Ashlee Smith Balena, Ph.D.
Lecturer of Spanish
University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Education:
B.A. in Spanish, minor in Latin American Studies: UNC-Wilmington (1995) summa cum laude
M.A. in Secondary Education: University of Alabama (overseas program in Quito-Ecuador) (2000)
M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature: UNC-Greensboro (2002)
Ph.D. in Romance Languages with a Concentration in Twentieth Century Spanish Literature: UNC-Chapel Hill (2007)

Faculty Leader for Ubeda, Spain (Summer I 2010)

"The faculty leader for this program is Dr. Ashlee S. Balena, a lecturer of Spanish in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at UNCW.  Dr. Balena brings many years of experience to the table, first as a student of study abroad when she studied at USFQ in Quito, Ecuador through UNCW’s summer study abroad program in 1994 and again in 1995.  Then, as program leader, she successfully coordinated the USFQ program in 2004 and 2005. Dr. Balena’s hard work and recruiting efforts always lead to enrollments in the double-digits.  Dr. Balena’s educational background makes her particularly qualified to lead the students in their study abroad endeavors.  Her undergraduate degree is in Spanish, her first Master’s in Secondary Education, her second Master’s in Spanish Language and Literature and her PhD in Spanish Literature with a Concentration in Twentieth Century Peninsular Narrative.  She has ample experience teaching and living abroad as well.  Dr. Balena is confident that the Ubeda program will be another success that will lead to even greater interest by students and faculty alike for years to come."

Rocco

Rocco is our first dog as a married couple.  My husband and I figured we should try to take care of an animal before we start on humans.  Rocco was born on November 4, 2003 to a Pug mother, and the vet thinks a Boxer father.  It seems that a neighborhood stud took advantage of Rocco's purebred mother, and no one is really sure who the father is.  We bought him from a loving family in L.A. (Leland Area) a few weeks before Christmas of '03. 

Rocco is very playful, loving and spoiled rotten.  He gets along well with children, other dogs and strangers.  He likes to chew on pig ears, bones, strings and his favorite doll monkey, Wayne.  He is finally house-broken after many, many accidents.  He only barks when he wants a taste of what we are eating, even if it's a rice cake.  He's learned several tricks such as sit, lay down, roll over, stand, give me five, and Bang! (he plays dead), but he still hasn't mastered cleaning the house. 

15 Minutes of Fame

After I graduated from UNCW in December of '95, I moved to Quito Ecuador for a year.  I had plans to go to graduate school for Spanish at UNC-Chapel Hill, but I desperately wanted to be fluent first.  I knew the only way to do this was to immerse myself.  Well... I had one other motivation for returning to Ecuador, which you'll read about later.  Before the move I waited tables at Swensen's, tutored Spanish privately and for the university, and I worked in the language lab to save money.  I had saved enough money to pay my room and board for a year, but once in Ecuador I worked side jobs to keep myself busy. 

One of my jobs was modeling since at the time I was very blonde, which is exotic in a place where most have dark hair and dark eyes.  I was on the cover of the Ecuadorian magazines Hogar,  Jóvenes y punto and La otra.  I was also in a Pond's commercial and a music video for an Ecuadorian band, Krux ent Karnak for the song "Cómo camina."  I worked for Reekbok at soccer games, which is where I met the ex-presidente of Ecuador Sixto Durán Ballén.  I attended several concerts and flew in a helicopter over lake Yaguarcocha while promoting products for Nestleé.  I most enjoyed the photo shoots for two calendars I participated in for a printing company Politécnica and later a soft drink company Tropical.  I visited all the beaches and hot spots of Ecuador.  I even had an interview in Spanish on the T.V. show "Aló qué tal América" to discuss the tour.  Living in Ecuador that year was an amazing experience, almost surreal.  I left at the end of '96 feeling fluent and confident enough in my Spanish to teach, which is my true passion in life. 

 Mi amor y yo

Max and I met in the summer of '95 while I was studying abroad in Quito, Ecuador through UNCW's program, which I now coordinate.  One day my host sister María Beatriz asked me if I wanted to go to the gym with her.  At nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, just breathing was enough exercise for me, but I decided to go anyway.  Once at the gym I looked to my right and there stood a 6 foot one, smiling hombre, and I thought to myself, that is the most beautiful man I've ever seen in my life.  Luckily, Max and María Beatriz already knew each other, so before long, he asked for my phone number and we began dating.  I thought it would be a simple summer romance, since I was only supposed to be in Quito for just a month and a half, and I was graduating from UNCW in December.  My last night in Quito Max told me I'd be back, but I assured him I had other plans ahead of me and Quito, Ecuador was just a small chapter in the novel of my life.  I couldn't have been more wrong. 

Once back in Wilmington, all I could think about was returning to Ecuador.  I worked three jobs, and finally for my graduation present, my parents bought me a round-trip plane ticket back to Quito.  To my disappointment, Max was dating someone else when I arrived nearly six months later, but we became closer friends through it all.  In the meantime, I traveled back and forth between the States and South America.  I did my Master's in Education while teaching ninth grade English at the Colegio Americano in Quito.  Over this four-year period, Max and I lost contact until one fateful day in November.  I broke my tooth on a potato chip and desperately needed to visit the dentist.  I decided I would walk to the dentist's office, but got confused thinking the road I was on and the dentist office were parallel, but they were actually perpendicular.  I was lost.  By the time I got on track, I was running a little late and feeling frustrated.  It's not uncommon for me to get turned around like that.  The next thing I knew a man came running toward me.  It was Max!  That hug was magical and absolutely unforgettable.  We finally had time to explore a more meaningful relationship.  From that day, we would often go to the movies, salsa dancing and to Papallacta (natural hot springs), but I knew my contract at the high school ended at the end of the school year.  When Max won a free plane ticket to the United Stated, I knew there was some mysterious force that wanted us to be together.  Some call it a coincidence, some say destiny, but that encounter lead to our getting married within a year.  I've been married to the most kind, caring and loving man since August of 2000 all because of a "chance" meeting.  

Coming soon... pictures of our Baby Hailey.