QUOTE: also part of the intel invasion. we are relocating from Israel.
none of you mentioned relocating with children. don't you have children? right now they are my main concern. can any one recommand on english kindergarden for two years old child? (they have to speak english!!!).
Be prepared to have your children treated like rare animals in a petting zoo while your out around town, especially if they have blond hair. It could become a little upsetting for your child. Her personal space will not be respected.
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QUOTE: also part of the intel invasion. we are relocating from Israel.
none of you mentioned relocating with children. don't you have children? right now they are my main concern. can any one recommand on english kindergarden for two years old child? (they have to speak english!!!).
My husband, 5 year old son and I moved to Dalian about 2 months ago. We enrolled DS at the Dalian Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School. It's overseen by the British Columbian Ministry of Education and the teachers do all speak English. The Maple Leaf School System also has a preschool.
litals,
there are many expats with children here in Dalian.Most of the children aged 3 and up are enrolled in Maple Leaf Foreign National School.For your little one the option is to enroll her/him in a Chinese kindergarten with English speaking Chinese teachers.I can recommend Maple Leaf Learning Vision Preschool. I have a 4 and ½ years old and for 1 and ½ years he was in this kindergarten. You can read my review under “Children/AIT Early Learning Center” .If you have any more questions feel free to PM me.
There is also a new learning center/kindergarten in Peace Plaza called FasTracKids Early MBA.I think they might have a program for 2-3 years old kids.Their phone number is:86-411-84325755.You can also check them online at www.fastrackids.com
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In response to your post I would say the following things:
1) Housing in the DDA (development zone) can be expensive. Villas in DDA, like a house, can be as much as 20,000 a month. Beverly Gardens. I have lived here for two years. They are building houses out in Jin Shi Tan for Intel, but not for sure you guys want to live there, not related, behind the American school. There is a Starbuck's in the DDA. Jin Shi Tan is another half-hour from the DDA. It will take you approx. 1.2 hours to get to downtown Dalian from there.
If you want to you can email me or call me. I would be happy to talk with you because I actually live here.
John aka BigMac
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I have been living in the Kai Fa Qu now for just over half a year and i am really enjoying it.
First of all, it has good outdoors. Tong Niu Ling mountain (more like a hill) is great for some after work exercise (1 hour up and down). Its even lit till 10pm or so in the evenings, so it is great for a night time stroll. Plenty of other people there too, so no concerns about night time safety. Da Hei Shan is great for a weekend climb, with a nice temple at the top to sit and take in the view/meditate/pray. I go to the beach nearly everyday too (Nantou beach is 10 minutes walk away, Golden Pebble is 25 minutes drive away). Finally, there is a driving range and a 9 hole course 5 minutes walk from where i live as well as the highly acclaimed Golden Pebbel Course a bit further away.
Dining in the Kai Fa Qu is decent. I have found some good Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and even a french restaurant that I wouldnt hesitate to recommend. New additions to the Kai Fa Qu includes Eddie the Baker's cafe, and some decent bakeries (Haute Bakery, Breadhome, Eddie's).
i still travel to the city once a week to pick up groceries (from Carrefour, Metro, or Mykall) and to check out some of the restaurants in town. i am able to stock up on stuff i cant find in the Kai Fa Qu there, namely cheeses, wines and great big rib eye steaks (from frozen foods section of Metro). I find that the travel to the city is not too bad. i steer clear of peak hours and it takes me around 30 minutes. I have found a few private car & drivers that will take me there, wait for me while i eat and shop and take me back (around 4 to 5 hours) for a measly RMB150, if i dont want to use the company car.
There is a development opening soon in the Kai Fa Qu called Grand Central and they promise a 5 star serviced apartment, a shopping mall (with an international supermarket and western F & B outlets) as well as a Grade A office building.
Life in the Kai Fa Qu is definitely going to get better over the next year or so...
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I have to agree, Kai Fa Qu (the development zone) is definitely a pleasant place to live. Given that the Intel factory is about 40 minutes to an hour's drive from downtown, I think most people would be crazy to commute everyday.
Kai Fa Qu even has the advantage over downtown that you can walk most places you want to go in 15 or 20 minutes, including to the beach, golfcourse or mountains, it is cleaner, and it definitely has more of a friendly "community" vibe for expats.
It seems like plenty of new construction going on - high-end apartments, a resort, hotels, shops etc. The main strip is getting a makeover, block by block, and is definitely on it's way to being more upmarket and international. especially once Grand Central opens with its Shama Luxe "boutique style" serviced apartments, and all its international food court and supermarket. And pizza...
mamamia!
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alicia
