So just over a week ago my son and I came back from England after a quick 5-day visit. I have gotten so used to the quiet life here that going back to the city usually fills me with dread! Don't get me wrong I haven't been a country bumpkin all my life. Growing up in Birmingham, I have always been used to city life. I worked there, lived there and I know what it's like. But since moving to Spain I have become accustomed to the slow pace of life that the idea of going back (even just for a … [Read more...]
General parenting thoughts, frustrations and achievements. What it's like to bring up children in Spain and maintaining our family's sanity amidst mixed cultures and languages.
5 Valenciano and Castellano learning resources
In the early days, I felt like my head was going to explode with all the new information that came with living in a different country and I particularly found it tough adjusting to the Spanish education system. While there are many benefits for a child to be bilingual, the amount of hard work needed to get to a point of 'adequacy' is lengthy and frustrating, especially if you have to work with several languages. In time, I have adapted some techniques and found resources that worked for us. … [Read more...]
My Week: Good Intentions…
The C Word Would you believe that we are only a little month over away until Christmas?! I started this month with good intentions, all planned out so that the 'C' word doesn't creep up on me, but no. This month had been an eventful blur and chaos! Today I looked at the calendar and thought f*** !!!! I haven't even planned or bought anything Christmassy! The temperatures have been crazy too. With 6°c during the mornings and evenings. Then 25°c during the day! I don't know whether to put a … [Read more...]
Thankful for the normal things
I wanted to post something while the thought is still fresh in my mind. For the second time in a year, Paris was brought down to its knees again by terrorism. This time, affecting more innocent people as they go on about their normal Friday night. Looking forward to the weekend just like many of us, little did they know what horrifying series of events was about to follow. Like you. I have many questions. I have children. I worry about their future and what kind of world will we leave them … [Read more...]
OMG! Homework!
HOMEWORK. One word that send chills into many expat parents in Spain. A subject that can guarantee a reaction in many expatriates gathering! If you're an expat parent in Spain with young children, I'm sure you know what I mean! Since my 8-year-old started his new school in September, it's been impossible to do anything. No, it's not an exaggeration. I feel like my brain is about to explode with the amount work that my son has to do for school. I've already seen the teacher twice regarding … [Read more...]
Valencian School Calendar
So here we are another start of the new school year. After a busy and hot summer, I'm finally glad to be back to normality... well from next week anyway. Here is a helpful guide on when the school year starts and end in the community of Valencia. The dates also vary depending whether your child is in Infantil/Primaria or ESO/Bachillerato. For more detailed information regarding the school dates and holidays in the rest of Spain follow this link. Image Credit: europapress.es … [Read more...]
Childhood Immunisations in Spain
From birth until they are between 14-16 years of age, all children have to be immunised. In Spain, it is no different. Once you have moved into your new home you and your family will need to visit the local clinic to be checked and assessed, more importantly if you have small children. Having your child immunised will prevent them from catching various and serious diseases. Vaccines contain microorganisms or germs that have been weakened to help your child's immune system to develop specific … [Read more...]
12 weeks of summer holidays
It's been a month since my son broke up for the summer holidays. And yes you read that right, we have 12 weeks of school holidays here in Spain starting from the 22nd of June. Long gone the anxiety that I use to face back in the UK, as I recall dreading the upcoming 6 weeks. Nope, living in Spain makes you one tough cookie when it comes to dealing with the kids summer break! The key is organisation, knowing what you want to do when the holiday starts. If you have a home with a pool then … [Read more...]
Fallas: From Penguins, Sponge Bob to R2D2
There is no easy way to say this but, after all, our hard work, on Monday our ninot did not make it out of the cremá. This year we had another good turn out at school, as expected parents and children created and delivered great artwork on the theme of film and music. You can see from this colourful pile of art just how much work and imagination have gone into these ninots. From the usual Spongebob (which I did in our first year) to a more impressive C3PO playing a piano (or that’s what I … [Read more...]
Introducing Our Ninot for the Fallas
These past few days I’ve been occupied with my youngest sons school project. Every year, the kids are asked to create a ninot for the cremá. This years theme is about films and music, and every year the students deliver impressive creations to celebrate the end of Fallas. The kids (parents) are given two weeks to create something amazing! To be honest, I think it’s more of a competition between the parents. It doesn’t take much figuring out that a lot of the ninots brought into school have … [Read more...]