Speaking European: Natashja Scott Shares Her Story Of Ice And Fire- From Sub-zero Swedish Lapland To Magical Mallorca

Natashja was calved successful Swedish Lapland, 4 hours supra nan Arctic Circle, wherever winters are agelong and bluish lights creation crossed nan sky. Her earliest memories are group against polar nights, nan hush of snowfall, and nan deep-rooted traditions of a achromatic wilderness. And yet, different world became conscionable arsenic defining: Australian beachlife. Her puerility moved betwixt stiff forests and nan scorching seashore of Oz.

In this interview, she shares really those extremes shaped her travel that yet led her to Mallorca and nan beautiful Mediterranean life she now calls home.

EWN: Hola Natashja! We’d emotion to commencement by proceeding a small astir your astonishing background?

Natashja: I’m proudly tri-national – Swedish done my father, New Zealand done my mother, and Australian acknowledgment to a rule that granted citizenship to each Kiwis surviving successful Australia. I was calved successful Kiruna, nan northernmost metropolis successful Swedish Lapland, 4 hours supra nan Arctic Circle. It’s known for its immense robust ore excavation and for Jukkasjärvi – nan colony location to nan world-famous Ice Hotel. That colony is my soul’s safe spot – our “paradise village.”

Growing up successful a family of hunters and fishers, surrounded by polar nights and nan midnight sun, shaped maine deeply. Because my parents lived successful different countries, I spent my puerility betwixt Sweden and Australia from ages 4 to 18.

I’ve lived successful six countries overall, but Sweden and Australia are nan bosom of my upbringing. New Zealand remains an important thread too, pinch my mother’s full family still successful Auckland.

I joined nan luxury yachting manufacture astatine 20, wherever I later met my husband. After 12 years of travelling full-time, we became pregnant successful 2019 and had to take a spot to invited our daughter. We chose Australia truthful she could beryllium a summertime babe and planned to enactment six months – but erstwhile she arrived successful December 2019, nan pandemic deed 3 months later, and Australia became location for nan adjacent 2.5 years.

EWN: Before moving to Mallorca, wherever were you surviving – and what inspired you to make nan leap to land life?

Natashja: Before Mallorca, we were surviving successful Australia. In 2021, I woke up 1 greeting pinch a sudden, crystal-clear determination already made: we were going to move to Mallorca. It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t discussed – our only existent relationship to nan land was stopping present occasionally while moving connected yachts. We hardly knew Mallorca astatine all, but nan determination felt right, truthful I trusted it.

It was nan champion determination for our family. Being successful Europe – particularly Mallorca – allows america amended balance, since my hubby Jamie still useful successful nan yachting manufacture and spends half nan twelvemonth successful nan Mediterranean.

I’ve since learned that my ancestral roots trace backmost to Spain – my family primitively comes from nan Basque region, and my mediate name, Alma, was fixed successful honour of my great-grandmother. Fittingly, it intends “soul” successful Spanish. It makes our move to Mallorca consciousness moreover much aligned.

EWN: Did mainland Spain ever tempt you, aliases was Mallorca ever nan dream?

Natashja: Mainland Spain ne'er genuinely tempted maine – Mallorca was nan clear determination from nan start, moreover though I couldn’t explicate why astatine nan time. I’ve often heard group opportunity Mallorca is simply a treatment island, influenced by tectonic power and gravitational pulls. Some declare it carries a restorative power. Sometimes I wonderment if that’s why I felt specified certainty astir moving here.

EWN: What’s your favourite point astir surviving successful Spain?

Natashja: The upwind is simply a dream, of course, but what we emotion astir is nan culture, nan people, and nan Mediterranean measurement of life. It feels for illustration a beautiful spot to raise children – relaxed, outdoorsy, warm. And being person to Sweden is incredibly important to me, because it keeps my girl connected to her Swedish roots.

EWN: And tin you stock a concealed Mallorca spot you deliberation much group should cognize about?

Natashja: If I shared my concealed spots, they wouldn’t beryllium secrets anymore! When my friends and family visit, I return them connected what they lovingly telephone “Tash’s Tours” to observe my real hidden gems.

EWN: Have you travelled overmuch astir mainland Spain? If so, do you person a favourite destination aliases hidden gem?

Natashja: One spot that’s particularly adjacent to my bosom is simply a mini colony adjacent Palamós. Hidden successful nan countryside, successful a section of blooming poppies, is wherever my hubby projected to me. Because of that moment, Spain has ever had a earthy gravitational propulsion for us.

EWN: Your girl is trilingual – incredible! Do you person immoderate tips for chap mums raising multilingual children successful Spain?

Natashja: Yes – she speaks English, Swedish, and now Spanish. My biggest extremity is to place which connection will go your child’s “third” aliases weakest language, and make a conscious effort to support it alive. Speak it often, play TV shows successful that connection – vulnerability is everything. Finding communities, friends, aliases groups from your location countries besides keeps traditions and connection alive. And astir importantly: support it fun!

EWN: What was your biggest civilization daze aft moving here?

Natashja: Aside from nan upland of paperwork erstwhile you first get (that really is impressive! ), nan biggest affirmative astonishment has been nan warmth of nan locals. Spaniards genuinely emotion children – everyplace you go, group want to help, engage, and connect.

Schooling present is very different from Sweden aliases Australia, wherever there’s much region betwixt teachers and children. In Spain, it’s warm, engaged, and incredibly heartfelt. Teachers present springiness so much to each kid – their dedication is extraordinary.

EWN: Finally, what proposal would you springiness personification who has conscionable moved to Mallorca aliases is reasoning astir making nan move?

Natashja: If you’ve conscionable moved — welcome! Get retired there, opportunity yes to each invite. With truthful galore expats, everyone is unfastened to caller friendships. You’ll find your people, and friends often go family here. If you’re reasoning astir making nan move, spot your gut. Nothing has to beryllium everlastingly – conscionable try.