20 years mean nothing!

In the year 2000, I started putting my hopes and efforts into making this project a reality. It was an idea that few believed had a future, not even me, because who knew about Murcia? Furthermore, who would want to come to Murcia to study Spanish?

It seems that it was yesterday when I bought my first mobile phone, a second-hand computer and hired an Internet service at my parents’ house, when connecting to the internet the landline signal was blocked and a loud and shrill sound could be heard. My whole family had to organize to make or receive phone calls while I was able to connect to the network.

When I printed my first business cards and gave my mother the first one. Fortunately, she lived long enough to see how the school opened and started to succeed.

It feels like just yesterday when I was scouring the city in search of a rental space that met the minimum requirements for a school, and the incredible stroke of luck that led me to find the perfect location. I also remember pitching my project to the University of Murcia, the Catholic University of Murcia, the City Council, and the Murcia Tourist Promotion Office, and encountering varying degrees of politeness and resistance from them. Some raised objections or argued against it, while others were more receptive.

Well, 20 years later, almost 8,000 students from more than 40 countries that have chosen Murcia and our school to study Spanish, surrounded by an exceptional team of people working to be better every day, here we are ready to take the odds. Of course, I would like to thank ALL the people who are and have been part of this family for their time, dedication and enthusiasm. A huge team that, without them, we wouldn’t be here today.

And, indeed, it seems like yesterday, because in the words of the popular tango “Volver” by Carlos Gardel, 20 years mean nothing!

Gracias.

Felipe Espada – Aznar

Instituto Hispánico de Murcia CEO & Founder