Claudia Costagliola did most of her research for her doctoral degree sitting on the hazel, paisley couch in her living room.
Sometimes her eldest son, Cristobal Gonzalez, would join her, and they would discuss theories together.
Now the hard work is done, and they can recline on the couch together and look forward to their simultaneous graduations.
Costagliola, 45, will accept her Ph.D. in Spanish literature Thursday. Gonzalez, 23, will earn his master’s in sociology and a certificate in Latin American studies three days later.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” Gonzalez said, nodding to his mom. “I have the best mentor, instructor.
“And my dad is a badass.”
Gonzalez moved to Gainesville from Chile in 2005 when his father, Carlos, was accepted into UF to pursue his Ph.D. After they settled, Costagliola thought: Why not get a master’s?
She started with Spanish literature, and soon after, she discovered her love of queer theory, especially in Latin America.
Her doctoral studies focused on how AIDS affects a marginal population of homosexuals in Latin America and the representation of homosexuality in literature.
Gonzalez is defending his thesis May 18, which follows the perception of and experience with farm worker communities in central Florida.
“I’ve always been interested in subjugative populations, or people that are shunned,” he said. “And she’s doing the same thing.”
“Yeah, it’s true,” she said. “It’s funny because sometimes we talk about it, and we’re studying the same thing.”
They help each other; he has the sociology brain, she the humanities.
“We use our studies as a tool of empowerment,” Costagliola said. “It’s my way to do activism through academia.”
Her adviser, Efrain Barradas, UF professor of Latin American studies and Spanish, taught one of Gonzalez’s classes. Costagliola used to tell Barradas that her son, once again, shared stories from class at dinner.
“He intellectually complemented his mother,” Barradas said. “I think highly of them both.”
The family has been academically focused for generations. Costagliola’s mother, who came from Chile to attend the graduations, was a librarian. Costagliola first began reading poetry to her son when she was pregnant with him. She read to him every night for years after. She said if she could’ve spent the whole night doing that, she would have.
Gonzalez remembers reading a Pink Floyd philosophy book when he was 16, which helped with his development of social thought.
It wasn’t just about music, he said. But given the Beatles memorabilia hanging from the walls, it wouldn’t be surprising if it were.
Their home is a mixture of interests, from classic rock tributes to stacks of books. Gonzalez’s old room holds a row of guitars. A singer, songwriter and guitar player, he plays in two bands — one metal-heavy and filled with Latin flair — and credits his love of classic rock to his dad, who has played guitar since he was young.
When they’re not talking about music, they’re talking about soccer. But they just love to talk in general. Costagliola said she texts Gonzalez every day.
She and Carlos often meet him for lunch, sometimes bringing him food at La Casita. They spoil him, she said. They’re so close — one of the benefits of being a young mother.
“I’m a good son,” he laughed. “I’m decent.”
Next week, the family is preparing a Chilean barbecue — steaks, chorizo, pico and Chilean wine — at Gonzalez’s house downtown to celebrate the graduations. It’s the last big event before Costagliola and her husband move with the two younger boys for his new job at Oregon State University in June.
They have it good, Costagliola said, and they’re enjoying it while it lasts.
“It’s not going to be the same,” she said. “It’s not going to be worse, just different.”
[A version of this story ran on page 1 - 4 on 4/22/2015]
Claudia Castagliola, 45, laughs with her eldest son, Cristobal Gonzalez, 23, in her home’s living room. The two will graduate from a PhD program and a Master’s program, respectively, this week.
