Interview Corner: Tom Pearson
Today’s Interview is all about Tom Pearson, who is happily settled in Asturias – quite possibly the greenest part of Spain. Read on to find out more.
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Tom Bowlby Pearson
When did you move to Spain, and where from?
I originally moved in 2014 to Madrid from Reading (UK, not the American one). I had been suffering from a balance disorder that left me unable to work, drive, or look at a screen. I was able to listen and Spanish podcasts though, and it peaked my interest enough that once I felt able to travel, I packed my bags straight for Madrid! I hadn’t planned on staying tbh, but one thing lead to another… and here I still am (albeit having moved around a fair bit inbetween).
Who came with you?
Just me, I came on my lonesome and stayed with a host family while I studied Spanish in a language school. The family’s flat was the other side of Retiro so I had nice some nice initial walks across the park as I enjoyed the balmy 20 degrees in March (well it was balmy for me at least).
Where in Spain do you live now?
I live in Asturias, in a small village not too far from Oviedo. My neighbours are sheep and cows although I’m only a short drive from civilisation. After having lived in flats in the centre of Madrid and Barcelona, it’s a more relaxing change for the family and my twin babies.
What things (apart from loved ones) do you miss from your country of birth?
The public footpaths, sports that aren’t big in Spain and sponge cake
Do you work? As what?
I’m a Principal Engineer for a European digital bank.
How are you with speaking Spanish?
Good enough to write books on it ;) I worked most of my time in Spanish (and even Catalan when I lived in Barcelona). My wife is Argentinian so that has definitely helped although now I have a strange mix and can’t quite make up my mind whether I want to say ‘sho’ or ‘yo’ half the time! I still make mistakes of course and can’t fully lose that guiri accent as much as I’d like.
I started documenting my Spanish journey fairly early on, particularly focusing on what natives said as opposed to what I’d learnt from textbooks, podcasts and in the language school. This journey didn’t see the light of day for a long time but I finally compiled everything into three books – the Speak Spanish Like a Native series.
If you could change anything about Spain… what would that be? And why?
The economic and housing situation. It annoys me that so many very qualified young people have to work as becarios to only then have to give back almost everything they earn just to rent a flat.
What are the best things about living in Spain?
There’s something about Spain that feels wonderfully alive. Even on an unremarkable Tuesday evening, the streets are buzzing – terraces full, children playing in the park. That also spills into how people interact, there’s an openness and vitality that just isn’t there in other countries.
What are your favourite Spanish dishes?
Croquetas, churros, pan con tomate, pimientos de padrón
What is the predominant nationality of your friends in Spain?
Argentinian and Spanish mostly
If you won the Euromilliones – would you still live where you currently are? Why / why not?
Yes, I love Asturias – It’s green, you’ve got the beach, the mountains, countryside… I might buy a little orchard as I’d like to plant more fruit trees but our garden isn’t really big enough.
I lived for 4 years in Vienna where I married my wife (although I met her in Barcelona) and where my kids where born so, not going to lie, I’d probably buy a nice flat there to visit and nice cottage somewhere in the Lake District. Trail running in the Lake District is heaven.
If a movie was made about your life – who would play you? Why?
I could get onboard with a bit of Matt Damon or Pierce Brosnan. But maybe that’s just because I secretly want to be James Bond or Jason Bourne
If you had to describe yourself as a cocktail… what would you be, and why?
Gin Tonic – pretty straightforward, not many bells and whistles but still a nice drink (guy)
Right – now is the chance to tell us all about your business/website/blog if you have one (or more of course).
As I mentioned above, I’ve written a book series called Speak Spanish Like a Native. There are three books at the moment:
Social Life and Relationships throws you into real social interaction: meeting people, nightlife, ordering drinks, dating, sex, and the fine art of arguing and swearing. Everything your teacher was too polite to cover.
Daily Life and Culture is your survival guide for actually living in a Spanish-speaking country: flats, transport, money, health, work, humour, sport — plus a bonus chapter on Argentine Spanish.
Sound Right, Write Right covers the mechanics that make you sound native: pronunciation, word stress, accents, punctuation, and the grammar shortcuts real speakers use instead of what’s in your textbook.
You can read them in any order, all available on Amazon (free on Kindle Unlimited) in both Kindle and Paperback.
https://speaklikenatives.com/
https://speaklikenatives.com/
https://speaklikenatives.com/
Or get the box set in one go: https://speaklikenatives.com/
I also have a website https://speaklikenatives.com/
Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.
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