By María Cebrián
Lola Colomina is a professor at CIS University who started teaching Introduction to Literary Studies and Spanish in the fall of 2024. In this interview, she takes us through her transformative 24-year journey in the United States. Arriving in 1996 to pursue her Master’s and Ph. D. in Hispanic literature, Professor Colomina found herself immersed in academic variety, cultural differences, and countless opportunities that would shape her career. She reflects warmly on her years teaching at the College of Charleston, South Carolina, where she formed relationships with individuals that ultimately grew as strong as family bonds, and where she discovered a deep passion for guiding students through the world of literature. Recently relocated back to Spain, she has shared with us some memories of her life-changing experiences abroad.
How long did you live in the United States, and what was your experience like?
I spent close to 24 years in the States. I arrived in 1996, right after I completed my BA in English at the University of Alicante, to start my graduate studies at Michigan State University (MSU). That experience was incredible, as it led me to learn from highly regarded experts in the literary field. I, for instance, was lucky to have Professor Joseph T. Snow, the world´s top expert on La Celestina, as my professor and mentor. After earning my PhD, I was hired by the College of Charleston, in South Carolina, where I spent seventeen years growing both professionally and personally. Overall, my experience was truly memorable, as I made friends for life that I now consider family, and as I got to interact with literally thousands of students over the course of those 17 years. I was also given wonderful opportunities that included directing an academic department as well as traveling to many different parts of the world for professional development.
What cultural differences or adjustments did you encounter when you first arrived?
Well, my first challenge was getting used to the regional dialects and accents of the Midwest; food was another big challenge for me, as it seemed, particularly while I lived on a student budget, that the food I could afford was mostly processed food and I was used to eating fresh meat and fish on a daily basis (but I think not knowing how to cook played a big part in my early struggles with food). Other than that, I just remember how much I enjoyed getting to know new people and places.
What aspects of life in Spain did you find yourself missing the most?
My family and lifelong friends. I mean, it is always about people, isn’t it? And that is the main reason why I relocated back to Spain
At which universities in the United States did you teach?
At Michigan State University (every graduate student there is offered a teaching assistantship, so I got to teach Spanish during those seven years) and, later, at the College of Charleston, where I was able to teach a wide range of courses both in Spanish and English for several departments, including the Comparative literature and the Master of Education in Languages Programs.
How did your teaching experience in the United States differ from your experience in Spain?
Being a tenured, full professor requires full-time commitment not only in the teaching arena, but also in the areas of research and service. Thus, outside of my teaching obligations, I would dedicate my time to conducting research as well as to providing service to the College of Charleston. Aside from striving for teaching excellence, what is valued the most when you are in a “tenure-track position” is the quality of your publications, and, as such, I dedicated a lot of my time to evolving as a scholar. Here, I am more focused on teaching, my favorite area out of the three (research, service, and teaching).
Are you enjoying your return to Spain and your teaching role at CIS University?
I love being back in Spain for many reasons, especially because now I get to see my family much more often than before. And I love teaching at CIS University. Something very special occurs during our literary discussions whenever I see that a student connects with a particular work. Of course, teaching Spanish to non-native speakers will always be very special to me as well. On a larger scale, what I like the most about CIS University is the fact that Spaniards, Americans, as well as students from other parts of the world, come together in the classroom. There is something unique about the student demographics at this institution that I find very appealing.
What do you find yourself missing the most from your time in the United States?
Many things, but primarily my friends and my former colleagues (some of whom I became very close friends with); I also miss the city of Charleston and the low-country in general (the name given to the region), one of the most beautiful cities and parts of the country, in my opinion.
Living abroad can sometimes be intimidating. Did you ever feel scared?
Yes, of course. I remember my first extended stay abroad prior to moving to the States: I was an Erasmus student at the University of Aberdeen. It was really intimidating at first, not to know anyone and not to be able to understand Scottish accents in particular. But it was there that I learned to embrace stepping into the unknown as, I believe, it is only when one gets out of their comfort zone that you start to learn and thus, to live more fully. The most incredible things happen when you immerse yourself in another culture, as I am sure many of our students at CIS University will tell you.
I know that it is hard, but now that you are back in Spain, what do you prefer, the US or Spain?
I could never pick one: I will always consider both places my home, regardless of where I live at any given moment. I will always cherish the memories I made living abroad. In the end, that experience made me who I am today, and I am a more open-minded person because of it. But I have no regrets, and I am very happy to be back in Spain.