Moving to Spain with 4 children
 

we are the same very early on in our fact finding but definite in the fact that we want to move, we are looking at next April so that the kids, we have four, won't miss out on too much schooling but will have some months to get better aquainted with the language, we are taking a risk as my eldest will be just 13, I see loads of messages from you Jojo and you seem to have very valuable advice, I cant message as new to this, we are looking at Alhaurin El Grande and would appreciate any advice from any of you lovely people about how to get the kids into a school etc, I know that this has been covered a million times but still I seem to have questions lol, I understand that you have to get NIE and that you have to have a rental agreement aswell to prove residency but really I am worried about how long it takes and how easy it is to get them into schools also would they all be together aged 13,10,7,6, and are there many English children in the Schools around there as I feel initially they will be more comofrtable with this. My husband will be commuting to England four days a week as I am aware jobs are not an option, I work for an internet company so will be bringing that job with me, we are at the point of suck it and see as I am not about to have regrets, I am certain after the initial difficulties we will be fine, we have to have a go and I think it is now or never, I have loads of questions so if any of you lovely people are prepared to be my sounding board I would really appreciate it.
thank you
claire :-)

Re: New and totally Lost
 

As Concierges for the Spanish section of BE we 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 us know if you need any further help.

Rosemary and Graham

Re: New and totally Lost
 

Claire, we too are a young family living in Alhaurin El Grande, two children aged 7 and 9. Whilst we will try to help with specific questions regarding schools, our two go to an international school on the Costa (due to our jobs). Alhaurin El Grande is a nice little town and we have not regretted our decision to more here 3 years ago. Any other questions regarding AeG we are more than in a position to help.

Best of luck.

Sam and Chris

Re: New and totally Lost
 

It might be worth posting a new thread; inevitably there are a lot of folk who post asking for advice on areas, etc., and even if you were to run searches that will only answer some of the questions. Good luck:)

Re: New and totally Lost
 

thank you Sam and Chris, it is a very exciting but apprehensive time for us, but I do firmly believe that Alhaurin is where we should be, would it be possible for me to ask you some questions just so i can get a feel for how it was for you with two children? I am anticipating problems with the older two however they have gone from knowing no spanish to a bit within days due to muzzy, and are so enthusiatic you would not believe which is very encouraging for us :-)

Claire xx

Re: New and totally Lost
 

Don't forget that people seeing the top of this thread will be looking at someone with totally different requirements/aspirations/ hopes and dreams from yours. A new thread might throw up all sorts of pointers from folk with children/commuting/ etc which could be of help... at least in sorting out your own thoughts!

Re: New and totally Lost
 

Welcome to both the new members with questions regarding moving to Spain. I would recommend renting for at least a year and I agree with making a detailed list of must haves, not wanted and would likes but I would include what you are looking for in a property (no of b/rooms, size, type, location, furnished, unfurnished etc) but also apply the same principle to the area you want to live, it is an agents job to rent you a house and they will try to give you anything unless you have an idea what you want, they are not always the best people to go with but a good start, take everything they say with a pinch of salt as it is in their interest to get you to have the house.

If you find the ideal property, revisit it at different times it maybe quiet in the day but noisy at night, the apartment block may get noisy at weekends as it contains alot of second homes, walk around the neighbourhood to get a feel for it for yourself, look for rental boards they are often better value as they are often offered by the home owner, negotiate your rent if you do not ask you do not get, better in your pocket than theres.

I to live in Alhaurin el Grande and have been very happy with the place for the last 15 months, it is close enough to the coast to visit with ease but far enough away to not have the problems of tourist influx. The CdS has many pro's weather, many places are all year round, not to far from gib for shopping but it can be more expensive but you shop around, the deals are there you just need to look for it.

I agree with you taking recon trips, best way to get a feel for places, find a friendly bar and ask questions many people will be more than happy to offer you local information.

good luck with the adventure :D

Re: New and totally Lost
 

Claire,

Fire away with your questions.

You can either do on this, a public forum, and get a broader range of opinion or send us a private message by clicking on our user name.

Regards

Sam & Chris

Re: New and totally Lost
 

Having been an "extreme commuter" for a couple of years, I can testify it's better than staying in the UK, but hard work.

As for making the move permanent, all I can say is this. Go for it if you can. If you are like a lot of us, no matter what the problems we may or may not have here, even if it means you end up going back, it's better to do that than never to have tried.

Just make sure that you take the time and trouble to plan it all out, bearing in mind the axiom that everything takes longer and costs more. That will give you the best chance of making a success of it. Brits don't translate well, it is said that 70% of us go back within three years, so when I was moving out I used to frequent threads discussing people going back to the UK to try and see why they went back, in the hope of avoiding such a fate.

IMO, the greatest reasons for unforced return (ie not financial, health, family emergencies etc) were unreasonable expectations, homesickness and rose tinted specs.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HOMESICKNESS. If you have strong family attachments, especially grandchildren in the UK, strong ties to UK style foods, football teams, UK locations and so on, think very carefully as to whether you really should come at all.

Re: New and totally Lost
 

okay well now i am in the right place some of my concerns are, are you sitting comfortably :-). In your opinion are my two eldest going to be 'too old' for a transition like this? With schooling if we arrive in April 2012 will we be applying for a school place starting in September 2012 and will we be in time to do this? Also how long does it take to sort and is there a chance that they will not get into a school at all? I guess the last question relating to schools is whether in Alhaurin there will be other brit childen in their classes just so that they do not feel so completely alien while they are working on their Spanish. With regards to learning the language as I say they are friends with Muzzy now and I am amazed how much they have taken on board, a friend who moved to Majorca said tuition is better taken once in the country do you agree with this and I am intending to do some hard core learning between the April and September when I am thinking they will start school? The commuting part is just how it is going to have to be as he is a driving instructor and we are definitely prepared for that. I do think we will get homesick but my parents are retired and I am fully expecting to see them almost more than I do now lol, and without being derogatory my mum is the only UK thing I will miss and that is what skype is for :-). I guess most of the worries are about schools, we will be renting and as I am going to be on my own for a lot I think I would prefer to be in a community ie a townhouse on a complex but that is something I guess I will get a feel for on the exploration trip any opinions on that is also appreciated. I am going to read all of the bad and good stuff on here and if anyone wants to tell me the good the bad and the ugly I am all ears, I do think I am a realist and whether it works or doesnt I have to give it a damn good try :-) you are all so kind I am feeling more positive by the second so thank you so much :-)

Re: New and totally Lost
 

Ok, I am reading, writing and thinking as we go, no easy task.

In your opinion are my two eldest going to be 'too old' for a transition like this? No, you are never too old.
With schooling if we arrive in April 2012 will we be applying for a school place starting in September 2012 and will we be in time to do this? I think matriculation into Spanish state schools in March or April. I may be wrong as it has been 5 years since we did this. International schools have no such requirement and you can literally register one day and start the next. As my wife and I are both teachers, we can check this.
Also how long does it take to sort and is there a chance that they will not get into a school at all? It normally takes about a month. They will get into a school, but depending on places it may not be your first choice. There are 5 primaries and 1 secondary in AeG.
I guess the last question relating to schools is whether in Alhaurin there will be other brit childen in their classes just so that they do not feel so completely alien while they are working on their Spanish Although AeG is less British now that it used to be (not a bad thing), there are British families around with children in local schools.

How is that for starters.

Sam and Chris

Re: New and totally Lost
 

brilliant thank you :-) if you could tell us more about what would be the situation if we arrived first couple of weeks in April that would be tremendous, I am trying to do this in such a way that they miss as little schooling as is possible both from the UK and arriving in Spain, although I am kind of in the mind set that we are going to have a good three months no schooling, I guess I am most concerned that if they arrive after April 1st or whatever the date is that they wont get a place anywhere, if this is not the case and they will definitely get a school place then I am thinking this is not a problem, I am so glad I have written in now, I have been thinking about it for ages but was worried you had all heard it all before, I really appreciate everything you are telling me :-)

claire x

Re: New and totally Lost
 

the 10 year old should be fine - the 13 year old - maybe give it a try, but IMO should really go into international school to have any chance of succeeding educationally

what year was the 13 year old born?

and come to think of it, the 10 year old too - as by sept next year s/he might be age-appropriate for secondary school - which could be difficult

Re: New and totally Lost
 

I can't advise on the schooling, and kids do tend to miss their friends badly, altho some will move just fine. As regards the rest. We took the attitude that you cannot arrange your life with regards to your friends and/or family. They die, they move, they change. We have three children, and at the time we were making up our minds, they were scattering across the country, tho funnily they are all back in their 'home' county, which is amusing. At the time tho two of them were thinking about leaving the country themselves.

Were I old, and you were my child, I would tell you to go for it. Hell, I would figure I would be set for free holidays for life.....

Re: New and totally Lost
 

the one that will be 13 was born April 1999 so will literally just be 13, the 10 year old is July 2001 so just had her 10th birthday and is going into UK year 6 :-)

claire x