Q: Im about to move to Tunisia (gabes) i was wondering what the population of gabes is, what is there as in shop any shopping malls etc? hospitals and as i plan to have a family with my tunisian fiancee whats the prenatal care like and can we afford it? Im also worried about living off a $270 salary monthly and not working as i dont speak french or arabic i cannot find work? thankyou thankyou tunisianbelle :)
A: First off, Gabes is NOT a new city. The people who write things on websites do not always know what they are talking about. My husband and his whole family are from Gabes (his parents, his grandparents, their parents, etc). They are however expanding and modernizing the city (something that happens everywhere). There are fabulous beaches though, and Gabes is known as an oasis. There are really pretty places to view this on the outskirts of the city. Gabes IS an industrial city, meaning it is home to a lot of manufactures. There are no big malls, but there are plenty of little boutiques that you can shop at. The market is where you are going to want to buy your meat, fish, spices, fruits and veggies from. The souk will have bargains on household needs and sometimes on your spices, fruits, and veggies as well. There is a Promogro (it's a store) that sells certain food and household items at a discount. This store is great for buying things in bulk, and it saves you money. The medical facilitates in Gabes are modern and clean. Prenatal care is a little different than in the US or UK (my first child was born in the US, the other two were born here - the youngest was born 23 December 2007) but is very good. The doctors follow a system that is closely related to how things are done in France. I have had a good experience with the doctors here. The doctors at the hospital charge about 10TND for a visit - considerably less then the 25TND to go to a private doctor. Things in Gabes are cheaper than in northern cities, such as Tunis, because the whole cost of living is cheaper. As long as you are frugal and don't spend you money foolishly, you will be able to live off your fiances salary. Don't worry too much about not speaking French or Arabic. When I first moved to Tunisia I couldn't speak them either. I quickly learned them through speaking with my husbands family. The key is to practice. As for work for you, there are still jobs that you can attain, if you look. Some places like to hire people who can speak English. There are some legalities for a foreigner obtaining work, so you should consult with the Embassy on this issue. Also, do not forget to register with the Embassy and let them know that you are now residing in Tunisia. This is for safety reasons, and they will keep in contact with you and alert you to any warnings or cautions given by the state department. If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.