Anibal Ibarra describes himself as part Guaraní and part Spaniard. He describes growing up in Paraguay during military rule. His father died while Mr. Ibarra was still young. Mr. Ibarra talks about how he ended up in the seminary in his youth, partly due to the fact that his mother had become a widow and had financial concerns. While at the Universidad Católica in Paraguay, he was asked to leave as a result of his questions about what he was being taught. He then became a journalist for the Paraguayan newspaper Diario Noticias. He met his future wife in Paraguay while she was in the Peace Corps. They married, and he migrated to the US with her.
He talks about his different careers in the US, as a stay at home father, a digital company owner, Spanish newsletter publisher, journalist for a newspaper in Columbia, S.C., and later a CSRA area newspaper, Hola Augusta, blogger, radio show host of Anibal Show, assistant to his wife’s business, and as a bilingual interpreter. As an interpreter, he sees the issues that Spanish speakers face when dealing with an English-dominant society.
The United States is not like he imagined it would be when he was in Paraguay. He sees a back and forth in terms of progress in Augusta both in the community as a whole and for Hispanic people in Augusta. He discusses how the terms Hispanic/Latino are problematic.
He feels that Hispanic/Latino people in the area are too busy with adapting the the U.S., caring for family, and working to be involved in the government. He talks about how if he could change one thing about Augusta/the CSRA to improve the lives of its Hispanic/Latino residents, he would increase the level of civic participation of the area’s Hispanic/Latino people. He also feels that there are few media outlets for Spanish speaking people. He sees another challenge in the Hispanic community being lack of Internet access.
He sees hope for change in the 2nd and 3rd generation Hispanics, who are more Americanized.
1993 Paraguayan coin from the year Mr. Ibarra married his wife. It has the image of General Bernadino Caballeros, who saved Mr. Ibarra's hometown during a war called La Guerra de la Tripla Alianza.
Peregrinaje Poótico, a book of poems by Mr. Ibarra. The below photos are of the cover, author's note, and part of a poem.
Mr. Ibarra's business card as a journalist for the Paraguayan newspaper El Diario Noticias.
This is the dictionary that Mr. Ibarra used as a reporter for El Diario Noticias. There was no Guaraní (indigenous language in Paraguay) dictionary prior to 1992, which made reporting a challenge. He had to consult others when he came across a Guaraní word or phrase that he did not understand.
This is a photo of Mr. Ibarra interviewing.
This is a bumper sticker for the newspaper that Mr. Ibarra worked for in Paraguay.
This is Mr. Ibarra's first audio recorder. He would record the interviews. He typically did interviews in Guaraní but the newspaper was in Spanish. He would take notes in Spanish to avoid having to translate from the tape so he could make his deadlines.
This is a hot water bottle, mate cup and bombilla (like a straw). The bombilla is used for tereré,a cold drink made of yerba mate.
Paraguayan flag of Mr. Ibarra's
Paraguayan bumper sticker and necklace of Mr. Ibarra
