What is your name, age, where do you live and how long have you lived in Girona?
My name is Jane Makepeace, I am 41 and I have lived in the Girona province for 10 years, moving 3 times! I currently live in the pretty town of Caldes de Malavella. It´s a very Catalan town which has two spas centred around its naturally sourced mineral and thermal waters, and it dates back to Roman times. This is where the famous Vichy sparkling water comes from and it is now shipped for sale in London and New York!
Do work, and if so what do you do?
I run a fingerprint jewellery business www.tutesorito.com. I make beautiful, bespoke, pure silver jewellery personalised with fingerprints, miniaturised hand and footprints or children´s little drawings and doodles. They make great keepsake gifts for anyone in the family because we have gift ideas for him and for her. Each little memory is not only preserved in silver forever, but it’s a lovely thing to be able to pass on to future generations. Mostly the prints and drawings are taken from a child as a present to mum or dad, or the grandparents, but I have had requests for fingerprint jewellery between partners.....as a present to the child for his Christening.....and also requests for alternative designs which have nothing to do with prints, so the possibilities are endless. For example pet prints can also be captured in silver for those who are mad about their pets!
What nationality are you and your partner?
I´m British and my partner is Irish. We met in an Irish pub in the beautiful city of Girona. His best friend lives here and he was just visiting when I met him.
How many children do you have and what are their names and ages?
We have two children both born in Girona´s very modern Santa Caterina hospital. Lucia is coming up to 2 ½ years and Alex is 5 months. Both were very quick labours. Alex was born in Urgencias 10 minutes after I arrived.
How well integrated would you say you and your children are?
I´d say very well integrated. I speak Spanish having lived in Barcelona for 6 years as a child. My children won´t have any problems with Catalan (and hopefully Spanish) having been born here. My partner is the only one who doesn´t speak Spanish quite so well because he works in an all English-speaking environment. We have many expat friends here but we live in a very Catalan town in order not to completely submerge ourselves in the expat community.
What language do you speak to your children?
I speak mostly in English to them, but some Spanish too. If anything I am worried that their Spanish might not be so strong because the Catalan language is very strong in this province. Catalan is the only language spoken at Lucia´s nursery, and I know that lessons in schools will almost all be in Catalan too.
What has your impression been of childcare and education in Girona so far? Have you any advice for anyone moving here in regards to education? How did you choose the school the children are at now? Are you happy with it and what was the process of applying?
My children aren´t of school age but I´ve been really happy with both of the nurseries that Lucia has been to. She changed to a new nursery after P1 but only because we moved to Caldes from Llagostera. I am planning to put both children into a local school as I hear they are very good but I´ll be researching that when the time comes. In order to apply for the nursery I had to register a place with the town hall.
How do you rate the amenities available for parents and children in Girona?
That´s an interesting question. For starters I think it´s hard to know where to go when you need baby changing facilities – I think the UK is better equipped there. The UK is also better equipped for rainy day activities (for obvious reasons!) such as soft play centres, and also for children´s clubs I think. On the plus side here there are plenty of good children´s play parks; Girona does put on the occasional children´s show; there are numerous local towns festivities which are really good and always have something for the children; restaurants are all child-friendly and welcoming and, because of the fab weather, we spend a lot of time playing on the beach all year round.
Where you live, how good are facilities for children (shops,restaurants, activities etc)?
Where we live is a small town but there is a lovely water feature at the Roman baths which the kids love, and there are several children´s play parks. I haven´t tried any of the restaurants here yet because we have only been living in Caldes for 6 months and because I have a toddler and a baby I prefer to be home for naps times and their 7:30pm bedtime which rules out lunch and dinner!
What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of being a parent from the International Community living in Girona?
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!
Is there anything you think would improve children´s lives in Girona?
I think current services and facilities in Spain in general could be improved upon although things have improved quite a bit over the years anyway. More baby changing facilities and more children´s clubs would be a good improvement.
What do you wish you had been told before you came to Girona?
How stunning the city is.
What advice would you give for anyone thinking of relocating to Girona with children?
Go for it! I love living here although the bureaucracy in Spain can drive you mad at times. The best thing about living here is the climate which allows for a more outdoor way of life. The diet is generally much healthier to give kids a good start in life. I also think it is safer for children here somehow. For example children still play out on the streets here just like we used to in the UK when I was a child. Now there´s too much fear in the UK to let children out of your sight.
What couldn´t you live without in Girona?
Sunshine, fine wine, good food, friends and family.
What could you live without?!
Tourists, summertime congestion at the beaches and Spanish bureaucracy
December 2011
