Interview with Karen Mullally
What is your name, age and how long have you lived in Javea?
Karen Mullally, 43, six years.
Why did you move there?
My husband and I had the opportunity to take a year out, so we came to Javea with our eldest son where my parents lived. The idea was to see if we might, at some point in the future, be able to move here from London for a change of lifestyle. We haven’t gone back yet!
What nationality are you and your partner?
We are both British
How many children do you have, what are their names and when were they born?
Two. Oliver, born 2002, and Finlay, born in Spain, 2005.
You have recently embarked on a new career as an author of children`s books? How did this come about and are you enjoying the challenge?
Like a squillion other people I have always wanted to write a book. I always assumed it would be for adults when I got round to it (still may be) but when I started reading to my children I was dumbstruck by how uninspiring many books were. It made me want to have a go. Once the boys started to read ‘proper’ books, I found I had loads of ideas suddenly and realized that I am in fact stuck in an Enid Blyton time warp! As for the challenge, well it’s certainly that. Not the writing so much, which I love, but getting published. A successful writer friend told me I would need stamina and a thick skin … boy is he right. If anyone wants to see if I ever make it, I’m blogging my progress on KarenMullally@Twitter.
Do you buy or rent your home in Javea? How did you find the process?
We rent our home. For us the process was fairly painless as we were lucky enough to find our house via a friend of a friend. I have looked since at moving again, but the amount of money that has to be paid up front is typically three months. Add in moving costs etc and, well you get the idea.
What was your experience of relocating to Javea with children?
Because Olly was so young, it was easy in terms of him leaving behind friends and school. The most difficult thing was going from having every imaginable toddler activity on tap to virtually nothing. I was lucky enough to find a local mother and toddler group which was where I made my first friends in Javea, and Olly did too.
Would you do things differently if you did it again? Do you envisage going back to live in the UK?
I would definitely do things differently. Because we never ‘moved’ to Javea, just came and stayed, I don’t think I actually would have moved here in the first place. It is very expat, not just British, but German, Dutch, Russian and French too, which makes integration difficult. Most people seem happy to live in their own little communities, which can be a double edged sword to be honest. Saying that, I’ve no plans on leaving yet. We take each year as it comes, but I do one day envisage us returning to the UK again. Can’t say when or, strangely, why.
How well integrated would you say you and your children are?
Not enough, but we do try. Partly it’s because of the expat thing and partly it’s because the locals don’t seem to want to mix. My parents, who have lived here for almost twenty years, say it wasn’t always like this. Our Spanish friends tend to come originally from the cities, and have an outlook more similar to us. Javea is very transient and I think the local people have tired of making friends, only to see them go. It’s very easy to live an English life in the sun and use English speaking services all the time. I think that disappoints the locals too.
What is your impression of childcare and education in Javea?
Finding childcare is a bit of a challenge. Families seem to help out a lot. Regular babysitters are difficult to keep. Luckily we don’t go out much! There are one or two crèches for very young children as most start school at three, which is normal for Spain. I have found the education system frustrating. Not bad, frustrating.
What school(s) do your children go to?
We’re currently reviewing our school choices, but they go to a bi-lingual international school. Schools are an exhausting topic in Javea!
Why did you choose this school/these schools and are you happy with your choice?
The boys have always attended the same school, first in the nursery and then primary. We’ve loved it and the boys have done very well. But believe me when I say we agonized over choosing an international school rather than sending them to a Spanish one. We didn’t set out to do that. Most of the Spanish schools use the local dialect, Valenciano, as a first language, so we decided on balance it made more sense for the children to have an English education as we have no firm plans for the future. I still find myself justifying that decision however. Sometimes I wish we lived in a place that was too small to have the choice or big enough for no one to notice.
How would you describe a typical local living in Javea?
That’s difficult as first you have to find one! I would say the people here are friendly and hardworking, though not always overly helpful. Think of Cornwall and you’re almost there. Stay off the moors!
How do most people earn a living in the area?
Javea is a fishing port that has grown into a vibrant holiday resort and local families are long rooted. Most work is in those two areas and businesses are often handed down. In the boom, expats were busy in bars or estate agents, but earning a living, especially in current times, is difficult. New shops seem to come and go all the time. A lot of European expats have one partner in the family who travels for work or increasingly, they work on-line. It’s really worth making sure you can earn a living in or from Javea before moving here. Too many people fall in love with the bewitching scenery, sell up and sadly lose everything.
What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of being a parent from the International Community living in Javea?
One and the same. The main advantage is that there is no shortage of parent’s from your own country, willing to take you under their wing and show you the ropes. This of course makes it much easier to settle in. But I have found that to be the biggest disadvantage too. It means you stay there, within your own little England or wherever, because it’s so easy. For a reason I can’t put my finger on, I’ve found it harder to settle because of this. I’m not in England, I’m in Spain.
Is there anything you think would improve children´s lives where you live?
To me, Javea is brilliant for young children. Apart from a few months of the year, the weather is good and they spend a lot of time outdoors, enjoying the freedom they can’t have in the UK. There are lots of after school and weekend activities if you look for them. For teenagers there isn’t much. More could be done in that area.
Do you have any recommendations for children`s activities, family-friendly restaurants, day-trips, shops or services in Javea?
The drama club at L’Ancora is very good I’ve heard. There are lots of well run sport clubs: tennis, golf, rugby, basketball and of course football. Stables are nearby too. Most restaurants are child-friendly. Olas on the Arenal beach front is our children’s favorite for ice cream and to my embarrassment they run around like they own it. The staff is wonderful and never seems to mind thankfully. Javea is just over an hour away by car from both Valencia and Alicante so these make for good day trips to museums etc. There is a small farm the children always go on school trips to. And our boys have recently been to the Valor chocolate factory which was obviously a hit. La Marina shopping centre is twenty minutes away in Ondara, and has bowling and a cinema complex. Cansalades Park is great on a Sunday for picnics and BBQ’s and also for holding birthday parties.
What advice would you give for anyone having a baby or thinking of relocating to Javea with children?
You can’t have your baby as far as I know actually in Javea, unless it’s a home birth of course. The main hospital is in Denia, about twenty minutes away, and I’ve heard only good reports. I had Finlay at Acuario hospital in a tiny village called Beniarbeig, half an hour from Javea. It was as wonderful as these things can be. If relocating, try and think of what you really want from living in Spain. Do you want to integrate? Or live an expat lifestyle? Even if your children go to Spanish school, mixing can be hard. Cliques are everywhere. Also, Javea doesn’t have much in the way of public transport, so you will need to drive. There isn’t as much for children to do as you might be used to at home, but it’s a wonderful place for creating your own fun and spending time with them. If your plan is to make it a move for life, be aware that it is a holiday resort. That summer you’ve dreamt of, playing with the kids in the sun, will be blighted by holidaymakers!
What couldn´t you live without in Javea?
The beach, whatever the weather. I love the different moods of the sea, and the boys do too. Running from chasing waves or watching surfers on a stormy day, is just as much fun as swimming and messing about in the sea with their friends in the summer.
What could you live without in Javea?
The prices! It can be expensive.
May 2011
