Mr. José Manuel Calahorra, Facilities Manager

ASB's Facilities Manager, Mr. José Manuel, is used to long days on campus at ASB. He is the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave each evening. Being on campus is nothing new for him, though. As a boy, José Manuel grew up living on ASB's former and first campus at Plaza Eusebio Güell in Barcelona (the main entrance was on Sor Eulàlia d'Anzizu Street). Both his parents worked for the school since its inauguration in 1962, until their retirement in 1992 (father) and 1995 (mother). 

"The school itself was located in a large house, surrounded by playgrounds," he recollects, "I enjoyed living and growing up inside the school."



As a student at ASB, Mr. José Manuel remembers the small class sizes and good friends he made. "We still meet and talk every year," he shares. Graduating from the Class of 1984, together with former classmate and colleague, Ms. Christina Torrengo, José Manuel's daughter, Jessica, is also a graduate from the Class of 2015. Jessica attended ESERP University in Barcelona, graduating with a degree in Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations, and an Executive Masters in Event Management from the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management Sant Ignasi (HTSI). She is now undertaking her second Masters degree in Neuromarketing. 

As a student, Jessica fondly recalls the many summers she spent working at ASB summer camps. "Since both my grandparents worked at the school, and my dad studied and worked at the school, I felt like I was following the family tradition by working at the school during the summer," she recalls. 

Having teachers who had also taught her father when he was a student at ASB or shared stories or photographs of earlier times when her grandparents were on campus, was also meaningful for Jessica. "We had some fun times," she shared, "I remember one year dressing up for Halloween together with my dad."

José Manuel's father has many recollections from the early days of ASB, including the school's relocation from Plaza Eusebio Güell to Font del Lleó and today´s location in Esplugues. He recalls one day when a construction crane accidentally fell on top of one of the school buildings. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the experience ensured that safety at ASB remained priority for him.

While a student at ASB, Jose Manuel's favorite subject was computer science in high school with M. Candance. Solving problems and taking on challenges in those early classes is something he enjoyed and continues through his work today at ASB.

When asked for one word to describe ASB, it is easy for Jose Manuel to respond: "Home."

Once a Lynx, Always a Lynx!
#Lynx4Life #ASBtogether
 

Contributed: September 2020