Interview with Jay Bishoff: Post Bali Bomb tourist-part IX

Baliblog: When you were planning to move to Bali what were the biggest hurdles you came up against?

Jay: Well the big hurdle really was the mighty dollar, because we could get enough money to come over here, but because I'm in my late 30's I started to think about the future. If I was in my 20's believe me we would be over here and we'd find a way to make it work, and we'd be confident that if you pit your energy out there you can make anything work. We're a bit safer now in that I've got music projects in Australia that are up and running, I've got a lot of support in the community and I've got a way I can get a pretty good income. Whereas if I come to Bali I'm starting from scratch. I'm starting from the beginning again and at 37 things have momentum and sometimes you have to be thankful of what you've got.

Our friends are doing home schooling up on the mountain and I think their children are amazing. Our child is only 6 months so we have time to work that out.

Baliblog: I have a friend from California living here who has a young daughter. He has done a lot of research on local schools and said the Balinese schools are a nightmare. The International School is extremely expensive and the kids end up as spoilt little snobs. His kid goes to the Catholic school and he reckons it's the best choice for the money. Jevon may well go the same route, not for the religion, but for the interaction and the education.

Baliblog: Do you have any advice for other parents thinking of relocating to Bali?

Jay: Yeah. Don't come for the palm trees and the beaches. Come if you are ready to make an effort to understand and in a way assimilate the best you can.
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Jay and Debbie will be back next year and I will be interviewing her on her writing and thoughts on Bali.