An American mother residing in Barcelona shares her adventures (good and unhealthy) on social media, sharing perception into what it’s wish to be a mother and lift youngsters abroad. Whereas there are actually some main variations, a few of the largest shocks have come from the education tradition in Barcelona.
“Some college tradition shocks that I am nonetheless but to recover from so a few years later, being an American mother in Barcelona,” Alexis Charbeneau begins in her video.
“Okay, primary, the lengthy days. The times are so lengthy. My daughter will get on her bus at 8:00 AM, so within the morning and will get again at 5:15 PM. Yesterday, she had an additional “escuela” — extracurricular exercise. She did not get house till 7:45 PM. The category did not get out till 7 PM. 8 AM to 7.30 PM is wild for six years outdated!”
Charbeneau then strikes onto one other shock — grandmothers are very concerned of their youngsters education, together with pick-up and drop-off.
“The grandmothers are so concerned. To an American, it is like genuinely mind-blowing. The road at decide up is greater than half abuelitas,” she mentioned.
As for extracurriculars, these typically occur throughout college hours, based on Charbeneau.
“They do them, typically, throughout the lunch break. There is a music class after lunch, throughout the recess. So like, you do not have to return decide your child up. They’ll nonetheless go house on the bus or have it. They go house as a result of they’re doing it throughout the college day.”
Lastly, she notes that youngsters, as younger as elementary age, go house for lunch.
“I am formally out of time, however going house for lunch, going house for lunch is an idea we do not know within the U.S. And it would not occur as a lot within the metropolis. It occurs way more in … not cities … It would not occur a lot, however it’s an choice, and many individuals do do it. Choose their youngsters up for 2 hours after which return again to high school.”
In a follow-up video, Charbeneau listed off some extra college tradition shocks, together with how affectionate lecturers are with their college students.
“Academics are so affectionate right here with youngsters — hugging, kissing. We do not have this within the U.S. due to so many causes. Pay attention, after all, I perceive why they’ve these guidelines in place, nevertheless it’s very good to be a mom and watch your child expertise love exterior of the house,” she mentioned.
Subsequent, she jokes that, throughout the summer time, she can’t look forward to her youngsters to return to consuming college lunch as a result of, in Barcelona, it’s extraordinarily nutritious.
She continued, “I do not know if that is the mentality of every other mothers, however that is an trustworthy thought that I genuinely have that speaks to how effectively they eat in school. Additionally, these youngsters get a lot time to eat their lunch. Within the U.S., we get like 20 minutes to scarf down our meals, which is how we be taught to scarf down our meals so quick…”
Charbeneau additionally notes that “actual college” aka full-time college begins at three years outdated.
“Actual college begins at three, three years outdated, a full ass day!” she exclaims. “Everyone seems to be doing it.”
“There’s like a regulation you possibly can maintain them until 6 [years old] principally, after which it’s a must to put them in actual college, however no person does that. Three years outdated for a full 9 AM to 4:30 PM day with youngsters in the identical constructing is a very exhausting factor to adapt to. It’s.”
In Barcelona, Charbeneau says that youngsters adapt effectively to high school days as a result of they’ve been in some kind of preschool or childcare since they had been one 12 months outdated, and oldsters put them at school so early as a result of, SHOCKER, it’s inexpensive!
She notes that elementary-aged youngsters are actually swimming at school.
“These youngsters are swimming at school. That is loopy to an American. We do not swim irrespective of how nice the college is, we’re not swimming at school. And right here … possibly your college would not have a pool, God forbid they’re going to take you by bus to a pool to learn to swim,” she says.
Lastly, Charbeneau notes that homeschooling shouldn’t be actually a “factor” dad and mom do in Barcelona.
“Homeschooling shouldn’t be a factor right here. If it’s a factor right here, it is regulated. It is regulated. So in case you have that angle, I am not like, ‘I’d ever do that’, however should you’re a homeschooler, and wanna educate your youngsters the stuff you need, that is type of out the window as a result of it’s totally regulated right here.”
