On the road, around the globe, looking for home

We are a nation of movers. Every summer 40 million Americans pack up their kitchen tables, couches and clothing and change residences — although almost all move somewhere in the United States. Some claim this phenomenon has something to do with our history of being immigrants and risk-takers.

But one UW–Madison faculty associate puts Americans to shame when it comes to traveling to find a home. Antonio Noguera, who co-directs language programs for the Division of Continuing Studies (DCS), left his native Spain 16 years ago with his anthropologist wife and spent several years on the move around the globe, trying to find a country that made the pair feel comfortable.

Noguera, a former executive in a plastics medical-supply business in Madrid, says he and his wife, Araceli Alonso, first visited Italy for a vacation but found it very similar and too close to Spain.

Then they took a further step and settled in Indonesia while Alonso did some research. “It is beautiful there, and the diversity of languages, cultures, people and religions made it a fascinating place to live in,” he explains. “But after a while, we felt we were too far from family. We had to change planes three times to visit relatives. Also, we found living there just a bit too exotic.”

They next shipped their belongings to the Philippines. “We chose the Philippines because its culture is somewhat related to Spain. But again, we found the distance too great.” The same happened the following year when they resided in Singapore and Taiwan. “Great countries, sophisticated infrastructures, amazing facilities, but we felt the need to move west again; although we started realizing that west and east are just mental constructions, relative concepts that depend on where you are at the moment, nothing more.”

The pair next decided to try Mexico, because of its ties to their homeland. They stayed two months. “We liked the people and the culture, and it certainly was convenient to speak Spanish every day. But because we were based in Mexico City, the polluted air became unbearable. We couldn’t see the sun and the air smelled; it was so unpleasant to breathe every day.”

Then the intrepid couple began thinking about their next destination. Alonso started sending out resumes, and received an acceptance from Minnesota State University at Mankato.

“At that time, neither of us knew anything about Minnesota, except that the 3M company was headquartered there. We had no idea what the winters would prove to be like,” says Noguera.

“So we came from tropical Mexico to freezing Minnesota. However, the feeling of freedom that we found in the United States was incredible. We didn’t have to carry state identification cards like we had to in other countries. There were no barriers. Americans are very open and friendly. It is very different in the United States than in the rest of the world,” he adds.

“We enjoy the freedom here. It is wonderful: If you want to start a newspaper, you sit down, write and then distribute it, without any objection from anyone. Same with a business. Americans don’t realize that in other countries there are so many governmental permits and registrations that are needed to start a business; sometimes it can take years to get the correct papers in order.”

American culture is also very flexible, says Noguera: “In this country, if you get a bachelor’s degree in history and decide to pursue a master’s degree in political science and a doctorate in French, it’s accepted. But that wouldn’t work in Spain.”

The couple moved from Mankato to Madison 14 years ago. While Noguera began working on his doctorate in teaching Spanish to adults, he also found his position in the Division of Continuing Studies. His wife taught at UW–Madison as a lecturer. She currently works with an international nonprofit organization that focuses on women’s reproductive health in Africa.

Noguera and Alonso think they have found their home in Madison. “This city is the perfect size — everything is about 20 minutes away. You can be anonymous here if you like, yet it’s easy to make friends. We like the concerts and theater productions available here, and there isn’t much traffic when going to these places. It’s not like Chicago, where traffic and parking are big problems.”

The two globetrotters have even learned to love winter. “We think it is beautiful to see the snow on the trees,” says Noguera. “It demonstrates the circle of nature: the birth in spring and the closure in fall and winter. Winters here also develop faith; you have to have a strong faith and keep believing that eventually spring will come. “

On campus, Noguera is involved in the campus organization Latino Association for Faculty and Academic Staff (LAFSA), which is in its second year. “This group will work with the specific needs and problems of Latinos,” Noguera explained, adding that there are now 800 Latino employees on campus.

He also has taught UW–Madison supervisors Spanish basics, especially work-related vocabulary and phrases, and given them insight into Latino culture through the Office of Human Resources.

To help his fellow Latinos in the Madison community, he joined various community partners to produce a child care certification program taught in Spanish. “Many people come here and can’t find work,” Noguera says. “In their countries they may be teachers or nurses but they are not licensed to work in the United States. So this child care program gives them an opportunity to earn a living.”

Another project he leads is a professional certificate program in business Spanish, which is offered on-site and online. “This program, along with a similar one in French, is offered through DCS and the School of Business,” he says. “Many business graduate students complete it in addition to their credit studies, as do community business managers.”

Working in Cuba to improve people’s business knowledge is a new volunteer activity that Noguera is excited about. Again using his business experience and his familiarity with Spanish, Noguera looks forward to helping Cubans think about entrepreneurship. The project will give Noguera the chance to develop business programs and workshops for Cuban professionals and nonprofessionals.

Surely, Noguera is an industrious Madison resident. Besides these endeavors, he also coordinates a wide selection of Spanish courses for adults and children, as well as courses in Portuguese, Chinese Mandarin, Korean and Arabic for adults. Another favorite assignment is to plan and lead educational travel seminars to his home country so he can share the history, architecture, arts, culture and cuisine with others (visit UW–Madison Continuing Studies Classes — Languages).

In his off-hours, this transplanted Spaniard spends time with his teenage daughter and wife, and enjoys theater, gardening, bike riding, eating out and meeting friends. In the near future, Noguera and his wife will pledge their allegiance to the United States and become citizens.