Bali Raising Kids in Bali
Jevon - A curious kid in Bali
Before I had a kid, I had little interest in having one. I liked kids, but really didn’t feel the attraction of looking after one 24/7. Seems to me this might be the case with many guys. Having a kid at age 42 was perfect timing for me, no sooner of later, if I had the choice again. Listening to Toby, when he was here in Bali, his life is totally oriented around his daughter Maya. For me I have made adjustments and the great part about that, is it forced me to look at places with new interest. Kid friendly restaurants, beaches, hotels are now in my conciousness and checking out some of those places, can actually be fun.
Date: January 9th, 2007 |
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Looking after kids in Bali
Britney Spears (Toby’s favourite singer) was intending to adopt a boy from Bali (and we’re not talking Kuta Cowboys). Some news sites reported a young kid named Wang was lined up, but the adoption may not happen. it was also written, that while Britney would be adopting the kid, she herself would probably not be the one actually looking after it. By that they meant, she would hire nannies. Living in Bali as a foreigner, we are fortunate to be able to access outside help, on the level (and in most cases above) that which a person like Britney can get. In Bali, you have people who actually like kids and are not just watching a clock. I’m lucky in that I have relatives who are always around, but just down my gang (alley) are various westerner, who have a nanny to look after their kid for a part of the day. We pay our pembantu 500,000rp per month, for 6 days a week, 8 hours a day. That often includes feeding, bathing, looking after and changing Jevon. Hiring a full time nanny is more expensive than hiring a pembantu, but doable. If you are visiting Bali its not a bad idea to hire a nanny for a couple of weeks, even if it only means looking after the kids when you are at the pool bar, or working out.
Date: January 5th, 2007 |
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Jevon in Seminyak Bali
Jevon is almost 1.5 years old and is coming along nicely. He’s healthy, alert and Ika has taught him to count to 10, and learn 14 letters of the alphabet. Recently returned from a long trip to Java, Jevon has left his little group of friends there, and is rediscovering his local friends in Bali. Yesterday he had interactions with people who spoke mostly English (Toby & Maya), Javanese (Ika, Ika’s mother, sister), and in the morning Balinese (staff at Cafe Seminyak), plus a healthy dose of Indonesian, from Palu’s family. Jevon isn’t aware of Christmas and I didn’t have the energy, or inclination to create ‘Christmas in Bali’. He celebrated Idul Fitri in Java, with the whole Muslim culture and I’m sure that confused him enough.
Date: December 25th, 2006 |
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Campur kids gets dual nationality in Indonesia
Children of mixed parentage have been given dual nationality in Jakarta today. Indonesia’s citizenship laws are based on jus sanguinus, the idea that blood is thicker than water, as opposed to jus soli (as is used in the US) where your place of birth is used to determine nationality. The fact that so many wealthy foreign businessmen and their Indonesian wives, have complained to the government, about the futility of treating kids of an Indonesian mother, and a foreign father, as a foreigner, has finally borne fruit.
Date: November 22nd, 2006 |
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Sunday afternoon at Pantai Geger, in Nusa Dua Bali
Sunday afternoon in Bali, a quiet time of the week, to spend with family and friends. Ika, Jevon and I took off to Pantai Geger, in Nusa Dua, for a quick dip and a snack.
Date: October 1st, 2006 |
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Jevon’s immunisasi: Denpasar Bali
Jevon in now 1.5 years and seems to be getting along very well. As part of his development, we have a schedule of immunisasi (immunizations) that happen at Puri Bunda, the hospital were he was born in Denpasar. Today he got a polio jab which cost 465,000rp.
Date: January 7th, 2007 |
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Jevon: Progressing nicely in Bali
Jevon is almost 1.5 years and is progressing nicely. He seems alert, healthy, and likes to climb as any normal kid does. Jevon has a love of water, although when I carry him into the ocean, out of his depth, and a wave goes over his head, he freaks out a bit. In Candi Dasa, Jevon found he enjoyed flushing the toilet, and of course, playing with the shower head. Inside the car, the window control, AC control and gear lever were tops. I’ve got a new appreciation for kids paddling pools. Both Maya and Jevon were excited when they saw the pool in Candi Dasa and happilly splashed around for an hour. Added to that is an awareness of places with a steep drop, since Jevon can now climb stairs and balconies. He can’t open beer bottles yet, which is a relief, but I’m watching.
Date: December 30th, 2006 |
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Raising a kid in Bali
Raising a kid in Bali, for a foreigner has pro’s and con’s. The con’s are that kid will develop outside of your culture and away from your relatives. There is also an increased chance of disease out here. Pro’s include a climate that allows the child to be dressed in light clothes, making changing them, very easy. Balinese poeple love kids, so having a kid with you will often score you ‘bonus points’ in whatever you’re doing. Costs of having a birth in Bali are way less than in the west (Ika and I paid around $750 for 2 days in a private clinic) and hiring help is easy.
Date: December 12th, 2006 |
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Positive influences for Jevon in Bali
Raising a young kid in Bali we are surrounded by all kinds of people, from a multitude of places. Wanting the best influences for Jevon, I wrote a list of people, who might be good for him to hang out with in future.
Date: October 2nd, 2006 |
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Being a dad in Bali
Before I was a parent I had no interest in kids, and it was not my ambition to have them. Now that I have a son Jevon, I think it is the most wonderful thing. Its better than having a pet, because a pet will only take you so far. I mean the smartest dog will still be salivating and wagging its tail, even as its intelligence peaks. A kid however, is a different ball of wax.
Date: September 26th, 2006 |
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