Tonight was Emily's parent's evening. The head of primary at the school in Spain had asked us to pass on her email address to Emily's current teacher so that she could discuss where to place Emily when she starts school in September next year.
Placing children from the English educational system into the Spanish system isn't quite as transparant as might be expected. Spain uses the calendar year for all things so unlike the United Kingdom, the school year runs from January to December. (For those thinking of establishing their own business, the tax year also runs from January to December. This tax year makes for good earnings if you move out towards the end of the financial year. I officially start work on the September 1st and consequently will receive my full annual Spanish tax allowance for only three months of work. If my calculations are correct I will only be paying tax on the last few Euros earned.)
The January to January school year brings challenges to those moving to Spain who wish to place their children into the Spanish state education system. The system as I understand is good and it is unusual to hear English criticism of schools. Students do have to register at about this time of year though for a place in the coming academic year. Consequently, were Emily to be trying to get a place in a state school in Spain for January 2009 I would have to be applying in person at the school for that place now. Fortunately, Emily will be going to school in the International school where Sally and I will be working. The January to January school year still poses some small challenges though because officially she would finish Year 1 of school in the United Kingdom in July in this country but due to moving to Spain have a further three months of Year 1 remaining when she starts school in September. Consequently, as Emily is educationally strong we are keen to place her into the Year 2 class and avoid her starting in September feeling that she is redoing work - those first few weeks need to give the whole family some positive feedback because our experiences in September and October will colour our approach to the move as people begin to visit and the potential for homesickness increases.
Just to finish today, I remember hearing a tale once about a man of God who religiously checked his lottery numbers each week in the hopes of striking lucky and becoming rich. Each week he would watch as the numbers tumbled from the machine and then offer up a prayer to God "Oh Lord, when will my turn come - when will you reward my faith with the jackpot?" After many weeks of this he was one Saturday offering up his weekly prayer when the heavens opened and a voice boomed back "Meet me half way...buy a blooming ticket!"
The response to moving to Spain from many people is so similar to this story. I'm sure if it was one of my friends or colleagues going I would be saying the same but people joke with a longing look in their eyes like they might just mean it "save a bit of room in your suitcase for me". Emily's teacher said something similar and as I was walking away I thought how daft because anybody can do this - international travel is quite achievable these days. Then I though that in actual fact we have spent years considering whether or not it will work for us and it wasn't until we arrived at the decision that we would never regret having a go at living abroad, even if it doesn't work out, but we would always regret not having the guts to go for it, that we at last realised the time was right for us.
