NO MARMITE IN TUNISIA
Life In Tunisia For British Expats
My New Life
From
Essex
To
Hammamet
Lin left Essex for
Hammamet three years ago
Hammamet is located in the Cap Bon, which is known for its gardens, citrus trees and olive groves and beautiful, long sandy beaches! Hammamet's old medina overlooks its beautiful, picture-postcard, sweeping bay! Its promenade running alongside the bay is an ideal place for an ice cream in the warm, spring sunshine, or a leisurely stroll on a balmy summer evening, taking in the surroundings, that make you feel "good to be alive!"
An ideal holiday location, boasting an attractive town centre, beachfront cafes, international discoteques, but still retaining an old town charm, Lin chose to make this delightful location her new home.
She describes her life in Hammamet to No Marmite In Tunisia
How long have you lived in Hammamet and why did you move there ?
I moved here exactly three years ago to the day, on the 15th March 2006!
You are renting an apartment in Hammamet. Was it easy to find rental property and could you have found a similar property for the same price in the UK?
I am renting from a lady whom I met when I holidayed here in Hammamet, but if I had not known her, there are plenty of places to rent in this area, and no I could not have found anywhere in Essex as cheap!
Hammamet is a beautiful town, picturesque, with views to die for, how does it compare to where you lived in the UK?
I lived in a 3 bedroom semi, bought new in 1971, but Hammamet is so much better! My old town was a boring place near to an oil refinery!
My House Is The Top Floor
You brought some of your own furniture over from the UK? How easy, expensive or inexpensive was this and do you have a firm that you can recommend?
I shipped all of my furniture, personal belongings, the whole contents of a 3 bed semi. I don't think the price was expensive as I paid £3200 for the whole thing.
Britannia Movers packed everything for me and loaded it onto a 20' container in 3 days!
The shipping agents that they used this end were excellent, made dealing with customs very easy.
I love it here, it has 3 bedrooms also and it's home, as I have all of my own personal belongings around me. If I had had to buy all Tunisian-style furniture it would not have been as good.
Shipping My Stuff From Essex Has Made It Feel Like Home!
Where are the best places to shop in Hammamet or do you find that you shop in nearby Nabeul more?
Shopping in Hammamet is limited to small shops, whereas if I go to Nabeul to Monoprix I can get frozen goods as well as meat and vegetables along with many houshold goods too. Carrefour at La Marsa is far bigger and has more choice, but as I don't drive it is somewhere I only go twice a year.
I Do Most Of My Shopping In Monoprix In Nabeul
Compare the cost of living/food prices/household bills as opposed to living in the UK?
Well everything is relative to the wages, so naturally bills and food prices are cheaper here when you arrive with some money from England and if you don't have to work.
Would you say that you have settled in well, made friends with the locals and picked up any of the language?
I already knew quite a few local people, hotel workers, restaurant staff and shop owners, but in general everyone is so friendly unlike in England! Language is not easy for me as I find it so hard to remember words that I have learned and all of the local places speak excellent English.
Hammamet Town
Do you have many expat friends in Hammamet?
No just the one real friend, but, I do know by name, some women who live nearby.
Do you miss the British National Health service!!? Or have you managed to find a good insurance policy?
Yes, I do miss the health service and no I have not managed to find an insurance for out here.
Many people moving abroad, would say that the one thing they miss is the British telly, but you are watching British television, Eastenders, Coronation Street, and football matches galore....!! Just how did you manage that??!!
I personally make do with BBC Prime on Orbit for British programmes, but, Cliff downstairs, who is also British, has got an extra, extra, large dish and receives all British channels, enabling him to watch sport!
What are the advantages and disadvantages to living in Tunisia?
Advantages are plentiful, weather, people, pace of life, cost of living. Disadvantages are only small ones like no Tesco or M&S but, I order things online and collect them when I return to the UK.
Hammamet Medina
Would you say to a would-be expat, thinking of moving to Tunisia, that day to day life in Tunisia is easy for such things as banking, pensions, schools, public transport, people understanding English, doctors, dentists etc?
Yes, most doctors in the clinic near to me speak English and the dentist that I did go to, spoke it well.
How often do you travel back to the UK each year?
Twice a year for supplies!
What do you miss about Britain?
Only shopping and hairdressers!
What don't you miss about Britain?
Cold, wet weather, dreary skies, miserable people, large fuel bills and food bills too!
Have you travelled much around Tunisia and if so, do you have any favourite places, or anywhere in mind that you would like to visit?
Since moving here to live, no I have not travelled much at all, but on previous holidays I have been to Sfax, Mahdia, Sousse, Port El Kantaoui and Djerba. All of which I liked for a holiday, but chose Hammamet, as the best to live in.
I Chose Hammamet As The Best Place To Live In!
How would you spend a warm, sunny, summer evening in Hammamet?
a) At one of the largest discoteques in Africa?
b) At one of the many varied restaurants or cafe bars on the seafront?
c) Walking along the beach, often busy until the early morning!?
d) In front of your British telly!
(b) I do go out at night time to a restaurant occasionally, but, mostly its just a coffee shop and then sit on my own balcony.
I Like To Spend Hot Summer Nights On My Balcony!
Are you happy in Hammamet and do you see your move as permanent, or could you ever be persuaded to live back in the UK again?
Nothing would persuade me to move back to the U.K. I just wish that I had been able to make the move years ago.
