The passion for nature has led the way
From the vast Argentine pampas to the Swedish archipelago, Guadalupe Canale’s path has been anything but ordinary. Having found her calling as an anthropologist in the Patagonian wilds, she now explores the connections between nature and culture, both on land and at sea.
Guadalupe Canale first set foot in Sweden during a backpacking trip across Europe in 2013. The country’s deep connection with nature left a lasting impression on her, planting the idea of a future return.
“I fell in love with Stockholm and the easy access to nature, which is very different from where I grew up,” says Guadalupe. It wasn’t long before she was thinking about how to come back.
A love for nature and adventure
Guadalupe was raised in the Argentine pampas, a region known for its open plains. She initially pursued a postgraduate degree in Legal and Economic Translation and Interpretation at the University of Buenos Aires. However, a traditional office job wasn’t for her at the moment.
Instead, she followed her love for nature and began working as a tour leader in Patagonia. Leading hiking expeditions in both Argentinean and Chilean Southern Patagonia, she found the perfect way to combine her passion for nature and adventure. It was during this time that her curiosity about human relationships with the environment deepened, prompting her to consider studying social anthropology.
“I owed it to myself to study something I was truly passionate about,” Guadalupe reflects.
Returning to Sweden to study anthropology
In 2018, Guadalupe returned to Sweden, this time to pursue a degree in social anthropology at Stockholm University. After an intensive Swedish language course in Sigtuna folkhögskola, she began her studies.
“It was very different to study here compared to Argentina,” she notes. “I came from a tradition of formal education where you had to write what the teacher wanted. But in Sweden, I could express my own opinions, even if they were different from my teacher’s. It was very liberating.”
Guadalupe completed both a bachelor's and a master’s degree in social anthropology at Stockholm University. Alongside her studies, she was working as a deckhand on passenger ferries in the Stockholm archipelago and guiding whale safaris in northern Norway.
It was very different to study here compared to Argentina. In Sweden, I could express my own opinions, even if they were different from my teacher’s. It was very liberating.
Research on coastal communities and seaweed
While writing her master’s thesis, Guadalupe traveled to Arnisdale, a village in the Scottish Highlands, to conduct fieldwork. Her research focused on the relationship between coastal communities and seaweed, an often-overlooked aspect of maritime life.
“I love the sea and its connection to the people who live by it,” she says. “Seaweed is like the forest of the sea, and I wanted to explore its role in the cultural life of coastal communities.”
Her fieldwork culminated in the publication of her master’s thesis, which has been turned into a book, Sanctuary: The Lifeworlds of Seaweeds in Loch Hourn. The project didn’t end with her thesis; Guadalupe has continued working with the Arnisdale and Loch Hourn community, taking on the role of development officer for their community association.
“I kept in touch with the community after my thesis, and now I help them with various projects,” she explains.
Sharing knowledge through expeditions
Guadalupe also works as a cultural specialist for Lindblad Expeditions, a company offering adventure cruises around the globe.
“I’m part of a team of experts from different disciplines who work as expedition staff aboard Lindblad’s ships, where we share our knowledge about the places we are visiting with our guests,” Guadalupe says.
Her travels with Lindblad have taken her to the Fuegian Channels, the Chilean fjords, Antarctica, and the Mediterranean. These expeditions allow her to share her knowledge about nature, culture, and human interaction with the environment, with curious travelers.
“Trust your intuition”
Guadalupe is currently applying for PhD positions, with the goal of continuing her research on the relationship between people and the sea. She sees a vast potential for further exploration in this field and hopes to deepen her understanding through future studies.
“My goal is to keep researching, and working with the seaweed will always be special to me!” she says.
Her advice to students is simple:
“Trust your intuition. You’ll always have a gut feeling about what’s the right thing to do.”
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Last updated: October 2, 2024
Source: Student Services