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What is your name, age, where do you live and how long have you lived in Barcelona?
Tania Gauder, aged 42. I live with my family in Vila Olimpica. We have lived in Barcelona for just over 4 years.
Do you work, and if so what do you do?
I own a company called Curvaciones with my partner. We sell underwear over the internet and soon we will open a shop selling the same products.
What nationality are you and your partner?
We are both British but my partner was originally from South Africa.
How many children do you have and what are their names and ages?
We have two children, Max (3 years 10 months) and Oscar (1 year and 10 months).
What was your experience of having a baby in Barcelona? (if relevant)
We had really good healthcare through the local CAP. I had both my children in Hospital del Mar. The only improvement I would have liked is some after birth support. It was a bit scarey the first time being sent home after two days with a small baby and just left to get on with it. A bit of midwife assistance and support would have been good but we all survived.
How did you find the process of relocating to Barcelona with your children (if relevant)?
We didn't really plan to move to Barcelona. We were living and travelling on a boat and needed somewhere to give birth to Max. Barcelona seemed like a good place and we never left.
How well integrated would you say you and your children are?
Our children were born here. Max went to a local nursery and now a local school. He speaks Catalan as well as he speak English. Oscar is following the same pattern. I would say they are both integrated very well. The only difference is that we are not so well intergrated and so we tend to meet other ex-pat families at weekends and afterschool to play. This will probably change as the children get older.
What language do you speak to your children?
We speak to our children in English.
What has your impression been of childcare and education in Barcelona so far?
We were very happy with our local private nursery. Max loved going to nursery. Max has only just started at school so it is really very early to tell. He appears to enjoy school. My only reservation is that the children all start aged approximately three years old. This means that in any one year there can be nearly one years difference in age. I think this is quite noticeable at such an early age. My feeling is that more time is spent on the younger children and so the children born at the beginning of the year are not necessarily stimulated enough.
How do you rate the amenities available for parents and children in Barcelona?
Good
Where you live, how good are facilities for children (shops, restaurants, activities etc)?
We live in the Vila Olimpica area. We have good facilities, the cinema with English films, the beach, the zoo and the parc ciutadella are all on our doorstep. There are reasonable coffee shops in the area and enough restaurants where we can take the children. There are two sports centres nearby and for when the children get older there are a number of dance and music schools. The Auditori is only two stops on the Tram and it is easy to walk to Born.
What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of being a parent from the International Community living in Barcelona?
There are a lot of people from the international community here so it feels like you have a lot of support. This also has its disadvantages as we tend to mix with people from the international community and so our Spanish is not nearly as good as it should be and we have very few Spanish friends.
Is there anything you think would improve children´s lives in Barcelona?
The school hours are very long so perhaps a shorter school day. The school term is also very long and I think by Christmas the children will be very tired so I would prefer English school holidays. We also like to live in a house with a garden but then life isn't perfect.
What do you wish you had been told before you came to Barcelona'
It is difficult to find a job earning reasonable money.
What advice would you give for anyone having a baby or thinking of relocating to Barcelona with children?
If your children are going to school in Barcelona in the state system you really will need to learn some Catalan.
What couldn´t you live without in Barcelona?
The woman who looks after my children while I'm working.
What could you live without?!
Turron