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- What is your name, age, where do you live and how long have you lived in Sabadell?
My name is Mariona Ferrer, I’m 38 years old and I’ve been living in Sabadell for 4 years.
- What nationality are you and your partner?
We both are Catalan.
- How many children do you have and what are their names and ages?
We have two girls aged 4, Martina, and 6, Mel.
- What was your experience of having a baby in Sabadell? (if relevant)
Mel was born in Barcelona and Martina in Sabadell. We are ‘users’ of our Public Health System so for Martina we chose the local hospital Parc Taulí. I did all the birth preparation in Barcelona because I was very happy with the yoga-llevadora teacher I knew when preparing ourselves for Mel’s birth. This preparation allowed me to go to the hospital just a few hours before actually giving birth. Since it wasn’t a risk birth I chose to have a natural birth (parto natural) without anesthesia and helped and respected my will. The recovery is amazing. The only thing is that rooms are small and shared with another family and often the silence and intimacy you wish to have is not possible.
- How do you rate the amenities available for parents and children in Sabadell?
Many Young families are moving from Barcelona and from other cities to Sabadell therefore there is an important mass of children and young people. Sabadell has a very consolidated networks of music, dance and arts private and public schools. Also an old tradition of ‘amateur’ theatre (La Farándula), etc. The city council is also consolidating social and cultural programs through its networks of centres civics (seminars, talleres, cursos, etc.), cultural centers (L’Estruch), theaters with special programme for kids, etc. Sabadell it is also ‘big’ enough to have more conventional amenities, most of them in the city center or close to the commercial centers. Sports are important also in Sabadell. Swimming is important, there is a big offer in the city center with special courses for kids. Hiking clubs like the old Centre Excursionista still plays an important role in Sabadell organizing hikes in the environs of the city (you will be surprised about the beautiful spots you can find!) but also ski trips, hiking trips to European countries, etc. Yoga schools, I don’t know…I don’t miss anything…well, yes: restaurants offering foreign food, there are a few
- Where you live, how good are facilities for children (shops, restaurants, activities etc)?
We live in the center and I can say that I don’t walk more than 20 minutes to have access to shops, restaurants, etc. We have many toy stores, and special ones! Cloth stores..many! Ok, what we do not have is very special shops for kids: bookstores, those little stores you find in Barcelona. Parks…green spaces…well that is really a thing I miss in Sabadell but I also missed in Barcelona.
- As a whole, what do you think of the Catalan education system?
Again, we are ‘users’ of our public education system and we are happy….but we think that it could be much, much better. For instance, as far as foreign languages is concerned, luckily our school Miquel Marti i Pol has an agreement with the UAB and two foreign languanges (French and English) are taught there. However, we think that this is not enough!, it shouldn’t be a ‘programme’ but part of the education system. We also think that due to the Programme that teachers have to follow sometimes children lack ‘experimentation and freedom’ in their evolutive learning. Families play an active role in public schools too, organizing the food service (‘comedor’) extra school activities, etc. The commitment of the whole community makes a school better than others.
- In what areas do you think the education system could improve?
Languages, music and experimentation (Arts, nature, etc.).
- As a Catalan, does it bother you that there are very few schools which teach in Castellano in Catalunya?
Not at all! Castellano is on the street, in the tv, in the school with teachers, classmates, people. The more languages you know, the better!!! I went to a Catalan school and I had classmates whose mothertongue was Castellano, we communicated perfectly…I learned to read and write in both languages at the same time and although I had more difficulties with Castellano I did not have any problems. I tell to Martina and to Mel that they need to know different languages because the world is not only Sabadell or Catalunya or Spain….they understand that because they go to school with kids from other countries.
- In what areas do you think Catalunya could improve with regards to childcare and parenting?
Conciliación laboral. Public kindergardens (very good, but few available!)
- You are part of the Landing Program in Barcelona , could you explain a little bit about what it does?
Landing Program is setting up an international business incubator (office spaces, high value support services and connections) in 22@Barcelona to help international entrepreneurs and born global companies go international in Barcelona.
- What do you think are the main attractions for families wishing to relocate to Catalunya?
Quality of life, ‘human scale’ of the city, cosmopolitanism and an existing international community for whom schools, etc. are already available.
- What advice would you give to families thinking of relocating to Catalunya?
Good place for children: good ‘mix’ of environments (sea, mountains, city), good social networks (cultural, sports, etc.), good ‘mix’ of communities. Do not regard Catalan as a barrier, think global!