| First Love |
 Richard Day travelled to Granada to meet the couple who always had their hearts set on Spain. After studying architecture at Canterbury, Charles spent several years working in Hong Kong and Taiwan where he met Sarah, who was working there as an English teacher. After the birth of their first son, Rafael, the family considered leaving Taiwan for Spain. “In 2003 I met an architect who offered me a job in Granada. We had been going to come to Spain on spec,” remembers Charles. Sarah adds, “…but the job offer made us seriously think about it. We were just waiting to pull the plug on Taiwan.” So, in 2004, after a farewell trip around south-east Asia in sweltering conditions, the family arrived to the freezing temperatures of a snowy winter in Granada. Looking back on that first year, Sarah recalls some of the difficulties they went through to establish themselves in their new home: “We wondered if we had made a mistake. Finding a doctor when Rafa got sick and not being able to speak the language… then finding a dentist, the paper work, all of the bureaucracy… it was frustrating not understanding. It took a good year to get established”. With Charles settling in to his new job at an architectural practice and finding himself immersed once again in the Spanish language, Sarah took time to explore an idea she’d had for a business project. ?“Before Asia I had lived in Australia and there we were always warned against the sun and getting burnt,” explains Sarah. “When we arrived in Spain I saw the kids on the beach without any UV protection and immediately saw an opportunity. So I imported a lot of UV protective swimwear from New Zealand and explained about skin cancer, the ozone layer and why they needed to protect their skin. We also did a couple of kids fashion shows.” ?Since setting up a website to sell her specialized range of swimwear, Sarah’s company, Solkids, has been running successfully for two years, with more and more business coming in every day from both Spanish and international clients. Meanwhile, after two years working in the architectural practice, Charles decided to go it alone, and in 2006 set up his own business, Granada Designs. Looking back on his previous job, Charles admits that he learnt a lot about interacting with a foreign workforce and the working practices found in Spain. ?But it wasn’t just the cultural differences that Charles had to adapt to. “I hadn’t learnt any technical language, and so I carried a notebook and made a note of any new word I came across, revising it each night before going to sleep,” says Charles, and as if on cue his mobile rings again with another technical query from a Spanish contractor. Being in the position where he can now dictate his own working arrangements, Charles is nearing the completion of one of his architectural dreams. Lying on a hillside with the stunning snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada as a backdrop, the house Charles has conceptually designed gives views across the ancient city of Granada and the mountains that rise up either side. “You should see the view when the sun goes down,” says Charles after I comment on the panorama before us. By incorporating cutting edge technology, such as thermally insulated walls, underfloor solar heating, rainwater collection for irrigation, and solar panels, Charles hopes to use the house as a ‘portfolio’ for future clients. Professionally at least, it’s clear that the couple have integrated, but what about on a more personal level? I ask if they have managed to make new friends. “We know all of our neighbours here,” says Sarah, “and we have made a wonderful friend in Rafa’s paediatrician, who originally just wanted to practise her English. Having kids in the local school helps too, and when you have a baby, everyone stops and is keen to talk.” “The best way to meet people,” advises Charles, “is to join in with people. Join a club.” According to Sarah, meeting the right people can make all the difference: “It’s important to know the people in positions of authority, particularly if you want to start a business.” Having brought six-year-old Rafa to Spain and recently given birth to baby Bruno, Sarah is keen to offer advice to those who are worried about the impact coming to Spain will have on their children. She says, “Try to come when the kids are still young – nine, ten or eleven is probably too late if you want to put them into a Spanish school.” Although children adapt easily, it’s often the parents who find themselves unprepared for the change. “Learn as much Spanish as possible, you can’t just learn through osmosis. Be friendly. Break the ice; you can’t be shy. Don’t expect other people to come to you,” advises Sarah, “And be prepared. Don’t come to Spain on a whim.” Listening closely to Sarah’s advice, Charles manages to sum up their combined feelings: “You have to love Spain. It’s an amazing country, there’s so much here. Don’t just come for the sunshine,” says Charles, keen to show the warmth he feels for the country the family now finally calls home. For more information Solkids http://www.solkids.com Tel: 0034 958 59 17 50 Granada Designs HYPERLINK "http://www.granadadesigns.com" www.granadadesigns.com Tel: 0034 958 59 17 50 |
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