Passport to Integration

By: Helen Rowe
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:35
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Yes we need the passport to travel and most of us use it as a form of ID once we first settle here, but the passport I am referring to is not paper. With more and more families with young children relocating in this area they are the ones with the special passport.

Children are treasured here as they are perceived as the future of this country. With a falling birth rate, Spain welcomes families with open arms. Children integrate fast especially if they are under ten years old. The change of language and culture does not seem to faze them.

Once the young ones join the local school, the invites and involvement in community events start. The children are the reason on both cultural sides, all benefit from this liaison, not only in language but broadness of understanding. Children are the common link and from the friendships they form at school their parents are absorbed speedily into the Catalan way of life.

As an estate agent, I cannot answer, the often anxious questions from parents about how their children will cope with the changes. I cite the families I know and how they have integrated, make a few phone calls and introduce them to others who have already settled here. These families are the people I admire the most, their firm belief in making the change in location to benefit the family is only matched by the speed in which their children help the parents integrate. I wish I had moved here years ago with our daughter and given her the multicultural advantage these children have.

We live in a village but work in the city of Tortosa, the positive changes and attitudes have surprised us over the last few years. With courage the little tots come and say “hello” often with the praise from the adult accompanying them. On a daily basis I get purloined in shops and cafes by all generations wanting to practise their English language skills. With their enthusiasm it is not always easy to stop them and get the exchange balanced, how many of us have got a Catalan or Spanish phase rehearsed only to have the response returned in English. But we keep trying if only to amuse, also the follow incident which happened last year still makes me smile.

Watching an English family with two young children, the parents were struggling to be understood, but in steps the eight year old girl was confident, after a few months living in this country, to explain what the Mum and Dad wanted to say. The power of communication did not go to this little girl’s head, there was an air of amusement to find she was able to do something better than her parents! What also amazed me was how she was able to relate to her elevated status and have fun. Her Mum needed the advice from the Pharmacist but the daughter was going to make her own comments on Mum’s health. Mum was not aware of her slant in the conversation. Yes, this “Little Darling Daughter” was explaining personal facts and adding a few of her own views to the surprise of those locals within earshot. I was quite relieved that Mum’s non-understanding saved her the embarrassment that the pharmacist now knew what caused her condition and what was said at home! Out of the mouths of babes - Swotting wasps in a bikini is neither wise nor advisable!

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