Inspiring Women Magazine November 2023

If you have children, where did you send them
to school? Tell us a bit about why you made
that decision?
Although I wanted my children to attend the
American School of Madrid, it was not possible.
It was too expensive and the school hours
didn’t work, considering I worked full time. So
both attended the Spanish public school close
by. Unfortunately, my husband did not speak
English, so I organized through the Universidad
Complutense to have American students come
to my house twice a week for conversation/
reading /playing in English. This extra
instruction helped their English enormously,
preparing them for a year spent in high school
in Seattle, Washington.
How did you become involved with the Spanish
Chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution? Tell us more about your activities
involving American and Spanish culture and
shared history.
In 2010, in Mallorca after my retirement, I went
to visit our US Consular Agent, Amy Christian.
They were inaugurating the new offices at Porto
Pi, and I was curious to see the new installations
with a view over the port. While talking about
everything and nothing, I mentioned that my
mother and grandmother were DAR members
and that if a chapter were ever to start up
in Spain, I would immediately ask to become
a member.
She was so happy that she, right then and there,
put me in contact with Molly (Mary Ann Long-
Fernandez de Mesa, Regent to the España
Chapter at the time). When we met in Madrid
a few weeks later, I handed her all the papers
Mother had kept for my sister and me, should
we one day need them, and the ball started
rolling. Soon after, I accepted the role of
treasurer. Two years later, I became Regent to
our España Chapter for six wonderful years.
Becoming a member of NSDAR was a very
important step forward for me. Having lived
so many years outside my country, I finally
had the opportunity to be surrounded by
fellow Americans, hearing our unique
expressions (which I am still learning!) and
above all, learning our history.
At the Finnish Paper office with the director and
customers (page 84)
Page 85
Elizabeth and her mother in Mallorca (top left)
Elizabeth with her husband (bottom left)
Elizabeth with her two children at summer camp (below)
Together with our chapter members, I learned
of Spain's important participation in our
revolutionary war, which opened the door to
studying the history of the United States at an
age when I am open to all information. Books,
conferences, computers, Facebook, and
WhatsApp have all helped so much.
BEING AMERICAN
As you can see, I've spent almost my entire life
living outside the United States, but that does
not exclude my sense of belonging to America.
I hang on to my American passport and consider
myself a "Europeanized" American - more
open-minded than my Spanish friends, more
independent. I slowly learned to change my way
of dressing, but have a slight English accent due
to my years with the Scandinavians, which has
caused some funny situations when going back
home. They wonder...!
I love Spain, especially after learning its history.
We lived and suffered together though the
difficult dictatorship years. I am very proud of
the changes the country and its people have
gone through, as I understand the depth of
their feelings, but I will always consider myself
an American!
84 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 85