From the United States to Rio Cuarto to teach English and analyze the Argentine economy

Darian Lorena Lopez Robles divides 26 years of her life between her native Guatemala and the United States, the country that took her in with her mother and uncles when she was just a girl.

There he studied and received a degree in business administration and political science, a graduate degree in international economics from Johns Hopkins University, and most recently a master’s degree in politics. Likewise, he hasn’t stopped visiting Guatemala, returning every vacation to reunite with his passions.

“When they ask me where I come from,” the young woman told Pontal, “the generalization I make is that I grew up 50 percent in the United States and another 50 percent in Guatemala.”

With a Fulbright Teaching Assistance Scholarship, Darian arrived in mid-March of this year in Rio Cuarto, where he works as a language assistant in the Faculty of Humanities of the National University of Rio Cuarto (UNRC). .

“I work with students who are learning English to be teachers in institutes and schools in Argentina. In my case, Spanish is my mother tongue and I speak English perfectly, plus a little bit of Italian.”

She added, “In the United States, I participate in volunteer work with immigrants, most of whom are from Latin America, and I choose the English as a Second Language program in Argentina. I work with immigrants who are learning English, I support them in their conversation, and I also work with organizations that help immigrants improve their resumes so that they can enter the world of work in the United States.”

Academic research

Her vocational training focused on management and political science aroused her interest in learning about the historical development that led Argentina to move from a financial boom to an economic crisis from which it would be difficult to find a way out.

“As part of the grant, we also have the possibility of developing a project and within this framework I would like to participate in some research at the university. My dream would be to be able to understand more about the Argentine economy, because for me it is very interesting, especially the history of the country itself, which in my opinion was a prosperous country Somewhat for many years and now facing many difficulties,” Darian.

He added, “These are issues that draw my attention, and it is more likely that I will continue to support the research that is now taking place and is active within the university, in the Faculty of Economic Sciences. I am working with the deputy dean of that faculty to analyze the possibility of receiving me as an assistant in the available projects. We see projects that would like to receive me as student support.” in their research.”

new experience

The young Guatemalan considered that such a possibility would represent a new experience for her in the field of research, noting that in her work as a professional she does not undertake this type of study.

“My concern is to be able to analyze why a country with a lot of resources like Argentina usually has these economic difficulties compared to other Latin American countries that have fewer resources and other economic or political difficulties. And if the same things that happened can be repeated here In Argentina, because of economic decisions, in other Latin American countries,” he said.

When asked about her experience in our country, she said that she is not used to separating positive and negative, and that she takes everything with optimism.

“I think what I loved most about Argentina is nature, it is a country with so much natural beauty. I was able to participate in trekking activities and learn about many parts of the country through this possibility, as well as experience a different way of living,” said the language assistant. And jokingly after reaffirming that she always tries to have a positive view of things, she launched a complaint about the few gastronomic alternatives she found in our country when eating foods that matched her vegetarian status. He concluded with a smile: “The roasts are delicious, but as long as they have roasted vegetables.”