Need some info

[Peacepod]

Hi everyone,
(ok this is a long read)
I am making a monumentous decision that's breaking my heart but I know it's for the best for my boys.
My mom retired back to Zim last year from UK. I'm in States with 2 boys, single mother. I've decided to send them to Zim for the experience, culture and to connect with other family members. I don't feel the life I am providing them with here beats what they can have in Zim and they're thrilled to bits and have been looking forward to it ever since they knew about having cousins and relatives in other countries.
Also my mom launched her campaign to have them come and has been walking around with signed petitions and banners, shaking hands, and kissing babies (jokes).
Also it would not be forever. If they really hate it, they can always hop on the plane and come back. or they can stay until it's time for university.
I want to send them to my old primary school (here's hoping I even find a seat, they said they're booked with a huge waiting list, I'm hoping alum get first preference) and then after that my brothers want them to go to their high school.
I haven't paid for tickets yet cuz I haven't received word yet from the school, but I was hoping to get them out around May 20, 2010 in time for 2nd term.

I have family in London who may or may not be able to at least fly from Heathrow to Zim with the boys. However, the boys would have to fly as unaccompanied minors from States to London.
Next option if London family can't do it, is to fly my mom from Zim to London (she has nothing better to do:smiley36: and she can pick up her eye medication prescription from her assigned GP while she's there) and then have her fly with the boys from London to Zim.

As I mentioned I'm not ready to book the tickets yet but looking at prices and trying to piece together flights for 3 people with one originating out of a different country is proving to be a very confusing situation.
Would it be best to try and piece this together with an actual airline, on the internet, or through a travel agent?

Ok thanks.

[Tricky Nicky]

I would try direct with airlines - I know BA may be re-instating their direct flights to Harare soon - but not sure when.

Other flights into Zim include Kenya Airways, SAA (expensive) and Air Zimbabwe - but Air Zim is the only airline that flies direct!

Good luck !!

[Peacepod]

I would try direct with airlines - I know BA may be re-instating their direct flights to Harare soon - but not sure when.

Other flights into Zim include Kenya Airways, SAA (expensive) and Air Zimbabwe - but Air Zim is the only airline that flies direct!

Good luck !!Thanks! Ok I think I'll give that a try.
Although Continental does direct flights to london from where i am now, it may be cheaper to drive to JFK...headaches and heartaches, lol.

[joemac]

In all honesty, I would go through a Travel agent. The prices are not going to be that far removed from going directly to the airline, and you will be paying someone to sort out the the timing and idiosyncrasys of unaccompanied minor when flying. Try somewhere like Flight Centre (http://www.flightcentre.us/) ,who guarantee lowest fares, but still do a pretty good job of sorting what you need.

[pennymac]

Yeah, I agree with Joemac. Travel agents take the guess work out, and they know what they're doing and what to request and that sort of thing.

I think you're very brave to let your children go so far away...but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do!

[gertrude]

Not that I've done any travelling lately, but I would be tempted to go with a travel agency. Like Joe and Penny said, then THEY have the headaches of sorting out the unaccompanied minors and flight connections etc.

If the kids are on US passports, don't forget about visas and the like!!

[Peacepod]

In all honesty, I would go through a Travel agent. The prices are not going to be that far removed from going directly to the airline, and you will be paying someone to sort out the the timing and idiosyncrasys of unaccompanied minor when flying. Try somewhere like Flight Centre ,who guarantee lowest fares, but still do a pretty good job of sorting what you need.

Thanks for that link. I will check it out. :smiley20:

[Peacepod]

Yeah, I agree with Joemac. Travel agents take the guess work out, and they know what they're doing and what to request and that sort of thing.

I think you're very brave to let your children go so far away...but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do!
Yeah I am having a rough time matching flight numbers and such.

They've always expressed their desire to meet the rest of their family, experience the place where I was born, etc. I want them to at least try it. If they hate it after 2 weeks, the agreement is they get packed up and shipped back (well ok not 2 weeks, they need at least finish the term, lol). I chant that it's not about me, it's about them and their future.

[Peacepod]

Not that I've done any travelling lately, but I would be tempted to go with a travel agency. Like Joe and Penny said, then THEY have the headaches of sorting out the unaccompanied minors and flight connections etc.

If the kids are on US passports, don't forget about visas and the like!!
Ah yes, I'll make sure not to forget that part. :smiley20:

[gertrude]

Good luck!!! Nice to see some people coming back, even if it's a bit "wait and see" right now!

[Peacepod]

Good luck!!! Nice to see some people coming back, even if it's a bit "wait and see" right now!
Thanks, I wish it was me going.:smiley19: My Mom is sooo excited.

[joemac]

Keep us updated, peacepod.

[Nyala]

What a great thing to do, I'm sure your Mom is over the moon at the prospect of having the boys with her for a while. I would agree with whats been said already.....go through an agent and get them to do the hard yards for you. You might find they can find deals etc too which would make it easier on your pocket.

[Peacepod]

Well, thank you all for the great advice. Unfortunately, plans are on hold.
Although fees have risen a lot more than I originally expected, the real other problem is that the school has no seats open for the time I was hoping to send my kids. So I guess I'll just wait and be placed on the waiting list and maybe they can just go for the summer hols and drive Grandma and Grandpa them crazy for 2 1/2 months.

Ah well. Kinda disappointed.

[Peacepod]

Well, the plans are back up and running, even if for a short while.
Big Bro is going for holiday with his little son March 22 so I'm rushing around getting tickets and passports for the boys (I thought I had a little more time to do the passport thing. Lesson learned just get passports anyway even if you don't think you'll need them.)
My Mom doesn't know the boys are coming, only about my brother, but then again she's one smart cookie so my veiled questions may have her cog wheels turning fast and furious as it is, lol. The boys don't know either (in case passports don't come back on time)
They're there for 4 months, will be tavelling back alone. Zim to SA with Mom. SA as unaccompanied minor meet my other brother, then London to JFK. (that's if they come back.......whole nother story).

So my plan was to enroll them in school for at least one term if possible just so they won't be sitting around doing nothing for 4 months.
Someone told me a rumor that in order for kids to attend schools in Zimbabwe they need to have a 'Zim' birth certificate that can be obtained for a price.

Is this true? Also would anyone happen to know the school fees amount for Gateway?

[pennymac]

Jeez, you don't give yourself much time!
Good luck, I hope it all goes smoothly.

Sorry, I don't know about the birth certificate or fees situations.

[Peacepod]

I know,lol. I don't think I'm crazy, I KNOW I'm crazy but the tickets have been purchased, no turning back now.
Ah well, thanks anyway.

[yarrumsg]

Hiya on holiday at the mo so on itouch so didn't read the whole story I'm travelling to aim december on ha at some point might be able to assist

G

[Sam Edwards]

My sister has 2 kids in school in Zim at the moment and I had not heard anything about having to have a zim B C to go to school there...but even if that is another crazy Zim rule....its made to be broken the same way every other rule in Zim is broken......flash the cash hun!!!!

[yarrumsg]

Fees wise look at about 2k each per term. That should cover u. My sister pays about 5.5k for her 3. No requirement for a Zim bc.might apply for govt schools. If all else fails there is the international school

[boards]

you need to be in Zim to make an informed decision.

[Peacepod]

My sister has 2 kids in school in Zim at the moment and I had not heard anything about having to have a zim B C to go to school there...but even if that is another crazy Zim rule....its made to be broken the same way every other rule in Zim is broken......flash the cash hun!!!!Cool.

:smiley36: So true!

[Peacepod]

Fees wise look at about 2k each per term. That should cover u. My sister pays about 5.5k for her 3. No requirement for a Zim bc.might apply for govt schools. If all else fails there is the international school
Hmmm, yeah that sounds about right. They'll prolly only be there for one term so we'll see.
Thanks :smiley20:

[Peacepod]

you need to be in Zim to make an informed decision.
Unfortunately that won't be possible.

[Angelshark]

I just got back from there and thanx to a few mates there things were really made easy. The place is a frikken rip off and its the remaining mense that are ripping each other off. I cant believe how it has changed and I fear it will be a long time til I go back. If certain members (yeah Bob, thats you) would just drop off the face of the earth then things there would return to normal. I went to Admiral Tait School to take a few nostalgic pics and was told that I had to get permission from the Ministry of Education, as if they would know. Do I look like a journalist?????? My name was still on the Junior Victor Ludorum trophy but that was not good enough for them. The place has changed so be careful. Taking a picture could end you up in jail. Rant over, hate the place at the mo.

[Peacepod]

Angelshark, that does sound terrible. Yeah I've heard things are kinda topsy turvy. And by the way I did a double take at that cat. He looks just like Jack (my cat) except my Jack is slightly darker and slightly fatter.

I've been burning up the phone lines to my Mom (Tmobile must be weeping with joy). Gateway primary would have been affordable but they have no space. My brothers are pushing the Hartmann House/Saints route cuz that's where they went. Lilfordia was my first choice cuz that's where I went but yet again no space and being a single mom, I choked on my spit a little at the school fees.

Harare International School fees had me reaching for a shot of vodka, unfortunately, lol. ah well. The search continues. Poor mom is zooming around and harrassing folks and their uniform-clad children.

Thanks all for your input.

[Peacepod]

Well the kiddie-littles made it to Zim safe and sound and still bouncing with the same amount of energy and excitement they had at JFK. They traveled with my brother and his little son. Oldest told me he's not coming back, lol. The baby one (9) said he was excited but that he misses me (heart was crumbling all over the place).

They flew American Airlines-Virgin Atlantic-SAA.
They flew AA as unaccompanied minors and declared they HATED the food, lol.
So here I am jealous and wishing I was there.
They love Grandma's/Grandpa's house and the garden - lots of space to run off the energy.
My brother who hasn't been back since the 90's is a little disappointed by the state of Harare in general.