By Kiara Gonzalez Punes
The Pirates’ Hook (PH): What brought you to Durham?
Karen Kiem (KK): I live in Wake County. I was looking for a job, and this was the perfect match for my abilities – working with the immigrant community and being an advocate for the students.
PH: How does your heritage influence your teaching?
KK: I was born in Colombia and raised there until my early 20s, until I came here. A lot of my experiences, being in the Hispanic community, gives me perspectives on what others are experiencing, on those who are moving here as a first or second generation, I can understand a lot of cultural influences my students are experiencing.
PH: How do you or your family celebrate your heritage?
KK: I’m not very good at celebrating holidays. I feel like in a way I’ve been Americanized in many areas of my life. I’ve been immersed in American culture. I feel multicultural in my cooking and music I listen to. I always try to visit and go back, and that’s part of how I celebrate.
PH: Can you share a bit about your own cultural identity?
KK: My life experiences have allowed me to identify with several cultures. Sometimes I do feel like I don’t belong to either culture (American/Latino) but at the same time I do feel like I belong in both cultures. I don’t identify with just one and I’ve taken a lot of the positives from both.
PH: Can you share your perspective on the diversity within the Hispanic community?
KK: Within the Hispanic students I work with, they are all diverse. Countries within themselves have differences. They all have different values. The main thing we have to be careful about is not to see everybody as one and be able to see each individual student with their unique experiences.
PH: How long have you lived in Durham?
KK: 11 years and before that I lived in Los Angeles for about 9 ½ years.
PH: What is your favorite thing about Riverside?
KK: The ESL team is my favorite. I think it’s honest and unique and a sense of wanting to help and be a light to the kids and being able to take care of them and nurture them and want the best for them.
PH: What elements of Hispanic heritage do you see in Durham?
KK: In Durham we are everywhere, from restaurants , taquerias, pupusas, you can see cultural presence with the food. There’s a lot of it even in Durham and wake county. You can see a lot of Hispanics in different degrees, people who work in constructions, custodial jobs, but you also see leadership roles. We’re there making impacts.
PH: If you could live in another country, where would it be?
KK: I would move to Spain or somewhere in Europe. Somewhere you can go to cafes like walking, to wineries, to experience food, I love food and it would be nice having a cultural experience with food. I went to visit Spain and I would move there but to a small town.
PH: What are your hobbies?
KK: I like to exercise, I play volleyball. I’ve recently learned a lot of gardening.
PH: How many years have you worked at Riverside? What was the most difficult year?
KK: I’ve been working at Riverside for 7 years. The most difficult year was 2 years ago when 2 of my students were killed.
PH: If you could change something about Riverside what would it be?
KK: If I had a magic wand, I wouldn’t let the good teachers leave. People come and go and most of the time that can create starting from zero.
