Ivan is in Valencia and On Line, Sharing Facts, Opinions and Secrets about the Life, History and Culture of Spain’s 3rd Largest City
Hurray! I’m in Valencia!
The first obvious question is: who cares? (The first obvious answer is YOU, since you are reading this - thank-you!) But really, as a newbie on the blogging scene it’s difficult for me to imagine just where this excercise is going to take me. That said, I’ve never let a little uncertainty get in the way of a new experience. (Okay, seldom…)
And now, in order to prepare you for a habit of mine that you will confront regularly if you stick with me and this blog, I will digress.
I was born on the outskirts of London. (Don’t worry; I’ll make this short.) Two and a half years later my family emmigrated to Canada and a year after that my fledgling English lost all traces of British pronunciation. I was a Canadian - and still am. The seven months that I spent in London upon my return at twenty-one left me no doubt about that.
Then I went to Madrid and fell in love - not just with a chica named Marta, but with the culture and people of Spain. Two and a half years later, when I left Madrid to be with my mother during her final battle with cancer, I was no longer so convinced of my cultural identity. At different times of my life I had lived in both Spain and England for two and a half years but of the two, only Spain had ever been a home to me and only Spain kept calling me back.
In Toronto, life kept me focused on other things and even though Madrid’s call was always present, my plans to return were never firm, always pushed back.
Then I met my wife, Katie, and suggested that life in Spain might be good for us. Or maybe I should rephrase that: I met a Katie and on our first date asked her if she would consider moving to Spain with me and then married her nine months later, confident that Spain was an imminent certainty.
Again, life took us in unforeseen directions until, finally, four years later - seven months ago - we left Canada, our little family now completed by Oscar, aged two. This time it wasn’t Madrid that I was about to call home, but Barcelona. The choice was born of a number of considerations, including its coastal location and cultural vibrancy. I even studied some Catalan before leaving Canada in anticipation of our impending intergration into the life and culture of our chosen city.
(This is where the astute reader realizes that this blog is called ‘Ivan in Valencia’…)
In the end, Barcelona wasn’t the right fit for us. I’m sure that the details will come out in successive blogs but there’s no need to say more now. (And I doubt that I can keep your attention for much longer, you attention-poor internet surfer…) Suffice it to say that we don’t reget our time there, though we do wish that we had rented a larger vehicle for the move to Valencia - we had to leave a few things behind rather than continue to block traffic in our tiny Gothic street as we attempted to make it all fit. Ah well, I’m sure we’ll find a good place to buy curry here soon.
And that brings us back to now, and why I am writing this blog.
More later on why we chose Valencia - or how it chose us, depending on your perspective. Let’s just say that after an initial visit of two days, we were convinced that this was the spot for us. Just as we knew that our lives were bound together on that first night, Katie and I felt at home in Valencia in such a natural and immediate way that we haven’t once questioned the choice.
And so I’m presented with a unique opportunity: to document the process of getting to know a city and its people and to chronicle the challenges and rewards that come with making a new life in a new place.
I hope to share with you all of my doubts and frustrations; all of my triumphs and delights. Although this will all take place in Valencia, I think it relates to nomads and expats of all kinds. For all of us with the desire to explore the world and find a unique place for ourselves in it, I think there is a common ground that extends beyond the borders and customs of our adopted homes.
As I begin to discover my new adopted home, eager to uncover its treasures and secrets, I hope to offer some benefit to you as well. And like me, I hope that you will be kept wondering: what’s next?
I’m looking forward to reading about all of your adventures!
Very eloquently written and really interesting to have an insight into your perception of your heritage. I can empathize with your feelings of having found your ‘utopia’, after nearly 40 years of living in Kent, where I was very happy, I have found mine here in Dorset and feel a great sense of ‘belonging’ here. My father’s forebears did come from this area, so perhaps there are deeper reasons than just contentment! Will look forward to your future writings.
Hola Ivan,
You leave enough open for your (dear) readers to come back and read more as I am sure you’ll have lots to tell.
Nice first post
Regarding the format, I would perhaps have chosen for a somewhat wider format, but that of course is personal…
See you around soon.
Piet
Hola,
I just want to tell you that I’m reading you. As you know, I love the way you write.
Shaudin
Hi Ivan,
it’s nice to read about your adventures; you have a great, captivating style, which I admire. As you know I am always torn between three languages (Dutch, German and English) and feel I cannot express myself well enough in any of them….
Our paths crossed but short, here in the Okanagan, but I have very fond memories of Katie’s beautiful singing at the opening of my exhibition in Oliver, with little Oscar running around!
Take care!
Thea
Bienvenido en Valencia Ivan, Katie and Oscar!
Looking forward for your stories why you left Barca…
Catch you soon!
Ivan,
Congratulations on your new blog! How exciting to be able to voice your thoughts to everyone around you, allowing us to share in the highs and lows of your adventures. I trust this entry will be one of many in which we can experience Valencia with you! As an expat myself, hearing similar stories always brings a smile to my face, reminding me that no matter where you are in the world, there are others walking a very similar path. Good luck and post again soon! Oh, and one suggestion. In case you ever feel like there is nothing to post on a given day, just remember that the most boring and trivial events to you, are most likely the most interesting to us. From cultural differences buying fruit to random, and often bizarre, gifts attached to almost every Spanish magazine and newspaper, these are the everyday gems that we love to hear about
Saludos,
Gabriella
hey Ivan,
Nice post. This ex-Londoner is duly intrigued! Not least of all, cos Canada’s so damn lovely.
Heard about your blog via your LinkedIn profile, BTW, and the group Business Friends Valencia, both of which I just joined.
Hopefully catch up with you at a networking event sometime. Maybe we could discuss a few ideas…
Another guiry in Valencia,
Olly.
ollyATguvnrDOTcom
http://www.guvnr.com
Ivan, Very nice!I’ll be checking back often!
Hello Ivan,
I too will be following along, and do hope you continue. I agree there is a special kinship among expats. One thing we all love is living vicariously through each others adventures, amongst our own.
Adam
Expat in Oslo
Ivan, in rereading your blog, I see that there is a big gap between Toronto and Spain…………………
Hi Ivan! Nice first start! I hear about your blog via LinkedIn so I thought I would check it out. I’m an expat living in Madrid and also have a little one running around the house. I lived and studied in Valencia..it’s a beautiful city! You can start catching up on your sleep now in preparation for Las Fallas! I’ll be checking back in on your posts!
Nice comments here Ivan and I echo the welcome. Have a great time here from another expat working in and around Valencia with a couple of little ones in tow and a bigger one currently exploring her independence.
Hi Ivan!
What a nice surprise!. I was checking out how facebook works in order to decide whether or not I would register and you picture came up, then I googled you and… there you are after… how long? 10 years? and you have a baby!, it’s great! Congratulations! (also for your marriage). What didn’t surprise was to read that you were once again in Spain. Very few times I have seen someone to feel so at home in a foreign country as you did when you were in Madrid. I hope Valencia treats you well, its people are nice and provably more open and welcoming than in Barcelona. I love Barcelona and I spent the best year of mi life there, but I see how it might have not been the right place for you three.
I will update you about myself in a private e-mail when I am finished correcting the mountains of exams over my desk and after I take finished my own exams… That’s right, I am a teacher, you were the first of a long list of students. I have been teaching Spanish in Paris for five years now and I continue studying but as I said, I’ll will update you soon.
Take care y recibe un fuerte abrazo. No sabes como me alegro de saber que estás bien.
Álex Díez
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