When our clients Lisa and Ken packed up their life in Schoten, Belgium, along with their teenage sons Rey (16) and Marcèl (13), they weren’t just planning another tropical vacation. They were embarking on a 10-month adventure that would transform their daily routines, challenge their expectations, and offer a complete reset from their 9-to-5 European lifestyle. After years of dreaming about living abroad but never taking the leap, this family of four finally made the bold decision to swap the familiar comforts of northern Belgium for the vibrant, chaotic, and beautiful island of Bali. Now several months into their experience, Lisa opens up about everything from navigating monsoon season on a motorbike to finding an international school that their boys actually enjoy attending – offering an unfiltered look at expat life.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where are you originally from?
I’m Lisa, 46 years old, and I live together with my husband Ken and our two sons: Rey (16) and Marcèl (13). We’re originally from Schoten, a town in northern Belgium, near the city of Antwerp. Traveling is my biggest passion. I like running and hiking and I also love good food!
When did you first arrive in Bali, and how long do you wish to live here?
We went on vacation to Bali in August 2024. However, our plan to move there had already been made a couple of months prior to that. It was good to see the place beforehand before making the big move. In September 2024, we came back to stay for 10 months.
What motivated you to move to Bali, and how did you go about making the decision to do so?
Our lifelong dream was to live abroad someday, but we never took the leap. As an alternative, we considered traveling the world, but with two school-aged teenagers, that wasn’t very practical. Homeschooling wasn’t an option for me, so we decided to settle somewhere the kids could attend school. I had been following someone on social media who lived in Bali, and her podcast often featured stories about life there, which really intrigued me. Later, while taking an online course, I met another Belgian woman who was planning to move to Bali with her family. We started talking, and that’s when the idea of moving to Bali was born.
How did you hear about Our Year in Bali, and what was your experience with Simone’s support?
Through social media and some inquiries, I came across Simone from Our Year in Bali. Since we didn’t have that much time left, we needed to act quickly. After a 30-minute call with Simone, we purchased the Silver package, which provided highly valuable information for our move. We started by looking for a suitable school. Simone connected us with several schools, and based on that, we chose our location to live. Thanks to her contacts, our visa application was arranged very quickly. Although it might have been possible to figure everything out on our own, Simone’s services and responsiveness made a big difference by saving us precious time.
Where in Bali do you live? Describe the neighbourhood, community, things to do etc.
We live in Umalas, a slightly quieter area next to the bustling Canggu. Our house is in a gang, a dead-end street, with one of the few remaining rice fields in the neighborhood right across from us. The bakery, shops, and restaurants are just a few minutes away by motorbike, and the beach is only a 10-minute ride. Marcèl plays football with the Bali Bulldogs, which is also nearby. The drive to school takes about 20 minutes.
Adapting to Island Life: How Has Your Family’s Transition Unfolded, and What Unexpected Benefits Has Bali Brought to Your Daily Routine?
It all happens in phases. In the beginning, it was quite overwhelming. There were still many practical things to sort out, and we didn’t know our way around yet. Most of our time was spent figuring things out. For our boys, it was different—they had to start school right away, so they settled into a routine much faster.
After about two months, the initial excitement wore off. By then, we knew our way around, where to shop, how to handle banking, and other daily tasks. One of the biggest benefits we’ve noticed is the slower pace of life. Also, the school atmosphere is much more relaxed for our kids. When they come home after school, they jump straight into the pool for a swim.
Other perks? Laundry services are incredibly cheap—it’s picked up at your door, and it comes back freshly washed and ironed. Ordering food is so easy, the variety is huge and it’s actually cheaper than buying groceries in the supermarket, so I barely cook. There’s simply more time to relax.
One important lesson I’ve learned is to stress less about certain things, like being late for an appointment. If you’re stuck in traffic and you arrive 10 minutes later—it’s no big deal. Road rage is practically non-existent here.
What school are your children going to? How has school life been in Bali so far? Please share!
Our children attend Summit Academy in Kerobokan, an international boutique education academy that follows the Cambridge curriculum. It’s by far the best decision we’ve made. The kids felt welcomed and at ease right away, making friends within the first week.
Beyond the excellent quality of education, the atmosphere is incredibly warm. Everyone knows each other by name, and there’s a lot of personal attention for the students. The low teacher-to-student ratio definitely contributes to this.
The head of campus, Mr. Ben Owens, and his wife, are the kindest people. When we pick up the kids, they regularly pop by for a chat and genuinely care about how we’re settling into life in Bali. They also shared some valuable tips with us.
Our kids like hanging out after school to play table tennis or a game of pool. Back in Belgium, when school was out, they couldn’t get home fast enough—I think that says it all!
How has the cost of living compared to back home? What are you able to afford that you wouldn’t normally, for example?
The cost of living here is generally lower, especially for things like gasoline, services such as taxis, electricity, mobile internet, and scooter rental. One time, Ken had a flat tire, and getting it replaced cost us just 6 AUD.
Eating out and takeaway food are much cheaper than back home. A delicious poke bowl, for example, costs only a third of the price compared to what you’d pay back home. Beauty treatments and massages are also very affordable—I get a mani/pedi every three weeks for just 21AUD. In Belgium, that would easily cost me €100 (170AUD), so I would never do it there.
One thing that did surprise us, however, was the cost of renting a house. That was a bit of a disappointment. Rental prices are high, and you get much less comfort for what you pay compared to Belgium. The house we live in now is not up to our standards.
Grocery shopping can also be expensive. You have to focus on local products; otherwise, your bill adds up quickly. Especially for luxury items like cheese, deli meats, fresh butter, and alcohol, the prices are sky-high.
How has living in Bali influenced your personal and professional life, and what opportunities have you found here?
Our time in Bali is a sabbatical for us. Before coming here, neither of us was fully satisfied with the way our life had unfolded. Working from 9 to 5, living from vacation to vacation. It felt like running on a treadmill at a pace I couldn’t keep up with. We also experienced stress caused by time pressure, bad weather, and the complaining culture in Belgium.
I had hoped to gain some clarity on my future career path while here, but that hasn’t happened yet. There’s a good chance I’ll simply choose a job I’m familiar with. Bali is full of entrepreneurial people, and I truly admire that. But I don’t think I’m cut out for it, and I believe that has a lot to do with how I was raised. A lot of people also invest in real estate here. It’s certainly interesting but to me it feels too big of a step. But we still have a few months left living here, so who knows what might happen?
On a personal level, I find it inspiring to see how the Balinese approach life. They are kind, patient, and don’t complain, even though they often have far less than we do in the West. It has made me realize that we have so much to be grateful for and should focus more on living in the present.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
For me, the biggest challenge is definitely the traffic. The road infrastructure is downright poor, and the streets are completely saturated during rush hour. It’s busy and chaotic, with thousands of motorbikes following their own set of rules.
I had to learn how to manoeuvre between cars and trucks, ride over sidewalks, and drive assertively. If you wait at an intersection for the traffic to clear, you’ll still be standing there tomorrow. Every day, dropping off the kids at school feels like a major task, and I need time to recover after each ride. Of course, if you live in a quieter area, this would be less of an issue. But since we’re tied to the school’s location, we can’t avoid it. The second challenge for me was the rainy season.
Apparently, this year was worse than usual. Even though we’re used to a lot of rain in Belgium, this is next level. Flooded streets, riding a motorbike in a poncho through torrential downpours—I never imagined I’d have to do that. At some point it was raining so hard that we even had flooding and leaks in our house!
The third challenge is the heat. Even though I’m usually someone who gets cold easily and expected to love the warmth here, the intense heat can still be overwhelming. You start sweating with the slightest effort, let alone during a workout. The combination of heat, humidity, and the lack of pedestrian paths makes walking impossible which I very much regret.
What are your favourite things to do in Bali? Any new hobbies and interests?
My husband can fully indulge his love for padel here. There are many great clubs in the area, and through them, he has already made a lot of new friends. I joined two running clubs and discovered that it’s a tight-knit community. Various events are organised, and through them, I recently got involved in a few charity projects! There’s also a strong fitness community here, so we got a gym membership as well. We’re even more focused on healthy eating and staying in shape.
What is a day in a life?
On the days I go running, I wake up early to avoid the heat. After I return, we drop the kids off at school and head to the gym. I love going for a daily coffee with my husband or enjoying a delicious lunch at one of the amazing cafés nearby. And off course we also have to take care of grocery shopping and some household chores. School already finishes at 2.45pm so time goes fast. When the weather is nice, we head to the beach to watch the sunset.
What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about Bali, and how would you correct them?
The weather is always perfect – Bali has a rainy season (roughly November to March), when heavy downpours, flooding, and humidity can be very intense. Bali is cheap for everything – While some things like food at local warungs, motorbike rentals, and some services are cheap, imported goods, Western-style restaurants, and luxury experiences can be expensive—sometimes even more than in Europe.
It’s always paradise – Bali has stunning landscapes and beautiful beaches, but it also has traffic congestions, plastic pollution (especially in the rainy season), and areas overrun by mass tourism. It’s not always the peaceful paradise people imagine.
What has been some of your favourite discoveries so far in Bali and perhaps beyond?
We loved Amed and Sidemen—both are beautiful, peaceful places where you can still experience traditional Balinese life without sacrificing comfort. There are some charming accommodations and great restaurants, which made our stay even more enjoyable. I also felt much more at ease riding a motorbike there. In Lovina (North Bali), I visited a friend, and it was just as peaceful and relaxing. It hasn’t been overrun by tourists yet. Next on our list are the Nusa Islands and Lombok. We also love exploring other parts of Asia. So far, we’ve visited Malaysia and Thailand, and we still have Japan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam on our travel list.
What are some factors that families looking to live in Bali should consider?
Speaking as a mother of two teenagers and coming from a culture where everything is well organised, and people adhere to rules, it’s important to know that families who have been here longer have adapted to the more relaxed culture. Teenagers here are much more independent, free-spirited even. They start riding motorbikes from a young age, which we, as parents, don’t allow, making it harder for our boys to truly integrate. For example, when my 16-year-old is the only one taking a Go-Jek (motorbike taxi) while everyone else is riding their own bike, it’s not much fun. Also, apart from the beach, there are no areas for teenagers to hang out. Parks or public spaces where they can gather, are simply non-existent.
If you don’t let your teen drive around, the parents have to handle transportation themselves, as there’s no public transport. If your teenager is not into sports, there isn’t much to do here, like parties or meetups (beach clubs aren’t accessible to teenagers). In my opinion, there aren’t enough amenities to make it an inspiring environment for teens.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience living in Bali that we haven’t covered yet?
If you choose to live in Bali for an extended period, speaking the local language is a valuable asset. While English is widely spoken, it’s not as common in more remote areas. Learning the language will help you integrate more quickly and show respect to the local people.
