International Newcomers Club of Madrid News

SPOTLIGHT ON YUKO FURUYA

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 18:36:20 GMT

Today Japanese- born Yuko Furuya, a former art historian, librarian and translator talks to us about her life on a varied expat trail and the benefits of slow-paced tourism.

What was it like studying at a traditional girls’ boarding school in England?

It was quite a culture change for me at 13 and very different from Milan where we´d been living. Fortunately, the community spirit found in the boarding school “house” system provided a soft landing. I remember lots of strict rules and particularly the determination with which most people tried to break them! Plus endless hockey/lacrosse matches in the rain. Overall, it made me more independent and resilient.

What did you most enjoy about your job as a curator in the museums of Tokyo?

In the mid 1990’s there were very few bilingual speakers with a degree in art history so there were lots of opportunities. We had to work very long hours but the fun we had as a team organising all those exhibitions and meeting the artists more than made up for it.

Pumpkin Festival in Indiana

What insights does culture give us on life in general?

I think culture forms an important part of your identity whether you decide to embrace it or rebel against it. It helps you understand why things are a certain way in one place and how it might differ elsewhere. I feel that the key is always trying to find a balance.

You´ve worked as a freelance translator from Japanese to English after having your daughter, what are the challenges of translating from two languages that are so semantically different?

Translating from Japanese to English can be challenging since the first-person pronoun is often omitted; singular and plural nouns are not distinguished; and there is a tendency to avoid expressing yourself directly so the conclusion can often be nuanced and appear unclear to say the least.

Street Art in Rio

What´s the strangest document you have ever had to translate?

Documents containing a lot of regularly used “Japanglish” words can sound funny to English speakers if they are not translated properly. Some examples include salaryman (works in an office), one room mansion (studio apartment), two shot (taking a photo together) and one chan[chance] maybe.

Both you and your husband are third culture children, as well as your daughter, how has that impacted on your upbringing and how have you managed to retain your Japanese identity?

We were both a rarity as Japanese expat children and it was hard fitting in when we returned to Japan.

However, I’ve consciously learned to develop my Japanese identity and it feels like I’m continuously adding new layers. For my daughter, it’s been easier to maintain a connection due to technology and I can also enrich her heritage with my own experiences.

Sakura season in Tokyo

As a family you are keen explorers of different cities on foot without a fixed itinerary, what benefits have you enjoyed from this type of spontaneous tourism and discovery?

I think that the best discoveries are often found just wandering around and getting a feel of a neighbourhood. Sometimes it’s not the famous site that you remember the most, instead it can be a glimpse of a beautifully maintained inner courtyard in an old apartment building.

Kinkakuji in Kyoto

What is your secret Madrid?

When I first joined INC, a member introduced me to the Fundacion Juan March. That experience inspired me to explore other cultural foundations in Madrid and I’m always amazed at the high-quality art exhibitions, concerts, lectures available. And often they’re free! My main impetus for studying Spanish is so that I can better enjoy the Madrid cultural scene.

How did you stay connected to the Japanese community in Rio?

Brazil has the largest population of Japanese descent outside of Japan but most of the Japanese-Brazilian community is located in Sao Paolo. There is a Japantown in Sao Paolo called Liberdade and we used to drive there (about five hours from Rio) every couple of months to stock up on Japanese food.

Panoramic views of Rio

Has anything surprised you about Spain and its people?

I find the Spanish attitude towards drinking a pleasant surprise. The streets in Madrid are often crowded with people drinking in bars but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of binge-drinking or people getting extremely drunk. It appears to be very social and multi-generational.

Canoeing in Indiana

How did you find life in the US after your brief stint in Mexico?

We lived in Carmel, a suburb in Indiana for four years. Until then, I’d only ever visited New York city as a tourist so the Midwest was a new experience for me. There was just miles and miles of open green space and farmland which seemed to continue forever. I once had the idea of walking to the nearest supermarket (seemed a short distance when driving) with my then one year old daughter in a stroller and it took 50 minutes!

In Japan there are some professions that don´t exist elsewhere, which is the most original one you can think of and what does it entail?

Resignation agencies in Japan offer a service whereby an employee can quit their job by hiring an agency to communicate their resignation to the employer and also carry out any necessary administrative tasks on their behalf. The market has been expanding since 2017 and is mainly used by young workers who want to avoid stressful situations related to the process of resigning or to escape from toxic work environments.

Name a book that has inspired you

It’s not a book but I found Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2017 Nobel Prize lecture inspiring

What´s the best advice you were given?

Time doesn’t stop for you.

THE BEST FABADA IN THE WORLD

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 13:28:18 GMT

Beaches and beans - you can´t go wrong

The Asturians are baying for blood, yet the jury has spoken and as of March last year, the Best Fabada in the World is in Madrid! The winners of last year´s competition was none other than the Mesón Sidrería Arturo in the Hortaleza area of our capital.

Originally run by Asturians, today the Mesón is in the hands of chef proprietor Carlos Guillermo García, a former pharmacist from Peru. Unable to find work in his previous profession, he was forced to take a cooking job to make ends meet. “I´d never even been near a saucepan in my life”, confesses García timidly. The original Asturian owners treated him like one of the family and passed on their secret recipe for their winning bean stew on their retirement in 2015 and García has been working his chemistry on it ever since..

Judging a beanfeast

For those of you unfamiliar with Spanish pulses, fabada is a slow-cooked white bean dish with various guises of pork. Ranging from morcilla (blood sausage), chorizo, tocino and pancetta (lard and bacon). Slightly similar to its French cousin, cassoulet, yet without the silky duck confit. This is potent fare and the resultant gases when eaten in “fartura”, which ironically means abundance in Asturiano, and harnessed correctly could probably power the whole of Pozuelo.

On an icy cold day I am rather partial to a steaming bowl of fabada and on a recent trip to Asturias we had the pleasure of sampling a delicious variety at Casa Belén in Villaviciosa, just 20 minutes inland from the beautiful coastal town of Gijón. Asturians are known for their hearty appetite so the Menú del Día comprised an ample starter of Sopa de Ajo, alias a garlic and pimentón soup thickened with bread, a giant chalice of Fabada and then the other regional speciality: Cachopo (2 breaded veal fillets filled with melted cheese) & chips washed down with cider and Belén´s special natillas (custard) to follow, all for the paltry sum of €15. The Macdonalds Happy Meal with its meagre soggy burger and mass produced French Fries for the same price wouldn´t do very well in this area…..

Hearty fare

Funnily enough, if you´re looking for a quick fix, whilst not being a huge advocate of tinned food, the Litoral brand of ready-made fabada is surprisingly tasty and the giant catering can sizes of 5 portions have served up many a happy winter lunch to me and my 51 immediate in laws at the farm near Aranjuez where we got married. Think of it as gourmet Baked Beans with all the porky trimmings. It certainly takes pride of place as a Spanish storeroom staple and I´m hoping to get my hands on some of Jurgita´s prize Lithuanian chillies to perk up my next Asturian ration.

Storeroom standby

In the meantime we can learn a trick or two about the art of cider pouring and enjoy our beans at Casa Couzapín on 24^th February.

SPONSORSHIP PROFILE ON STACY VIVA AT SPAIN LIFE PLAN

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 18:16:18 GMT

This month we talk to Los Angeles born, real estate/financing guru and legal and tax consultant for Spain with an MBA in Finance and Strategy and a fearless zest for life:

How is your service different than other real estate and relocation offerings?

I offer strategic real estate and relocation services to expats (I like to emphasize the word strategic). I provide guidance to expats that live here and those that live abroad that want to do things right and protect their assets. I´ve worked here a long time and have an American mindset so I understand both parts of the equation. I can add a lot of value to my client´s situations because I prompt questions that expats may not ask or think about, essentially acting as their spokesperson or confidante.

Stacy gives a talk at a Real Lives expat event

How do you help expats that live in Spain?

Often times I work with expats that have already found their apartment or house and are ready to buy it but need assistance in getting the best financing and/or proper legal representation. As I have purchased several homes in Spain and was the Relocation Director at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Spain (a Warren Buffett company), I have a very strong network of real estate agents, banks, mortgage companies and lawyers that I work with and trust.

Do you also help expats that don’t have the time to find their own property or live abroad and want to relocate here?

Yes, I have a Spanish partner and together we act as a Buyer´s or Renter´s agent. We do a thorough analysis of our client’s lifestyle and requirements and recommend properties and areas that fit the criteria so as to not waste time. Once we find the properties that fit, we do a full due diligence on the property to minimize any risk for our client.

Showing a keen sense of aesthetics at the Miró Foundation

Where do you see the best deals today?

I see the best deals in boutique hotels, office buildings and commercial properties both in Madrid and outside because often times, these are assets that belong to sole proprietors, families or are inheritances and the owners want out without appreciating the gem they have.

On the residential side, there are fewer deals but you can still find some in Madrid, just outside the most hotly-demanded neighbourhoods. These fringe areas still offer an opportunity to buy a property for a good price especially if you´re prepared to do renovation work.

Enjoying Spanish countryside in La Vera

Is there a secondary market besides Idealista?

Yes! It´s quite common for good properties to be sold between agents or with a direct contact to the seller, before ever coming onto the market. The real estate business here is still very unregulated with a lot of misinformation so you need to move with caution. That being said, there are still a lot of opportunities out there.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to someone who lives here or abroad that wants a change?

Start early and have a plan. Moving to a new country is not easy and requires proper planning from both a real estate and legal and tax standpoint and everybody´s situation is unique. If you are already live here and you are ready for a change, (whether its buying or financing a property), reach out to me first so I can help you save time, money and headaches.

Family time with 89 year young Mom

What have you come to appreciate through your personal and professional life?

Savouring the here and now! Cracking open that bottle of champagne gathering dust on my shelf! Making time for the people I really love.

Finding the right home is an art, like this one from Merry ceramics

What´s Stacy´s magic mantra?

If you are kind, open to new people and walk with gratitude, everything else takes care of itself.

For a complimentary consultation, please email me at stacy@spainlifeplan.com

https://www.spainlifeplan.com/

Sad Farewell to Marie-Claude Tournier

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:36:05 GMT

Tribute to Marie-Claude Tournier

Former happy times with Marie-Claude centre with Sarika to left and Hilary to right

We are deeply sad to report that Marie-Claude Tournier, a long term and much loved member of INC, passed away unexpectedly on 15^th November whilst on a visit to her native France. As many of you will know, Marie-Claude was a firm fixture at many events with her sparkling blue eyes and sharp wit, we will all miss her dearly. Our thoughts are with her husband, Miguel and her family and friends at this time. Details of the memorial mass to commemorate Marie-Claude´s life will be released shortly. Here are some of the messages of condolences and heartfelt memories that have been pouring into the Club.

INC honours long term members - Marie-Claude (far right) stands out stylishly from the crowd

INC member, Hilary Bellis remembers Marie-Claude fondly:

Marie-Claude (left) and Hilary Bellis enjoy some vintage INC memories

Dear Marie-Claude,

I am going to miss you.

I will miss your quick sense of humour, your honesty, your stoicism, your generosity, and your love of cats.

I will miss your enthusiasm for (almost) all things 'English' - the language ... tea .... scones ..... clotted cream ..... Christmas Pudding ...... and English men!

I will miss your 'Frenchness', your elegance, your style, your impeccable grooming, your expectation of very high standards, your hospitality, your delicious French food and your French champagne. I will miss your fabulousness.

But most of all, I will miss your friendship.

I will try my best to live up to your example.

God bless you.

Hilary xx ❤️

Marie-Claude cuts a dash with husband, Miguel

Eleanor Pojer, INC Past President and Honorary President also paid tribute to our dear friend:

I’m so sad to hear about Marie-Claude’s passing. She was such a treasure to INC, truly a class act who loved the club and gave so much of herself. I always enjoyed our conversations; she had such grace and warmth.

She will be terribly missed.

Brigitte de Cleer also had a personal farewell:

I would love to say good bye to my dear friend, Marie- Claude.

She always said, my baby friend from Belgium, you are still young. And I answered, you are older but so young in spirit, a lovely face and with your personal, ironical sense of humour that I loved.

We laughed and cried together, we had lunch whenever and always in nice places, as I knew she loved that.

For me it was a pleasure to be her friend, miss her already a lot and I can' t understand why fortune always takes those who are the best, it is so sad and unfair .

My heart is mourning but her energy will be always with me.

Thanks, chère amie, je t' aime. Merci pour être mon amie.

Rest in peace,

Ton amie, Brigitte

Ana (above right) enjoys a fun moment with Miguel and Marie-Claude

SPOTLIGHT ON TIFFANY GREEN

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 23:04:19 GMT

Today Susannah talks to Texan-born INC President, former web team supervisor and a lifetime volunteer in tax advice, robotics coaching and a food bank about the international hospitality she has encountered around the globe.

You met your husband when you were 21, are you a secret rebel or a woman of accurate long-term vision?

I smile at that question because, honestly, I was a bit of both—playful, rebellious, but also quietly certain when it mattered. Meeting him felt immediate, like I recognized my person the moment our paths crossed. If there was any “long-term vision,” it wasn’t a calculated plan—it was trusting that spark, leaning into curiosity, and knowing deep down that some connections are meant to last.

Childhood sweethearts

What do you wish you’d known at that time?
That life is full of chapters and it’s okay not to have it all figured out at once. I would tell my younger self to be patient with the journey, to recognize errors as part of the learning process, and to keep gratitude at the center of everything.

Double trouble

Do you have any stories about adapting to life here in Madrid?

Two weeks after moving to Madrid, I managed to fall into a tree hole in the sidewalk—shattering both wrists in the process. It was a dramatic introduction to navigating a new city! But in true Madrid fashion, strangers rushed to help. It was a painful lesson in humility—but also a hilarious reminder that even the hardest bumps in life are easier when you’re surrounded by a caring group.

Has anything surprised you about Spain and its people?
The generosity of time. People here make space for conversation, for community, for sitting together over coffee without rushing. That rhythm was a beautiful surprise—coming from places where speed is often celebrated, it taught me to slow down and savor life.

You have volunteered at several organisations, how has this enriched your life?
Volunteering has been one of the most grounding experiences of my life. It’s taught me that giving is not one-directional—it deepens empathy, expands your understanding of humanity, and fills you with gratitude.

Enjoying Spain with family

You’re a very professional and caring President of INC, what prompted your decision to take up the mantle?
INC showed me warmth and belonging from the start. When the opportunity arose, I felt it was my turn to give back. It wasn’t about ambition but about service—carrying forward the spirit of connection and support that had meant so much to me.

Tiffany takes the standl

I’ve heard of the 5 am club but why do you get up even earlier? (talk about what you do and why at that time)
My early mornings have been a sanctuary. I rise before dawn to watch the city wake up—there’s a quiet beauty and calm in those hours that I can’t find later in the day. I walk the city wherever I am, sometimes reflecting, sometimes photographing the moment, almost always with music as my companion.

You moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2019, how did you find that experience?

Our experience in Kuala Lumpur was made all the more meaningful because of the friends we made. Every interaction we had reflected genuine hospitality and made the city feel like home for our family.

Fun in Danang

How did Malaysia compare to Vietnam where you went afterwards?

When our family first moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2020, I thought I’d seen true hospitality—then we visited Happy Heart Café in Đà Nẵng, a place that employs deaf and disabled people and bakes all its pastries in-house. After a two-month COVID lockdown, we were welcomed like old friends and treated to the best apple pie I’ve ever had. What started as a simple lunch became laughter, shared stories, and the kind of connection that makes you feel instantly at home. It reminded me that living abroad isn’t just about new places—it’s about communities that open their doors and happy hearts.

Eleanor, Malin and Tiffany - INC presidents past and present

What does the spirit of INC mean to you?

The spirit of INC is about genuine connection—welcoming others, sharing cultures, and supporting each other through challenges and celebrations. It’s a warm, inclusive space where we learn from one another, laugh together, and show up as our authentic selves, knowing that by learning and growing together, we create connections that enrich everyone’s lives.

The masks have it at Versailles

What is it about old movies that attracts you? Which is your favorite and why?
Thanks to my husband I have come to cherish old movies for their sharp dialogue and peek into a bygone era. I particularly love The Thin Man (1938) which portrays the crime solving, martini drinking, sophisticated duo of Nick and Nora Charles and their dog, Asta.

What would be the name of the autobiography you haven’t written yet?
If You Don’t Like the View, Change the Seat

Travelling light when moving to KL!

SPOTLIGHT ON FLORENCIA UGALDE

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 10:41:39 GMT

Today we talk to Florencia Ugalde, a Mexican-born teacher, coach, mentor and bookworm about her journey through North, Central and South America and her life-long passion for learning, her appreciation of local customs and a certain green vegetable.

How did you find settling in Austin Texas as a newly-wed 25 year-old from Mexico City?

This was such an exciting time for us to move overseas and Austin is such a fun and dynamic city! My husband was finishing his Master´s and I discovered Montessori education which was a true epiphany moment. It was a real professional, spiritual and also emotional game changer.

Typical Montessori classroom

What is it about Montessori education that you admire?

I love that it’s person-centric and based on principles of connection, respect, support and observation. It’s more of a way of life than an educational program; providing purpose from the teacher´s perspective and a meaningful learning and development journey for all ages. The same Montessori principles can be applied to coaching adults and also to the elderly as well as people with dementia.

You lived for several years in Buenos Aires, what was that like for you and your family, coming from the opposite end of Latin America?

Ahhhh, Buenos Aires… the core of my heart forever. The most joyous time in my life without a doubt. . It was amazing to soak up a very different culture, to adapt to a new way of speaking Spanish, and experiencing life. The Argentines welcomed us from day one and we slotted right in. In fact, one of our sons went on to take Argentine citizenship and the other still uses all the Argentine slang like ”vos, mirá, vení, tampoco la pavada!”

Family dinner in Buenos Aires

As an avid book lover, what sort of books do you most enjoy reading?

I like any fiction or historical fiction that moves me and makes me think, even if I have to stop reading to recover or reflect. Books that have had a particular impact on me include: People of The Book, Lovely Bones, Memory Stones, as well as other titles that speak to my passion for history and art. I have found book clubs are a great introduction to non-fiction and other authors. Such fun to be “stretched”!

What book do you most recommend to others?

Isabel Allende´s La Casa de los Espíritus (The House of Spirits) because I love how the magical realism in it belies a story of love, betrayal, redemption and the power of love.

Florencia gets certified

You´re a passionate Montessori Coach for teachers, what did you find most challenging about that role?

At first it was hard coaching and mentoring peers but with the right dose of diplomacy, patience and humility I think I managed to gain their trust so in the end we worked together in harmony. It was very fulfilling to see their individual growth, as well as my own.

Coffee Highlands in Cobán

How did it feel as a Mexican to live in your mother´s homeland of Guatemala for two years in 2010?

That was actually a dream come true! I grew up in Mexico yet my mother infused us with a love for Guatemalan arts, crafts and food. This posting really brought to life all my childhood memories of the local flowers like the orchids and the animals such as the quetzle birds as well as the iconic settings of volcanoes and lakes and I have really developed a lasting passion for anything Mayan, especially textiles and huipiles (traditional blouse or tunic). It was very special to be able to show my own family my grandfather´s coffee farm, in the highlands near Cobán, where my mother grew up. So we are forever grateful for this unexpected opportunity to connect with my mother´s heritage.

El Pimiento Verde´s irresistible artichokes

What is your secret Madrid?

I LOVE eating artichokes at Pimiento Verde!! I also really recommend the Cafetería at the French Institute, a real find!

Day of the Dead display at Casa de México

What are the origins of the Day of the Dead and why is it such a key festival in Mexico?

The Day of the Dead in Mexico is a Pre-Colombian ritualistic celebration represented by a colorful Altar or “Ofrenda” at home to honor our deceased loved ones who are believed to return to visit the living in a ceremony of gratitude, love and joy.

I only embraced this tradition two years ago, after visiting the Altars at Casa de México en España, and realizing the value and significance of my roots. I have sadly lost loved ones these past years, and it has been very comforting for me to focus on the celebration of their lives and our connections by opening my home and heart to our spiritual reunion.

Loved ones remembered

Now that you have retired what activities have you taken up and why?

I love to keep learning! My current plans include a Montessori program for dementia to improve quality of life in old people´s homes and another for Special Educational Needs.

For now, I´m enjoying going to the gym, meditation, cinema, long walks in preparation for El Camino and I LOVE the INC activities.

Traditional Huipile fabrics

Ten Years at INC - let the conversation flow

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:09:10 GMT

TEN YEARS AT INC

Susannah is still savouring nuggets of good conversation

This month marks a decade since I joined INC. Ten years ago, I wandered around clusters of animated women, chatting nineteen to the dozen in the shady patio at Palacio Fortuny. Brigitte (our VP at the time), like our current VP´s, Ale and Candice, knew that during the first Monthly Meeting of the INC year members wanted to regroup over a delicious coffee and quality croissants (4 mini croissants equal one regular-sized one, right??). And that´s exactly what we did last Friday, in a stunning setting opposite the shimmering Lago.

Conversation flowing easily at our first Monthly Meeting of the season

Except ten years later, as I floated round the room with my antennae on full alert, I noticed that the conversation topics were far more diverse and so were the accents…both reflecting our ever-widening spectrum of nationalities amongst our members. So this year I participated in discussions about the UN in Switzerland, cycling in Holland, free camping in Medellín, an expat club in Sarajevo, nursing in Copenhagen, Michelin star restaurants in Queenstown or books to scare you (Kristen – if I need a Valium to finish it you´ll be the first to know…). Not to mention our Spanish members who provide valuable insight on the “real deal” here lest we end up in a tourist trap, plus insight into the flip side of being an expat in places where we are locals.

Ale and Candice nail it at our first MM of the season, Brigitte, Tiffany and Roz to their right

Every time I join an INC event I have absolutely no idea which direction the conversation is going to go. Yet, unlike the M30 tunnel which can go any way, except the way you want to take, I always leave enriched by some interesting titbit of information either about Spain or about the hidden lives of our varied members. This always makes for a fascinating experience, especially for a nosy person like me.

A chatty Monthly Meeting at Palacio Fortuny from the archive

International conversations and meaningful connections with people who have lived multi-faceted lives are what makes me tick. I crave it. It´s possibly the antidote to my annual holidays in the frozen wilds of Northern Scotland which I loved at the time but to which I´d have preferred to have added the odd trip to a warm sea that didn´t turn your legs blue. My parents were very astute and used to leave us in wellington boots with both grandmothers while they gallivanted off to sample garlic prawns in far-flung places such as Morocco or France. I have been tempted to do the same with my own offspring but as they´re now becoming half civilised I´ve probably left it a bit late.

Ondarreta´s iconic carpas (changing tents)

This summer, our children were certainly with us in the car up to San Sebastián, but once we arrived they were soon lost among the other Madrid-on-Sea families in Ondarreta where my mother-in-law has a house. As I prefer to remain on good terms with my in- laws (my husband is one of eight) we rent our own apartment. This particular model of Spanish holiday is quite a common one here and reminds me of other family holidays in Cornwall, South West England. You ditch your perfectly decent primary residence for a student-style hovel near the beach where you then get sucked into conversation en masse with 80 other families who also live in the same city as yourself. Those who haven´t rented a musty apartment with only four forks, squeeze in miraculously like sardines in bunk beds into their family´s apartment, or worse still, their in laws’ summer residence, and play “happy families” for a fortnight dining off the same Mercadona delicacies as in Madrid.

Scottish weather in San Sebastián

However, there are plenty of advantages to this holiday model. With any luck María (there´s always one) will have set up a marvellous what´s app group in which you state your child´s birth year and then someone will arrange a full social and sports calendar for the entire fortnight for that cohort. Leaving you free to catch up on a year´s reading. Except you won´t be able to read a word on the beach because every time you open your book you will be inundated by fellow Madrileños asking you “Hola, when did you arrive, how long are you here for, are you staying in the same cramped place as last year?”

Busted for reading at the races, although better caught with a book than a phone in my book

That is why I occasionally camouflage myself on another section of beach and devour an entire book in one sitting! Fortunately, when night falls, with any luck, your cherubs will be entertained at María’s with Mcburgers and a few rounds of Mus, the de rigueur card game, leaving you free to hit the city´s best pincho bars with your spouse. Whilst enjoying a decent conversation in peace. So I suppose some holidays en masse do have their pros…..

A work of art or a pincho?

INC Has Got Talent – Lisi Fracchia, jeweller to the stars

Wed, 21 May 2025 13:45:37 GMT

Today we speak to the artistically talented Lisi Fracchia, a former Argentine headmistress who retrained to become a leading international jewellery designer. Her clients span Royals, celebrities and plenty of INC members! An active board member of the Instituto Gemológico Español, Lisi promotes gemmology all over Latin America. Her creations are a frequent fixture in Vogue, Elle, Hola and on many TV programmes. She is also a regular at all the key international jewellery fairs and has won many awards. In addition, Lisi is also both a peer and mentor for many designers and has even translated 5 books on gems from Portuguese to Spanish and English. Whether you’re Queen Letizia or Susannah Grant….we can all own some of Lisi´s magic. Recently returned from dressing celebrities at the Venice Carnival, Lisi tells us how INC launched her sparkling career!

What skills as a previous head mistress of a bilingual school in a Patagonia did you find useful as a jewellery designer?

Quite a few! Leadership and organizational abilities are crucial in managing a design studio and dealing with artisans and clients. Additionally, educational settings foster creativity and adaptability; essential qualities in innovative jewellery design. My penchant for drawing meant I was often asked to design all the posters for school events!

Lisi has a keen eye

Why did you decide to study a second degree at the Gemmology Institute in Madrid on your return from living in Brazil?

I really wanted to pursue my passion for gemstones and become qualified in that field from a reputable organisation. Their flexibility in allowing toddler daughter to attend lectures with me meant I could combine motherhood with my professional career.

How did INC kickstart your career?

The International Newcomers Club (INC) played a pivotal role in launching my career by providing a supportive network and a platform to showcase my designs. The connections and friendships formed within the INC community opened doors to collaborations and opportunities that significantly boosted my career. I will always be grateful to INC from the bottom of my heart for this.

Eyecatching designs

What is a typical week for you?

A typical week, month…haha is dynamic and multifaceted. It involves designing new pieces, sourcing high-quality gemstones, and liaising with clients to create bespoke jewellery. I also dedicate time to mentoring emerging designers and participating in fashion shows, meetings at the Gemmological Institute or visiting fairs around the world. Plus, I also dedicate time to the business aspect of my bran to maintain smooth operations.

How did it feel to be voted the no. 5 Ambassador for Argentina, just after football heroes like Messi or the model Valeria Mazza?

Following icons like Messi and Valeria Mazza, is an immense honor. It reflects the global appreciation of Argentine talent beyond traditional fields and highlights the cultural significance of jewellery design.

Lisi’s designs are present at many award ceremonies

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?

The most rewarding aspect is the creative process—transforming raw gemstones into pieces that resonate with clients’ emotions and stories. Witnessing the joy and confidence that a bespoke piece brings to someone is truly fulfilling and of course looking seeking out my beautiful gemstones babies…haha

Which pieces are you most proud of?

I take immense pride in the pieces worn by royalty, such as the bespoke earrings that Queen Letizia wore during her state visit to the USA. Or the Argentina- shaped bracelet chosen by Queen Máxima and the brooch made for Queen Sofía with aquamarines, tanzanites and a 45ct sphalerite in 18K yellow gold.

It´s also a huge honour to have made the pieces for Spanish TV celebrity, Anne Igartiburu that she wore for the New Year´s Eve broadcast with Anna Obregon. These creations not only showcase intricate design but also symbolize the trust and recognition bestowed upon my work.

Queen Letizia wears earrings in 18K yellow matt gold with sphalerites, tsavorites and opals

Do you have different pricing tiers?

Yes, I offer a range of pricing tiers to accommodate diverse clientele. From high-end bespoke pieces featuring rare gemstones to more accessible designs, each creation maintains the brand’s commitment to quality and artistry. Starting at 25 euros.

Which stones do you most like to work with?

I have a particular affinity for working with unique and lesser-known gemstones, such as sphalerite, heliodore, tanzanite and morganite. Their distinct colors and properties provide endless inspiration and allow for truly one-of-a-kind designs.

Queen Máxima of Holland wears a silver and 18k gold bracelet from her birth country

What has been the biggest highlight of your career to date?

Awards are a great endorsement of my craftmanship and dedication. I´m particularly proud of the Iberdesigner Award in Madrid in 2014, the Orion Star Award in London in 2020 and the In flux Award in 2022 in Milan and the Global Icon award in 2023 in Dubai.

What or who has most inspired you?

People – their resilience or unique stories and nature itself is always a constant source of inspiration.

And nature’s inherent beauty is a constant source of inspiration.

Lisi’s signature elegance

INC is full of entrepreneurs, what advice would you give them?

Embrace resilience and adaptability. Learn different languages. Keep learning! And never lose sight of your passion!

You are a credit to the industry, what´s next for Lisi Fracchia jewellery?

The future holds exciting prospects, including expanding into new markets and exploring collaborations that blend traditional craftsmanship with modern design. Continued innovation and a commitment to excellence remain at the forefront of the brand’s evolution. We´re always looking forwards!

Actress Laura Ramos from Entrevías TV series

Vivienne Sarobe – Creative Guru

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:24:38 GMT

Today we talk to Vivienne Sarobe a sponsor of INC and long-time supporter of the club. Vivienne has had a long career as a psychologist and is currently turning her hand to creative projects.

Firm friends

Tell us about the audiobook to accompany the album of songs you have composed in memory of your son Gustavo who died 10 years ago.

Mourning a child is seldom talked about. It´s almost a taboo subject. I wanted to share my experiences of it and telling stories and singing songs during my decade-long experience of this type of loss seemed an appropriate medium with which to explore that grief and help others who might be on a similar journey. The album is called Santanhara and is available on Spotify.

Why did you decide to encapsulate your thoughts on the grief of losing a child in this creative format?

Music was very much part of Gustavo´s life, just like it is in mine. He was a talented cellist. Songwriting gives me the freedom to express the raw rainbow of emotions one goes through with the loss of a child. The stories help one process the tragedy and help you to co-habit with the grief, to integrate it into one´s life. Channelling that experience into something creative reframes it and gives the memories one cherishes a new lease of life.

Gustavo was an accomplished cellist

What is the significance of the name of the record: Santanhara?

After much research I discovered that most languages do not have a single word that refers specifically to a parent who has lost a child. In English, like many other languages, we have widow and widower but there is no word that refers to a person who has suffered the death of their own child. I finally found that ancient Sanskrit word santanhara proved to be the exception and it refers specifically to just that so it seemed a fitting title for my album and audiobook.

Music is a way of life for Vivienne

Tells us about your latest book about chronic pain and fatigue from fibromyalgia or Central Nervous System Syndrome that you have suffered from

A few years ago I underwent a double knee operation and that procedure triggered a sensation of permanent pain all over my body. It was like a switch that turned the pain on I can´t switch it off. I have had to learn to live with it. It´s a pretty common dysfunction of the nervous system and my book contains lots of tips I have picked up during my years of research into the condition.

Vivienne hits the mike

What do you mean by your motto that to live a creative life is to live a life in your hands?

In my experience, when you are in a situation where you feel invaded, like grief, pain, war, every ounce of empowerment counts. Victor Frankel famously described our power as the gap between stimulus and response. Being creative means something very simple that any cook has experienced: you need to feed yourself with whatever is available in the market. That means you need to accept that you might not be able to get what you want. Creativity is intrinsically bound up with play and empowerment. It´s about allowing yourself to experiment and make mistakes. When we accept our circumstances and decide to play we use our imagination to create something that really suits us. We dare to be ourselves. And that way we are much more likely to have a good life.

How has your professional background as a psychologist helped you in your work today?

One of the great things of being a psychologist is that I get to practice what I teach whenever something becomes challenging. I love to share empowerment tricks with people. Now I´m also doing it on TikTok, please subscribe and ask any questions on psychology, I promise to answer!

Vivienne and band members

You´re also a jazz singer – what sort of music do you sing and how has music enriched your life over the last few years?

I´m a great fan of celebrating female jazz singers. I love Amy Winehouse, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and I´m strongly influenced by them.

My band performs at public and private venues. We do events, weddings, cocktails, house concerts, etc. In fact, we have accidentally become professional.

Laughter is the spice of life

Finally, as if the list of creative talents wasn’t long enough already, you´re also a keen stand-up comedian, what is it about humour that attracted you to write a show about love and finding a partner?

I believe that when you can laugh at something you have at least enough perspective so it doesn´t enslave you. I´m writing a new show with music and stories, I hope it seems as funny to others as to me.

Vivienne Sarobe – Tel: +34 616 10 80 13

Tik Tok @viviennesarobe

Spotlight on Stephanie Vora

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Today we delve into the life of New York-born, former online marketing director of luxury e-tailers. Now a guru in the world of coaching – a certified executive and personal coach, trainer and facilitator for over 20 years. She is also a well-being enthusiast and a creator of a transformational mind-body program and finally a foodie extraordinaire, Stephanie Vora.

Whilst working in e-commerce, you notched up an impressive CV of luxury names such as Bloomingdales, Coach, Space NK, which brand did you most enjoy working on?

Hands down Bloomingdales. Not only because of the massive discount I got on all the shopping, but because my colleagues were like family to me. I felt like I was on the set of Friends day in and day out. I also had amazing managers that supported me and who I learned a ton from.

At work

What do you do here in Madrid?

I coach clients from all over the world and have just launched a well-being venture called zingbody.com which is really exciting.

What´s it like working with your husband? Can either of you sneak out for 2-hour coffee breaks?

It can be wonderful and messy at the same time. He has his strengths, and I have mine, so we don´t step on each other’s toes! We have similar values so connecting on that level can be super rewarding. Sometimes we talk too much work when I just want to be husband and wife – so we are getting much better at that now.

Steph is always ready to pull off a few stunts

Do you use AI in your business? If so, how does it enhance your work?

I use AI all the time! Just not that kind of AI – Artificial Intelligence. I use is what I call Artful Intelligence (AI). This is about tapping and activating my own inner wisdom. The more I connect and become aligned from the inside out the more output, success, and fulfilment our work has. It´s pretty cool.

Steph goes in for a cuddle

What´s the best advice you were given?

I´m a big quote person so here are two of my favourites:

¨The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it¨– Eckhart Tolle

¨There´s a voice that doesn´t use words. Listen¨ – Rumi

Exploring Spain

Which is your favourite podcast?

I love listening to Dr. Kim D´eramo – Mind-Body TV (her energy and ahead of the curve wisdom on health is intoxicating) and Being Well with Forrest Hanson (meaty, real topics on human behaviour and what to do about it). I´m a personal transformation enthusiast if you can´t tell by now.

Sampling the local fare in London

Did you notice any cultural differences when you moved to London in your late 20’s?

Yes, I was working full-time at a company and I recognized that small talk was more rare. In New York we would chat about everything, what you did, comment on what you´re wearing, the date someone had, so it was a bit strange when people would just say good morning and go back to work!

Ready to jump

You and your husband have wanderlust and have travelled the world. Which country has surprised you the most?

A lot of the sixty-plus countries we have visited have surprised us. For instance, in Georgia we were not expecting the superb quality of their restaurants. Moldova was also incredible for their cuisine, as was Australia. Montenegro has a special place in our heart as we ended up getting married there! Andorra is also another favourite of ours – stunning scenery and beautiful hikes, and again some amazing dishes. As you can see, we love to eat!

Lovable Lima

Lima is your adorable dog, how does she shape your life?

Lima is everything to us. We are ¨those¨ dog parents who see her as our baby girl, not just a dog. We don´t have children and she is our first dog and we got her in the north of Spain almost 7 years ago. I love being a ¨mom¨ and she has melted my husband’s heart. He is the biggest softy and will do anything for her. Lima has an amazing soul and she has given us the gift of family.

Hitting the dancefloor at her wedding

You are a huge foodie, what food sums up happiness?

Mmm….the ¨indulgent¨ part of me would say chocolate chip cookies (we actually had a chocolate chip cookie cake at our wedding) as well as curries, pasta, bread… lots of starch!

Describe a favourite night in or out you have recently enjoyed

Oooh that would be sitting on the floor with Lima who constantly gives you that look to give her a treat, sipping a top wine with my connoisseur husband, with some uplifting lounge music in the background, munching on San Nicasio potato chips ….and enjoying some juicy quality conversation about life. Perfect!

If you could wave a magic wand what would you do next in your life?

Frankly, I would still do a lot of the same in my next life, but in an elevated and even more visible way – creating more mass reach (think Oprah, Deepak Chopra, Joe Dispenza style). That said tapping into my playful side, becoming a dancer (hip hop, pop music, dancer on stage with a popstar), some sort of animal helper (zoo keeper), being surrounded by all sorts of animals (from dogs to penguins), helping with newborns, and learning their language of love and expression.

Lima in her element

Spotlight on Sam Frearson-Tubito

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 15:38:18 GMT

This week the spotlight falls on Sam Frearson-Tubito, a true citizen of the world, who has been travelling since she was born in the Caribbean. A mother of four, Sam’s CV covers the four corners of the globe. She has worked on boats in the turquoise seas of Turkey, modelled in France, navigated the dizzy heights of advertising in Milan, and used her linguistic skills as a school Admissions Director in Tokyo. We catch up with Sam as she puts the finishing touches to her first book about what home really means.

With Chiquita in St. Kitts & Nevis

You are a third generation third culture child, what does that mean and how has that impacted on the way you have parented your own four children?

A third-culture kid (TCK) is someone who has grown up in a country other than their passport country and other than their parents’ nationality and who has spent the majority of their time in these countries during a significant part of their child development years.

Making a splash in Cote D’Ivoire

I was sent to boarding school at 8 years old and suffered from feeling like I belonged nowhere—not where my parents were living or where I went to school. I learnt from this and decided that I would keep our four kids with us no matter how many times we moved with them. They are also TCKs and have lived with us in Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and the US. Home for them was always where we were.

And then there were four

By the time you were 18 you had lived in 8 countries ranging from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Hong Kong, how has your nomadic childhood shaped you?

It has made me open-minded and open-cultured. I’ve also been very fortunate to have learned a few languages along the way, helping me communicate and assimilate easily.

Which place was the easiest to settle in?

That’s such a difficult question. Probably Spain because it was the first time we moved without kids. Moving with kids is another level of stress.

Presenting at the “Nearly Home” exhibition in Mirasierra, Madrid in November 2024

What life lessons did you learn whilst working on boats in Marmaris, Turkey in your early 20´s?

Life can bring lemons when you least expect them. The important thing is to learn from them and move on in a positive way.

Do you have any funny stories about adapting to life in Tokyo in 2009?

Having everyone move away from me when I rode the metro. Apparently, ‘gaijin’ – the Japanese word for foreigner – smell of off-milk due to all the dairy we eat. Who knew!??

A family bike ride in Tokyo

Your book, Beneath a Borrowed Sky: A Memoir about Finding Home is due later this year, what inspired you to write it?

I’ve been writing my blog: www.wanderingidentity.com since 2018 and have had a lot of people wanting more of my stories. My family love the stories especially my parents and my kids so the book is for them. For family.

Name a book that has inspired you

There are so many! ‘The Yellow House’ by Sarah M Broom (memoir), ‘Shantaram’ by Gregory David Roberts (historical fiction), ‘The Poisonwood Bible’ by Barbara Kingsolver (historical fiction) and ‘Educated’ by Tara Westover (memoir) stick out in particular.

Wine o´clock with the Portland gals

Tell us about the social programme in which you´re involved in Modena.

In April 2020, the Association for the Integration of Women was founded. Its mission is to “provide resources for women to establish roots and flourish.” In 2022, Roots opened as a self-sustaining social impact model, a youth-led social enterprise that showcases the cultural and human value of Modena’s newest chefs.

I was the community engagement director for the International Women’s Association of Modena (IWAM) and I was charged with raising money for the Association for the Integration of Women to help them open its new social enterprise, Roots.

Modena friends

What is the best advice you were given?

Never look back. Always look forward.

Tell us about the book club you run for Families in Global Transition

It’s a global book club that I run online via zoom once a month. We have people zooming in from all over the world. Last month we had 11 people zooming in from 11 different countries. We read books from authors all over the world and all genres. This month’s read is ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’, a café-based tale about time travel by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

Digesting cake and words at the Madrid Area 2-3 Book Club

What is the next book you are discussing in the INC book club?

We are reading, Ann Napolitano’s best-selling saga, ‘Hello beautiful’.

You joined INC in 2023, how has it enriched your life in Madrid?

INC has been a lifesaver for me since we moved here. My husband and I travel a lot, so it’s been a great focus for me when I’m here. I really enjoy all the activities organised, and the group is full of wonderful, inspiring global women.

Home is where the heart is

Where is your happy place?

I feel lucky that I have many happy places. But if I had to choose, it would be Modena in the North of Italy or Monopoli in the South. We have homes in both places and visit them as much as possible.

Fun times in Madrid

Spotlight on Sophia Tsirponouri Balaca

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:40:36 GMT

Today we delve into the multi-faceted life of Cypriot-born, multi-lingual former civil engineer, architectural restorer, World Bank advisor, maths teacher, quilter and current yoghi, Sophia Tsirponouri Balaca who is developing a taste for padel in Madrid.

What was the biggest challenge about doing your degree and masters in Kiev as an overseas student?

When I was 18, I left the sunny climes of Cyprus to study Civil engineering in Kiev, Ukraine, which was then in the Soviet Union. I was more worried about surviving the long cold winter and the eternal queues at the shops than the fact that I didn´t actually speak a word of Russian.

How did your male colleagues perceive you as one of the very few, if not the only, female civil engineer in Cyprus?

In 1983 I returned to Cyprus and got a job as a site engineer in a construction company. Cyprus is a small Mediterranean island with a big macho male population! It was hard to be accepted by both the builders and my fellow engineers. Not to mention the fact that they told me my salary would be 20% less than my male counterparts!

I managed to overcome the problem with the builders by explaining to them why things had to be done “my way”. Adding water to concrete made their job easier on a practical level but once they understood the problems that would occur as a result, they agreed to stop doing it.

My fellow civil engineers, on the other hand, were more difficult to deal with and I had to work twice as hard to gain their acceptance.

Sophia enjoys Cypriot folk dancing at university

What was the most fascinating ancient relic discovered during some of your construction projects in Nicosia?

One of the projects I worked on was the reconstruction of a 3-floor stone building inside the walls of the old town of Nicosia. It was to be converted into a museum dedicated to Nicosia’s history. This meant we had to add a lift according to new regulations plus reinforce it with new foundations. We were forced to move that lift constantly! The first time we found the floor and part of the walls of a house dating to the 14-15th century. Our second attempt unearthed a hammam from the Ottoman period! Happily, both are now exhibits in the museum, together with several ceramic Venetian and Ottoman period plates that we also found.

Sophia delivers a lecture on construction contract in Belgrade

You spent your teens in war-torn Cyprus and many years later moved with your husband to Bosnia, what was it like living in another place ravaged by war?

Arriving in Sarajevo in 1999 was a big shock. It brought back sad memories of not being able to enter the occupied area* during the 1970’s in Cyprus, as a Greek Cypriot. This meant that I did not see the destruction on a daily basis whereas in Sarajevo I was surrounded by it every day. Burned down house, bullets on the walls, no infrastructure and the worse of all, cemeteries full of graves. Very sad.

Selling quilts in Bosnia

What did you enjoy about the International Women´s Club in Bosnia?

Moving to Bosnia signalled a huge change in my life. I went from working 10 hours a day in a job I loved to becoming a housewife in a foreign country. Horrendous at first!

Fortunately, I adapted very quickly as I joined the International Women s Club of Sarajevo (IWCS). The club offered a lot of activities in addition to an annual charity bazaar in aid of the women and children in Bosnia.

After a year I was elected president which I thoroughly enjoyed. Although I consider myself to be too old for that type of role now. [Editor disagrees].

I made a lot of lifelong friends and acquired a lot of skills and hobbies which have enriched my life such as bridge, quilting, yoga, Chinese calligraphy, ballroom dancing, mahjong, amongst many others.

Sophia at a kindergarten in Zenica that had benefitted from IWCS’s work

Whilst in Bosnia you put your engineering and restoration skills to good use, tell us about your time with Cultural Heritage Without Borders.

This was a particularly interesting project. We had to restore five 17th century houses and two small mosques in the war-torn town of Jajce using the original building methods and materials. Afterwards the owners had to re-occupy their houses.

I also lectured in construction to a subsidiary of the World Bank and taught maths at the American School. I like to keep busy!

Sophia sets her sights far

You´ve always been a keen sportswoman, how does your daily vinyasa yoga routine set you up for your day?

When I get out of bed every day all my bones hurt! Yet, after an hour of vinyasa yoga I’m ready mentally and physically ready to face the world.

Recently, I started taking padel lessons, at the youthful age of 66 years. To my surprise, my daily yoga session seems to keep any stiffness at bay.

I was really looking forward to moving to Madrid, even at 65! Life here is easier than any of the countries I lived in. I find Madrid very “retired people – friendly”. Free public transport is a particular bonus as we have no car. The city is full of interesting things to do, the shops are well-stocked and healthcare works well!

I have already signed up for Tai-Chi and beauty and make up courses at my local Centro de Mayores.

Visiting Chipiona, Cádiz

Tell us about how you have lived your life according to your motto of learning something new every day

I strongly believe that my life would be very boring if I didn’t try to learn something new every day. Even something tiny. People should not be afraid to leave their comfort zone.

Since travelling abroad for the first time at the age of 8 I have seen a large part of the world. I´m a great fan of courses and have done several online in areas of interest such as Ancient Greece and Rome, mindfulness, interior design to name a few.

At university, my professor of reinforced concrete once told me that the more languages you learn, the more human you become. I took his word and learned 6!

Sophia enjoys Florence

Your husband is Spanish, have you found any similarity between Cypriot customs and Spanish ones?

Cyprus and Spain are both Mediterranean countries so there are many similarities. We are both too loud! We tend to shout a lot, often on top of each other or all at the same time!

Sarajevo Bridge group

*Reference to the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Face to Face with Liesl Gibson

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:42:25 GMT

Today Susannah comes face to face with a sewing pattern cutter, entrepreneur, book lover, accomplished dancer, former research analyst in finance as well as acquisitions and developmental book editor, and now fashion designer, Liesl Gibson.

What was it like growing up in Wisconsin with 4 sisters?

I was really lucky to grow up in university housing until I was about 10 years old as my father was a professor. Being the oldest with a father who traveled a lot, I had a lot of responsibility and chores to do. It´s no coincidence that as an adult I´ve always lived in an apartment without grass to cut or a driveway to shovel!

Liesl with partner and children

At 22 you moved to New York from the Midwest, was it easy to fit in?

The wonderful thing about making a big move like that when you are young and have no money is that you also have no expectations and you are open to new experiences. It took a while to feel at home, but now it’s my first love and I’ll always think of it as home. Maybe someday I’ll return, but right now I’m really enjoying Madrid!

Why did you leave the world of publishing and later, finance, for fashion design?

Despite coming from a family of scientists I´ve always been attracted to creativity and fashion. It took me a while to pursue my true passion and take a professional quantum leap. However, I´m glad for my previous careers. They helped to prepare me to start my own business!

What was it like to work for such well-known brands like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger?

By the time I entered the world of fashion I was quite burned out on corporate culture. So it was so refreshing to have fun whilst working on both those labels. Being surrounded by such high-level talent really helped me to refine my own eye and taste. It gave me much more confidence when I started my own business.

Who or what inspired you to embark on your own creative business?

My grandmother was a fashion designer and after my daughter was born I wanted to find a creative, more flexible role as my (now ex) husband was traveling so much. Also, I’m far too impulsive and self-directed to work for someone else!

Once I started, opportunities just kept knocking, so it’s been an exciting and challenging experience since the start!

Liesl shows off her stylish design

What is your secret Madrid?

I live in barrio La Latina and love to explore. I’m constantly finding new places! Right now I’m slightly obsessed with Slow Cafe, on Calle Mediodia Grande, because it’s in my neighborhood and so cozy.

Who buys your sewing patterns and what trends do you see emerging?

We have clients all over the world! Our customers are mostly professional women who want to make something with their hands after a full day of work and parenting. I write our sewing patterns to make the process easier. I´m a great fan of adding your own creative touch to classic styles to contemporize and personalize them.

Right now I’m really loving wide-legged trousers and button-down shirts and all the ways they can be styled.

Taking inspiration n her studio

You are an avid tango dancer, what is it about the dance that you particularly love?

Tango is extremely formal, with a lot of rules and traditions, and it takes a lot of time to learn. For me it’s my Zen: it allows me to forget everything else and focus only on the connection and the movement. I’ve always danced, and I wanted to be a professional ballet dancer as a child. I love tango because you need to be very focused on your partner but also relaxed and fluid, which isn’t so easy to learn.

Which lesson has been the hardest to learn?

Maybe the biggest lesson that I’ve learned is to not look back and regret choices or decisions in my past, but instead to look forward to the future and the opportunities and adventures that lie in store. I think it’s a lesson I’m still learning, but I’m starting to trust myself and lean less on the opinions and advice of the people around me.

Three generations of creative women

You are the only foreigner in a Spanish book club, what book do you most recommend to others?

I love my book club because everyone really values good literature, and I’m discovering some writers I hadn’t read before. A few of my favorites have been Graham Swift’s El Domingo de Las Madres and J.M. Coetzee’s El Polaco.

What would be the name the of autobiography you haven’t written yet?

Oh, I couldn’t be so presumptuous to think someone would want to read a book about me. I’ve written two sewing books, but my personal journey is still just getting started! Ask me again in 30 years, maybe?

Liesl at work

If you could wave a magic wand what would you do next in your life?

Well, a Spanish driver’s license might be nice! And I have another business idea I’d like to pursue when there is time, but first I need to find the right business partner, so if you know someone with interest and experience in careers and education please send them my way!

Contact for sewing patterns and tips: https://www.lieslandco.com/

INC HAS GOT TALENT – TITANE DE VOS

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 15:45:52 GMT

Today we take a deep dive into the life of Belgian-born Titane de Vos, whose life took an artistic turn after bagging degrees in political science and international law and working for a charity and subsequently in customs. An avid skier, cyclist, former rugby player, horsewoman, girl scout and the doyenne of homemade Pain au Chocolat at Area 4/5 coffees, Titane is always putting her talented limbs to good use.

Titane enjoys crafting from very young

You have such breadth of artistic flair. How did you discover your creative side?

I´ve been doing craft activities since I was a small girl. The youngest, (shy) child of three I really needed to entertain myself at home. At school the pottery workshop became my happy, safe place. My teacher was great at encouraging us to develop our own style. Later on, I explored new techniques such as bookbinding, cartonnage (making boxes out of cardboard and fabric), porcelain painting and lampshade making. Often out of trial and error!

A selection of Titane´s handiwork at her beautiful house

What is bookbinding and what can you make with it?

Bookbinding is a technique used to create a book or an album by assembling loose sheets of paper, cardboard, glue and fabric. You can make all sorts of books such as: Recipes, journals, gardening, guest book, travelling as well as photo albums. I create my own designs that can often be personalised from one of more than 100 papers I have in my collection. I also make bespoke artist books and can include initials, names and so on.

Even artistically-challenged people like me can manage to paint a plate

We always enjoy visiting your house and admiring your garden, what do you most enjoy about gardening?

I really enjoy that peace you feel when you see life in action as your plants grow. It´s pure magic! It also has the benefit of providing my lunch table with delicious lettuces and tomatoes as well as my home-made jam at breakfast!

Titane´s expert eye makes artists out of all of us

You are largely self-taught, which craft has been the most challenging to master?

I´d say the ceramics and porcelain painting, as it also includes mastering the firings in the kiln and sometimes the colour does bring some surprises! Even after all these years! It seems incredible that this month I´ll be holding my 24th Christmas exhibition in my house.

What type of classes do you currently run and which are most popular?

I run a selection of daytime and evening classes for complete beginners or for people who come regularly. No prior knowledge is necessary, people arrive empty-handed and go home with a work of art! It could be a porcelain painted plate, a lampshade or a Japanese bound notebook, a T shirt or a totebag. People really surprise themselves and we all enjoy the chat and a cup of tea or glass of wine. My next classes will include a making a Christmas centrepiece.

Once Titane has something she will never let go

In addition to supporting your 3 sons’ rugby activities, tell us about your own experiences as a rugby player

A group of us set up the Pink Panthers mother´s rugby team after being inspired by the fun atmosphere around my sons’ matches. To my biggest surprise, my sons were really proud to see me playing. It was a great experience later on in life to participate in such a noble team sport. I wish I´d got into rugby earlier. However, I broke my ankle in a match so perhaps I´d better stick to gardening!

Intrepid family campers in Africa

You´re also a keen traveller, where are your favourite destinations and why?

We love to travel off the beaten path and make up our itinerary as we go along. I´d say our family camping trip in the Ngorongoro crater was a hit. We hired a Defender with a couple of tents on the roof and enjoyed the wilderness, the animals and the people who are so generous with whatever they have. Other hits have been Iceland, Norway, India….to name a few….and closer to home we enjoy the Basque Country always!

You have been a member of INC for many years and was also on the board representing vendor relations, what has the club meant to you?

Funnily enough I wasn´t looking to join an international club as I was quite well integrated in Spanish communities here but when I did join was immediately bowled over by the cosmopolitan atmosphere, the welcoming nature of the club. I also particularly enjoyed my time on the board looking after vendor relations for our events.

Titane is a regular at local craft markets

What is next for Titane?

I´m always looking to expand my creative repertoire and In the spring I´m running a new course in recycled paper where we´ll learn how to embed flowers.

I´m also on the look out for a small house in Belgium so I can be closer to my 91-year old mother and two of my sons. I do also have a wilder dream…perhaps for the more distant future; I´d love to work for a charity in Africa. Watch this space!

Contact details

titane@titane-faitmain.com

Cell: 696938404

IG: @titanefaitmain

#losviernescreativos

FB: @titanefaitmain

Web page www.titane-faitmain.com (online sale)

Christmas Exhibition 29thNovember – 1st December 2024

HAVING A SIDE-SPLITTING TIME IN CROATIA – Susannah goes back in time with some long-lost schoolfriends.

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:47:29 GMT

Half an hour after leaving the centre of Split the city bus grinds to a halt next to a bulldozer and a supermarket. By this stage I am the only passenger left. I steer my suitcase through the hotel´s steely gates past some grey velour sofas into what looks like an airport business lounge, wondering exactly where the “peaceful oasis” is.

Girls on tour

“How far is the beach from here?” I ask pan-faced Annamaria on reception.

I do feel sorry for lip readers in Croatia as it can be quite hard to fathom what people are conveying from their avatar facial expressions.

“We have shuttle to the beach club. You need to pay €35 for a sunbed.” I try to remember which of my 5 school-chums persuaded us all to book into a hotel that is half an hour outside the city and miles away from the coast.

At about this point I start to see the supermarket opposite as my potential salvation. A quick scoot around the wine aisles and I´ve snapped up a few bottles of crisp Debit and fruity Dingaĉ to soften the blow for when my gaggle of gals arrive off the Heathrow flight a few hours later. Or rather whopping Debit card bill and raspberry Dingbat as I came to nickname these wines on the exorbitant menus in the touristy Split tavernas we sampled over the following 4 days.

Island hopping offers a multitude of options

Over a few glasses or six on our hotel balcony, we pledge to find out which magician-photographer is responsible for the alluring images of olive trees round the swimming pool or the dinky spa for Tom Thumb body doubles.

There is a lot to be said for schoolfriends who know how to glide and slide around each other decades later. We don´t have to be best mates or text every day to progress our friendship. As boarders, our deep links were forged over years of compensating the lack of access to immediate family for 8 months of the year. Shackled in sync amidst the gentle Sussex slopes, we have shared everything from shampoo to ra-ra skirts.

No sign of Brooke Shields at the Blue Lagoon

Time has marched on yet our breakfast conversations remain locked in a time warp. The following morning we discuss the underwhelming offering of the Salona Palace buffet; the congealed fried egg yolks look remarkably similar to the gelatinous ones we tried fruitlessly to dip our fried bread into decades ago. Quite different to what you might expect in a “small luxury resort”. It´s starting to dawn on us that the hotel inclusion of “palace” in its name is as far-fetched as someone addressing me as Your Majesty.

Split’s heritage comprises almost as many nationalities as an INC coffee morning. Originally Greek, it was then Roman, Byzantine then part of Venice, French, Austrian and so the list goes on, a bit like a United Nations conference. However, if you were led to Republic Square blind-folded on an overnight train and asked to guess where you´d woken up you would do well to say Italy. Like other areas of the Dalmatian coast, the historical Italian legacy can be seen in the myriad pizza parlours and the terracotta tiled roofs and porticoes.

Diocletian´s henchman are a vicious lot

Roman Emperor, Diocletian´s magnificent white-stoned summer residence takes up most of the old city and is still bustling with more than 3000 residents and almost as many ice cream parlours. The palace is free to visit and Game of Thrones fans might recognise large sections of this very impressive UNESCO World Heritage site. Slavko from Sugaman Tours brought our visit to life with wit and knowledge; a far more engaging guide than most of our history teachers from school. I´m sure he could make the Industrial Revolution as riveting as any Netflix series.

In the heart of the palace, we were lucky enough to witness a young bride and bridegroom exit the world´s oldest cathedral amidst plumes of red smoke from the flares thrown over them by their excited guests who were chanting the local football team mantra. Most of the guests towered above us and it would be fair to say that Split is not for the vertically challenged. I have never felt quite so diminutive at 1.72 m in my life. Needless to say, basketball is a popular national pastime.

Buzara seafood stew spiced up our tastebuds

In addition to the legendary wild-card Goran Ivanišević whose Wimbledon victory is still feted today, Split can boast of as many as 72 athletes with Olympic medals.

However, the only sport my girlfriends and I indulged in was a repetitive elbow to mouth action with expresso martinis on a roof terrace above the marina at sunset. The strain of which has triggered a mild case of tennis elbow.

Just in case you were wondering why we were staying in the middle of nowhere, the Salona Palace Hotel takes its name from the Roman amphitheatre next door. Rather like the hotel, it didn´t get a rave review so we gave it a miss. Mrs Lavington, our Latin teacher, would be appalled but far be it for us to argue with Trip Advisor.

15 mins on a boat from Split is Trogir

I enjoyed Split and am sorely tempted to return to Croatia for some island-hopping fun with the family another year. Hopefully, in the meantime, the Salona Palace will purchase some reading glasses for their receptionist, Maja. As we were checking out she said that I reminded her of an actress. My vain ego immediately started conjuring up images of Salma Hayek or Courteney Cox, however I was somewhat disheartened to see her brandishing a photo of 72 year old Christine Baranski on her telephone. Thankfully, one of my quick-witted travel companions pointed out that she was in fact 56 when she appeared in Mamma Mia.

Never too old for ice cream

Spain Rings the Changes in Original Nuptials

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:48:46 GMT

The sun is still shining, the roses are in full bloom and love is in the air. According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), weddings in Spain were up more than 20% in 2022 compared to the previous year. Although the overall picture is less rosy as those figures are still a whopping 45% down on recorded nuptials in 1975. However, despite a downward trend, Spain hosts around 180,000 weddings per year and increasingly, many of those are between couples where either at least one half is from overseas.

My sister in law, Gayle, makes it to the altar against all the odds in Mas de la Serra

Like me, three of my siblings successfully navigated the convoluted Spanish paperwork to make our marriage legal in this country. I was living in London at the time of our wedding and had to google my nearest catholic priest in order to apply for a dispensation to marry in a catholic church near Aranjuez. I am eternally grateful to Father Paddy for his painstaking form-filling duties and guidance. My brother, Alasdair shipped out his own Army chaplain from his Territorial Army regiment whilst both my sisters opted for a civil ceremony. Alasdair runs a beautiful hotel in the province of Teruel and was brave enough to contemplate a March nuptials to coincide with the blossom season.

Unfortunately, a week-long storm had blown most of it off the branches so we were left trying to glue it back on for the table decorations. Minutes before the sit-down lunch, an inquisitive Ibex goat decided to explore the marquee before beating a hasty retreat through one of the plastic windows and ripping a gargantuan hole in it. It´s always worth taking out insurance for every eventuality. I wonder if the meerkats from comparethemarket.com cover natural wildlife damage.

Blossoming marquee in Alasdair´s hotel

To be fair, things had already started to go awry when Alasdair´s bride had to convince the London Metropolitan police that she was prepared to enter her flat in Bermondsey to collect her wedding dress and suitcase at her own risk. Apparently, they were had cordoned off the area after detecting an unexploded WWII bomb. From then on arrangements escalated into a full-scale Monty Python shambles.

The following day, having ironed out the creases, my sister-in-law boarded my brother´s car in her snow-white finery in the remote Aragonese countryside. After 50 metres the car spluttered its last breath, ejecting the 3 toddler bridesmaids in pristine pumps into a muddy track. As everyone had already left for the wedding venue, frantic phone calls had to be made to recall one of the guests to the rescue. Later on, the happy couple had as much trouble leaving their wedding as arriving for it due to a faulty petrol gauge which left them stranded by the road en route to the first hotel of their honeymoon.

Lucinda’s new wife, Helena, signs the registry in the Teruel countryside

Years later, my sister´s wedding in Teruel was thrown awry by a French airstrike which left many guests stranded near Barcelona. Two of my parents’ septuagenarian friends spent the night curled up in their car outside their boutique Teruel hotel as they failed to rouse anyone to answer the doorbell at 3 am. To this day, Lucinda is still puzzled by the mystery of which Cinderella left their shoe behind after a night of dancing.

Dancing was a major theme at my own wedding. The British Consulate recommended a “caller” who was able to guide the Spanish (and the British) guests through many an energetic Dashing White Sargeant or Eightsome reel. Predictably, the Spanish were a lot better than it than most of the Londoners, especially when well lubricated with whisky and coke.

I finally found the “right” needle in my haystack

Debbie Skyrme has been officiating at weddings in Spain for 5 years after having worked as a registrar in the UK since 2005. Originally from Hereford and now resident near Nerja, Debbie married 28 different nationalities in 2023 alone. This year a significant proportion of her 67 bookings are also from overseas. Her eyes light up as she tells me that elopements are a big trend these days. I was picturing 16-year-old brides sneaking off to the equivalent of Las Vegas or Gretna Green but apparently nowadays this can just refer to couples of all ages who tie the knot in private before having a bigger party back home. Spain is a hot wedding destination for this private type of wedding.

Another “I do” officiated by Debbie. Photo courtesy Michal Carbol

“This is the most intimate public act these couples will ever participate in” says Debbie. Apparently, professional wedding content creators are all the rage; they re-create the whole experience on social media, guests can then witness the intimate ceremony afterwards at leisure. Despite Debbie´s scrupulous eye for detail and decades of experience she still has to expect the unexpected. “I´ve had champagne corks popping into the bride´s cleavage, ants climbing up the bride´s dress and the odd drone crash landing in a swimming pool.”

Trash the Dress! Photo courtesy Michal Carbol

Key figures at the celebration can vary from country to country. As Brigitte from Area 4/5 says, whose daughter got married a few years ago, “the Groom´s mother is a key person at a Spanish wedding, as opposed to the Bride´s mother.”

Last week I had to prise my husband and children off the dance floor at 3 am from yet another Spanish family wedding. The last bus was leaving at 4.30 am but my dancing feet were turning into blistered pumpkins by 2.30. Three nephews’/nieces’ weddings down, only 18 more to go if they all get to the altar…..I will have to contemplate dancing Cossack-style on arthritic knees in the middle of a circle of nimble in-laws until well into my 70’s….As the saying goes, “If you can´t beat them….”.

Heavenly ice cream

Fri, 31 May 2024 14:51:21 GMT

Those of you that know me, will not be surprised that I´m dreaming of ice cream at this time of year. As the barometer soars, I usually embark on an annual pilgrimage to find the holy grail of truly divine helado.

A chilled moment for the Royals

The legacy from my lecturing days at Florence university has primed my gastronomic antennae to search out chilled silky balls flavoured with toasted pistachios or unctuous chocolate as the days grow warmer.

Long time followers of my multiple musings on ice cream will know that I have scoured far-flung lands such as Beirut in search for that authentic scoop.

Green cider apple flavour – a cloistered original

Little did I know that I´d have to come to a convent to find it this year. For, hidden away in the cool sierra of Segovia, the St Clare Order of nuns have come up with an exotic range of flavours that will have you queuing up at the altar for more.

Chilled super food from the order of St Clare

The nuns of the Santa Clara convent at Villacastin moved into the tiny hamlet, which now has 1,500 inhabitants, in the late 17th century. These days you will find plenty of Spanish monastic orders turning their ancient recipes for jams and cakes into an authentic cottage industry. These enterprising Clarissa sisters in particular however, have gone one step further and are churning a selection of sublime ice creams ranging from pale green avocado to sizzling blood orange. Personally, I am a devout disciple of hazelnut flavour and a happy convert to pure white coconut too.

Seraphic coconut

Those of you wishing to make a weekend of ice cream tasting can opt to stay at the convent´s hospedería for €20/night including breakfast and a further €15 will get you lunch and dinner. If their ice cream is anything to go by, I´d beg you to find better quality or value.

Villacastin has some interesting gastro-cultural events throughout the year, with chorizo and eggs being celebrated in May, Folkloric dancing in July and their young bulls running riot in the annual fiestas during the last week of August.

Chilling at Contemplare, Aravaca

Fortunately, my friends Mónica Artacho and Alejandra Salinas have brought the convent´s celestial delicacies to Madrid and in Calle Anita Videl in Aravaca you can enjoy a refreshing ice in the garden or buy half a litre to go from their shop, aptly named: Contemplare. There is also an endless array of jams, biscuits, cakes and honey sourced from convents all over Spain.

Vélez hands out one of his creations

For those of you looking to cool down in the city centre, I heartily recommend Maison Glacée which has two branches near the Retiro. Their pastry chef, Ricardo Vélez is a man after my own heart when he recommends us to: “Taste Now or Regret Later”. Steer your children towards peach and saffron as opposed to mango and sherry, unless you’re aiming for an ultra-long siesta under a shady tree in the park.

The King of Ice Cream

Where do you enjoy your favourite ice cream?

Contemplare – Calle Anita Videl, 8. Aravaca

Maisón Glacée – Calle Alcalá 77 and Calle Ibiza, 42

Friend Dating

Sat, 04 May 2024 15:05:25 GMT

This past week in the INC social whats app group we´ve been discussing the various ways we make friends as expats or returning Spaniards in Madrid. In a city where a lot of people are born and raised here, with extensive friends and family networks on tap, breaking into new friendship groups can pose a challenge to a 35+ year old from elsewhere. In London, I remember counting down the days to my son´s start at the local nursery so that I could scour the playground for other seemingly-fun and frazzled mothers.

Spanish conversation flows

Most UK primary school parents are subjected to a jam-packed calendar of coffee mornings, class dinners and fundraising activities for a new 3D auditorium for the Nativity play. These events are great hunting grounds for the shark parents looking to find fellow finned friends with which to share summer villas in Crete so that Johnny can splash about in the infinity pool with Richard from Class 1B while their parents polish off their second bottle of rosé before 11.30 am.

Enjoying some Spanish equestrian culture

In Madrid Juan and Ricardo´s parents may well be having a weekly bottle of Rioja with their in laws on a Sunday followed by a few Estrella Galicia cervezas or three in their grandmother´s pueblo on a puente weekend or even a copita of fino in their holiday house in El Puerto de Santa María. So where does that leave the midlife expats or Spaniards looking for new friendships in this vibrant city? Well actually, in quite a good position …if you know what to look for and how to find it.

Ana, a native Spaniard from Area 2/3 points out that Madrid is teeming with diverse cultural options ranging from book clubs to dance groups and language classes in addition to the international clubs and societies. “Some examples are the Madrid Players theatrical group, St George’s Church, The Madrid International Choir, The James Joyce society and The Yeats Society. Many of the members of these international groups are Spanish people who value international social contact.” It´s fair to say that compared to when I first lived here in the 1980’s, Spaniards are far more mobile than ever and many are keen to enjoy a parallel social life with an international crowd.

However, as with any fast-paced capital city, lack of time seems to be a recurring barrier as Area 2/3’s Sinéad , who advises expat families on schools explains, “A common disappointment I encounter from clients is how difficult it is to make meaningful friendships beyond the playground chit chat.” Apparently making Irish friends can be equally challenging for Spaniards in Dublin. “A lot of them only have foreign friends despite working with Irish colleagues,” according to Sinéad. A sentiment echoed by many Spanish friends who have lived in London as I recall.

So how can we go about successful friend dating? Holly from Area 2/3 seems to have had some success expanding her and Spanish husband´s social circle beyond his school and university network, “I hosted a dinner party on Saturday for English speaking mums and their Spanish speaking partners, and I think the men were surprised how much fun it was and would probably do it again.” I agree, a bit of social engineering and creativity can go a long way. Why not turn the fact that you have been exposed to other ways of socialising to your (and everyone´s) advantage?

Ten years ago, when I arrived here I decided that an 11.30 am breakfast for flexi-workers represented the ideal opportunity to invite acquaintances to crumpets (good old Warburton´s frozen ones from Carrefour) and a pot of Earl Grey. Whereas lunch is for more intimately acquainted people and dinner is more formal, a rolling breakfast is a bit of a free for all. People perch happily on sofas either indoors or on the porch and come and go as they wish or can. You can mix up lots of social groups, maintain one conversation with a group of 5-6 or enlarge it to several concurrent conversations by inviting 10. I maintain a list of attendees and rotate people so that their common interests are stretched just enough so that they feel they´ve learned something new without them feeling they´ve been beamed up to Mars for two hours. That way everyone leaves refreshed and invigorated for having stepped out of their ubiquitous bubble for a morning.

Amigas on my porch

Another winning formula is dressing up….whilst less common in Spanish circles, this provides the ideal ice-breaker. “Why exactly do you have an axe protruding out of your head?” can trigger an hour-long conversation at the bar area. I once organised a dinner party on a Wednesday (again, breaking with protocol) and 2 of the couples dropped out at the last moment. Faced with a mountain of marinading chicken curry, I managed to creatively fill both spots with 2 couples who had nothing in common with the other 2. So, I rang all 4 couples at 6 pm and explained that they had to come dressed up as someone from the country beginning with the same letter as their first name. Three hours later, a buxom barmaid in Oktoberfest garb rang the bell, at the same time as a flouncy Flamenco dancer and a man with well-worn lederhosen to name a few of the outfits. I finally chased them all out of my dining room at 3 am. Goodness knows if they would actually recognise each other today in a regular suit.

Various nationalities represented at our Leaving London party

Whilst you are coming up with ingenious ways of socialising it´s worth bearing in mind that you are living in a city where “el mundo es un pañuelo” or rather, everyone knows everyone or is even possibly related to everyone. The fact that people use two surnames narrows the potential anonymity further as both the maternal and paternal side of the Spanish family tree can be identified.

Shortly after my arrival here, I took my 18 month-old daughter to a Spanish friend´s house for our weekly informal playgroup. On my first day there, I met a Spanish girl from Andalucía who said she had Scottish cousins. As a Scot myself and having worked with quite a few Jerezanos with Scottish connections in the sherry industry I decided to inquire what their names were. To which she replied with the name of my brother´s best friend from Southampton University in the UK.

INC coffee at my house in 2016

That evening my husband went to a funeral and met up with one of his long-lost friends. His friend hadn´t seen him during my husband´s 11-year stint in London and asked whom he had ended up marrying. When my husband replied his wife was Scottish, his friend remarked that his wife had just met a Scot that morning at a playgroup. This “small world” scenario can be played to an outsider´s advantage, as you only need to scratch the surface before you come up with friends or acquaintances in common.

Huge coincidences or twists of fate also happen within INC. Years ago, after an enjoyable Museum Forum visit we trotted off to the museum café for a coffee. At the time I was on the look out for a Spanish INC member to interview for my next Spotlight blog so I deliberately sat next to a woman speaking Spanish. Whilst eavesdropping on her conversation I was bemused by her reference to Claudia and Andrés. Eventually I interrupted her and we discovered that Loreto and I are the exact mirror image of each other. She is married to a Brit and has a Claudia and Andrés whilst I am married to a Spaniard and have an Andrés and a Claudia. Not only that, both our Andreses have ADHD so Loreto has become an invaluable source of tips as I have struggled to navigate the ensuing parental challenges with Spanish psychiatrists. We are firm friends today.

INC Quiz time

INC is also a source of meaningful friendships for many members long after they´ve flown away from Madrid. In fact, Loreto and several members of INC, both past and present are about to meet up in Scotland later this month with 2 Scots, 2 Spaniards, 1 Japanese, 1 Lebanese and two others flying over from Brazil and Saudi Arabia. This is testament to the bond that this club provides and also to those that take the trouble to cultivate and maintain the relationships formed within it despite busy diaries and the distance that separates them.

The Menina Race

For friendships are like plants, they need nurturing and tender loving care. Madrid has many gems to offer, both new and long-term residents. Starting anew or returning home after years away gives us an opportunity to look within ourselves and see how we can enrich other people´s lives before we look to enriching our own. What´s your favourite way to make friends?

Vivienne Sarobe´s Oasis

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 15:08:23 GMT

Vivienne Sarobe, psychologist and founder of OASIS talks to us about the place of happiness and wellbeing she has created in La Moraleja and the importance of reigniting our playful side.

Where did you live as a third culture child, constantly on the move?

My parents are both Spanish and we moved a lot because my father is an engineer who helped build the Puente de Salazar in Lisbon and many electrical power plants. I went to 9 different schools and was exposed to many languages growing up: English, Spanish, French, Swahili, Xosa, Zulu, Sutu, Welsh, Afrikaans, Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin…I still use three.

What about later when you were in your twenties onwards?

I started a law degree with the aim of becoming a diplomat, but then I was swayed by psychology as I love listening to people and really understanding them. I set up a private practice in La Moraleja, and also passed a public examination that led me to the public sector for several years and I also helped found City Country, an American Spanish Montessori Project School.

Vivienne´s oasis in La Moraleja

You have been a psychologist for 36 years, what lessons have you learned?

We need to understand our individual nature and take into account our own specific needs as well as celebrating diversity. Most difficulties arise because we don´t understand a particular need or uniqueness. You can´t judge a fish for its ability to climb a tree!

Oh, and now that I´m sixty years old I can afford to say, the most important thing is LOVE. Love is not a feeling but a practice of acceptance and understanding that requires discipline, kindness; patience; great courage; imagination; sensitivity and everything you´ve got.

How did you come up with the concept of Eggomotion?

I have a Youtube channel called Vivienne Sarobe, which explains it. One day a client asked me to explain procrastination, so I took some eggs from the fridge and painted the facial expressions that reflected the issues being discussed. I left them in the office and my patients started to relate to them and asked me to paint more, and the concept just grew from there.

One day my dog, Wanda, ate one of the eggs so I began to use wooden “Eggos”! Eggomotion is a narrative to help us see and play with the mind. I have two books on Amazon, “Eggomotion, the mind in motion” and “Learn Eggomotion”. which teaches the method in Spanish and English. I´m currently working on the next book.

You have recently launched OASIS, what is it all about?

It´s a centre dedicated to happiness, wellbeing and learning. We have a wide range of multi-lingual highly trained professionals such our psychologist who qualified at Columbia University; our psychiatrist who has worked for the National Health System in the UK and our art team.

Our mission to is help people to feel at home in Madrid and fully supported as they integrate into life here. We adopt a very practical and dynamic approach. Mental health is particularly important to expats as constant moves, the lack of family nearby and cultural changes are objectively stressful and require very specific tools to help them navigate the course.

Why is play and playfulness so essential our wellbeing?

Play and playfulness are a great medium to rehearse and experiment with facets of life that we find hard. So that we´re better prepared for them. They are even great healing tools for trauma if you know how to use them.

Art in the making in Oasis

You are also an accomplished singer, what role does music play in OASIS?

Songs are a great way to teach emotional intelligence in a way that resonates with children and adults alike. Apart from being therapeutic in itself, music provides a language with which we can explore our minds whilst at ease and make friends all over the world.

We offer workshops to discover your own voice and music and we create tailor-made workshops to suit.

In addition to expat support what other services do you offer?

We are also culture vultures and thanks to my black book of local experts we can provide top-notch classes in diverse areas such as the arts, psychology; communication; parenting; skills for family life and/or couples; tools to ease adaptation to expat life; what to expect in mourning, …anything concerning the mind.

Vivienne encourages us to be playful

What makes OASIS different from other wellbeing centres?

We´re a one-stop shop for the international community and returnee Spaniards to ease that transition into Madrid life. We have all experienced expat life first-hand so we understand exactly what it feels like. This enables us to connect with our clients on a deeper level as we speak the same cultural language in all its guises.

We listen between the lines to uncover what our clients really need. We then address the whole self and offer a bespoke plan to focus on those requirements.

Vivienne´s jazz group

What do you do in your spare time?

Believe it or not, I rest…. and write; sing; paint and garden. I have lots of lovely friends to share life with. My latest book and record, about the grief of losing my son, is coming out in April 2024. It´s been such a positive experience putting this together. So many parents lose a child but it´s rarely discussed. Mourning in general is overlooked, so I wanted to share my experience.

My band performs at public and private venues. We do events, weddings, cocktails, house concerts, etc. In fact we have accidentally become professional!

Where is your OASIS?

Right next to La Moraleja, exit 17, in a beautiful little community of houses.

Oasis – Therapy, learning, and art by and for members of the international community

Contact Vivienne Sarobe at 616108013 or viviennesarobe@gmail.com

Oasis can bring out the artist in you

Do you know your onions? – Susannah digs deeper into the tradition behind this treasured allium

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:10:22 GMT

March means we´re in full calçot season. These giant spring onions are cultivated in Valls, near Tarragona and are enjoyed from Figuerès to Fuengirola. At this time of year, people drive for miles around Catalunya to enjoy char-grilled stems which are often served in newspaper or on terracotta roof tiles. Once you´ve peeled off the outer part you´re left with a tender gooey stem.

The Annual Fiesta de la Calçotada in Valls

Farmers from the town of Valls in Tarragona were the first to harvest these onions. As the stems began to grow, they piled on earth around the shoots to force them to grow upwards to the surface, a bit like a leek. The name hails from this growing technique as the process is called calçar in Catalán which literally means “to cover the bottom part”. It also serves to keep the subterranean roots snow white in colour. The coveted long spring onion shape ensures a more even grilling than the bulbous variety.

Every year approximately 55 million of these alliums are harvested from November to May although only 10% originate from the heartland of Valls which is now a protected designated area.

Burning bushels of onions

Legend has it that a 19th century farm-hand called Xat de Benaiges accidentally burned some onions he was cooking on a fire. Eager to preserve the insides, he peeled them, only to discover that the inner layers had reduced down to a tasty unctuous delicacy and the trend took hold.

By the 20th century, the tradition of families and friends gathering around communal barbecues of the calçots from December to May had given rise to the phenomenon of calçotadas. Today this popular ritual is responsible for long queues of cars snaking their way out of Barcelona and Tarragona in search of their favoured blackened vegetable in local masías or farmhouse-type restaurants.

Eating calçots is an art

Eating these wobbly long onions is a bit of an art and bibs or “pitets” are handed out in a mandatory fashion. The onions are not completely cleaned as a little earth protects their outer skin. You have to hold a ‘calçot’ by the leaf with one hand and stretch out the peel downwards with the other hand. Calçotadas can last for several hours and usually take place on Sundays as most participants eat as many as 25-35 per head. There are many eating competitions and calçot festivities as far afield as Dublin, London and New York if you haven´t been struck down with indigestion.

Calçots in romesco soup – A creation from the infamous Torres Brothers

Almost as appreciated as the vegetables themselves is the sauce that accompanies them. Most restaurants up and down Spain serve them with Romesco. Yet the real die-hard aficionados stick to the local salvitxada which is a bit sweeter as it contains dried ñora peppers as opposed to the choricero variety found in Romesco. The other ingredients include toasted almonds and hazelnuts, roast tomatoes and garlic, olive oil, garlic, vinegar and parsley, which can either be ground in a pestle and mortar or liquidised for a smoother sauce.

Some chefs have come up with various innovative versions of these prized scallions such as confit calçots served with a meat and butifarra sausage gravy or even a crunchy calçot tempura dipped in curry sauce in Barra Alta restaurant in Madrid and Barcelona.

Barra Alta restaurant offers a modern twist

I am also a fan of the jarred calçot sauce, made with tomatoes and toasted almonds from most sizeable supermarkets. It goes down very well with fish and grilled meat, especially when accompanied by a chilled beer or copita of fino. On occasions I have been known to adulterate calçots with some tabasco but only because I eat chilli with almost everything. Apart from the chocolate stash I´m saving for Easter Day.

The Right Move with Cris Barbi

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:14:58 GMT

Italian- born Cris Barbi, an experienced estate agent talks to us about the property market in Madrid and her passion for photography

What do most expats look for in a house or an apartment here in the suburbs of Madrid?

Most clients are interested in light, space and proximity to their children’s school. Outside space is also an important attribute such as a terrace for an apartment and a swimming pool for a house. These are also key reasons why many clients prefer the outskirts of the city, in addition to getting a bigger bang for their buck in the city centre.

Maxing out at Remax

Do you specialise more in sales or rentals?

I do both. My clients are both Spanish and Expats and as an expat myself I appreciate how hard the leasing process is here in Spain. I also help a lot of foreign buyers to understand the sales process here with all the legislative foibles there are this jungle market, ensuring they don´t fall into the wrong hands.

Family time

How did you first get into the real estate business?

I´ve been an Expat for more than 20 years and although I have dealt with some good real estate agents, I’ve never found one that I´ve been 100% happy with. I wanted to be that agent I never had. I started in Brazil in January 2016 and continued on my return to Madrid later on the same year.

Daredevil Cris at Iguassu Falls

Which nationalities are the most and least demanding clients?

Americans are used to professional service, transparency, modern and well-maintained houses, none of which is easy to find here.

Overseas clients coming from troubled areas are often happy to overlook some of a particular house´s issues and to sacrifice some of their requirements in order to settle here quickly.

Spacious living

What is the key to a successful estate agent?

Listen, listen and listen some more and apply oodles of patience. Good negotiation skills go a long way too!

You lived in Curitiba for 10 years, how do your Madrileño customers differ from the Brazilian ones?

Brazil is closer to the American Real Estate market in so far as you need a licence to work in this field, unlike in Madrid, where anybody can start up in this industry with no experience whatsoever and this is often reflected in the poor image that Spanish property owners have of my profession.

Iconic Ipanema

How did you get into photography and how has it shaped your life?

I have always loved photography as a way to capture a detail that trigger an emotion ten years from now. I like photos that tell a story. I´d love to incorporate a bio-engineered camera in my eyes!

Cris captures the essence of Camburiu

What trends do you see in the real estate business in Madrid in general?

Some say that AI will take over even in Real Estate and some Companies are already using impersonal online sites to list properties, charging a fixed minimum amount. However, I still feel that buying a house is such an emotional process which must be taken into account. For example, some people have to downsize for heartfelt reasons. I work with people, not bricks. AI wouldn´t know the difference….at least for the time being.

Blue sky living

Where would you buy a flat or a house if you could choose, budget aside?

As an investment maybe Tetuán, Embajadores or Pacífico…although prices are already going up.

Otherwise, I love Chamberí, Justicia, Lista and some parts of Hortaleza and Charmartín as they are quieter than the more touristic areas such as Recoletos. In terms of the suburbs, both Pozuelo and Majadahonda tick my boxes.

Email Cristina.barbi@remax.es

Tel – 34 636 47 58 29

Relaxing in Sicily

Spotlight on María Elena Laufs

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:17:30 GMT

Before our Co-Vice President moves back to Germany we take a heady nose dive into big hitter, María Elena´s multi-faceted life as a British-born university lecturer, author and motivational trainer and former globetrotting fashion buyer who spent her formative years amongst colourful peacocks in the heart of the English countryside.

Your parents are from Spain, do you feel at home here?

I do feel totally at home in Spain, especially in Galicia where my extended family live.

María Elena at Belvoir Castle

How has being brought up in an English fairytale castle where your parents worked shaped your life?

It undoubtedly gave me my fascination with clothes. Living at such a grand 356-room castle gave me a glimpse into a world where the ladies were all beautiful and glamourous. It prompted me to go into fashion retail.

As a daughter of 2 chefs, are you a culinary goddess?

Yes, I am a good cook. However, I do not enjoy cooking and the happiest period of my life was when we lived in Hong Kong and I didn´t cook anything for almost four years as we had the luxury of a live-in helper who did it all. Absolute heaven.

María Elena with her brother on a visit to Belvoir Castle

How did you cope moving round the UK every few years?

I had a big enough ´why´, working in fashion retail, to make the ´what´ of moving around the country at a moment´s notice manageable. I made sure that in every town I moved to I had certain elements in my life that brought me joy, such as a nice home, a friend and tennis. I called this my ´Joy Backbone´ and you can read about it in my chapter in The Book on Joy.

Do you have any amusing stories about adapting to life in Hong Kong?

As an English teacher, I would be despatched to various government schools in places far away from the glitzy Central district. Hong Kong has these fantastic minibuses that take you everywhere, but they don´t have proper bus stops. You just shout out to the driver when you want to get off. As the only Westerner on these buses, I found the thought of shouting out in my tourist Cantonese so excruciatingly mortifying that I just used to wait until someone else got off, meaning that I regularly ended up miles away from where I was meant to be and had a pretty long walk back.

María Elena in action in Hong Kong

You coach people on how to add more joy into their lives, how do you add more to yours?

By keeping the things that bring me joy at the forefront of my mind and ensuring that I follow them as a guide to how I live my life. l have my current top 5 on my noticeboard as a constant reminder.

What is it about being a motivational speaker that inspires you?

Having the opportunity to influence people´s lives for the good.

María Elena in virtual action

What was it like bringing up your husband´s 3 German-speaking children in a suburb of Dusseldorf?

As a non-German-speaking career girl, it was both a baptism of fire and a comedy of errors, involving lots of hand gestures and exaggerated facial expressions.

María Elena at home in Germany

What´s your favourite podcast?

Best Friend Therapy, which mirrors conversations I love to have with my own best friend. I also like My Wardrobe Malfunction, which is all about our relationship with clothes.

Which lesson has been the hardest to learn?

The reality of the words about friends in the poem, Train of Life, and how we never know when they will step down and vacate their seat.

https://allpoetry.com/poem/16173387-The-Train-of-Life-by-Vincent-Moore

Are you a natural sportswoman?

No, definitely not. However, I have always loved tennis. Nothing beats hitting a scorching winner down the line. I came to yoga during my Hong Kong years, learning it from an array of Indian yogis who manoeuvred me into positions I didn´t believe possible. I love the stretched-out feeling yoga gives me, coupled with the sense of accomplishment when conquering a tricky pose.

Hard-hitters

Which fashion website should we consult for the latest trends?

My daily guilty pleasure is the “moda” section of Hola.com. I´ve also recently gone back to my first love, fashion magazines, which are great here in Spain.

María in her fashion executive days

Why can´t you stay still?

I spend so much time immersed in the world of personal development, it´s almost impossible not to be. Being surrounded by positive, enthusiastic people lifts you to new heights.

Where´s next for María Elena?

My third collaborative book, The Book on Abundance, is released mid-February. My chapter is all about what a wardrobe purge tells you about yourself. I´m launching an online course, English for Fashion Buying and Retail, in the summer and following that, my friend and I are planning on creating our own podcast in the latter part of the year. The working title is ´Would I do that differently now?´ and it´s a light-hearted reflection on life with the benefit of hindsight and experience.

María Elena strikes a pose in yoga in Granada

The Best Fabada in the World

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:18:56 GMT

The Asturians are baying for blood, yet the jury has spoken and as of March last year, the Best Fabada in the World is in Madrid! The winners of last year´s competition was none other than the Mesón Asturiano Sidrería Arturo in the Hortaleza area of our capital.

The ultimate taste test

García’s magic touch comes up trumps

People travel from miles around to sample the Mesón’s Asturian fare

Playa Rodiles, near Villaviciosa makes for a popular holiday spot

Funnily enough, if you´re looking for a quick fix, whilst not being a huge advocate of tinned food, the Litoral brand of ready made fabada is surprisingly tasty and the giant catering can sizes of 5 portions have served up many a happy winter lunch to me and my 51 immediate in laws at the farm near Aranjuez where we got married. Think of it as gourmet Baked Beans with all the porky trimmings. It certainly takes pride of place as a Spanish storeroom staple and I´m hoping to get my hands on some of Jurgita´s prize Lithuanian chillies to perk up my next Asturian ration.

My go-to Fabada, sssh, don´t spill the beans

So watch this space for a possible visit to an Asturian restaurant with the lunch bunch coming soon….

Belén serves up a mean bean feast for two

Mesón Sidrería Arturo – Calle del Mar Bering, 9. Hortaleza, Madrid. Tel 917 63 12 39

Casa Belén – Calle General Campomanes, 1, Villaviciosa, Asturias. Tel 696 05 37 21