Ana Arias interviewed by Arielle Gick

Creator:

Arias, Ana, Gick, Arielle, Myers, Kara, and White, Madison

Extent:

262 Megabytes 1 digital file, 12 Megabytes 1 digital file, and 1:11:33 Duration (HH:MM:SS.mmm)

Scope and content:

Records an interview with Ana Arias, who emigrated to Santa Barbara, California, from Brazil, to attend college at the age of seventeen. Arias describes daily life with three sons and her work as a trauma therapist and kickboxing instructor. Discusses culture shock, experience at Westmont College, bilingualism, cultural incongruence, and return to Brazil. Describes transfer to Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, her degree in Counseling Psychology, and working as an interpreter for the Migrant Education Program. Discusses the importance of cultural literacy in counseling relationships and the journey to James Madison University, where she earned a Master of Arts degree and Educational Specialist degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Recounts work as a crisis counselor for Rockingham County Schools, twelve years spent as a trauma therapist at the Collins Center, eventually serving as Associate Director, and the symptoms that led to transitioning away from sexual abuse counseling. Describes her current position as a School Mental Health Counselor at Harrisonburg City Public Schools. Arias also discusses her parents' background, who married in Panama, joined the Peace Corps, and settled in the Amazon rainforest in Manaus, Brazil, where Arias was born. Describes early life in the Amazon, Panama, and Brasília. Topics discussed include transition to American life and experience living in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Finally, Arias discusses time spent living in Panama, when the de facto ruler of Panama Manuel Noriega was in power, the United States invasion of Panama, her intimate experiences with warfare, and the family's return to Brasília, Brazil. Includes reference to the School of the Americas (now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation).

Language:

English

Physical facet:

(.wav)

(.mp3)

Subjects:

Immigrants -- Cultural assimilation -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg

Names:

Arias, Ana
Gick, Arielle
Myers, Kara
White, Madison

Places:

Brazil -- Emigration and immigration

Access and use