Interviewer: Aubrey Olsen
Interview Date: February 16, 2021
Location: Separate residences, collected over Zoom
Duration: 0:56:45
In the interview, Lucia Robelo discusses her early childhood living in Nicaragua. She recounts what it was like being the youngest child of seven children, and the daughter of a widower. She describes her experiences with school during the Somoza dynasty, and how the loss of her brother resulted in her moving to Honduras.
Lucia reflects on the transition from Nicaragua to Honduras, and then the transition from Honduras to Alabama. She narrates her experiences with her pregnancy as a single mother, and how she felt supported by her community and family. Lucia slows down to share her experiences of helping take care of her sister’s twins in exchange for school before she became a mother herself. She then tells of her participation in Spanish publications with her colleague Cherri Pancake. She jumps back to talking about her pregnancy and daughter’s early childhood in Auburn.
Much of the interview was devoted to talking about Lucia’s various jobs she maintained after moving to Corvallis. Lucia transitioned from working with the Migrant Education Program, to working with the Health Department in Linn County, to eventually working at Oregon State University teaching third year Spanish. Lucia comments on the process she went through to gain citizenship after being denied political asylum. Lucia compares Oregon State University and the city of Corvallis to what it looked like when she started, to what it looks like now. She examines what her day to day operations look like as a professor at OSU, and how Covid-19 has affected her professional and personal life. Finally, Lucia reflects on the greatest accomplishments and challenges of her life. She notes that she has been very privileged and worked very hard to be where she is now.
Dedication by Lucia Robelo: "I would like to thank my family in Nicaragua for raising me. My sister Martha, her husband David, and their beloved twins Saida and Sue-Yin Hughes-Robelo for welcoming me in their home and help me raise my daughter. My dear friend Cherri M. Pancake for her great support through the years. To my beloved daughter Melissa Robelo Moncada, her husband Javier Moncada and my adorable grandchildren Adriana and Felix, you are my pride and joy. To the people I have met who have welcomed me with open arms. And to my students. Thank you. You are special.”
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Description
Lucia reflects on the transition from Nicaragua to Honduras, and then the transition from Honduras to Alabama. She narrates her experiences with her pregnancy as a single mother, and how she felt supported by her community and family. Lucia slows down to share her experiences of helping take care of her sister’s twins in exchange for school before she became a mother herself. She then tells of her participation in Spanish publications with her colleague Cherri Pancake. She jumps back to talking about her pregnancy and daughter’s early childhood in Auburn.
Much of the interview was devoted to talking about Lucia’s various jobs she maintained after moving to Corvallis. Lucia transitioned from working with the Migrant Education Program, to working with the Health Department in Linn County, to eventually working at Oregon State University teaching third year Spanish. Lucia comments on the process she went through to gain citizenship after being denied political asylum. Lucia compares Oregon State University and the city of Corvallis to what it looked like when she started, to what it looks like now. She examines what her day to day operations look like as a professor at OSU, and how Covid-19 has affected her professional and personal life. Finally, Lucia reflects on the greatest accomplishments and challenges of her life. She notes that she has been very privileged and worked very hard to be where she is now.
Dedication by Lucia Robelo: "I would like to thank my family in Nicaragua for raising me. My sister Martha, her husband David, and their beloved twins Saida and Sue-Yin Hughes-Robelo for welcoming me in their home and help me raise my daughter. My dear friend Cherri M. Pancake for her great support through the years. To my beloved daughter Melissa Robelo Moncada, her husband Javier Moncada and my adorable grandchildren Adriana and Felix, you are my pride and joy. To the people I have met who have welcomed me with open arms. And to my students. Thank you. You are special.”