Debra Foremski
"Our experience of totally relocating our whole family lock, stock and barrel to another country? A complete breeze! No, of course it wasn't! Not at all!! It was exhausting, stressful and bewildering. Plus all the initial red-tape and necessary procedures to become residents was extremely frustrating. Nevertheless, I remember how positive and excited we were looking forward to our new life. I also recall the lovely experience of buying a one-way ticket and sitting on the plane with all those holiday makers, very smugly, knowing we would not be making a return trip for some time. The children were very prepared and aware of what was happening for at least a couple of years before we moved. I used to play Spanish CDs and videos for them in the UK and us parents had been trying to learn Spanish for some years." (DF, July 2008)
Click here to read Debra´s experience of living in Girona
Helen Scott
"An advantage for being a parent in the international community, is giving your children the desired ability of speaking 3 languages effortlessly. Sometimes I get very sentimental and think how sad that Zara will never be a Brownie like I had been, but then I remember that life in the UK wouldn't be the same for her now as it had been when I was a lass! But I do worry about the education, there is no room for error here, I do have to let go of my anxiety and trust the system! I worry/get upset that she hasn't got a Catalan Grandad to ask about history and hear about the old days of the 'town'!" (HS, Jan 2009)
Click here to read of Helen´s experience of living in Begur, on the Costa Brava
Jane Makepeace
"You are at a disadvantage here if you don´t speak much Catalan, especially if your Spanish is not so good either. Anything to do with the nursery and schools – school reports, parents meetings, handouts and leaflets etc are all in Catalan. Also, when taking your sick child to the doctor it is really important to be able to communicate effectively on symptoms and understand treatment etc. The advantage of being a foreigner among the locals is being able to introduce them to differences in our cultures, new foods (decent cakes for one!)....not to mention that every mother wants their child to be your child´s friend in the hope that they´ll pick up the English language! " (JM, Dec 11)
Click here to read the full interview with Jane
Joanne Newman
"I have to say that, despite the fact that my partner is from Vic, I still feel like an outsider. Vic is lovely town, but it's small, conservative and, obviously with exceptions, the people are hard to get to know. It's going to take a long time for me to build up a circle of friends of my own" (JN. Feb 2009)
Click here to read of Joanne´s experience of living in Vic
Julia Clarke, Begur
"As a single mum in Spain, one does not receive the same type of benefits as in the UK. There are no discounts, free school meals, allowances or what have you. There are no council housing let alone help with rent, bills, furnishing... So don't expect the same benefits as in the UK but in a warmer climate type-of-life.
In this country everyone depends on their families to help out economically.
I do get some rice, pasta and milk from the church sometimes, though this is because the minister is a friend and client of mine. The church and Red Cross provide the same foodstuffs to immigrants (from Europe's famous food mountain I presume)" (JC, Oct 10)
Click here to read all of Julia's story
Sylvie Islam, Girona
"I remember the first day we arrived in Girona, we got to our flat and saw our neighbours for the first time. I remember thinking how great it was that they too had children of similar ages. So I said hello to them (I speak Spanish fluently) and in an almost triumphant way, told them that we had just arrived from the UK. Well! You know when someone pours a bucket of frizzing water on you, that’s what the response I got felt like, they just stared and said nothing and made me feel very stupid" (SI, July 2010)
Click here to read the full interview with Sylvie
Yasmina Old
"Give your children loads of support. Do not assume that because they are kids they will learn to speak the language quickly and make friends easily. I think it is as traumatic for children as it is for adults.!" (YO, Nov 2007)
Click here to read Yasmina´s experience of living near Roses in the Alt Empordà
