Chapter 1 ----Preparing for the journey

Rosa is from Spain. She lives in a small flat in Madrid with her mother.

Rosa's mother is called Maruja.

Tomorrow is a big day for Rosa. She is going to the airport. She is flying to

London. She will stay with an English family in Wembley, West London.

Maruja is a little sad. She likes her daughter, but tomorrow she will have to

say goodbye.

Rosa is putting three books in her suitcase. Maruja is watching her. The

suitcase looks very heavy.

"Do you need all those books?" Maruja asks.

"Yes, mummy! The yellow book is a Spanish English dictionary and the red

one is a Tourist Guide to London."

"But do you need that big, black book?"

"Yes, of course, mummy! The black book's very important. It's about

children. My English family has two young children and I'm going to look

after them."

Rosa is very interested in children. Last year, she studied Psychology at

university. Maruja likes children too, but she does not know about Psychology.

"But, Rosa ... the black book's in Spanish! It's about Spanish children!"

"No, mummy! It's about European children. We're all Europeans now! My

psychology book's international!"

"I don't know about psychology, but I know about you. You're my child.

You've got Spanish culture and habits."

"What do you mean, mummy?"

"I mean that you have a good Catholic education, you like good food, you have

lunch at 3 p.m. and dinner at 10 p.m. You like sun and you don't like rain.

British children are different!"