Phuket - Time for a change...Laos to South Africa...WTF!

sierradelta · #1 25-12-2007, 21:50

Hi Guys,

I’ve been a bit quiet lately so I thought a quick update was in order.

I have left my expat Supply & Logistics Mangers role in Lao and have started a new role in Johannesburg (South Africa) as the General Manager Global Procurement for a multi billion dollar global EPC company.

It was a tough decision to leave working in Laos (and Thailand) but when I weighed everything up it was a significant professional opportunity that so far has only been offered to me once in 25 years (plus the 2 x the tax free package also assisted in the decision making process).

I started late Nov and I have just flown back to Australia to see my family for Xmas/New Year. I called via Lao on the way through Bangkok to see my Lao wife and our new born son. Did I mention to you guys that Pui and I now have a baby son? I have some pictures on my work laptop so I will post some pictures when I get back to work.

Quick Baby Gabriel Facts:

• Boy (Pui is very happy her 1st born is a son)
• Born 7/11 at 11:07 (freaky eh)
• 3 Hour Labor (not bad for her first child)
• Weight 3kgs (big baby for a small Lao woman)
• Natural Birth (I would never had guessed that was possible, I had money on a C section)

The difficult decision to relocate was compounded by the fact that Gabriel was only born 3 weeks before I had to leave. Thank god the Lao women are emotionally tough (tougher than me). Pui had no hesitation in helping me decide what was best for our family’s future. She has a huge family support circle in Lao and she is quite OK with me moving to SA alone until she and Gabriel can join me.

I am still building our “family home” in Vientiane, so Lao will always be classed as my new “home”. The 3 x houses I have in Australia are just investment rental properties at moment. I have no real plans to go back to Aust to live/work…maybe ever?

They will both join me in J’Burg in minimum 6 months time when Gabriel has completed his minimum 6 months of immunization shots. This could go out to 12mths just to be safe with his immunization?

The new role is residential (no more 4:2 FIFO) but I get 6 x (business class) return trips to Lao (or Aust) per year and for the first year I can work a 6:2 roster and go back to Lao (or elsewhere) every 6 weeks for 2 weeks.

After the 1st year when Pui & Gabriel arrive in SA I only get 2 x return flights each year (they get 2 x each as well). But I get 45 days holiday per year and I have a reasonably disposable income so I think I’ll still get back to Lao (or Thailand) ~4 times per year?

If Pui misses her family (or Laos) too much I’ll send her back to Vientiane every 3 months for about 1 month. I will be flying all over the Globe as well so I would rather she and Gabriel be back home in Lao when I am gone away from home for extended periods of time. I also want Gabriel to experience his Lao family, culture and traditions as well. After-all he is a 50/50.

He will no doubt be schooled in a western “English” school, college and university but I guarantee that his mum will have him tri-lingual (as she is) in English, Lao and Thai and she (and I) will never let him forget his Lao roots.

Well guys, that’s about it for me…Hope you all had a great Xmas and have a great NYE.

Be safe and I’ll no doubt catch you on the flip side.

Cheers

SD

Devman · #2 26-12-2007, 05:23

You certainly are a man with a plan.

Congrats on the new young bloke.

Best of luck for the future.

LivinLOS · #3 26-12-2007, 15:58

Sounds like you made a good choice for yourself and the little fella.. He gets good schooling, an international upbringing, yet retains his family roots and knows where he comes from. All while you can earn good money to improve his and your standard of living.

Despite the crime, SA cant be too bad a place.. I know a few guys who have lived in bits of Africa and love the place despite all its problems.

Thin White Duke · #4 26-12-2007, 16:09

Yeah,interesting post !

When you're back in Jhb give me shout.If I can assist you in anyway to settle in I'll do so.............

sierradelta · #5 26-12-2007, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Sounds like you made a good choice for yourself and the little fella.. He gets good schooling, an international upbringing, yet retains his family roots and knows where he comes from. All while you can earn good money to improve his and your standard of living.

Despite the crime, SA cant be too bad a place.. I know a few guys who have lived in bits of Africa and love the place despite all its problems.

Hi LIL,

Yes mate, just trying to do what I believe is the "right thing" (time will tell if I was right eh!)

I have many Aussie mates in various African countries doing the expat mining expat gigs.

Like you said even with all the "crime" (what country doesn't have this or worse today) many of these guys loved SA (and others). We had 2 guys come from Tanzania to Laos...stay 6mths only (hated it) and went back to Tanz…go figure eh?

I believe there are some spectacular sites to visit throughout the continent.

A good work mate (a Pom who has been there for 20 years) took me for a drive through some of the "bad" areas (pistols sitting on the lap)...To be honest I thought it was no worst than a good night in Kings Cross in Sydney!

Like I said, time will tell, I will send some pics of the various projects as I get around the continent.

Cheers

SD

sierradelta · #6 26-12-2007, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thin White Duke

Yeah,interesting post !

When you're back in Jhb give me shout.If I can assist you in anyway to settle in I'll do so.............

Hi TWD,

Thanks for the offer, will do mate.

I work and live out the East (near the JBG Int Airport).

I will PM you when I get back and settled back in (ADSL in the house up and running etc)

Cheers

SD

retepg · #7 26-12-2007, 16:41

Welcome to SA sierradelta.

Take all the good advice that comes your way, especially when it concerns you and your young families security.
But enjoy the experience, you have the real Africa on your doorstep, a trip to any of the close by game farms is a must.
And if you get a chance come down and visit the Cape. We are not as fast paced as JoBurg, but have so much more to offer in the way of sights and activities.

sierradelta · #8 26-12-2007, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by retepg

Welcome to SA sierradelta.

Take all the good advice that comes your way, especially when it concerns you and your young families security.
But enjoy the experience, you have the real Africa on your doorstep, a trip to any of the close by game farms is a must.
And if you get a chance come down and visit the Cape. We are not as fast paced as JoBurg, but have so much more to offer in the way of sights and activities.

Hi mate,

Yes my mind is an open sponge at the moment. I am just sitting and listening to all sorts of information at the moment. My next challenge is to filter fact from fiction.

I have “been around the block” a few times and I would never be ignorant enough to ignore any local advice offered.

I purchase a good “tourist” book that basically portrayed the Cape as one big Good Wine and Good Restaurant Area? (Sounds a little like the Margaret River/Barossa Valley in Aust).

Regards

SD

Thin White Duke · #9 26-12-2007, 17:09

SD,I live a bit further North,past Sandton so not far away and am often in the Airport area so no problem.

Hopefully my GF will be back end Jan so I can offer you some decent Thai cooking.

Also I should be able to filter the 'fact from fiction' about this place for you quite quickly

Cheers

Patrick

fun2have · #10 27-12-2007, 17:04

congratulations on your new post shane and all the best for you and the family.
i am sure you will miss the north but your career is moving forward via this move.

sierradelta · #11 27-12-2007, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by fun2have

congratulations on your new post shane and all the best for you and the family.
i am sure you will miss the north but your career is moving forward via this move.

Thanks mate,

I am sure I will miss Lao. It is such a beautiful place to live.

I am only 44 so I am still quite focused on my career as well. This role is the most significant I have ever had in my career. If all goes well here I will be in a position to “pull stumps” at 50yo and relax wherever I want.

"Home" will always be in Lao, I just look at as I live in Lao and I just travel a little further to work than most people.

The best part is I will have Pui and Gabriel with me very soon and then I can start to experience a whole new chapter in my life.

All the best

SD

Nuntanabkk · #12 01-01-2008, 23:09

Hi SD,

Congratulations for the new family, I did not say that before. Good time, right time at 7/11.....lol sounds he is your lucky son!

Sounds sad you have to work far away from your family...... Good luck and happy New Year 2008....

Cheers,
Nun

africanw · #13 03-01-2008, 11:29

Will be interesting to see how she finds SA. Having lived there for 21 years I think it will be very interesting. JHB is the crime capital of the world so don't stope at the traffic lights

.

My wife does not like certain "TYPES" of people so SA would not suit her seen as you are out numberbed 100:1.

retepg · #14 03-01-2008, 11:53

africanw
There may be a lot of crime is SA, but it is still a great place to live.
As for not stopping at traffic lights, silly statement to make I am afraid.
Sure late at night, when there is no other traffic about and you are concerned. But as a general rule????
As for the "certain types" that your wife does not like, can you expand on that?
Sounds suspiciously racist to me.
Dude, I am afraid that you come across as the sort that needs to justify there leaving by being negative. Get over it and enjoy your life in Australia.

africanw · #15 03-01-2008, 12:19

No point having a slagging match on a forms about it but you live in Cape Town which is more than likely the last best place in SA. I lived in JHB for quite a few years and have been through a few horry stories. Friends of mine been hijacted at gun point and even my father went through an attempt highjack and even had the bullet holes in the side of his door car door to prove it.f

I still love SA but will never find myself going back to live. Still have family there and friends. SA is a beautiful place but when you still hear the stories NO!!!.

And what about Jacob Zuma?

Yes I did find that a lot of thai's (one's I meet) where quite racist.

retepg · #16 03-01-2008, 12:55

No problems, I do understand your reasons.
But let people make up their own minds and try not to be negative about the place.
As for Jacob Zuma, we will have to see. But he is not the first corrupt politician the world and certainly will not be the last.
Just remember one thing, if your wife is Thai. Under the previous government here in SA she would have been classed as non-white and as such it would have been against the law to marry her.
So in a lot of respects, things have moved on for the better.