Meet Katy and her family

Hi Katy, thanks for taking the time to chat today over coffee...

Where did you move from, what was the town like?

Although we are British, we moved here from Lund, a university town in Southern Sweden. It is beautiful, cobbled streets, a good energy with the students, but - like everywhere in Sweden – quite expensive.

Which town have you moved to here, and who did you move with?

I moved with my husband and two children, to Sant Pere de Ribes.

What was the biggest thing you had to get used to?

The language! In Sweden everyone spoke English, but moving to Spain I really need to learn the language in order to communicate with my neighbours.

Is there anything you still cannot get your head around?

I will never be able to eat lunch at 3pm! 

What is the best and worst thing about living in Ribes?

Ribes is a lovely size town, it has everything (banks, cinema, shops, restaurants..) but retains a feeling of community. I don’t have a worst thing yet – if you want to live right next to the sea I suppose this isn’t the place for you, but we're so happy with our choice.

Where are your favourite places to relax, get advice and play?

To relax - definitely sitting in the Ribes square and watching the world go by, to play - football by Espai Blau, and advice from the fantastic hardware shop 'Optimus'.

Is there any Expat business you know that you want to give a shout out to?

I love Magdalena’s Magdalena Gladstone / Yoga to Thrive / Yoga for Insomnia yoga sessions on the beach.

What problems have you faced since living in Ribes?

Buying the house was a very different experience to back in the UK. My advice is don’t put down any reservations without hiring a lawyer to check all the documents first!

What do you miss the most about your home town?

I think in a few years time the answer to that will be nothing (other than family and friends!). It takes time, finding a reliable electrician, a car mechanic, a handyman, your favourite restaurants, the place you go to buy particular items, especially when you are still learning Spanish, but we’ll get there.

What would be the one piece of advice you would give someone moving to a new international town?

Even if you don’t like Facebook, join, and find the expat groups. The amount of knowledge I gained from the international groups on Facebook has been priceless.