When my son said he and his family were moving to Barcelona, I only had one question, “When?”

As my children were growing up, I knew that the world was getting smaller, and my children needed to be prepared to be a part of it. We live in a small town so some might think we needed to move to a city to get more exposure. I chose to think bigger. I also knew if we took some of their friends with us to foreign countries, the kids might be more receptive to seeing new things. So, I went into teacher mode, and I built an after school or before school class every year, for five years, and included travel to Europe and Mexico. Barcelona became a favorite place for several of my children.

Barcelona is not just a drive across the country. My son and his wife had to get work/travel visas, find a place to live, find a school for the children, get a car, and all the other things necessary to move, just multiplied because it is another country and another language. Anyway, once he told us they were moving, I made airline and vacation rental reservations. We have been to see them, and yes, the kitchens are different. The laundry is different, the trash system is different, and the school the children attend is an English school (think British) and the accents are different. I think the children adjusted quickly and enjoy living near the beach versus being in the mountains with snow. I know the flight is a little long, but the rewards are wonderful!