Anonymous wrote:Not with a 14 year old. If this were something you had to do, I’d give the oldest the option of boarding school in the U.S. or an international school there. However,
I wouldn’t uproot my child at that age if it could be avoided at all.

Is there a relative who is able to live in your house with the oldest so they can stay in same school?

Go

As someone who moved countries in HS, I think moving between 9th and 10th is doable, 10th and 11th is hard, and 11th and 12th should be avoided if at all possible.

So, I'd want a 3 year commitment, so that both of the two older kids are in the same country for the last 3 years of high school.

Anonymous wrote:https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_of_Michael_Fay

Sorry it wasn’t gum. But he was caned. And gum is illegal

Gum is illegal?!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_of_Michael_Fay

Sorry it wasn’t gum. But he was caned. And gum is illegal

Not with a 14 year old. If this were something you had to do, I’d give the oldest the option of boarding school in the U.S. or an international school there. However,
I wouldn’t uproot my child at that age if it could be avoided at all.

And does no one remember the American kid who spit out gum and had to get lashes??? I think I was HS then.

I would never do that to my oldest. Sorry. It is too late to pull Him for HS especially to a country like Singapore. You won’t have the same rights there and neither will he.

He’ll move back to US with no HS friends to visit when he comes home for the holidays.

It seems like you’ve made up your mind already but you have kids. Don’t do this to oldest. And to the Pp who said you all would bond over this- not being snarky, but do you have a teen?

I’m sure some kids would be more than fine, but what if yours isn’t. HS is a tough age

it might help with the oldest since you will bond as a family because you will be sharing this new experience?

No because it’s a 2-4 year assignment and your oldest is already 14. Too disruptive at that age IMO.

- Army brat

Our friends with kids those ages have been living there for 2 years and have had a great experience. Bc it is so safe, the middle/older kids have so much freedom to go places on their own. To be fair, they have had a career involving living abroad, so that’s different than if, say, your child has never experienced any other culture or refused to eat anything other than cheeseburgers… I think it would be a great experience if it is a good situation for the whole family - eg, we can’t do the same bc of grandparent health.

I was an expat kid a was my sister. I have known tons of people who moved when they were juniors and seniors in high school and almost all got along well. Remember that if they go to an international school, the kids are all in the same boat so they tend to be more welcoming. Friends will be made, and they will be life long. At least among the people I was an expat with; those friendships have lasted more than 40 years.

Does everyone get along well? No, of course not. But those tend to be the people who refuse to adapt to a new way. People who complain that "x isn't done that way in the US"or "why don't they have y food product". What is your family like? How will they adapt?

I have known a few people who moved to Singapore and they all thought it was great. Yes, it is hot and humid. And yes, it is much stricter than the US. It isn't a life sentence, it is an experience. Live it the best way you can!

And when thinking about how long, it is much, much tougher for kids to move back to the US where people have gone to school together since kindergarten.

Singapore is a fascinating place but it is deeply illiberal. Depending on your personality, this could be a bit irritating after a while. It is very conformist and low-key repressive. These might not be things you would notice in short visits.

That said, the opportunities for exploring the region are fantastic.

Be careful about schools etc. Singapore has seen a huge influx in the last couple of years as Hong Kong has declined in attractiveness, so things like housing and schools are much more difficult to find than hithertofore.

It is a tremendous experience for the kids. But also tremendously disruptive, particularly for the eldest one. Only you and your family can decide if that is worth it. I moved country when I was 9 and was fine with it. My brother was 11 and had a much rougher time of it.

I wish stuff like this would happen to me. I don't think I'd hesitate for even a microsecond.

They have great international schools in Singapore, including American school (though this school is far from city center). I think it may be easier to get into good colleges as “international” students - I don’t think moving eldest back home for high school would be necessary.

The issue is whether there are spots in the schools and tuition - 3 kids in international schools would be a lot.