Barcelona Mum

What is your name, age, where do you live and how long have you lived in Sitges?
My name is Emma Jenkins, and I am 35 years old. I live in Sitges, 30 minutes south of Barcelona & I have been here 6 years.

Do you work, and if so what do you do?
I am a stay at home Mum, its my 'work' & I love it!!

What nationality are you and your partner?
My Husband David & I are both British

How many children do you have and what are their names and ages?
I have 3 children Harry 6, George 3 & Oliver 18 months

What was your experience of having a baby in Sitges? (if relevant)
I had Harry in the UK then came here when he was 3 months old. George & Oliver were both born in Barcelona at the Hospital Dexeus. An excellent hospital, care was superb & my experiences in both cases were much better than the UK. My consultant was a Dr Lopez-Rodo. She came very highly recommended from 2 friends in Sitges, she also spoke a little English which was a great comfort for me as at the time my Spanish or Catalan was not very good although as time passed I surprised myself as i understood a great deal of what she was saying. It was all very relaxed unlike my experience in the UK having Harry. They seem to do a lot more tests & scans here than in the UK for me was great, they were always on the end of a phone should I have any questions. I was induced with George as I went 10 days over, everything went to plan with Oliver who came 1 day before his due date. Both births of my sons were a great experience with NO complaints whatsoever.

How did you find the process of relocating to Sitges with your children (if relevant)?
I cannot lie, I found the first 6 weeks awful!!!!!! I had a 12 week old baby & I was moving from the UK with a great support network of Family, health visitor, friends etc to come here to NOTHING I had to look for everything, Doctors etc.It was all very scary. My husband was beginning a new job so we had no assitance from them it was all down to us. I cried a lot & felt lonely but then just by chance I found Sitges International Playgroup I thought all my prayers had been answered. People whom I understood, friendly faces & they were very welcoming. Full of advice & information people even came with me to register different things. I became really involved helping out. It was a real turning point for me. I made some great friends and I then knew we had made the right decision to move to Spain.

How well integrated would you say you and your children are?
We are very well intergrated, we all have a big circle of friends & really feel part of the 'community'. The locals are welcoming & now Harry & George are in full time school we are making new friends & finding new activites. Harry plays for the local football time & is now fluent in 3 languages, English, Catalan & Spanish. George is almost there he understands everything though at school. Mine is OK I get by, I would love to communicate fully with some of my friends but finding time to attend lessons is hard. Its a new years resolution for me!!

What language do you speak to your children?
David & I both speak to the children in English

What has your impression been of childcare and education in Sitges so far?
Again all has been good, Harry attended a guaderia called Mi Mama before starting at local catalan school Maria Osso, George went to guaderia TEC before he started Maria Osso & Oliver is also now going to TEC in the mornings. I have never had a problem with any of them. All the people have been helpful & patient with me, it took a lot of getting used to my child been in full time eduction at 3 years old!!!!!!

How do you rate the amenities available for parents and children in Sitges?
With the fantastic seafront & beach its all you really need.bucket & spade & a ball any child would be happy! There is also a few playground areas with swings etc which are good, clean & tidy & there is also the Terramar Park where quite a lot people use the picnic area for childrens birthday parties.

Where you live, how good are facilities for children (shops, restaurants, activities etc)?
Even though I think the Spanish are fantasic at welcoming children EVERYWHERE there facilites are a tad lacking ie baby changing. I have now become quite an expert now at changing on a bench!! However I think they make up for this in other ways, such as when in a restaurant giving colouring books & pencils, a lolly if they eat their dinner even in the supermarket there is not many days when they get past the checkout without someone giving them something!!!!!

What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of being a parent from the International Community living in Sitges?
For me personally the main disadvantge was not learning the language before I came here.The further south in Spain you go the more people tend to speak English,however here they are very proud of their Catalan roots & tend to stick to what they know.
Advantages..........mmmmmmm.........hard one but I suppose it is that I am giving my children a better upbringing than if we were in the UK & also leaning a languages & about different cultures.

Is there anything you think would improve children´s lives in Sitges?
I don't think there is anything that would improve 'my childrens lives'. Everyone will always have 'nice to have lists' but at the moment I have everything I need right here.

What do you wish you had been told before you came to Sitges?
I wish I had known about the International Playgroup. It would have saved me a lot of blood sweat & tears!!

What advice would you give for anyone having a baby or thinking of relocating to Sitges with children?
RELAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take everything step by step & do & find out as much as you can before you & your family arrive. One thing I would say is that here or I suppose anywhere in the world you do have to get off your bum a bit & look for things & people as they or it is not going to come to you!!!!!!

What couldn´t you live without in Sitges?
THE BEACH!!!

What could you live without?!
SAND!!!!!! Ha ha!