ABSTRACT
This volume is an invitation to ‘write ourselves’ beyond the conventions imposed by the academy. We embrace this opportunity which allows us to share our stories as cis women from the Global South who migrated to the Global North in search of academic success. Born and raised in Argentina, our migration stories and academic pathways are similar, the result of high achievement fuelled by the reigning South American myth of ‘English opens doors’ (el inglés abre puertas; see, e.g., https://ingles.mineduc.cl" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">https://ingles.mineduc.cl/). We view diversity as an academic asset. We argue that Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) academics can wear different cultural hats, are multilingual and were raised across educational systems. They have experienced migration and have had to adapt to a new academic system, gaining substantial insight along the way. We reflect on how our lived experience as CaLD female academics has allowed us to thrive in the face of adversity. Far from a handicap, diversity can enrich and expand how we journey through our work lives and the extent to which we inspire others to get closer to, and perhaps fulfil, their own destinies.
