Marianella Jara

Lecturer in Spanish
University Of North Carolina Wilmington

Education

M.A.  in Liberal Arts and Hispanic Studies.

B.A. in Political Science and International Relations.

Marianella Jara teaches courses in elementary and intermediate Spanish.  She loves taking students abroad during summer school.  She is the director of the Summer Study Abroad Program in Ubeda, Spain.  
In addition, she serves as the advisor to the Spanish Club and teaches an Honors Seminar on Islamic / Arabic Spain.  Ms. Jara regularly supports the Hispanic -Latino community by encouraging students to help and engage in community service in different local organizations. In her free time, she teaches English as a second language to Hispanic immigrants in the Wilmington community.  Her personal interest is in Latin American and Spanish female writers and Islamic / Arabic Spain

Background

 I am a "TICA", born and raised in Costa Rica.  Since I was young, I  developed a special interest in other cultures and languages.  I attended the Universidad Nacional in Heredia,  where I studied  International relations and English. At the age of nineteen I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study at . I had a wonderful time at LSU studying and meeting people from all over the world and of course cheering for  the TIGERS.  GO TIGERS !

I graduated from LSU in 1997and I returned to Costa Rica where I had different jobs until I decided that it was time to start graduate school.  That is how I ended up coming to Wilmington.  Graduate school at the beach sounded just like paradise. 

 Family

I  am married to a wonderful "Wilmingtonian", a rare find,  everyone in Wilmington is from somewhere else.
 

Jeremy is a music teacher, a wonderful person and musician who has played in different local bands, among them:
 The Jackson Hives.

We love music and going to  concerts. We also love going to the beach, spending time with friends, taking day trips and visiting with family. 

My favorite people in the world are my dad, my brother and my mom who is in heaven.

Pequeño & Angelina

Pequeño and Angelina are my only "hijos" so far.  Peque used to live at my friend's porch until I decided that I wanted a "gato" in my life.  When I first got him, the name Pequeño fit him very well since he was  a tiny, skinny cat. Now, let's just say that he is not so pequeño anymore. He is my daily faithful companion and best friend. 
Angelina is the newest addition to the family. I named her Angelina because she looks like an angel but she does not have anything of an angel in her.  She is wild and my dad started calling her "Tremendina" because she climbs everywhere and knocks everything down but you cannot resist her sweet, innocent look.  I absolutely love her.

Hobbies & Favorites

My passion in life is traveling.  I love going anywhere in the world to explore new cultures, languages, adventures and try new food.  I am a firm believer in studying abroad, I think every student should travel to grow and become a well rounded individual.  This is why I take students overseas every summer.  I love every minute I spend with the students abroad, seeing their smiles, answering their questions and realizing how much they learn in 5 weeks, fills my heart with joy.  There is nothing that could be more satisfying to me.  I also love cooking and eating dishes from all over the world.  I am more like the naked chef  because I can put a nice meal together with whatever is in your fridge in 3o minutes.  I am not scared to try anything except bunjee jumping and sky diving. 
 

I also love reading, especially Latin American Literature by women.  Some of my favorite Latin feminine writers are Isabel Allende, Laura Esquivel, Esmeralda Santiago, Gabriella Mistral, Elena Poniatowska and Carmen Lyra among many others.

I also love outdoor activities and exercising. 

                        ¡  Hasta la vista!