Inspiring Women Magazine November 2023

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A Thoroughly European
American
Having spent most of her life outside of the United States, Elizabeth Wise,
AWC Madrid, uncovers a passion for American culture and its shared
history with her beloved Spain.
Elizabeth Wise
I
was born in 1944 and grew up with
my sister, Lane, in Pottstown,
Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia.
My grandparents had a beautiful colonial house
in Coventryville, close to Pottstown, so during
those first years we spent weekends with them,
roaming free.
When I was three years old, my parents,
my sister and I left for Detroit, Michigan.
I remember a nice white house, its back
garden with a swing, and a front porch
proudly displaying the flag. My sister was a
Girl Scout and I remember being so proud of
her, always trailing behind, impatient for them
to let me become a scout.
Then there were the long car trips from Detroit
to my grandparents' house in Coventryville.
We would leave in the afternoon, but first I
had to have a “siesta” and I was always so
nervous they would forget to take me with
them! Dad would stay behind, due to his job,
so mother would drive all night on the turnpike.
I was very proud of her.
In 1949, our family sailed from New Orleans
down to Buenos Aires, where my father had
been sent in connection with his job. It was the
time of Juan Domingo Perón and Evita. For the
grown-ups, the situation must have been
very interesting – for us children,
the instructions were to “keep a
low profile and be good!" The
American community was
wonderful. We were fortunate to
Elizabeth at the
modern art
exhibit at the
Museo Sa Bassa
Blanca in Mallorca
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