“A feeling” brought Barbara Uboe to Aspen in 2017. She grew up in Wilton, Connecticut, and holds degrees from Brown University and the University of Bridgeport. She has worked as the Director of Student Affairs at the American University of Paris, National Director at AFS Norway, and an ESL teacher in Quito, Ecuador. She began teaching World Language at Aspen Country Day School in 2020.
Bucket list travel desintation?
Just before midnight on New Year’s Eve in Vienna, people meet in front of the Stephansdom Cathedral for the countdown to the sound of the church bells. Then, thousands of people traditionally dance into the New Year to the sounds of the Viennese Danube Waltz. I want to be one of those thousands!
Favorite quote?
Lack of forgiveness [or bitterness, or resentment, or jealousy, or…] is like drinking poison, and waiting for the other person to die.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
I was volunteering at a domestic violence crisis shelter in Quito, and did a “vision board” workshop with the women there. One of them said to me, “I had stopped daring to dream. You gave that back to me.”
Where would you be if you weren’t in Aspen?
Either in Paris or somewhere in Portugal — well, it could be a lot of places in Europe. When it comes time for me to retire, I will be going to Portugal. It’s a little daunting, as I don’t speak Portuguese, and I only know one person in the entire country, and most likely will not be living near her. But I am a European at heart. I’m looking forward to going “home.”
Dream dinner party guests?
My mom (who died in 1978 and was one of the wisest people I’ve ever known); Ruth Bader Ginsburg; the Dalai Lama; Barack Obama, George Clooney (because, I mean, why not?); a few of my friends from growing up and college, and my children and grandson. I think I’d like to split it up into a few dinner parties so we can have a real conversation — either way, I’d like my mom at all of them.