In 2006, I became a certified Intermediate Art Tutor and took my chances travelling and working overseas before making my way back to Derry in 2008 to kick-off my profession as an educator. Rather fortuitously, I found steady work as a relief teacher, amassing valuable experience within Derry, despite the financial crash threatening the prospect of a secured position.
I mulled over the idea of re-establishing roots in either New Zealand or Australia, places I had experienced during my travels. However, the proposition to be part of a bilingual programme in Madrid’s public schools came my way.
I was celebrating my 30th birthday in Poland, cheering on the Irish football squad in 2012, when the Madrid job offer appeared. To accept the offer, I had to scout an internet cafe in Toruń. Transitioning over turned out to be smooth, with many Irish, Scottish, and English educators already there who soon turned into housemates and friends. My Spanish school’s empathetic nature also eased the process.
Since my arrival, I’ve been charmed by the lifestyle and contemplated how wonderful a place it would be to establish a permanent residence.
Reflecting on the city of Toledo, it reminds me of a Spanish Derry, as it exudes a strong sense of community.
Even before I met Mariana, my Argentinian wife, in 2013, I believed our height compatibility and my English speaking abilities were attractive qualities. Mariana, originally from Buenos Aires, had lived in London before relocating to Madrid, her mother’s hometown. Strike me down, from day one she had no difficulty understanding my Derry accent, apart from when I utter “now”. The credit, as far as language goes, goes to her Madrilene mother and her English instruction.
Ireland’s connection to Spain is also prominent.
Now, I’m based in Toledo, working at the San Patricio International School (St Patrick’s) and collaborating with the Dublin Academy (Academia Dublin). Madrid hosts a plethora of streets named after Irish personas and aplenty Irish pubs.
A great number of Spaniards have cherished memories of their time studying and touring Ireland and hold a deep affection for the country. One such individual is David, an Irishman from Dublin, who married into my wife’s family. We were blessed with a son, Liam, in 2018. We thought his name was globally recognised and easy to pronounce, yet it indirectly alludes to his Irish roots. However, numerous individuals still struggle with pronouncing it correctly.
In the past, I was part of a bilingual programme but had to seek employment in the private sector due to its closure. For the past five years, I’ve been instructing at Legamar International School, a bilingual and international school located in the Madrid suburb of Leganés. Liam is also a student there. Even though he comprehends everything in English, he communicates exclusively in Spanish for the time being. The school’s recent adoption of the International Baccalaureate gives us hope that he will benefit from a more cosmopolitan syllabus.
Throughout the pandemic, the Legamar community has demonstrated unwavering support, embracing my son and standing by me. I’ve spent some time in the infants’ department and it’s been quite astonishing to see what these young children are capable of. It provides an insightful perspective to be both a parent and a teacher within the school.
I teach art to primary and secondary school students in English, and I also prepare them for the Cambridge English exams. Bilingualism is highly valued at our school and throughout the city of Madrid. Notably, approximately a third of Madrid’s residents are non-natives, contributing to a truly international community.
Toledo, a Unesco World Heritage Site known as the ‘City of the Three Cultures’, has become our new home. It is celebrated for the harmonious coexistence of Muslims, Jews and Christians over centuries. We relish the perks of residing in a smaller city while also having convenient access to Madrid’s capital benefits.
In many ways, our life in Toledo echoes my experiences in Derry – we’re engaged in the community, acquainted with our neighbours, and lead a regular life of strolling with our dog, visiting parks with Liam, and keeping fit at the local gym.
Although geographically, Northern Ireland and Derry aren’t that distant, travelling to them is made somewhat challenging since the sole available flight goes to Dublin.
My name is Tony Brown, a native of Derry, and now, an art teacher at the Legamar International School in Madrid.
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