Aussie mum moving to surabaya..school advice and more please???

**jellygrapes** · 11-07-12, 17:23

Hi there everyone. My husband has just accepted a job offer in Surabaya. We are from Australia and have two boys aged 2 and 4.5 years. The company will pay 50% of school fees. We were thinking either Surabaya European School or Surabaya International School. Any suggestions??? Also, any recommendation for where to rent for 10K a year close to the schools in a nice safe area? I am totally like a deer in the head lights but very excited for our next big adventure and would appreciate your input. Thank you....

**Raju Rajan** · 11-07-12, 17:52

Hi - we are from India, staying in Singapore for the last 13 years- am also having two boys aged 7 and 3. We are planning to move to Surabaya maybe in another one to two months time. We are also trying to figure out a school suitable for the two boys. We were looking to put them into http://www.ciputra-sby.sch.id/ Sekolah Ciputra. Not really sure if this is a good option - still trying to figure out which are the other good ones. We were planning to stay in Citraland http://www.citralandsurabaya.com/, this is where the school is as well. 10K am sure you could find good places in CitraLand - i have been there, very nice location - however if your husband is working in City area - this place may be a bit too far. Darmo Hill and places surrounding it is also a good bet (from my limited understanding of the place). Do keep in touch.

**Annette** · 11-07-12, 18:25

Originally Posted by jellygrapes

Hi there everyone. My husband has just accepted a job offer in Surabaya. We are from Australia and have two boys aged 2 and 4.5 years. The company will pay 50% of school fees. We were thinking either Surabaya European School or Surabaya International School. Any suggestions??? Also, any recommendation for where to rent for 10K a year close to the schools in a nice safe area? I am totally like a deer in the head lights but very excited for our next big adventure and would appreciate your input. Thank you....

Hi I am from Australia too... Near Wollongong we will be moving over next month... We are looking at renting at Graha Residen as its low rise... and we did not want to live in an apartment block.... Its a resort of townhouses.

**jellygrapes** · 11-07-12, 19:10

Hi Raju and Annette, thank you for your posts and for your ideas on a good location to find housing. I am coming to Surabaya in 2 weeks to see the schools and try and find a place. I will then return back to Melbourne (Annette, I know the gong well as I am from Cronulla originally). I come out again in October for a month but finally finish up work and move after Christmas with the boys. Raju good luck with your move and school choices too. If I get any good info I will pass it on. Annette are you joining ewas? Keep in touch if you like. Thanks again.

**ScooterIndo** · 12-07-12, 01:41

wheres Alia ?? shes from Surabaya and she is a domestic goddess and supermum.

**Alia** · 12-07-12, 12:04

Scoot, you really deserve a good coffee on me when you are here again for that kind words.

Hi Jellygrapes and Raju, greetings from Surabaya !

Surabaya International School and Ciputra school are in the same neighborhood, Citraland area, the high end environment in West Surabaya. Surabaya European school is also located in the west, closely but not in the same area with the other two. Citraland it self is a lavish place, when I myself will feel that I'm in the dreamland when I get there and back to the real world when I'm back to my own place. Haha...

With 10k for rent, you are pretty much able to rent a house close to the school. Pay a visit to their marketing office, they will show you around and have a list of the rented houses and the sales ones. There are also some real estate agencies that surely will be happy to help you out. I'll post again when I find any info related to your inquiries.

Good luck with your move !

**nene_chan** · 18-07-12, 14:03

Originally Posted by jellygrapes

Hi there everyone. My husband has just accepted a job offer in Surabaya. We are from Australia and have two boys aged 2 and 4.5 years. The company will pay 50% of school fees. We were thinking either Surabaya European School or Surabaya International School. Any suggestions??? Also, any recommendation for where to rent for 10K a year close to the schools in a nice safe area? I am totally like a deer in the head lights but very excited for our next big adventure and would appreciate your input. Thank you....

Hi, Jellygrapes.. I live in western surabaya, close to both Surabaya International School (SIS) and Surabaya European School (SES). SIS located in Citraland, as mbak Alia said, a lavish area in western surabaya. It's a good school, but i don't have any information about this school.

As for SES, it's located in western surabaya as well. But it's in Pakuwon area, close from Citraland. Since your children are 2 an 4,5 y/o, I guess they will go to primary school in SES. They have some expat teachers and local teacher assistants. I've visited this school couple times and they have good teachers, nice environment. Mostly, school will start from 8 am to 2pm (monday-friday).

**Joanne** · 19-07-12, 13:56

Originally Posted by jellygrapes

Hi there everyone. My husband has just accepted a job offer in Surabaya. We are from Australia and have two boys aged 2 and 4.5 years. The company will pay 50% of school fees. We were thinking either Surabaya European School or Surabaya International School. Any suggestions??? Also, any recommendation for where to rent for 10K a year close to the schools in a nice safe area? I am totally like a deer in the head lights but very excited for our next big adventure and would appreciate your input. Thank you....

Hi Jellygrapes, i am living in west area of surabaya. SES is located in pakuwon indah area, while SIS is located in citraland area. However, both of them are in western part of Surabaya. I do have a 2 level house for rent in pakuwon indah area. The house is brand new. It has 3 bedrooms. Floor space is 114 m2. If you need more info, please do contact me at [email protected].

**jellygrapes** · 22-07-12, 08:29

Hi Alia, Joanne and Nene Chan,

Thank you ladies for your replies... I had been expecting an email alert but didn't realise you had posted a reply until I had a chance to log on this morning. Thank you for taking the time to reply. I am coming over end of July for 2 weeks and we will be looking at renting in the Citraland or Pakuwon area or nearby, so hopefully we will find a place in that two weeks. Otherwise I will be back again in October... We do the final move in December although my husband will stay from 01 August.

We are visiting the European School and the International School and hoping we can decide and enroll.... I hope they have spaces????

On another TOPIC.... does anyone know if you can get things like kids fold-out couches at the shopping centres and kids plastic tables and chairs?? We will have to buy stuff for them.... any suggestions of good places to shop?

Thanks again everyone for your replies and I am very excited to be coming over in a week's time..... it is life's next big adventure.

**jellygrapes** · 08-08-12, 04:55

Hello all. I have been in Surabaya for 5 days now. Firstly, I am really loving the experience and trying to learn new words to communicate. I love the smiling nature of the people and overall it is so far much better than I had prepared for but I have had limited and little real exposure. The weather is magnificent, the smog is not as bad as I expected and at ground level is hardly noticeable although on the 11th floor it is terrible in the morning, but after lunch I dry the towels out on the balcony and they smell fresh and dry so quickly!! :-) I love the Pakowan Trade Centre for shopping. The kids love the play areas. It is a huge centre and confusing but I know my way to the Hypermart which is fantastic and I have found delicious sate ayam and the kids love the mie and Nasi. Oh and Porkees ribs are to die for. I could eat a plate stacked high with just the ribs and be in heaven!!! A must try Annette!!

I am still undecided about the schools. There are so many positives for both European and International. My Aunt in Australia has recommended the European Montessori school (she is a teacher) but we would like the children to learn Bahasa Indonesia and they don't teach that in the early years there....any suggestions? I think it is important to be able to communicate since we are here for 3+ years and my husbands boss has already indicated he wants my husband to stay longer. If we love life over here I am open to anything...

As for housing, we have a broker looking for 4 bedroom in Pakowan area...my husband might have to choose...It is hard to let him as most women want to choose their house but I might have to....

So, blah blah blah (lol) I AM LOVING INDONESIA. It is 4.43 am.....goodnight all, sweet dreams.