IAMCR 2016 was a unique experience

Andrea Lorenzo (Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico) presented her paper "Configuring collective identities of young indigenous in contexts of migration and returnees" to the Popular Culture Working Group.

My name is Andrea Lorenzo Gómez, I am from Oaxaca, Mexico. To be at IAMCR 2016 was a unique experience, because it was the first time that I participated in an international conference and the first time I travelled to Europe.

The challenge started once my paper was accepted, and although I was very excited, I didn't have the funds to attend... until I was awarded the IAMCR travel grant.

Being able to attend IAMCR meant much more than presenting a paper. I was also able to ask questions, receive feedback, learn different approaches and to explore and learn about the breadth of subjects studied by people from different contexts and from every region of the world. At IAMCR I was also able to attend presentations and meet renowned authors whose work I knew through readings in school; people like Graham Murdock or Sonia Livingstone, just to mention a few.

Finally it is an excellent environment to meet new people, exchange experiences, expand social networks, and discover a city with over 2,000 years of history, like Leicester.

I just want to say thank you IAMCR, it was a pleasure to be there.