Prospects for 16 year old emigrant (with family!)

[ParadiseSeeker]

Hi

We are moving from Scotland to the Javea/surrounding areas within the next few months. We're well assured in our research of areas and suchlike, having a good grasp of the area and the CB in general; and we know our plans in regard to property which is a bonus. That said, we certainly have much more hay raking involved in finding the right school for our 7 year old son.

Nonetheless, our 16 year old daughter has reluctantly agreed to embark on this life changing mission on the proviso she can alternate visits from and to current friends on a monthly basis! I'd like to acquire some information on the prospects for her insofar as further education/social life/possible apprenticeships? I would welcome all views and advice. She is unsure as to her vocation in life which, in some respects - although understandable - isn't helpful. However, that's what we have to go on. C'est la vie, I guess.

Can any of you assist in advising on teen/pre adult immigration and the pros and cons she may face?

Thank you in advance.

[jojo]

Originally Posted by ParadiseSeeker

Hi

We are moving from Scotland to the Javea/surrounding areas within the next few months. We're well assured in our research of areas and suchlike, having a good grasp of the area and the CB in general; and we know our plans in regard to property which is a bonus. That said, we certainly have much more hay raking involved in finding the right school for our 7 year old son.

Nonetheless, our 16 year old daughter has reluctantly agreed to embark on this life changing mission on the proviso she can alternate visits from and to current friends on a monthly basis! I'd like to acquire some information on the prospects for her insofar as further education/social life/possible apprenticeships? I would welcome all views and advice. She is unsure as to her vocation in life which, in some respects - although understandable - isn't helpful. However, that's what we have to go on. C'est la vie, I guess.

Can any of you assist in advising on teen/pre adult immigration and the pros and cons she may face?

Thank you in advance.

Hi and welcome to the forum. Your only hope is to get her into an international school where could take her A-levels and then????? Unless she's totally bilingual college is out. Theres little or no work for anyone, especially the squillions of young Spanish and expat kids looking for work, no benefit system and it wont be easy for her to make friends cos where would she go to make them???? So I'm sorry but I cant see any pros at all. Spain is in an economic crisis and has the highest unemployment in Europe right now, with no sign of it getting any better in the foreseeable future

We came back to the UK for those reasons. My 16yo son rightly felt that his choice of A-levels at his international school in Spain were limited and he'd have better choices in the UK and more chance of getting some weekend work

A bad age I'm afraid!

Jo xxx

[ParadiseSeeker]

Originally Posted by jojo

Hi and welcome to the forum. Your only hope is to get her into an international school where could take her A-levels and then????? Unless she's totally bilingual college is out. Theres little or no work for anyone, especially the squillions of young Spanish and expat kids looking for work, no benefit system and it wont be easy for her to make friends cos where would she go to make them???? So I'm sorry but I cant see any pros at all. Spain is in an economic crisis and has the highest unemployment in Europe right now, with no sign of it getting any better in the foreseeable future

We came back to the UK for those reasons. My 16yo son rightly felt that his choice of A-levels at his international school in Spain were limited and he'd have better choices in the UK and more chance of getting some weekend work

A bad age I'm afraid!

Jo xxx

Thank you, Jo. I'm pleased to be welcomed

We know the financial climate is poor at the moment and indeed for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, we are fairly 'well healed'. Therefore, there is not an urgent aspect as far as our daughters financial aspects are concerned. I accept your comments regarding benefits and suchlike. Fortunately, we will not be in a position to depend upon the limited or non-existent sources of a foreign country. Nevertheless, we do prefer that our child be accustomed to some sort of self-worth pending her personal vocational choice. Do you know of any voluntary agencies whereby she may be of assistance? What non-paying, life long learning experiences may she be exposed to whilst in limbo, if any?

Onto social aspects, are there no clubs/nightlife options she might explore, even with similar-minded/age group persons? I understand your position re shifting position for the sake of your son and I wholly respect this. However, can you perhaps place a devils advocate outlook on this? Our thinking is that if the scenario were reversed - ie, Spain to UK, our children (with our support and encouragement) would surely have no choice but to find a way to integrate and find a lifestyle to suit?

Thanks again

[bob_bob]

If your financially secure you could stall your trip until your daughter has 'A' levels before uprooting her at what really is a pivotal point in her life, certainly her education. Without fluent Spanish (which she won't learn in two years) her higher education will be in the UK. Playing devils advocate I'd say your really not being fare to the girl and are making a bad move.

[dunmovin]

Originally Posted by ParadiseSeeker

Hi

We are moving from Scotland to the Javea/surrounding areas within the next few months. We're well assured in our research of areas and suchlike, having a good grasp of the area and the CB in general; and we know our plans in regard to property which is a bonus. That said, we certainly have much more hay raking involved in finding the right school for our 7 year old son.

Nonetheless, our 16 year old daughter has reluctantly agreed to embark on this life changing mission on the proviso she can alternate visits from and to current friends on a monthly basis! I'd like to acquire some information on the prospects for her insofar as further education/social life/possible apprenticeships? I would welcome all views and advice. She is unsure as to her vocation in life which, in some respects - although understandable - isn't helpful. However, that's what we have to go on. C'est la vie, I guess.

Can any of you assist in advising on teen/pre adult immigration and the pros and cons she may face?

Thank you in advance.

1st of all, both you and daughter can relax a bit. (I don't have kids, but if I did, letting them loose in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paisley or even Ayr, would scare me to death)
In general, Spanish youths seem to have easy going manner and are not a source of worry (annoyance..... yes. with their 50cc motos, with modified exhausts, which can emit an an earpiercing noise of 130 db)

sugestion: voluntary work at an animal shelter or a vet's pratice or similar.....



If you don't mind me asking, which part of Scotland are you from?


Me? I was born in a litlle place south of Glasgow.... married a lovely woman of Irish descent, ******ed off to hong kong, spent 13 years having a good time....then ,one day, said enough is enough.

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by dunmovin

1st of all, both you and daughter can relax a bit. (I don't have kids, but if I did, letting them loose in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Paisley or even Ayr, would scare me to death)
In general, Spanish youths seem to have easy going manner and are not a source of worry (annoyance..... yes. with their 50cc motos, with modified exhausts, which can emit an an earpiercing noise of 130 db) True enough

sugestion: voluntary work at an animal shelter or a vet's pratice or similar.....
Will she really be a help anywhere Spanish based if she doesn't speak Spanish, which we are presuming that she doesn't?


If you don't mind me asking, which part of Scotland are you from?


Me? I was born in a litlle place south of Glasgow.... married a lovely woman of Irish descent, ******ed off to hong kong, spent 13 years having a good time....then ,one day, said enough is enough.

She needs an international school as Jojo says to get her through A levels. Then if she wants to go to on to further education she'd have to go back to the UK most probably. So up to this point Spain is going to be an inconvenience for her, and she's already coming relunctantly according to your post...
There is a social life of course for teens, but without the language it's much more difficult. Even more so if you're not willing to throw yourself in.

A Spanish boyfriend might possibly help - or not!

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by ParadiseSeeker

Thank you, Jo. I'm pleased to be welcomed

We know the financial climate is poor at the moment and indeed for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, we are fairly 'well healed'. Therefore, there is not an urgent aspect as far as our daughters financial aspects are concerned. I accept your comments regarding benefits and suchlike. Fortunately, we will not be in a position to depend upon the limited or non-existent sources of a foreign country. Nevertheless, we do prefer that our child be accustomed to some sort of self-worth pending her personal vocational choice. Do you know of any voluntary agencies whereby she may be of assistance? What non-paying, life long learning experiences may she be exposed to whilst in limbo, if any?

Onto social aspects, are there no clubs/nightlife options she might explore, even with similar-minded/age group persons? I understand your position re shifting position for the sake of your son and I wholly respect this. However, can you perhaps place a devils advocate outlook on this? Our thinking is that if the scenario were reversed - ie, Spain to UK, our children (with our support and encouragement) would surely have no choice but to find a way to integrate and find a lifestyle to suit?

Thanks again

I live in Jávea & I have a 16 year old daughter - we've been here since she was 7, so she's completely tri-lingual & you'd have thought her chances of a summer job (now that it's actually legal for her to work) would be pretty good in a holiday town

not so, I'm afraid I'm just relieved that she wants to stay at school & eventually uni, or we'd seriously be considering returning to the UK right now because she has more chance of getting work/apprenticeships there - she thankfully still speaks & writes the language fluently

socialising for Brit 16 year olds who haven't 'gone native' revolves around hanging on street corners, bars & nightclubs getting drunk/doped up on a nightly basis

the ones who have gone native might do that now & then (after all they are teenagers) but are more likely to be out & about at night with their families


the only voluntary work I can think of off the top of my head is at the animal shelters & the various church homeless shelters & charity shops - some are run by English speakers but for others she'd need native level Spanish

there's the Red Cross & so on, but again she'd need to be a native Spanish speaker......well it is Spain


you'll be fine, your younger child will be fine............ your 16 year old daughter - unless she goes to one of the international schools for A levels, will likely be 'in limbo' for the rest of her life - even then IMO you're only delaying it

without exception, everyone I know here with teens who went through International rather than state school returned to the UK when they finished GCSEs/A levels.......either the entire family, or just the young adult - either for college or to live with relatives & hope to get some sort of work - at least they speak the language in the UK - very few come out of International school with fluent Spanish (although one local one is now bilingual, so there's hope for younger kids entering now)

50% of 16-24 year olds here have never worked nor are they in further education........ there really isn't much of a future here for your daughter


I happen to know a young 20-something who has moved out here with her parents to try it out. She has a uni degree but doesn't speak Spanish. She's looking for work, but all she can find atm is villa cleaning - & that's probably what she'll do all summer - then in September there won't even be that


I'm sorry......... reading that back it sounds like I hate the place

I don't, I love it, it's our home & I'll fight tooth & nail to live here (& it sometimes feels like I am) - but my daughter is on a level playing field with Spanish kids & perhaps even has an advantage becuase of the extra languages she speaks ........ but I worry for her future here in Spain, and that of her nearly 13 year old sister & if it comes to it - we'll go back if that's what is best for them

[jojo]

I thnk that meeting other kids will be a problem unless she goes to international school, so at least doing that would be a a "double wammy" meet friends and get an education. so maybe worth trying??? My comment about benefits wasnt meant as an insult to your finances, having had 5 children myself, I know that by 16 they want their own money, lots of it. And IMO its essential that they "earn" or get it for themselves rather than hold their hand out to parents (altho they try and never stop doing that lol!!). You may well feel that you feel guilty for making her move and try to compensate by giving into too much???

My experience and thoughts on this: If you do this and she's reluctant, hmmm, it could be scary, she could and probably will blame you for whatever goes wrong in her life, Flying her back and forth??? Are you near an airport both ends?? Learning to drive in Spain?? Can be done but wont be easy. Missing her friends and feeling "left out" simply because she's not there on a day to day basis, skype, facetime, facebook etc dont necessarily allow that closeness of living closeby and that can mean she feels left out. My children, when we moved to Spain tried to keep in touch with their UK friends, but gradually they fell out of the loop

That said, if you can get her into school, she may make friends and "get in" with the kids already there and have a ball??? but 16 is a funny age..........!!!!

We moved to Spain when my two youngest were 10 and 12, my 10 yo didnt settle brilliantly, and my 12 yo loved it, but by 16 he felt the UK offered him better opportunities. Hence we moved back. Today, my daughter who has just turned 15 prefers the UK and is glad to be "home", my son who is 17........ misses Spain, but he's probably in the right place..........

Jo xxx

[dunmovin]

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

She needs an international school as Jojo says to get her through A levels. Then if she wants to go to on to further education she'd have to go back to the UK most probably. So up to this point Spain is going to be an inconvenience for her, and she's already coming relunctantly according to your post...
There is a social life of course for teens, but without the language it's much more difficult. Even more so if you're not willing to throw yourself in.

A Spanish boyfriend might possibly help - or not!

this one ... you are going to have to explain

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by dunmovin

this one ... you are going to have to explain

she'll learn Spanish much more quickly............... or not