Presentation examines cultural integration of North American expats in Cuenca

Two expat researchers will share their observations on the integration — or the lack thereof — of North Americans into Cuencano culture Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Saladentro Cultural Center on Paseo Tres de Noviembre.

The Thursday night intercultural discussion will be held at Saladentro Cultural Center on Paseo tres de Noviembre.

In the first of an ongoing series of intercultural conversations, clinical psychologist Anna Rayne Levi and international researcher and consultant David Shallenberger will present the first “Dialogos con Inmigrantes.”

“The focus of the program is how gringos are integrating into Cuenca and to what extent they interact in a meaningful way and the things that impede or facilitate a meaningful interaction,” Shallenberger says. “Language and culture are significant challenges for integration and these will be among the issues we discuss.”

Both Shallenberger and Levi have lived in a number of Latin American countries and are fluent in Spanish. The program will be conducted in Spanish.

“We expect the audience to be primarily Cuencanos but we invite Spanish-speaking expats to attend as well,” Shallenberger says.

The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session moderated by Diego Jaramillo.

Saladentro is located at Paseo 3 de Noviembre 4-78 and Bajado de Todos Santos. Attendees will be asked for a $5 donation.