IMPORTANT NOTE: This episode was recorded before Russia invaded Ukraine.Our interviewee is raising her children as Russian-Spanish bilinguals and has strong Ukrainian family ties. We hope that this episode serves to show how complex multilingualism and multiculturalism is for many people who grow up in Eastern Europe. In addition to all Ukranians at home and abroad, we also want to extend our support to all Russian expats who may be suffering discrimination during this tragic conflict.

Olga Ivanova is a multilingual mom raising her children bilingual in Russian-Spanish in Salamanca (Spain). She tells us about her unique upbringing in multiple countries of Eastern Europe and how speaking multiple languages was the norm in her family. Olga is also a Professor of Spanish Language and Linguistics at the University of Salamanca, where she teaches and conducts research surrounding the topics of bilingualism, sociolinguistics, and cognition. In addition, Olga is the founder and acting director of a non-profit organization (Asociación Buvlick) that aims to support bilingualism among Russian-Spanish bilingual families in the Salamanca area.