Common misconceptions and clich茅s about life in Vanuatu

Common misconceptions and clichés about life in Vanuatu

Priscilla · 2016-09-29T12:22:52+02:00

Explore common misconceptions and clichés about expat life in Vanuatu. Share your insights on how perceptions change before and after moving.

Priscilla ViP

Member since 30 May 2013

PriscillaViP29 September 2016 10:22:52

42358

Hello everyone,

Old clich茅s die hard, as the saying goes... and living in Vanuatu can generate lots of misconceptions in the eyes of the people.

What are the most common misconceptions about the expat lifestyle in Vanuatu?

What are the most common clich茅s about life in Vanuatu in general?

Did you have a biased view of the country before moving there? What is you view now?

Thanks in advance,

Priscilla

Beachguy7 New member

Member since 08 May 2016

Beachguy7New member03 October 2016 17:58:57

One of the biggest misconceptions is how easy going government is here.
The government departments are quite separate identities that seem to be a law unto themselves charging fees at their own digression with no idea聽 how much an individual has paid out . For example聽 someone building a business from scratch. Tax free Vnauatu I think not.聽聽Greedy departments after money. Yes the island has a go slow attitude. But when a building permit and fees are paid in August and it is now October and聽 I still do not have a building permit number this is rediculous. The inefficency here is stifling business and the economy. The ANZ bank was paid and given 2 weeks to prepare my immigration bond . When I arrived for it. Nothing was done and I was left sitting at a desk in the bank while an employee聽 disappeared for an hour and a half to do it. To get a post office box address聽 I paid and was receipted聽 for a post office box it took me 5 visits to the post office on 5 different days to finally get an address.
Saying all this and ranting on.. I still consider it a privilege to live here and count myself very fortunate聽 and blessed