Eugenia Batista
- What is your name, where do you live and how long have you
lived in Barcelona?
My name it Mª Eugenia Batista I live in Eixample and have lived in Barcelona for the past 20 years.
- For how long did you live in the UK?
I lived in the UK for 6 years.
- Do you work, and if so what do you do?
Yes, I work part time. Property management, specialised in renovating and renting small office spaces.
- What nationality are you and your partner?
We are both Spanish.
- How many children do you have and what are their names and ages?
We have 2 girls. Eugene who is 5 and Daisy who is 1. My husband also has 2 boys (15 & 10) from his previous wife.
- What was your experience of having a baby in Barcelona? (if relevant)
Having a baby is the most amazing experience! I am one of those who now thinks why didn’t I do this before, why did I focus so much on my career? Having a baby in Barcelona is obviously great for me because it is my home town. Although my parents both died young and mum is not there for support “HELP what do I do with the baby?” I feel comfortable in the city and find it’s quite child friendly, except when you need to get on the Metro.
- What language do you speak to your children?
Spanish and English. Our family language is Spanish. However, since I am bilingual, I always felt that I had to do my best for my daughters to be bilingual. So I speak to them in English when it’s just me with them. Videos, TV, books, CDs are all in English. Also I go to English speaking toddler play groups, so they can actually see that other people speak English and my older daughter is I now at an international school and speaks English all day.
I must admit it’s not what it says in any Bilingual Education books which focus more on the OPOL (One Parent One Language) issue, but since English is not my mother tongue I find it difficult to speak to my children in English if we are in a Spanish speaking environment or when my husband is there. So far, the results are good with Eugene (5), Daisy (1) only says HOLA.
- What is your impression of education in Catalunya compared to what you know from your experience living in the UK?
Quality of education is definitely higher in the UK. I think this is not only a personal view. If you look at any surveys on education Spain is always near the bottom of the list for Europe and Catalunya is always near the bottom of the list for Spain. However, all surveys are averages and so you find good places and bad places.
- Would you consider educating your children in the UK? If yes, why?
Not really. Educating in the UK in my case would mean boarding school and I am enjoying motherhood so much that I would like to share it with my girls.
- Personally, do you believe Catalunya is a preferible environment to bring up children compared to the UK?
It’s nice for outdoor life and all the health and joy related to outdoor life. Barcelona is by the sea and near the mountains which is great with children. Also life style and people are friendly.
Obviously it is not so rich in other aspects. I’ll let everyone think for their selves which areas are weak...
- Do you think there is an over-emphasis on teaching in Catalan in Catalunya?
All schools approved by the Generalitat teach in Catalan, so there is definitely an emphasis on Catalan. However, children are taught Castellano and in some schools some classes are in Castellano. Also children in Barcelona hear and use Castellano in their every day life; TV, park, shops, etc. It is probably different for children who live in small villages in Catalunya where they hardly speak anything but Catalan.
- Do you feel that kids here would benefit more from speaking English than Castellano?
I personally think it is a MUST for children in Spain to speak Castellano and if you live in Barcelona you ought to know Catalan. I think parents have to be aware on their children’s inputs and reinforce the areas where they are lacking one of the languages. I have always put emphasis on Castellano and English. In my case, my older daughter learnt Catalan at guardería, but now she is at an International School and we do not speak Catalan at home, so to try and make her keep it up with after school or entertainment activities are in Catalan.
- How do you rate the amenities available for parents and children in Catalunya?
In many aspects it is great and there are plenty of things to do with children. However, there are basic things which are just not adapted for children, eg. getting to a Metro (tube) Station without lift. The good thing is that slowly these things are improving. I remember with my first daughter I couldn’t go on the bus because the buggy would not fit through the front entrance, now all the Barcelona city buses are adapted.
- Where you live in Eixample, how good are facilities for children?
(shops, restaurants, activities etc)?
Eixample is a central & relatively old residential area of town. Now you have a mix of housing and offices, and amongst the residents I would say a substantial percentage middle-old families.
ou have a wide selection of the basics needed; supermarkets, grocers, butchers, etc.
As for restaurants, they are mainly traditional ones unless you visit the trendy ones on Paseo de Gracia & surroundings. There are quite a few schools, lots of the traditional and the religious schools are in that area. The schools in this area usually just have concrete patios for the children, there is little green and in many cases they go somewhere else for sport activities.
There are parks, generally small, very urban. In some cases with cars passing right next to you and in other cases in a patio between blocks of buildings, ie. Very little green and open space.
- What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of being a parent from the International Community living in Catalunya?
I am not really from the International Community since I am Spanish, but I really enjoy doing things with International Parents. The way parents are involved in their children’s education is different. I do not know of any Spanish toddler play groups, Spanish toddlers are either taken to guarderia or go to the park with mum, grandparents or a nanny. For older children there is more participation and volunteering from the international community.