Could your wife join you in May and June and visit family during July and August? We arrived from the States in early August and had a hard time meeting anyone--everyone was on holiday! Then September with Ramaden was a difficult time to set up house. She might enjoy getting the villa personalized and meeting folks in May and June, then getting away from the heat and isolation of the summer. Once school starts the kids will have kids they already met in the Spring. There are many groups for Moms and kids, and many just for expat wives to get together and visit, study books, go on field trips... Once the logistics of the first few months get worked out it is great here! We just had a wonderful fall festival at our compound and the kids trick or treated afterwards. Best day my daughter has had since we got here!