Awesome Old Lady of the Week: Dr Marta Raquel Zabaleta
Good Morning Marta
Marta
was granted asylum in the UK in 1976. She went on to earn a D. Phil.
from the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University and
became a senior lecturer and researcher at Middlesex University. Though
now retired, Marta is still an ardent social activist and cultural
promoter.
You arrived to the UK as a political refugee in 1976. Can you tell me more about the events that led up to this?
I was born in Argentina in 1937. I’d studied to be an accountant, but when I finished, I decided I didn’t like the practice, so in 1963 I moved to Chile to do postgraduate studies in socio-economic development. During my time there, I became interested in the society of Chile and how different it was from Argentina, even though we’re right next door. The people were more politicised and it really opened my eyes.
After my degree, I worked for the UN in Chile on women’s issues. Chile was changing dramatically. It went from a very conservative government to a Christian democracy in 1964 and the left was forced to reorganise.
I joined a new left-wing political party. I stayed in Chile, got married, became a lecturer/professor of economics and had a child. I thought I was going to be there forever.
Then there was a coup in Chile in 1973. I lost my job, was put in prison, and then, eventually, expelled from Chile.
Extract from STANDARISSUES, LONDON, UK
With many thanks,
Marta
Your interview has just been
published this morning. Thank you again for speaking with me and I shall
have to visit again some time! :)
All the best,
Joanne x
Awesome Old Lady of the Week: Dr Marta Raquel Zabaleta
Joanne Lau
talks to the 78-year-old political refugee who was imprisoned in both
Argentina and Chile and continues to inspire through her work as a
writer, poet and essayist.
Posted on 03/09/2015
 |
| Picture by Yanina Hinrichsen Zabaleta |
You arrived to the UK as a political refugee in 1976. Can you tell me more about the events that led up to this?
I was born in Argentina in 1937. I’d studied to be an accountant, but when I finished, I decided I didn’t like the practice, so in 1963 I moved to Chile to do postgraduate studies in socio-economic development. During my time there, I became interested in the society of Chile and how different it was from Argentina, even though we’re right next door. The people were more politicised and it really opened my eyes.
After my degree, I worked for the UN in Chile on women’s issues. Chile was changing dramatically. It went from a very conservative government to a Christian democracy in 1964 and the left was forced to reorganise.
I joined a new left-wing political party. I stayed in Chile, got married, became a lecturer/professor of economics and had a child. I thought I was going to be there forever.
Then there was a coup in Chile in 1973. I lost my job, was put in prison, and then, eventually, expelled from Chile.
Extract from STANDARISSUES, LONDON, UK
With many thanks,
Marta
Joanne Pottlitzer
ResponderBorrar18:10 (2 hours ago)
Joanne Pollitzer,from New York
to me
Marta! Buenísima entrevista! Aunque me carga el termino "old lady"!
Excelente!!!!
ResponderBorrarte mando muchos cariños,
hablemos luego,
besos
peter
Santiago de Chile
Glad you enjoyed it
ResponderBorrarEven when I toughout it was too crowded, and missing your warm and sense of humour.
Jo Hurst
Thank you, Jo: i did this for you,.as it as you idea in the first place.Kisses..
Dear Joanne Lau:
ResponderBorrarJoanne Pottiltzer, a colleague friend of mine, who is a very good playwright among many other things, has written to me three times today, complaining about the name of your column, (she insists you should not use the words old lady in it )
Apart from that, she said the interview was excellent.
This is only one of the many excellent comments in Facebook and by email. Good night.
Marta Zabaleta
x
Joanne Lau
21:52 (19 minutes ago)
to me
Oh, I'm so glad people are liking it!
Yes, the title is a bit controversial. It was the first title off the top of my head to the editors and I told them to change it to anything else they wanted as it was just an idea, but somehow it stuck. I hope it's not so bad to be an old lady. I very much aspire to be an 'awesome old lady' one day myself! xx
Muy orgulloso de la Martita!! te saludo, ya lo imprimí para leerlo con calma,
ResponderBorrarme quedo pensando en las diferencias culturales, acá no titularían una vieja
dama por una mujer de 78 años...! todo es como un culto a la juventud....
en fin, muy orgulloso, felicitaciones!!
Ricardo Rodríguez Pereyra
CABA, Argentina
Hola, Marta:
ResponderBorrarQué entrevista más ,linda!!! Fue un placer leerte y conocerte un poquito más, gracias! Oye, lo de decir que quien leería tus memorias en castellano, es algoexagerado, no? Es el segundo o tercer idioma del mndo, y, aparte, si quieres que las lean autores ingleses, seguro que alguien se encargaría de traducirlas...
Besos y que tengas un excelente día,
Angelina
Angelina Llongueras,
Barcelona/Chicago
Felicitaciones, Marta
ResponderBorrarCristina Villanueva
CABA, Argentina
Parabéns, gostei de ler e. Gostei também dessa foto con rosas
ResponderBorrarMarina
Marina Fernandez Scrafield
El Salvador, Bahia, Brasil
Querida Marta,
ResponderBorrarMil gracias por compartir la entrevista. Es genial! Te felicito!!
Abrazotes
Judith
Judith Brister
New York
Felicitaciones, Martita dearest.
ResponderBorrarMuchos besotes,
Bethina
Bethina Viale,
Rosario, Argentina
I think there is a mistake here, should this not be awesome old lady of the year? A week does just not seem long enough. Congratulations Marta R Zabaleta
ResponderBorrarKeith Albridge
UK
Gracias por compartir, Marta. Siempre pienso en vos. En realidad, muchos vivimos en ‘islas’ rodeados de nostalgia.
ResponderBorrarTe mando mil abrazos.
Con cariño e inmenso respeto.
Mercedes
Dr. Mercedes Rowinsky-Geurts
Associate Dean: Student Affairs & Special Projects
Associate Professor, Languages & Literatures (Spanish Program)
Faculty of Arts
75 University Ave. W.
Waterloo, ON. N2L 3C5
Canada
I've been seeing Marta on my Twitter feed all day. Excellent article! Xx
ResponderBorrarLan Veal
Londond , UK
Shasha Shan Amazing! Loved it
ResponderBorrarUno d elso muchoscomentarios recibidos en Favebook y se cierra el circulo.Hancometado esta entrevista muy favorablemente personas que me conocen desde la infancia, juventud y edad mayor; amigas y amigos de mi hija y de mi hijo;varias/os familiares de Chile y de Argentina; colegas de mi paso por las universidades inglesas, etc.Es muy estimulante.
Magucha Campbell-Watt Congratulations Marta well said
ResponderBorrarPerth
Australia
Martita querida,
ResponderBorrarEstaba escribiendo un informe y vi tu e-mail que llegó. No pude resistir la tentación de leer inmediatamente la entrevista y conocer un poquito más de tus pensamientos y de tu historia. Me emocioné , lloré, me di cuenta porque me siento muy ligada a ti a pesar que nunca nos encontramos personalmente, pero siento como que siempre fuimos amigas! Volví en el tiempo porque también viví la prisión, el exilio, el drama de llegar a un país sin hablar la lengua, con estilos de vida diferentes, comidas diferentes, a pesar que yo no salí de América Latina, pero Brasil también estaba con un gobierno militar y las personas que encontré eran muy alienadas! La pregunta constante que me hago hasta ahora. Porque fui presa? Porque tuve que dejar mi país, mi profesión, mi familia? Porque una persona puede ser presa, perseguida, torturada y muerta por querer el bien y la justicia social? Luchábamos y luchamos para eliminar las desigualdades sociales, de género, étnicas… luchamos por la equidad, por la libertad, luchamos para que todos y todas vivamos la corta vida de la mejor manera posible y seamos felices!.
Martita felicitaciones y muchas gracias por compartir tu experiencia, mujeres como tú son el orgullo! Qué bueno que tuve la oportunidad de cruzar tu camino! Te quiero y te admiro aun más!
Un grande abraço compañera!
Margarita
Margarita Diaz, REPROLATINA
Sao Paulo, Brasil
ResponderBorrarMónica Hinrichsen
5 September at 18:08
mi tía Marta http://standardissuemagazine.com/misc/awesome-old-lady-of-the-week-dr-marta-raquel-zabaleta/
Marta R Zabaleta
Mi sobrina desde Berlín
ResponderBorrarDragomira Georgieva Kovacheva
5 September at 14:47
'The only thing you’re left with at the end of your life is your spirit and your principles. If you can’t love yourself, you can’t love anyone else. It’s difficult and it’s a process of learning and changing, but you can do it. It’s possible.' Marta R Zabaleta
From Rumania
Maravilloso reportaje de Joanne Lau, muy buenas fotos!.
ResponderBorrarGráficamente me gustó mucho. Salve!, y abrazos desde USA.
Gladys
Gladys Ilarregui
Washington
Te felicito por la entrevista. Maravillosa! (aunque el título también me hizo un poco de ruido. No podría haber puesto otra cosa?). Que dulce el comentario de Keith!
ResponderBorrarMuchos besos
Valeria
Valeria Paradot
Rosario
Grande mi mamá! x
ResponderBorrarTomas Alejo Hinrichsen Zabaleta
Londres
It was a great interview and I will take the time to read it again soon. L. Xx
ResponderBorrarL.P.
UK
I read your interview and it is so exciting to know that it is somebody real that it refers to and not some made up media. I think the writer did an excellent job!
ResponderBorrarUK
great piece marta - not so sure about the branding of "old lady" - but see they do this every time ;-)
ResponderBorrar(Dr. Z.A, London)
mi tía Marta http://standardissuemagazine.com/…/awesome-old-lady-of-the…/
ResponderBorrarMarta R Zabaleta
Mónica Hinrichsen
Berlin