NO MARMITE IN TUNISIA

The question was asked in the guestbook, a few months back,
"Melanie, you have been living in Tunisia for nearly two years now,
how are you finding it and are you glad you made the move?" 

My son Emil, once described Tunisia as being 'one of the best places on Earth,' and he was having far too much fun to even think of going back home to England!  He loved the sun, the beaches, he had plenty of new friends, the food was tastier and he was clever enough to be fluent in a brand new language!

Nabeul 2006

Having left Ramsgate in the July of 2005, to live in the basement of our villa, we were looking forward to enjoying a new life away from the stresses and strains of England, whilst being able to enjoy the unique opportunity to be there on the spot, as our villa was constructed from start to finish! 

Progress With The Villa 2006

As our house in Ramsgate had not yet sold and was still on the market, my husband and eldest daughter stopped behind to work and begin a new 2 year college course in Canterbury.  They would visit each time they could grab a holiday from work or college.  Being able to speak to each other every night on a webcam through MSN, made sure things never got too lonely!

Because of this, in effect, I was for most of the time, a single mother bringing up 5 of my children, in a foreign country, on my own, with limited knowledge of the language, and organising a business, my children's schooling, and the running of the house, without any assistance! 

I had to pay bills, do the shopping, contact the builders, learn to travel from town to town on all the different forms of transport to conduct viewings of properties, meet would-be expats interested in buying or renting in Tunisia and arrange business meetings with potential landlords and vendors.

Villa Noria - Holidaying In Hammamet Yasmine

To the many people who have asked me the following :-

•  "Could I live in Tunisia?"
• "Will my children fit in?"
• "Will I be able to learn the language and will I make friends?"
• "Could I start a business out there, or find employment?"
• "Are we safe and is the crime rate really lower than England?"
• "Will I be able to live a cheaper and happier life?"

I think I can answer a resounding "YES, YES and YES!" to each and every question!

Hammamet South 2007

It was not all plain sailing!  A few unscrupulous individuals who, having fallen for the myth that all Europeans are billionaires, seemed convinced that if they could get the chance to break into our humble basement, a mountain of gold would be discovered! 

After experiencing several 'Peeping Tom' episodes, I think word must have got around, that in reality, when we first arrived, all we were equipped with was little more than a chair and a telly!

Little More Than A Chair And A Telly!

Two years on, I realise that there are many other things that I had not even thought of! 

Business in Tunisia can sometimes be a little difficult to conduct, as anywhere in the world, a woman on her own, trying to run things by herself can sometimes be side-stepped.  Especially, if a buyer or a seller thinks, they may obtain something cheaper or commission-free! 

I have to admit, though, 9 out of 10 Tunisian business men and women with whom I have worked have treated me absolutely impeccably and with the utmost respect!

My children found that things were very different, with how relatives expected them to act and behave!  But as with the change in language, they adjusted very well. 

The only thing, which I found a bit unfair, was that in Tunisia, it seems, that your surname means a lot.  If you've been born into a family with a well-known name where the family has lived in the same town for years, you are respected alot more than newcomers to the same area!  How you behave, and how your parents or other relatives behave is noted and heaven help anybody who should ruin the 'good family name' or give the gossips something to get hold of!

Tunisian Traditional Granny

One year after arriving in Tunisia No Marmite In Tunisia was born!  To my great delight, I discovered I wasn't the lone English woman out here, and have made many friendships through the site. 

It has turned out to be better than I had hoped for and seems to have become a great place for meeting and contacting other expats to exchange experience and ideas! 

Many thanks to everybody who is helping by contributing to the site to make this happen!

With our house in Ramsgate still not sold after 2 years and the children becoming increasingly upset each time they had to wave goodbye to their Daddy, we have decided that we should spend the majority of our time for now, in England. 

Two years was, two years too long for the family to be apart, even if it meant having to leave all that glorious sunshine and idyllic lifestyle behind!

But, from the end of September 2007, with our children having found themselves safely enrolled in local schools in Ramsgate and Sandwich, our eldest daughters were having other ideas!  Within two days of arriving home my 16 and 18 year olds had booked their plane tickets back to Tunisia!

Goodbye Ramsgate - Hello Tunisia

Life as they knew it, would never be the same for them again!  Congratulating themselves on having achieved a spectacular way of 'flying the nest,' they are now having to get used to the fact that once you have left home, suddenly life becomes alot more expensive and ugly things such as 'bills' and 'having to cook and clean for yourselves' begin to rear their ugly heads! 

Leading an independent, adult life may be hard to begin with, but how would they cope in a totally different country? 

Much to their annoyance, they are not completely alone!  Their Tunisian Granny has come to live with them to make sure that they behave like all good Tunisian girls should! 

Having, hopefully both found employment very quickly, which is unusual in Tunisia, as most people are highly skilled, but, as the saying goes in Tunisia, "It is not what you know, but WHO you know!", they will now be learning those first vital lessons on how to budget and count their pennies!

Their return ticket is booked for May of next year, 2008.  But will they use it?  Will they be begging for money for a return ticket long before that date, or will they be enjoying life so much, they would not even dream of coming back to England?

We are all looking forward to regular updates from the 'Teens in Tunisia!'

Taking Everything But The Kitchen Sink!

We are all looking forward to the time, when we can become full-time in Tunisia again! 

Work on the villa is still progressing well and the children are working hard on keeping up with their Arabic!  With agents assisting us in Tunisia with the property business, we have more free-time to spend on the promotion of this and to spending time together as a family!

Excited also, about plans to become more involved with Tunisia in a business sense, with thoughts of a new website taking hold!

We will try to keep the reports flowing from Tunisia from 'The Teens' or whilst out there on business.

As ever, No Marmite In Tunisia is the place to send in your reviews, reports, photos and information to keep the expat community in Tunisia together!

Melanie

nomarmiteintunisia@yahoo.fr