At 19, Giuseppe Benigno left his hometown of Palermo with no clear destination — just a desire to explore, learn, and carve out his own path. What started as a gap year turned into a life-changing journey that took him from Madrid to Granada and finally to Mallorca, where he now is aprofessor at Universitat de les Illes Balears and teaches Spanish as a foreign language while pursuing a PhD. But years of living abroad have left him in a kind of limbo — no longer fully Italian, yet not entirely Spanish either. In this conversation with ‘Humans of Mallorca’, he reflects on his career, his evolving sense of home, and the challenges of living on an island that is rapidly transforming.
Where were you born, and what was your early life like?
I was born in Palermo, Sicily, an island with a rich and complex history. My parents, an ordinary couple — my mother a housewife, my father a banker — separated when I was young. Their personalities worked better apart than together, and while their separation was difficult for me at the time, I now see it as a positive thing. They raised me with love, gave me financial support for my education, and most importantly, allowed me to live my life without impositions.
How did you end up in Spain?
I initially took a gap year at 19 to travel, which led me to Spain — and I never left. I started studying Speech Therapy at the Complutense University of Madrid, then moved to Granada for a Master’s in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience. Now I’m in Mallorca, working on a PhD in Philology and Philosophy while teaching.
Did you always know what you wanted to do?
Not at all. I never had a clear vision of what I wanted to be, as a child or an adult. I followed the paths that felt right at the time, without fixating on a specific goal. I envied the autonomy of adults when I was young, and now I envy the carefree innocence of childhood.
What drew you to teaching?
I didn’t choose it — it found me. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, things we deliberately choose come with unrealistic expectations, while the unexpected brings opportunities we never imagined. Teaching allows me to pass on knowledge, which is incredibly fulfilling. It’s an art that improves with time, and it will never become obsolete — because we are always learning from each other.
What do you enjoy about life in Mallorca?
Palma is a small, accessible city, and I love being near the sea. After living in landlocked cities for years, I missed the sea breeze. When I have a bad day, walking along the beach helps me feel grounded. I also enjoy Mallorca’s lesser-known hiking trails and unspoiled nature.
What are your students like?
They come from all over — young Erasmus students, professionals, retirees, political refugees. Many are from Germany, Sweden, France, and Italy, but I also teach people from Australia, the UK, the US, China, Ukraine, Russia, North Africa, and the Middle East. Teaching them is an enriching experience because it’s as much about cultural exchange as language learning.
What challenges have you faced?
I’ve spent many years away from my family and friends in Sicily. I have absorbed so much of Spanish culture and lost so much of my Italian identity that I feel like I live in a kind of limbo. I’m not Spanish enough to consider myself a Spaniard, but I have lost so much of my Italian identity that I can no longer fully consider myself totally Italian either. In fact, I just don’t feel Italian. Every time I return home, I see the years passing on my parents’ faces and I’m conscious of the memories I haven’t lived alongside them and my friends. I know that my problems are still those of someone who lives with a certain privilege — after all, I choose not to live near my parents and friends; there is no external force obliging me to do so. Even so, I suffer the consequences of my own choices, perhaps with a certain sense of regret.
Another challenge has been navigating Mallorca’s housing crisis. The island is becoming increasingly difficult for residents to afford. Years of poor housing management and unchecked mass tourism have created an impossible situation. There is far too much demand and too little supply, driving up rental prices to levels completely disconnected from the average salary in Spain. Holiday rentals and high-income expats only make things worse. I have experienced first-hand how difficult it is to find a place to live in Mallorca. Tourists aren’t necessarily to blame — it is the government that refuses to confront a problem that will eventually explode if left unchecked.
How have past struggles shaped you?
Years ago, I found myself stuck in a difficult situation, trapped with someone I didn’t want to be with. It took time and the support of close friends in Madrid and Italy to get through it. That experience taught me an important lesson: I will never let anyone else make decisions for me. I want to be the owner of my own life.
What are you most proud of?
That I try to understand rather than judge people. I’m not perfect, but I believe decency and empathy matter more than anything else.
What do you hope to see in Mallorca’s future?
I see Mallorca becoming increasingly multicultural, which is wonderful. But I also hope to see better regulation of mass tourism and real action to protect housing rights. The island needs policies that prioritize residents, not just investors and temporary visitors.
What’s next for you?
I’ll continue teaching and working on my PhD. I’m hoping to secure a research grant that would allow me to focus more on academic work while still teaching. And I’d love to travel — Southeast Asia is at the top of my list.
What’s your ultimate goal?
I don’t have a fixed professional goal yet. What drives me most is the desire to experience new cultures and realities. But whatever I do, I know I want to keep teaching.
Photo by Richard Martins
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