Living Overseas

Do you speak Spanish or Catalan? Simply go the kiddie parks in the afternoon and start talking to the other moms.

If you only speak English, ask your husband if his co-workers have English-speaking spouses. I just googled "english speaking playgroups in barcelona spain" and got tons of responses...at least a place to start. Contact the American school or the Benjamin Franklin School (if memory serves) and ask them if they have a PTA contact who might have info for you. Start asking about Kindergarten registration...certainly you'll meet many moms like yourself there.

**Don't even bother with the American embassy or consulate...they don't do social networking. 17 years of living in Spain and attempting to get ANY sort of help from our State Department there has taught me that you simply cannot expect them to help you...Citizens' Services is a total farce.

There is a group on babycenter called International Mommies and you might find someone there. Are you moving there? Military, government or private company? Just asking because I live overseas but with non-military government but I'm in Central America.

Have you gone on yahoo answers?
When I was considering taking a civilian job on a military base in Germany I had many questions. I quickly realized there was a large community of Americans and had many questions answered on yahoo answers. I don't know if you are military but looking to ask your question in the military-spain section and in the travel-spain section will likely point you in the right direction.

Just speaking as someone who only speaks English but has friends and relatives in Europe, I am betting you will meet lots of people there who speak English! Most European kids have to learn at least one second language and often two and a lot of the time, one of them is English. I hope you find other moms to connect with to start off, but I am betting you won't have trouble finding English speaking parents once you settle in! Good luck- it sounds like a great adventure!

I lived overseas many times and usualy found other moms through schools my kids went to, women associations, and online expat blogs.
Hope that helps.

Is there an American Consulate that might be able to help you? Or even an English/Irish Consulate? THere may be other moms of dignitaries stationed there who would be happy to speak English.
Have you enrolled into a Spanish class?
Get the boys in a Spanish preschool, that way you can talk to the mommies from there.
In no time you will be fluent. We had a Spanish gal living near us on base in Monterey and she caught on to English very quickly.
If nothing else the Navy brings a ship into port at Barcelona and I'm sure you could have some of our Navy guys over for dinner. THey would love it and you could speak English.