Interviews
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Nina Onsrud on her homebirth
"I would like to mention that in order to do a homebirth, one has to get in touch with midwifes right from the beginning in order to get to know each other , and to build up a relationship , to let them know about your fears and your desires, so that the birthing experience can be all that it should be. I think that the advice for mums to be in Spain is to be very clear with their Gynecologist about what kind of birth experience they would like. And if they do not feel that they are getting the attention that they need, Change gynaecologist. Ask a friend for a referral. It is your right to choose how you would like the birth to unfold."
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Interview with Susanne
"The days after birth until I went home, I had a nice single room with mountain view and could hear the birds sing in the morning. That sounds like kitsch but that is what it was like. However, since the Hospital Els Camils is a public hospital, you can’t choose the obstetrist that will attend you and it is somehow a question of good or bad luck who you will have to deal with. My personal experience was very good and I recommend the hospital. Most of the women from Vilanova have their children in Barcelona. I wouldn’t. Depending on the traffic, Barcelona can be very far, especially during rush hours and the public hospitals usually are full. For women who chose a private clinic I would recommend to look for information about the number of caesareans done there. I would not recommend a “programmed” delivery under normal circumstances since I think a woman’s body knows itself when the time has come."
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Yolanda Potman
"Belén and Dunee go to Agnes de Sitges and we think that we are very lucky. The teachers are very helpful and caring. The school itself actually realizes that there are many people that do not understand Catalan and so they take measures accordingly. Our youngest started at 2, so that’s very early (in Holland we start at 4). But now, after 3 months she skips to school. My oldest was allowed to celebrate Sinterklaas with her schoolmates. Ferd and a Dutch friend explained the whole story of the man who, after all, is a Spaniard!"
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Interview with Lorna
"Going to the international playgroup was great but often all foreign parents were in the same boat so I discovered that you really have to throw yourself into it and find out for yourself. Choosing any type of care for your children is such a personal choice that you do need to visit nurseries and schools yourself as well as trying to find people who already have children in school here."
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Interview with Melissa
"I had lived abroad before I came to Sitges so I understood a little of the transient way the people live here but I wish I had explained it more to my children who make friends only to find two years later their parents contract has finished and they move on."
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Interview with Karen
"The main reason for moving here was to have more time with our kids, and we certainly have. Our life here is much less stressful and we are much more a family here than at home where we both worked a lot. So all in all we never one day regretted moving here."
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Interview with Emma
"I cannot lie, I found the first 6 weeks awful!!!!!! I had a 12 week old baby & I was moving from the UK with a great support network of Family, health visitor, friends etc to come here to NOTHING I had to look for everything, Doctors etc"
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Interview with Ally
"We have put the kids into the local Catalan school and are trying hard to fit in. The kids are learning the language fast so are making friends - both English and Spanish. I have a couple of Spanish friends although they are new to Catalunya also. I wouldn't say I have integrated yet. Maybe once I can speak Spanish to the mums at school then it will get easier."
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Interview with Claire
" I'd say the prenatal care is very thorough but once the child is born the Spanish philosophy is to cut you loose and let the family rally around."
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Interview with Carolin
"Sitges is like a big village in beautiful surrounding and therefore perfect for families....."
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Interview with Bridget
Bridget Nelson, founder of Sitges Playgroup and Planet English, has kindly given us her time to share her experiences of education in Sitges, the options available to parents, how to apply for schools and how to prepare for that first day.
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Interview with Faye
"Compared to the UK childcare is so much cheaper in Sitges, Jess goes to nursery 5 mornings a week, the monthly cost is 200euros, this wouldn't even cover a weeks nursery fees in the UK."
