Ciutadella Park in Barcelona. Its fountain design was inspired by the Trevi fountain in Rome.
Hi there reader,
It's been about a month since my last email, and we're finally feeling pretty settled in Spain. ❤️
The kids have started school, Jeff and I are back to regular working schedules (including lots of recipe testing!), and we continue to embrace the little daily learning curves that come with life in a new country (you can follow me on Instagram for more detailed every-day life details).
Here's a snapshot of some of our bigger cultural adjustments: School: Our kids started at their International School this month and have LOVED it. It's an IB, US curriculum school where core classes are taught in English, and they have Spanish classes every day.
Their student body represents kids from 60 different countries, and they may be the only kids at school who only speak one language! They've felt extra motivated and excited to learn Spanish. 👏
The school lunch menu reflects their diverse student body, with lunch options like Andalusian codfish, sushi, veal ragu, carbonara, and galets soup.
Interesting fact: In Spain, teachers are usually addressed by their first instead of last name (preceded by "Mr. or Ms.").
The biggest adjustment for ushas been the Spanish schedule. We have always been an "early to rise, early to bed" family, and the Spanish schedule is the opposite. 😄
The day begins later, and there's a long lunch break called "siesta" (nap time) in the early afternoon, where many businesses close sometime between 1-4 pm and reopen later in the evening.
Our kids start school at 9 a.m. but don't come home for lunch as many public schools here do.
Evenings are much later, with dinner usually around 9 or 10 p.m. We haven't broken our US dinner habits of eating around 6:30 p.m., despite being teased by our Spanish neighbors, who eat dinner at 10 p.m.😂 Spain is generally slower-paced. People walk slower and take their time. Shops don't always open on the schedule they say they will, and many shops close during siesta, around 1-4 p.m. It has a more leisurely feel than any big city in the US. You won't find "drive-thru" fast food stops here, either! We haven't seen the following foods in Spain:
The kids really miss Annie's Mac and Cheese and Tillamook cheddar cheese. (Cheddar is not a common cheese here, but there's a huge selection of other cheeses).
Foods we buy in Spain that we didn't in the USA:
Gazpacho
Sardines
Pan tostada crackers
Kefir
Muesli
Jamón Iberico
Spanish chorizo
Aquarius drinks
Paprika and Patatas Bravas flavored Pringles
Eggplant
Milk is sold at room temperature (UHT Pasteurized), and eggs are very fresh and not pasteurized. They are also sold at room temperature.
We've continued to explore all over Barcelona, and the kids have enjoyed learning more about the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi is responsible for many famous landmarks in Barcelona, including La Sagrada Famila, Park Güell, Casa Batlló, and Casa Milà.
Thanks for following our journey! 🥰
Curious about life in Spain? Reply to this email with your questions, and I'll feature some answers in my next update!
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