Newbies here :-D
 

Hello all. We are a couple (both 33) with children aged 7, 11 & 13 and we want to move to Spain.

We are interested in the Costa Blanca region, possibly around the Alicante area.
We would like to be close to a nice beach but not so close that were kept awake by all the late night partying lol.

I work in elecronic security but also have electrical qualifications. I would like to find work in either of the two industries.

None of us can speak spanish but we are keen to learn it.

I have a few questions I'd like to ask...

1, whats the best way to find a job in/around Alicante? (Bearing in mind we dont yet speak spanish)

2, Does anyone have any suggestions of places to live that would be good for for the kids? (we dont want OTT lively or OTT quiet lol)

3,What are State schools like for english kids to attend?

Thats all i can think of for now but i'm sure there will be lots of questions as we go along.

I look forward to getting to know you all

Thanks in advance

BenandKelly

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

You want to go to Spain or to Canada? And hów old are your children ???http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...74#post8265574

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

There is very little work for the Spanish who speak fluently in their own language so very few jobs for english who do not have any Spanish at all.

Rosemary

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Well done :-)
We did want to move to Canada. Unfortunately it didnt work out.

Oh sorry..... My youngest is 7 Tomorrow. Middle one is 11 and eldest is 13 in April.

I take it your one of those people who likes to think they're above everyone else!!!

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

well spotted Jur...give them a chance though that was about 3 weeks ago, anyone can change their mind:D

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

It does look a bit strange when you get the ages of your children wrong, still I cant see why anyone would post fake stories? :blink:

I would love to give you some positive news, but unfortunately can't. Unemployment is at 20% in Spain (more than double that in the UK), you dont have any Spanish electrician qualifications and you dont speak Spanish, so unless you know some British people who can give you a job, I cant imagine how you could make a living.

Sorry :)

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I personally think that 13 is too old to move a child into a foreign speaking school! At 13 in Spain they will be in year 2 or 3 of secondary school (ESO) with ALL lessons in Spanish or Valencian - I can't see how they could possibly cope.


... just my opinion though! Our 3 children moved here when they were 7 (twins) and 9.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I would stay in the UK if I were you.....review again in a few years time, meanwhile learn the language.......you might also get the chance to pick up a cheap house then.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I doubt it, North Lincolnshire has some of the cheapest houses in Western Europe :)

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....see what you mean Scunthorpe 3 bed £35k......I am sure you can find something for that in Spain, not so sure it will be near the sea though.....will you be renting?

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

No, he's just very observant.

Given the appalling rate of unemployment here in Spain, my advice would be to get reasonably fluent in Spanish BEFORE you come out.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Agree, 11 and 13 is an ackward enough age as it is, without moving them to a school where they haven't a clue of the language. Like you, I wouldn't even consider it with children that age, but many do. The parents seem to want to go, and that what matters. I have to say with no promise of a job, no language skills, it sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Sorry to be another negative post, but we have seen a few families go back to the UK due to lack of work and language skills, personally I would never have taken my kids out of school especially at 13, hubby was taken from one country to another at 8 and felt the change of language put him behind for years.
He should know. Also the children will be put back a year until opefully they will catch up with the language,

I agree with the above, learn the language get the children schooled then come over. House for 35k certainly not around here, unless a ruin.:)

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Yes, yes I´m the best one here, you better be my friend! Welcome to the forum.

Thanks bil, fully agree, without Spanish in Spain you don´t get very far.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

UNLESS ONE GETS TO KNOW SOME REALLY REALLY NICE PEOPLE ...

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

and has the luck of the devil.

Jur is right, except I would go further. Without GOOD/fluent Spanish, you won't get work unless you have 'Chicken sandwich' luck.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I agree:)

any child over the age of 10 would struggle

a 13 year old (born 1998) is more likely be in yr 1 ESO (or yr 2 if born in 1997) though - my 15 year old is just about the oldest in her year in yr 3 - she's in the right year for her age as is my nearly 12 year old in yr 6 primaria (never been held back)

they (should) graduate at end of yr 4 here - so an awful lot to ask to learn the language(s) well enough to study in

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

We have been planning to move out to Spain for the last couple of years with our three children who are now 6, 8 and 11. We have all been having spanish lessons and although the children are brilliant they are no way near fluent - but they know enough basics to hit the ground running. We can't wait to get to spain, but we are in a position where we will own our Spanish property outright and have backup finances - I am not sure we would risk it without financial stability and wouldn't want to have to return to the UK. Our eldest child has Aspergers Syndrome and we are sending him to the local spanish school - we have been told he will have to repeat a year or so and that is fine.

I know what a worry it is - knowing the best time to move is impossible, we originally planned to be living in spain in 2009!

Good luck!
Sarah

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I suggest you go look very carefully at the date on the linked post.

When you have done that i think it would be common decency to apologise dont you!

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Thank you to all those that have offered useful advise and not been taken in by those who seem to like to cause as much trouble as they can.

I value the opinions of those that have taken the time to respond in a polite and civil manner. Again many thanks to those of you who have given valuable input.

Ben

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I don't think too many have wanted to cause trouble, a lot have given you advice you probably don't want to hear, that's entirely different. People give their advice, especially those with school age children, speaking from experience, they've seen it end in tears so many times. It's common for people to ask for advice, and then when they get what they regard as negative replies, simply ignore it and move anyway. It's their choice.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

So why did Canada fell through?

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I would just like to add my opinion, the parents of schoolage children who are thinking of coming to live in Spain, should not only be asking if they are too old at 12 or so to be moving without it having a negative effect on their education: they should also be asking themselves about the opportunities for them as regards their future jobs.

If their secondry education is lacking in any way, this will limit their prospects, and they me be comdemed to working an bars, with rubbish contract if they are lucky.

The change of life and living in the sun, might seem to be the best you can give your children, but depending on individual circumstances, it can be devastating for the family as a whole, especially if the family silver has been sold for the purpose of moving.

In my own case, we waited until our children were independant before we made the move, and we had a lot of advantages over others that came without any jobs, living accomodation or language skills.

So even with all that advantage, we waited, we had our children young, and they were brought up speaking Spanish from the time they were in the cradle, but as they were settled and very happy in the UK, we put of our move to Spain.

Now that things are very bad for the "chancers" (not implying that to anyone in particular) and I cant find a word that fits, it is even more difficult, so think long and hard before jumping in.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Maybe they realised just how difficult it is to get a job out there? My husband was sent to Canada once to teach a software course (very specialised knowledge) for just one week. He had all the necessary letters of invitation by the Canadian Company to come and teach them - and was STILL detained in immigration for 3 hours under the excuse 'we don't need you, we have enough teachers'! He should have just said he was going on holiday!

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Thank you JLFS I very much appreciate your honesty. It has given me food for thought and I have taken on board everything you have said. :-)
Thanks again for your comments and advice

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I never said 'too many' have wanted to cause trouble. Why is it that some people read a post and interpret it to suit themselves??????

I asked for peoples advice and wanted to hear everything good and bad. This isn't about me not wanting to hear something. This is about some people not actually reading what I've said or deciding that they know better than anyone.

I asked for opinions and in that I expected to get peoples TRUE views.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I was taken to livie in the UK when I was 7, I cant really remember my real feelings at the time bacause it was a huge change, I was missing my cousins, grandparents and was overawed at the things that were available in the UK at the time.

There was a huge difference in the living standards in the 70 between Spain and the UK, with the UK being on top.

It was all abig adventure, but what would have really broken my heart, would have been to leave my new life, new friends, new school a few years after arriving due to circumstances beyond my control.

I have known a few Spanish kids that this happened to, one family retured due to the ill health of grandparents in Spain, they are adults now but still regret leaving of England and returning to Spain and will be others in the reverse situation.

It is much harder to return, especially if you love your new life, than going in the first place, because you have the newness and feeling of adventure to help you through the move.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I have to say that I get very confused with ages and the years they should be in at school. My eldest was only 13 when he went up to yr 3 whilst the twins will be 12 next month yet are still in yr 6 of primary (and none of them have been held back - yet). :confused:

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

:thumbup: I actually agree with you on this one, but unless someone quotes me you won`t see it, unless you have a crafty look. ;);)

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

it's very simple - worked out by year of birth, January to December

was your son born between September & December by any chance?

a child born in 1995 would be age-appropriate for the last year of ESO this year (yr4)

born in 1996 - yr 3 like my dd1

born in 1997 - yr 2

born in 1998 - yr 1

born in 1999 - yr 6 primaria like my dd2

born in 2000 - yr 5 primaria & so on

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

I didn't say you did say it, I said it. It's an expression, "I don't think too people" means few people, but read it as you want. Me la trae floja.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

On the rare occasion I hear someone say that I always think.......airhead.....

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Not enough contributors here for that I´m afraid :(

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Sorry? I don't quite get it. How many people do you need until someone posts their true opinions?

Is there a critical mass, or what?

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

surely you only need one:confused:


& there are definately 2 of us



you're not me, are you:rofl:

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Benandkelly, I´m not being sarcastic here, but what happened to your Canada plans? I´m sure it will be a lot easier for your kids to move to a English speaking country. I do not know when you want to move to Spain or when you are starting your Spanish classes but you better get on with it now. And secure work beforehand otherwise you´ll be back in the UK within 3 months.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Very logical this "ignore button" malarky;)

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

Well, I was of the opinion that it just didn't make sense.

I'm pretty sure I'm me. How about you?

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

There have been many discussions about bringing children to a foreign country and I haven’t seen too many comments from the children who went through that experience, apart from JLFS’s.

I went through it at the age of 12, but not in Spain. It’s very tempting to be a lot more graphic, but I don’t want to say too much apart from saying that it was hellish.

I did learn from it, but not through choice. I’ve got some cups on the shelf behind me, for boxing. I never wanted to box, I preferred books at the age of 12, but I was boxing every day, always defensively and for years.

Then the Stockholm Syndrome got me, in the shape of a raven-haired beauty and I hung around for longer than I would otherwise have done.

I did stow-away once at the age of 13 to try and get home, but after a two-week crossing of the North Sea in winter I landed in the wrong country and they sent me back again, on the same ship, and it was even colder on the way back.

Re: Newbies here :-D
 

A good post H.
The point you made about the children who have been through school in a foreign country is quite valid, not many posters on here, but in a few years there will be loads of yo yo children recounting their stories.

It just seems so harsh on the kids to uproot them for what only maybe a short stay, and through lack of foresight or being unprepared having to do it all again.

As for your stowaway adventure, count yourself lucky that you did not get to the "drinking your own urine" stage.:rofl: