Ganz von vorn beginnen

Summary

The Knell family, originally from Bielefeld, Germany, relocated to the Costa Blanca in Spain seven years ago to fulfill their dream of living where others vacation. Initially, only the parents and their two younger daughters moved, leaving the older children behind. The parents, Eva and Uwe, had to adapt to a new life with Eva working as a housekeeper and Uwe using his handyman skills. They managed to buy a 75-square-meter apartment as a starting point, with dreams of a larger home. The family has faced bureaucratic challenges and language barriers, but they've persevered, with Eva even starting a small business selling Spanish specialties. Despite the hardships, they've made Spain their home, but they miss their eldest daughter and grandchild. They hope to convince their older daughter to join them in Spain, possibly making their dream of a bigger house a reality.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The family moved from Bielefeld to the Costa Blanca in Spain to fulfill their dream of living where others vacation.
• 💼 Uwe's computer business in Germany was struggling due to competition from discounters, prompting the move.
• 🏠 They initially bought a 75 square meter apartment in a holiday complex to serve as a secure starting point.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Only two of their four children, Denise (7) and Gwendolyn (12), moved with them at first, with different expectations.
• 🌐 Language was a barrier initially, but Eva's good Spanish helped navigate bureaucracy, a challenge they compared to the experiences of foreigners in Germany.
• 🎓 Yvonne, one of the daughters, quickly adapted to the new environment, made friends, and was on track to graduate.
• 👩‍💼 Eva found employment as a house manager, taking care of German-owned holiday homes, while Uwe struggled to find work in his old profession.
• 🔧 Uwe utilized his practical skills, becoming a jack-of-all-trades, serving the needs of German tourists and part-time residents.
• 💡 Despite the challenges, the family remained resilient, constantly coming up with new ideas to support themselves, including Eva starting a small distribution business for Spanish specialties.
• 🏡 After seven years of hard work, they could now afford a larger house, and the dream of their eldest daughter potentially moving to Spain with her child made the prospect even more exciting.
• 💔 The emotional challenge of being far from their eldest daughter and only grandchild was a significant downside, with plans to potentially bring them closer.

Q & A

Why did the Knell family decide to move from Germany to Spain?

The Knell family moved from Germany to Spain because they saw better opportunities and a chance to start anew. The father's computer business was struggling due to competition from discounters, and they wanted to try something different while they were still young enough to start over.

How long ago did the Knell family move to Spain?

The Knell family moved to Spain seven years ago.

What was the initial living situation for the Knell family upon their arrival in Spain?

Upon arriving in Spain, the Knell family bought a 75 square meter apartment in a holiday complex near Alicante, which was a secure starting point for them.

What were the career plans of Eva and Uwe Knell after moving to Spain?

Eva gave up her veterinary practice and Uwe left his computer business in Germany. They planned to restart their careers in Spain, hoping to eventually buy a larger house.

How did the Knell family's children adapt to living in Spain?

The Knell's children, Denise and Gwendolyn, moved to Spain with their parents. They had different expectations but eventually adapted, with Gwendolyn quickly making friends and planning to finish her high school education there.

What challenges did the Knell family face in terms of bureaucracy in Spain?

The Knell family found the bureaucracy in Spain to be a nightmare, especially when it came to registering their residence, car, and business. Everything was different, starting with the office hours.

What job did Eva Knell find in Spain?

Eva Knell found a job as a building superintendent, taking care of the beautiful houses of Germans who had a second home on Spain's sunny coast.

How did Uwe Knell adapt to his new life in Spain?

Uwe Knell struggled to find a steady income in his old job as a computer specialist. Instead, he used his practical skills and became a jack-of-all-trades, helping with various tasks, especially for German tourists who were familiar with his services.

What additional business venture did Eva Knell start recently?

Eva Knell recently started a small distribution business selling Spanish specialties.

What is the Knell family's ultimate dream regarding their living situation in Spain?

The Knell family dreams of moving into a larger house in Spain. After seven years of hard work, they are finally in a position to afford it, and they hope that their eldest daughter and her family might join them.

How often do the Knell family's adult children visit them in Spain?

The adult children of the Knell family, who remained in Germany, visit their parents in Spain at most twice a year.