This is my new home: Martos, Spain. In just a few weeks I will be headed out there with my friends Dan, Poonam, and Dietrich. We will all be assistant English teachers in public schools under the auspices of the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion. I will be teaching in an elementary school on the west side of the city, and, if Google Maps is correct at all, it will be directly across the street from olive orchards.
Yes, olive orchards.
Martos is apparently the fifth-largest municipality in the province (technically, “autonomous community”) of Andalucia, in the south. By my standards, though – especially coming from New York City – it’s small, with only 24,000 people. The town is apparently the center of the olive industry in Spain and has a huge industrial park on the south end, so I think it’s a safe bet to say it’s a pretty working-class city. Other than that, there’s a river and large mountain (La peña, seen in the photo).
The town is about an hour outside of Granada, home of the Alhambra, a place so beautiful it should not exist. The four of us were, thankfully, placed in the same town, although not in the same school. So we’re planning on showing up and finding a furnished apartment. As if that wasn’t enough uncertainty for me, we don’t know anything about training. We’re just supposed to show up on October 1st, talk with someone at the school – no idea who – and then we’ll be told about orientation. It seems like a bit of a sink or swim situation. Exciting.
So, for now, I’m in Los Angeles with my family, enjoying beautiful smoke-laden sunny skies. I’ll be headed out on September 25th, flying out of good old LAX, and the four of us will meet up during our layovers in Toronto. Then, a flight to Madrid and a few days there, followed by a commuter train south and then a bus to Martos.
More to come!
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It looks beautiful! I’m more than a little jealous that you’re headed to Andalucia. SO much better than the city. I hope you have a great time and enjoy a massively different place, especially for your photography.
I will be watching your progress with interest as I am currently trying to buy a house in Martos. I’ve never been there (the closest was a brief visit to Granada years ago) so I’m hoping I may learn something from your experiences – and mistakes!
If all five of you are teaching English, it sounds as if future new arrivals in Martos from non-Spanish speaking countries will find life a little easier. I’ve been told that there are comparatively few English-speaking locals at present and that I may have to go to Alcala la Real or Alcaudete to find English expats. I have the impression that some find Martos rather “too Spanish” and something of a culture shock!
In case you haven’t worked it out yet, I should explain that I am a New Zealander. I simply want a cheap house for annual holidays and chose Martos because property prices are lower there and yet it is a big enough town to have plenty to keep me amused. I’m curious to see what you get for 350 euros per month as looking ahead I’d be interested in renting out whatever I buy, to help cover outgoings.
Good luck to you all and do please keep updating your web page. John
Good to have you, John! I’m not sure how much help I’ll be able to give you about buying a house, but I’m definitely planning on writing about life here and I will give a tour of my place when I can.
The four of us were originally planning on living in Jaén because we’re so used to a city, but when we got to Martos we were kind of taken by it’s small(er) town charm. There’s everything here except for a movie theater, and Jaén is close enough by bus that it’s really not a problem to get there except late nights and weekends. The people here are great and friendly and the town is beautiful.
The only thing that I would say – and I’ve said it to anyone who’s looking to live in Spain – is that they really don’t speak as much English as you would think unless you’re in a big city like Madrid, and even then it becomes a problem at the most random times. I highly recommend coming with at least some Spanish, especially to a smaller town. They’re working on it, as our position shows, but we’re coming through a Ministry of Education program to bilingual schools, so I don’t know how common that is, really.
Anyway, Martos is a great place and I think you’ll enjoy it here.
Hi Ian,
What church are you looking for in Martos? We go to an evangelical one.
I’ve been looking for pretty much anything that isn’t Catholic, and so far I’ve had no luck…
On Calle Principe Felipe, near the red/white roundabout almost next door to the Ferreterria there is an Evangelical church. Maybe that’s where you went, sometimes as there are very few people that go, they don’t have a service and meet with another church in Jaen.
That happened a few weeks/month ago. It starts at 11.30(ish- this Spain)
There is also another small Evangelical church in Las Arrayanes – the pedestrian bit just back from the tree-lined avenue. It’s down the stairs – underground.
Rachel
Yeah, the first one you mentioned was the one I tried. Even for Spaniards, it’s weird if the grate isn’t at least halfway up when you’re supposed to begin.
I found the other church on Arranayes that you mentioned today. I’ll give it a go on Sunday. Wish me luck! Thanks for the info!
I am thinking of buying a house in Martos…..how is it there? I am a qualified teacher in the UK but want to move to Martos. Is it easy to get a job in schools there. Do you like life there? whats the good things bad thing about living there?
I have no idea how hard it is to get a job teaching here. I came under a program called Auxiliares de Conversacion, which is considered a fellowship. I like it here, although it’s a little bit slower than New York City, where I was before. I’d recommend you take a look at my other journal entries, which will hopefully give you a better idea of what life is like here.
Hi,
I’ve just stumbled across your site whilst looking for work in Martos/Jaen.
My girlfriend has a house in Martos (up near the monastery shown in your picture) – its a beautiful town eh! Have only just got back after spending New Years there.
I was wondering whether you have any advice regarding finding work out there. I’m unqualified but interested in teaching English and am also a photographer.
Check out my site http://www.jondaviesphotography.wordpress.com
Cheers
Jon
Afraid I’m not going to be much help. I got my job teaching English there through the Spanish government – I had no idea where I would end up. It ‘s a program called Auxiliares de Conversacion, if you’re interested in it. The only real qualification was that you speak English, which you clearly do. Otherwise, I would suggest just showing up and looking, either there or in Jaen. I don’t really know how else you’d get a job.
Nice photos, by the way!