Interview with Rebecca Dowen
What is your name, age and how long have you lived in Spain?
My name is Rebecca Dowen, I’m 30 and have lived in the Alicante area of Spain for the last 5 years.
What nationality are you and your partner?
We are both British but my partner has lived here since he was 5.
How many children do you have and what are their names and ages?
1 daughter called Soraya who is 21 months (born 5th Feb 2007).
Do you work and if so what to you do?
Not working at the moment but was in Real Estate.
What was your experience of having a baby in Spain?
Excellent experience can’t wait to repeat it!!! I had my daughter in the new hospital in Torrevieja and can’t fault it at all. I had my own room with a bed for my partner as well and the midwife Sharon that delivered Soraya was English so no communication problems between us, and all the staff that were there were very attentive and good. Although Sharon was the midwife that delivered my daughter I didnt see her regularly throughout my pregnancy. She sometimes attended me when I went for the heart monitoring checks at scan time. There are 2 English speaking midwifes at Torrevieja but I wasn´t allocated one at all, it was a case of whoever was on duty while I was in labour, I was fortunate that I was in the final throws of labour during her shift!!!
My prenatal check ups were done at my local health centre and my midwife there was Spanish, she doesnt speak any English but fortunately I knew enough to get by and my partner came to all the check ups too and he's fluent in Spanish, so there wasnt any language barriers.
How well integrated would you say you and your children are?
Very, with my partner having been here so long we know a lot of people and mix with a lot of Spanish.
What language do you speak to your children?
English.
What is your impression of childcare and education in Spain so far?
My daughter goes to a Spanish nursery and I’m very happy with it. The nursery is called Bambi Nursery and it is a Spanish nursery in my local town of Pilar de la Horadada, although it is predominantly Spanish there are some English children there too. I highly recommend it as they have been fantastic with my daughter and my friend sends her son who is 18 months old to the same nursery. They take children as soon as they can walk. The rates are really reasonable and the children are really well cared for in my opinion.The address is Calle Matamoros 25 Pilar de la Horadada 03190 Alicante Tel - 966767135. The owner is called Victoria but she doesnt speak English.
Why did you choose this school and are you happy with your choice?
Because it is near to where I live and after visiting it, I loved it
Where you live, how good are the facilities for children (shops, restaurants, activities etc)?
Shops and restaurants are very accommodating for children, I think the only thing lacking is more soft play/activity centers for toddlers and young children.
Are there any particular service providers (doctors, dentists, babysitters, tutors etc) for children in Pilar de la Horadada that you would like to recommend?
We just see the regular pediatrician at our health centre and use our SIP cards. She has been really good, her name is Dr Patricia Gamboa Pacheco, and again she speaks little or no English
What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of being a parent from the International Community living in Pilar de la Horadada?
As my partner is English but speak fluent Spanish it works very well for me
Is there anything you think would improve children’s lives in Spain?
I don’t think there is anything that would improve their lives, I think that the quality of life is so much better here than in the UK.
What advice would you give for anyone having a baby or thinking of relocating to Spain with children?
Do it!!! Its really not as hard as people think and the quality of life is so much better and Spain is such a family orientated country so everything is about the children which makes it a perfect place to raise a family.
What couldn´t you live without in Spain?
My computer.
What could you live without in Spain?!
UK television!!!
(Jan 09)
