Moving to Javea
 

Hi There,
I am moving to Javea with my 14 year old daughter.
She will start at XIC in September and am hoping for kind words of encouragement as apposed to "are you bonkers!"
Currently we are here untill end July and are looking at places to rent.
I speak some Spanish and the only issue is that I don't drive but it may be a blessing in disguise as most parents seem to spend a lot of time as taxi services!
I have an idea for a new business but I need to find my feet first and get settled here for a bit first.
I would really welcome any thoughts and advice anyone might have especially re renting and utilities etc etc
Thanks:)

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Hi Vivajavea

Welcome to BE

We have a forum dedicated to expats living and working in all parts of Spain which I would recommend you check out. You will be able to glean lots of useful tips and advice from Brits already there, and make some new friends in the area where you are heading to which is always a bonus.
You will find this forum by clicking on the 'forum index' tab on the top left corner of this page. Scroll down the listed countries until you see the title 'Europe' - double click on Spain below that and you;re in. They are a friendly lot in the Spain forum so just say hi and the rest will follow

Your daughter may enjoy our Youth Club forum - this is for teenagers and I am sure she will get lots of reassurance from talking to others her age who have moved abroad. This forum can also be found on the forum index page - just keep scrolling down and you will find it.

In the meantime I wish you and your daughter all the very best with your move

Dread - x

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Are you bonkers???? :D
Nah, Javea is a nice place to live and its roughly divided into three different areas. Arenal, Old Town and Port. Its relatively easy to get around and we have a few members there and at least one is an expert on the schools

Shoot over to the Spanish section and pose your questions there

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Thanks for that, will do tomorrow. We are off out now!

Re: Moving to Javea
 

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Thanks Rosemary,
I have tried to find my thread on Spanish section but can't seem to see it,
When I link from email it doesnt show it
Am I being a bit thick or is it not on that part?
Sorry to bother you and it's probably quite easy but am new to this forum malarkey!

Re: Moving to Javea
 

You havent posted in the Spanish forum yet :-)
Follow this link HERE Which will take you to the top of the Spanish forum

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Can I transfer the original post to the Spanish forum?
Or can you do that for me?:)

Re: Moving to Javea
 

I think someone has done that for you :D

I've lived in Jávea nearly 9 years now - my daughters were 4 & 7 when we came & they are both teens now!!! - fire away with any questions you want!! There probably isn't much I can't answer, or at least know where to find it

for inside info on the International schools I'd rather do that by PM though.....


Moors & Christians was good, wasn't it ? (that is where you were going :unsure:)

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Thanks for your reply,

First question I'd like to ask is Do I need a Spanish address or residence card to open bank account?
As the houses we are interested in renting have holiday let's in them and one in particular that looks quite nice is not available till 1st week in sept.
So I'm just a bit worried about the logistics of the whole thing. Especially as we are bringing our 2 little kitty cats over as well as furniture.
We are here untill Friday and then I might come back on my own at end of Aug maybe.......oh I don't know!
But I just know when all the logistics is done it will be great.
I used to live in Barcelona and back then anything official/ government/paperwork was a nightmare!
Anyway:confused:.com!

Re: Moving to Javea
 

you can get started with a non-res banck account usually with a passport & UK address, though they might ask for a NIE - then you can change when you get here & register as resident

be wary of houses with holiday lets in them - they'll want you out again for next summer so that they can let them at a high summer rate again

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Yep this is true, also I am wary of shifty estate agents!
Im used to dealing with dodgy estate agents in London but here is a possible minefield as there is not the backup. I know which ones to avoid for sure and can't really believe that companies can advertise properties that they don't even have!
I am looking of taking an 11 month contract.
Thanks for advice

Re: Moving to Javea
 

don't be taken in by the mythical 11 month contract.......

if the property is your only/main residence in Spain it's worthless, both to you & the owner of the property

if you want to PM me which agents you are using I'll give you a yay or nay ;) -personally I'd avoid the lot of them, but some aren't too bad

Re: Moving to Javea
 

arghhh just trying to PM I don't know how!

Re: Moving to Javea
 

click on my name & you'll get a dropdown menu - select 'send private message'

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Hi VivaJavea, I love Javea and I'm in the process of buying a place there to move into permanently in around two years time. My wife grew up there and lots of her family are there so let us know if there's anything in particular you need to know.

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Hi there, thanks for response, I really appreciate it.
I think my main concern is that most of rental properties have holiday let's in and am unable to secure a place on this visit. I am going to have to take a chance I guess and then come end aug there will be lots more about. Is this wise?

Re: Moving to Javea
 

14 is a tricky age, I know a few who made the move, education and job prospect wise things turned out bad for the kids.

Re: Moving to Javea
 

14 is definatly a tricky age!
That said she is really up for the experience/ challenge.
In London she went to a really big roughneck girls school and the new experience of this mixed school the new friends/ challenges she just can't wait.
We both believe in if you work hard you can truly do what you want.
I am not doing this move with rose tinted glasses and we all know horror stories of kids not liking it etc etc however even if worse case scenario that she wants to go back for 6th form in England then she will. But she will have a new experience learn a bit of Spanish and really if she was a insecure child who couldn't cope with change I would not consider it.
She is one of those out there kids who loves new challenges.
In fact when I was doing some work in Jamaica she went to school ther for a month! She was at primary then and she was in a local school and she still talks about how brilliant it was
I do appreciate replies but I have considered carefully all angles

Re: Moving to Javea
 

I assume you will be sending your daughter to a private English international school?

If not then you are frankly crazy. Sorry but there is no way your daughter can learn Spanish and do exams in that language in 2 years. And thats not saying what the teachers and other pupils will think of having a classmate who cant even understand them

Would you be happy to send your daughter back to the UK on their own at 16? Again, sounds crazy to me. Where would they live for one?

Its up to you of course, but making sure you have thought it through. A 16 year old with no Spanish and no education in Spain has zero opportunities

Re: Moving to Javea
 

she is - she said so in her first post, though I guess you can be forgiven for not knowing that XIC is private 'international'

you do have a point though - I'm worried enough about my 16 year old who IS fluent in Spanish, English & Valenciano (with reasonable German & a bit of latin :eek:) - I'm glad she is doing Bachi & intending to go to uni, which I'm realistic enough to realise might just be delaying the inevitable by a few years

whether she'll do uni here in Spain or elsewhere reamins to be seen - but after uni? Unless things improve dramatically I sincerely doubt her short term future after uni is here in Spain :(

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Given that the Valencian government is bankrupt then yes the future of education, health and almost everything else is in the balance..

The good news is it is still 5 years or so until a 16 year old needs a job after uni, so hopefully Spain will be on the rise by then.

Re: Moving to Javea
 

I havent read all the posts on here, but two things I would say. Firstly, theres a poster on here Lynnxa, who knows the area, the language, the people, the schools and I would trust should I move to that area. There are a lot of desperate "so called professionals" in Spain right now, who will see you as "easy pickings" so beware!!!
Secondly, moving a 14 yo, unless you send her, not only to an international school, but one that follows the same examination board as her english school would be a bad idea. I moved back to the UK when my daughter was 14 - in retrospect that was stupid, eventho in Spain she attended an international school, it was a different exam board. So now back in the UK, she's not predicted to do very well with her GCSEs. As for sending a 14yo to a Spanish school???? I wouldnt consider it, unless she was bilingual. At best she may make friends with some of the locals, at worst........... !! But as I say, international schools, altho the best at 14, still need careful consideration. Experience with primary schools in other countries, really has no bearing at all!!

My daughter was 11 when we first moved to Spain, she went to a Spanish school initially. she was teased, bullied and she obviously couldnt speak the language, nor did she pick it up particularly (one phrase springs to mind "I dont want to learn their stupid language"). She learnt more spanish by being in the international school and made much better friends - interestingly, mainly spanish friends. Lets face it, to learn enough Spanish to be able to fuklly understand lessons designed for 14 yos, you need to have been learning it for 14 years!. Oh and trust me, my daughter has never been a timid child (I wish lol!!!) - she is scaringly confident, loud, pushy and not to be messed with. an awesome character. that was actually why she had such a hard time in her Spanish school. The British children there didnt like her cos she didnt take nonsense, they also felt she was snobby and the Spanish didnt like her cos she was British. In the end we took her out because she kept bunking off, catching the bus and going to the beach, shopping mall, the park....

Jo xxx

Re: Moving to Javea
 

trust me - I have everything crossed :fingerscrossed:

she does have her mother's itchy feet though










& I don't mean athletes foot ;)

Re: Moving to Javea
 

I know load of kids who have learned a bit of Spanish/English or whatever through living aboad for a while, but not learned enough for it to be any use whatsoever.

I know loads of kids in Spain like that, one in particular about 14 only knows one word for "footwear", she calls trainers, flipflops, pumps = zapatos.

Her parents think she is practically fluent.:blink: ?Fools

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Yes like I said really you get out of life what you put in.
I don't want to criticise other expats, each to their own, however I find it really ignorant to be living in a foreign country and not to try and learn the language. Especially as there is so much help around with Internet/ apps online tutors etc.
I learnt Spanish when I was living in Barcelona ( a hundred years ago!) by watching kids tv. A great way to learn especially sesame street!
Just had a memory in the docs in London with an Indian child translating for Mummy about her incontinence!
Anyway you get out of life what you put in

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Mmmm no response.....

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Oh I agree :D

Re: Moving to Javea
 

yeah shameful isnt it?:thumbdown:

Thank god I didnt have to do anything like that with my parents when we were learning English.

Although they would not have asked anyway, they would rather have a friend go or pay for translation, and allow kids to be kids, without involving a youngster in plumbing probs or whatever.

Re: Moving to Javea
 

that's why I learned Spanish - there was NO WAY I was going to be in that position

I remember not long after we moved here, going to view a house & Telefonica were there trying to install the internet - the 'agent's' son was having to deal with the engineer because the 'agent' spoke not a word of Spanish

now I had only been learning Spanish for maybe 6 months at that stage but I was able to get my questions across to the engineer - & thankfully I was able to understand that he was doubtful that he'd be able to get ADSL installed - the house was simply too far from the exchange & they were probably going to have to put some sort of radio system in - I didn't get all of it because it became too technical & even 8+ years down the line with WAY more Spanish I probably wouldn't understand it :confused:

however - the 'agent' was adamant that his son had spoken to the engineer & ADSL would be 'no problem' :unsure:

now, whether that was an honest mistake or not, I'll never know - but we didn't rent that house.........


2 points to be made really - don't trust an agent who doesn't speak Spanish ;)


& don't let your kids translate for you :eek:

Re: Moving to Javea
 

I wo uld say for a kid to be fluent up to the level of a 14 year old and be able to understand all the classwork after a couple of years would be really pushing it.

People talk about kids being put under pressure with exams in their own country but in a foreign language..................a lot worse.

Re: Moving to Javea
 

yes, I don't think anyone would disagree - not anyone with an ounce of common sense, anyway - least of all the OP who will be sending her child to International school..................

Re: Moving to Javea
 

I was that kid, albeit a year younger, although there were no international schools where I was. I had three years of absolute hell, which will never fade from my memory, although eventually I did rather well, but entirely through my own efforts.

But again, we are all different and so are our children. And we all have our own reasons for taking such a drastic step.

Re: Moving to Javea
 

yes, I've known quite a few who have started at Spanish school at that sort of age - it's a HUGE struggle - but one or two have made a success of things

Re: Moving to Javea
 

I just cant understand why anyone would do it??? For the sunshine?? For the experience?? Neither is going to help with a childs education - even if you dont believe in exams etc. To deprive a child of them is closing doors and causing problems later on - and for what - to be able to speak Spanish NOT even fluently????

Jo xxx

Re: Moving to Javea
 

I can't imagine how hard it would be for a secondary school age child to attend a school and not speak the language. School is hard enough as it is without not understanding the language, let alone new friends skills etc etc
It happens a lot in London.
Anyway I think we are all agreed on some aspects of educating kids. ( or not)
I'm sure HBGs parents had their reasons and we are not here to judge are we now!

Re: Moving to Javea
 

Yes but the parents in London are normally coming from war torn or poverty striken countries. The lives of their children will most probably be better as the result of moving to London

They aren't coming for a sun tan!

Re: Moving to Javea
 

For sure some are but defiantly not all.
Economic reasons, NHS Benefits a myriad of reasons.
It's a real issue in parts of London for an already squeezed education system.
I don't think people would be so shallow to move anywhere for a suntan!
Although I hear the sun is shining in London right now.

Re: Moving to Javea
 

As long as you have money behind you, can satisfy the authorities of an income and healthcare provision, then I guess you'll be fine. Exam results arent the "be-all-and-end-all" I guess. But be prepared, living in Spain isnt easy


jo xxx

Re: Moving to Javea
 

I am a great believer in giving children "choices"
From an early age she makes choices in what she wants for example....

If you don't do this homework then you won't see your friends on Friday

The choice is yours honey no chores,no pocket money and on it goes....
I will support you in whatever you choose to do if you want to flip burgers let it be because that is your choice, not because you have no choice.
I spend my life making up choices for her!
Again I just have to say one more time , we have done a lot of research, insofar as possible we have spent time here, visited schools etc etc
You need private healthcare/proof of income for nie, international schools are not free rent bills etc etc trust me I have done the research/ Maths

Anyway when I have found my feet a bit (and fluent in spanish)I plan to start a little business here, so I hope to create employment as well.
Again I have done research..............