In this heartfelt interview, Linda shares her family’s experience relocating from Taiwan to Bali. Having arrived in August 2024 with her two young children (a 6-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl), Linda offers an honest glimpse into their first six months of island life.
What began as a search for progressive education options for their children has evolved into a transformative lifestyle change. Linda candidly discusses their decision-making process, the challenges of transition, and the unexpected joys they’ve discovered along the way. From navigating Canggu’s vibrant community to finding the perfect schools for their children, her insights provide valuable perspective for families considering a similar move.
Linda’s story highlights both the practical realities of expatriate life in Bali—including costs, healthcare considerations, and daily routines—as well as the profound personal growth that comes from embracing a new culture. Her experience working with us also offers a window into the resources available for families making this significant life change.
This interview captures the essence of what many seek in Bali: a closer connection to nature, a supportive community, progressive education, and a more balanced approach to family life.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Where are you originally from?
My name is Linda and I was born in Taipei, Taiwan and grew up in Toronto, Canada! I am a mum of 2 kiddos; a 6 year old boy and a 3 year old girl.
When did you first arrive in Bali, and how long do you wish to live here?
We first arrived in Bali August 2024 and we hope to stay as long as possible, hopefully until our kids are in high school!
What motivated you to move to Bali, and how did you go about making the decision to do so?
As a family, we were initially drawn to Bali because of the different alternative and progressive schooling options that were available here. Education and a hope for a brighter future for our kids really gave us the courage to step outside our comfort zone and explore a different way of life.
How did you hear about Our Year in Bali, and what was your experience with Simone’s support?
I initially came across Our Year in Bali while doing research on the different types of schools here on the island. Simone’s compilation of detailed interviews with different families and their experiences living in Bali was so incredibly helpful that I continuously referred to them, bookmarked them and even took notes from them while doing my own research.
One Year in Bali is very well known throughout the island and the few times we visited Bali before we moved, we often would come across other families who had used Simone’s services, and every time, we would only ever hear high praise for what she does.
Earlier on in our moving process, we never really even considered hiring a consultant for help as we believed we could just manage everything by ourselves….! It was only after having several mini meltdowns did I realize that we really did need help and support…!
The moment we got on the call with Simone there was an immediate sense of relief. Simone, right away, was warm, understanding and incredibly validating. She held space for us as we talked through all our worries and concerns, but not only that, she immediately started to help address them in concrete ways. I have joked that Simone is basically a combination of a therapist + consultant+ an emotional support friend. She is so genuine and does her best to tailor support specifically to her clients needs. Simone is incredibly resourceful and is very up to date with all the new developments that are happening on the island and as such, she really is the go-to person if you have any questions about Bali.
Simone is also very good at connecting like minded clients together. We have met so many people through Simone and it has been lovely to speak to other families who can relate to this whole experience.
As I’ve said it before, Simone is the type of person you want to meet and know in your life because she is just such a good hearted person who genuinely is here to help and support her clients.
We love you Simone!
Where in Bali do you live? Describe the neighbourhood, community, things to do etc.
We live in Canggu, in Berawa! I really do feel like living in Canggu for the first year was the right decision as we are new to the island and really needed the certainty of convenience. We live close to the Canggu shortcut, off to the side and are in walking distance to the multiple pharmacies, medical clinics, coffee shops, restaurants and two grocery stores. We are currently renting and living in a semi gated community here. The gated community aspect has been great and as it is all inclusive; which means there is always someone around to address our wifi, plumbing, A/C or electrical problems and even someone to help collect packages!
There is a big park 3 min away from where we are staying and it is great because there is a small outdoor playground for kids. A lot of the kids that go to neighbouring kindergartens go to the park everyday after school, it has become quite a little playgroup! Conveniently this park is also situated next to a big grocery store!
On rainy days, there is also a family friendly cafe nearby called Tiny Healthy Family cafe, which my kids love.
In terms of extracurricular activities, there are two gymnastic afterschool programs nearby in walking distance, as well, the beach is only a 5 min scooter ride away. We go to the beach twice a week at least…!
As a family, how has the transition been, and what benefits do you think Bali will provide the family?
Similarly to other many families here in Bali. We moved here in hopes of creating a better life for our children. The first couple of months was hard, as with any huge changes and transitions, it was quite hectic and emotions were often high. Our family got sick a lot and really struggled to adapt to the weather of Bali and even now, are still trying to adjust!
In terms of meeting people and the support needed in our everyday life, we were very fortunate to have hired a nanny prior to arriving and that has helped tremendously in our settling in process. Having someone around that speaks Bahasa who was able to teach and show us the way really made the process a lot easier.
I think one of the main benefits of living in Bali is really being able to have access to the beautiful natural environment here on the island, as well as, the ever so friendly and kind help and support of local Indonesians.
As every parent knows, it takes a village to raise kids, and here in Bali, being able to hire support has really helped lessened the pressures on our family emotionally, mentally and physically.
What school are your children going to? How has school life been in Bali so far?
My son goes to Marigold Learning Community School in Pererenan and my daughter goes to The Garden Learning Center.
As a family, we looked at and visited over 10+ schools and decided that for our first year we would try out Marigold Community Learning as we really resonated with their school philosophy and the way the school is set up.
Class sizes are small which is really ideal for children who may feel easily overwhelmed by social situations. The campus is designed in a way where it feels like a home and not a school; barefoot and cozy classrooms. We have been at the school for 6 months now and are learning a lot about ourselves as a family, as well as, most importantly, the ways in which we can better support our son in the ways he needs!
In terms of our younger daughter, attending The Garden was her first experience ever being in a classroom setting. She was very hesitant at first but quickly warmed up to the teachers and staff there. The Garden is a well run and extremely organised school; a place where you can just drop off your kids and know for a fact that they will be safe and will be having a great time. Teachers are warm and loving and you can tell they genuinely enjoy what they do. The school is incredibly multicultural which is great for little kids to learn about diversity! My daughter loves going to school and is deeply attached to her teachers.
This is a great option for families who are just moving over to Bali and wanting to find a school that can provide immediate fun, safety and support for your kiddos!
How has the cost of living compared to back home? What are you able to afford that you wouldn’t normally, for example?
We would say that the cost of living is relatively the same to Taiwan, in terms of eating out at restaurants and what we pay for our rent. We do live in Canggu which is known to be one of the pricier areas to be in, however, with that said, most tourists are quite surprised that Bali is it not as cheap and affordable as they thought.
I feel like the major difference between here and western countries would be that, in Bali, it is still very possible to live a relatively “cheap/frugal” life as there are many options to choose from. Using online shopping ( Tokopedia+ Shoppee) instead of going to major retail shops or department stores, finding local fruit and vegetable stands instead of brand name grocery stores, as well as, going to more local chain restaurants for food and beverages can really help you cut down costs.
Hiring a full-time nanny and other personnel to help us maintain our home has been one of the biggest differences in our lives. It is very affordable to find a driver, chef, nanny, gardeners here in Bali, whereas, this would never be possible back home in North America or the UK or even Taiwan.
Being able to outsource the help and support we need is one of the main reasons why we will continue to stay in Asia for the foreseeable future!
How has living in Bali influenced your personal and professional life, and what opportunities have you found here?
Bali is such a very interesting place to meet people from around the world. There are some really creative and great businesses here, along with, many social groups that offer you the chance to meet other like minded individuals.
There is a sense that whatever energy you hold within yourself, it will be magnified here and in such a way, Bali has the ability to amplify the notion of you attract what you are…
At the moment, as a family, we are still getting a hang of things and how this all works. But throughout our journey so far, we really do feel like we have been meeting exactly the right people who can help and support our family at this time.
Since we are still in the middle of it all…it is quite hard to be objective about the experience, however, we can say that, whatever you are seeking for yourself professionally and personally here, can be found in Bali if you look in the right places.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced?
I feel like one of the biggest challenges we faced while being here has been how often we would all get sick as a family!
As expected with being in a new country, with a new weather environment, we knew that this was to be expected; however, the process has been less than pleasant to say the least!
Another one that we have had a hard time with, was how long the rainy season lasted this year. The weather has been quite unpredictable as it would be sunny in the morning and then suddenly rainy in the afternoons.
We live in Canggu and the roads surrounding our home would often get flooded. We’d recommend staying off the roads as much as possible during this time, as the water and flooding can really damage your scooters!
What are your favourite things to do in Bali? Any new hobbies and interests?
Our absolute favorite thing to do is Bali is to go to the beach. It is just such a great place for the kids to run wild and be free. Being near the sand and sea has been incredibly grounding and has been our go to place whenever the kids are get antsy and fidgety!
We have to also mention that there are so many different afterschool programs here on the island that it has been so wonderful to see all the options.
Currently, we have enrolled both our kids in Brazilian Jiujitsu and we’re hoping that as we get more organised we can also start taking them to surfing lessons … and then eventually, maybe scuba diving lessons when they’re older!
What is a day in a life?
The day in the life would be: as a family we all get up around 7:45/8:00 am, we make breakfast, eat it together, have a quick chat and then get ready for school. Our nanny takes our younger daughter to her preschool and our son goes with his dad.
After dropping off the kids, we all go our separate ways to accomplish what we need to for the day such as running errands, grocery shopping, catching up on work.
Then the kids come home around 3:00/3:30 pm, and depending on if they have afterschool programs or not, they will either go to their classes or stay home/go to the beach! At the moment, we also have playmates who come over afterschool to hangout with our kids before dinner time.
We have dinner around 6:30/7:00 pm, after dinner, the kids will play for a bit more, before we get them ready for bed.
Our currently life is quite structured and we really love it.
How has the work/life balance been for you?
I feel like our life here in general is more balanced because we have easier access to nature; the beaches, the mountains, forests. It is only after we got here did we realise how isolated and cut off we have been from the great outdoors and how much we all actually needed it.
What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about Bali, and how would you correct them?
I feel like the biggest misconception about Bali is the belief that you will get ill from using the tap water here.
What we have found is that, getting sick in Bali is really dependent on your immune system and whether or not your body has had time to adjust.
We have had no issues at all with the water, we use it for brushing our teeth, washing our hands, washing our dishes. My kids have very fine hair and the water quality has not affected their hair at all or caused it to fall out.
If there are fears or concerns about this, then I would really recommend families to look into villas/homes that have very good solid reviews and to also just double check with the villa maintenance manager on the type of filtration system that is being used in the home.
What has been some of your favourite discoveries so far in Bali and perhaps beyond?
I think one of our favorite discoveries about Bali would be how easy it is to get to neighbouring islands! We have only been to Nusa Penida and it is so beautiful there. The island really reminds me of the movie, The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio…!
It is one of the most stunning islands we have ever seen and we highly recommend families to take their kids there for snorkeling! Despite it being a small island there are still lots of great restaurants and accommodations to choose from!
What are some factors that families looking to live in Bali should consider?
I feel like the number one thing families should really take the time to think about and discuss before they move, is to ask themselves, “What is it that we are looking for in Bali, for our family?”
Is it convenience? Is it education? Is it adventure?
Because depending on how you answer these question, it will really help you figure out and dictate what your next steps should be in terms of figuring out which areas you should live in, the different schooling options available for your kids, and or, how you would like your daily life to be structured or not structured!
I think one of the main initial considerations we had was, we simply just wanted certainty of convenience in our first year in Bali and that is why we moved to busy Canggu..!
Additionally, I would also strongly recommend family to just be aware of the tropical weather of Bali, and how it can be quite seemingly unpredictable at times, and to be prepared if that causes any flooding, housing issues with your home/villa, transportation and the possibility that you will be stuck at home for a few days on end…! It’s important to just note that these issues do happen..and that it is simply apart of the process of adjusting to island life…!
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience living in Bali that we haven’t covered yet?
One last thing I feel like is worth mentioning is to just make the conscious effort to keep an open mind and to actively choose to be understanding and empathetic to whatever problems you may come across.
I say this from experience and as someone who struggles with unpredictability especially in daily life. I have had to learn to become much more relaxed and accepting of things that are out of my control….which in turn has helped make me a much calmer person!
Bali can bring out the best and worst in you…. regardless! All experiences, whether good or bad are just learning opportunities for us to know and understand ourselves better….and with that said, just buckle up and just enjoy the ride..!
