Me and my two DCs are moving to Spain for a year in ten days. DH is spainsh and we have wanted to put the children in school for a year so they can learn Spanish properly and so that they can spend time with their Spanish family. DH has a sabbatical staring in January so will be joining us then but I will be negotiating all the social niceties for me and the kids until then (with some help from inlaws I suppose). My Spanish is much less good than it used to be but I suppose it will get better quite quickly as we are spending the first month living with inlaws and I am preparing myself for being very limited and making mistakes.
I am used to being in Spain but have not gone beyond the immediate family circle really. now I have to contend with all the business of daily life - setting up home, contacting utilities, making friends, dealing with schools. Are there any tips that I can prepare myself to come across well, and anything to avoid doing.
I have been thinking of all the AIBU threads on here concerning the minutiae of social ettiquette. I will be lost. I know from getting to know DH that there are so many tiny cultural differences.
I am keen to go, but hen I think of the range of things I will face from meeting new neighbours, to getting to understand the ins and outs of DCs very posh looking school to thinking about how intimidating getting a mobile phone cntract can be here, I wonder how can I prepare myself?
Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.
Living overseas
Moving to Spain - what do you wish you had known?
margaritasbythesea · 21/07/2016 09:49
Crikey! Compared to Wales the weather is a shock!!
Sounds like you are completely set up to be honest. The thing that helped me most was having Spanish family... you have that. You will have loads of help with all the setting up stuff, it will be a breeze.
Brexit not mentioned at all here in Valencia. Everyone wants to learn English. Sounds like your dc's are in a concertado (really good state schools, the best basically, usually old convents) they'll be fine. School days are long and no packed lunches, lunch at school 6 euros per child per day or lunch at home involving another school run.
Sounds a perfect set up to me and you will be welcomed as you have established family there. People are nosey in a nice way!!
Have a wonderful year. Do take resources for the childrens English though, they will fall behind at home quickly and the English lessons here are at a best crap! You must be excited!
Remember in Spain things vary significantly from province to province. What happens in Valence may have little relation to what happens in Murcia. Even school hours, transport, and school lunches might be very different.
As others have said you will need to keep their English upto scratch but as a teacher that will be easy for you. We found the lack of after school activities in our area a bit odd to begin with but again it may be different where you are.
Neighbours in our area were very nosy, usually in a nice way, but it still seemed odd after UK neighbours being very self contained. You are really lucky to have family and Spanish speakers on tap for support. I'm sure you'll have an amazing time. Oh and it does sometimes get pretty cold in winter away from the coast so don't forget your coat
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.