoy; you'll love some aspects and hate some but I guarantee it will be different.

Shri, could we have a 'Like' function for mobile browsers please?

[Mat]

Now now, not necessary Mat...

:-) why not :-)

[MovingIn07]

This is an online forum. As such it has debates and personality clashes of existing people. It's also hard to tell if people are joking online and for some, it's easy to be rude because it's a face-less medium. I think you got good information for your request - better than many threads - but at the end of the day don't confuse the personalities on here with the expats you will meet in real life in HK. While some are the same; most are much nicer. The social life I have here is unique - never come across such an active expat (or other) community anywhere I have lived. You just have to meet people in real life to find it.

[TheBrit]

I am not sure if everyone on here is being rude or if I am reading this wrong but bottom line is I was under the impression that education is mandatory and a high priority here that said before he signed a contract for this job I looked in to many international schools and talked to my current school for advice and had no idea the strict restrictions on home/online schools. That's a piece of culture shock I guess for assuming it was fine if the system is offered there. I will commute to get her to school if that is what it takes. She is my number one priority and I will do everything it takes to secure her in a good school. I also didnt realize I could not apply until she has a stamp on visa. Otherwise this would already be done.

Side note I have heard great things about the people who live in Hong Kong (great support groups, very welcoming and so on). The comments some of you have made not all but some give me a rude awakening to the reality of how people can be cold and talk down to others no matter how many nice things you here about them. I am just looking for an insiders advice so if you have rude or negative comments to make please find someone else to direct them too. This is a very scary and exciting move for me and I would like to think that if you are on this site you are here to help not hurt. Thank you and have a nice day.

I am sorry you felt that I was being rude, this was not my intention. The sad fact is that I am telling you the actual situation, rather than what you want to hear.

I know 2 families who are currently waiting on their move to Hong Kong and will move as soon as schools are confimed. I also know several families who moved to Hong Kong and they moved out again due to problems with school waiting lists. And, further to both of these I know some families where the father is working in Hong Kong and the rest of the family are waiting to move over.

I note you are moving to Discovery Bay, from what I have read on these forums the competition for places in schools there is very strong too. Have you called up DBIS and asked them if there is any possibillity of your nine year old getitng in? They might be able to give you a guesestimate chance before you formally submit your paperwork.

When you are armed with this information you can consider the options.