Dublin Core
Title
Lucía Robelo Oral History Interview
Description
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.”
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.”
Creator
Lucía Robelo
Source
Voices of Oregon State University Oral History Collection (OH 009)
Publisher
Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries
Date
February 16, 2021
Contributor
Aubrey Olsen
Format
Born Digital Video, Collected Over Zoom
Language
English
Type
Oral History
Identifier
oh09-robelo-lucia-20210216
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Aubrey Olsen
Interviewee
Lucía Robelo
Location
Separate residences, collected over Zoom
Original Format
Born Digital Video, Collected Over Zoom
Duration
0:56:45
OHMS Object
Interview Format
video