Ok so it’s been hard getting this one done…’busy’ (don’t like that word) as we transition from summer travel season to school and schedules….bottom line is the kids are BACK IN SCHOOL.
Summer Recap:
So most Americans (and many from elsewhere) that live in Barcelona travel all summer. Either throughout Europe or back to the states. Our first trip this summer was to mainland Italy (Florence, Lucca, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Modena, Parma, Verona, Venice), then Sardegna (literaly toured the entire island) which I wrote on last blog. After that we were in Barcelona for a week and half and connected with friends in from the US, hit the beach, and even had a ‘staycation’ just Ash and I with no kids at an adults only hotel here in Barcelona. We then hit Greece (Athens and Crete) and then spent time in Costa Brava before we did a road trip through multiple towns and cities from Barcelona and on to France, Switzerland, Italy, and then back through France via French Riviera and home. We arrived for the last bit of August (augusto) to enjoy Fiesta Major de Gracia (big week long party in a barcelona neighborhood). We connected the kids with new friends and enjoyed entertaining and beach paella days until they started school. I took Ellory out with a friend and did ‘fish pedicures’ and dinner and her and I did our ‘daddy date day #2’ where we had brunch, pedi’s, lunch, then hit Tarragona for some old 2000 year old sites and an american style football game (go Barcelona Dragons!!). We are exhausted but the kids has a great summer exploring, learning, relaxing, playing, seeing, and trying some amazing foods. Pics below!
As I mentioned we had more friends visit (not us, the area, so we connected with them) over the summer as well, Vaughn and his family were here for a week from Philli and we were able to have a beach day and Paella with them and Fishman was also here with his family from Providence (they are/were?) considering moving from Rhode Island for a change of scenery (he lived here a decade ago). It’s really fun enjoying our ‘new city and home’ with friends and people we know - let us know if you are going to visit! My father and Vickie came for their second trip to Europe in 4 months last week! Ashley had a friend here last week (thanks for coming Melissa!) and she also has girlfriends coming in December for the Christmas markets in Germany and Austria. Ashley’s other brother Eric is also coming with his family for a quick stop (more first timers to Europe!) the end of September. My father and Vickie will return from Croatia to spend more time in Barcelona before heading back to the states. I’m currenly on the way back from Cagliari in Sardenga Italy where I came with Dad and Vickie to hang out for a day and take them out to dinner (but they wanted to pay for everything!) before they tour the island on their own. Looking to come to Europe?? You know we love to host sooooooo…just let us know when you are planning on coming.
August - people really do leave. It’s not just Americans traveling or heading out but most all businesses close for at least 2-3 (many 4) weeks in August. They just put a sign in the window ‘on vacation until 29 August’ or ‘cerrado for vaccines del 30/7 al 28/8 (out all of August!) and leave. It’s remarkable. This makes me realize what is important in life - finding a balance between work and life/family/relaxing/health. My coffee shop was closed (Pedro was in france surfing) and the meat market I go to was closed (Urimo was just ‘riding his bike’ around the coast. These shop owners/workers are not wealthy, they just need a break and holiday and know its better to have less money yet and better health and less stress. Workers in coffee shops or any business are typically given 2-3 weeks off in August with full pay. I do wish this was the same in other parts of the world (it’s very common in many countries in Europe) as it has to destress people, give them great social time, and overall has to be healthy. As a hard American worker and business owner myself it is still foreign to me that people here close down their businesses (without pay) or employees are excused from their jobs (with pay) for weeks on end. It makes me reflect on my own time at work, with my family and friends, and balance. I also do think there should be better policies for this in America. It’s no wonder why the US is the richest, most creative, most productive, but is not the healthiest or least depressed/most happy - I’m proud to be an American at heart!
School!
The kids started school last week. THANK GOD! It was a blast this summer but I’ll tell you I’m exhausted and ready to get back to a decent routine. We had so much fun and tons of family time this summer but I’m glad they will be spending many hours with their friends from last year (some did move) and new ones we have already met (a great couple from Miami with a daughter in Ellory’s 2nd grade and a nice family from Germany with a son in Hayes 4th grade) in school (escuela). This year Ellory is doing flag football (they are recruiting her hard for the 4th grade boys team!) and WSS (Women's Soccer School) which is not part of ASB. They don’t speak english at this soccer (futbol) school so she will learn Spanish/Catlan quicker - the players are far advanced of her skill so it will push her athletically as well. Hayes is going to do basketball and is thinking if he wants to do flag football which I think he will. He has many interests like cooking, robotics/tech, and art as well so we may branch out a bit. We really are keeping our ‘running around’ schedules less on purpose - for them and us. I want to have family dinners, late beach nights, movie nights, and overall slower pace and the events 4-5 nights a week and weekend matches is not what I want to do nor what I want for them. It’s so hard to balance it all!!
We changed it up a bit this year - we have a car (see below) and I’ll be taking them every day to school (they are riding the bus home). Benefits of this are many including they get 30 more minutes of sleep and I get good time in the car chatting with them. I’m taking them every morning until our new car arrives when Ashley can take them. My routine will be totally different than usu (up at 630, out at 645, gym at 7-830 and coffee shop for paper and Spanish til 1030). I’ll likely run, do yoga on terrace, hang with kids, take them to school, then try to hit the gym before noon or so. I’m sure it will work! Cool thing is Mondays (lunes) are going to be ‘Chiefs (and Bears) recap morning’ in our house where we can watch the KC Chiefs entire game (partido) in 35-40 mins on NFL app we bought and the Bears highlights in 15!
I signed up to be a ‘class rep’ for Ellory’s class (clase) as well - I may be one of only a few guys in this role at the school! I think the typical role for this is not much (no mucho), but I hope I can help (ayuda) all parents get to know each other better, have tons of fun, and of course anything with the kids we need/can do. Class 2B at ASB best get ready to have a FUN fuggin year!!
My goals for the kids this school year are 1) Create more close friends and have social time outside of school 2) Have a BLAST, 3) HUGE Spanish language progress and 4) learn school stuff…..yes, in that order of course.
Challenges
Language continues to be a challenge, but I’m really enjoying (feliz) the challenge now (ahora). It makes me excited to have more time with the kids back in school to 1) learn and study Spanish 2) practice out at markets/shops/stores/restaurants (its hard to do when in a different country) 3) make a shitload of progress next few months. I’d like to be much better by Christmas.
The car - we have had delays with our auto that was suppose to be delivered in August. It was then moved to October, now January. Ashley can’t drive manual so I’m doing all the driving as I was able to convince them to give us a temp rental until our leased car gets built but all they had was a small manual….it’s actually fun getting back to shifting! It is not that big of a challenge, but it’s there.
‘Stuff’ - there is just a ton of stuff todo here! A great ‘challenge’ or struggle/problem (problema) I’m grateful to have but there is just so much to do (or maybe I should say so much I WANT to do). So many restaurants to try, so many interesting people to connect with, so many options on things with the kids to do, so many places to go and things to see, experiences to have, etc. It’s quite overwhelming but I’m just happy to have the choices and will be grateful daily for the opportunity. I’m trying best to tell myself to ‘eat the elephant one bite at a time’ - ‘enjoy the view’ - etc….but it’s hard.
Misc thoughts/ideas/info
We are traveling back to KC for Thanksgiving! My favorite holiday by far. If you are around let us know - we would love to connect…plenty on the books from kids playdates to dinners with friends and plenty of good American food and wine of course!
The car - it’s really amazing the level of ‘freedom’ I felt driving it away from the dealer. This is something we all take for granted. I can now get to the mountains for a run, or the beach without a train commute (or 35€ taxi) or we can just roll for the weekend somewhere so much easier. We can go to stores out of town for small things or shopping - FREEDOM!!!! I’m still walking most everywhere though. I think it will leave the garage 2x a week max outside taking the kids to school…just nice to have. We really don’t ‘need’ it but it’s nice to have sitting there if/when we need.
We are able to help others! Alex and Marta were so vital and instrumental in our integration here we could not have done the move without them. We are now able to give back - help new families with advice, host them for dinner when their apartments are empty, give them emotional support for a big move/decision/etc - assist their kids in making quick friends, and on and on. It’s really rewarding to be able to help others with what we have learned inside 9 months (with a TON of support from our friends here).
I started Padel lessons! I am still playing once a week with a crew (we (nosotros) are now (ahora) 24 strong on Tuesdays (los martes) but I need lessons. I’ve heard from friends Padel is starting to gain in the US! Miami, New York, LA from what I hear…keep your eyes open!
GO BEARS!! Go Chiefs!!! (neither are not coming to europe but the London game this year is the Vikes v Saints and Alex and I are planning on going…)
A few of my summer learnings:
Greek cab drivers are scammers.
Athens has 2M cats.
Anything built ‘BC’ is amazing to see live.
Sardegna has amazing cork tree farms and are known for their knives (and suckling pig)
The kids know more Spanish than we think
Switzerland is expensive a f
Switzerland is beautiful a f
I still don’t like French food but love their wine. Hayes is a fan of escargot!
Few things in life are better than being with your family on a boat in the sea by Sardegna with a sunset.
Its hard to keep learning Spanish when you are not in Spain and trying to speak Greek and Italian (I refuse to try French!)
Families do really move in and out of a place like this all the time. We half a few that are committed to long term here. They will be our core for sure but it’s great meeting and connecting with many others as well.
Doing 100 push-ups a day doesn’t take much time but really makes a difference.
The kids are so robust and dymanic. I'm beyond proud/thrilled/happy/grateful for them.
Next blog will be pretty simple I think/hope - we dont’ have much going on but getting back to life through September!