I was born and raised in Mexico City, where I got my bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Advertising. After working several years in advertising agencies, television companies and newspapers, my husband got transferred by DIRECTV Latin America to Brazil, so I quit my job in 2000 and off we went. We lived in Brazil for a full year.
In 2001 we were sent to Argentina, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Finally in 2002 we settled in Miami, FL. Two months before my daughter was born in 2006, my husband got a job offer from a company in Pittsburgh. All we knew about Pitt was ”Los Acereros” (the Steelers). It’s important to mention that “American Football” is big in Mexico, especially in Mexico City, where, since the 1970’s, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are huuuuge. (My dad was a Chicago Bear, though, who knows why...but we liked Los Acereros). Anyway, we knew that the city where the Steelers were born could be nothing but awesome! We finally moved when my daughter was 2 months old and immediately fell in love with the city and the people.
Seriously, the people in this area are the nicest, friendliest, kindest people in the Country (at least in all the cities I have been). Being a traditional Catholic family from Mexico, we decided this was the perfect place to raise our family, so we settled. After being a stay-at-home mom for 3 years, I decided I wanted to work again, but not the crazy hours my career would demand. I wanted to do something where I could still be with my baby. I’ve always loved being around kids and have a very good knowledge of the Spanish language (comes with the advertising part of my degree), so I began tutoring at home. A few months later I got an offer from Little Linguists to teach an after school program in different Elementary Schools from the area. I worked for them for 2 years when I got an offer from 2 preschools to be the Spanish and Music teacher (music has been part of my life since I was born, but that’s another story that I will tell some other time).
Some people asked why preschool? Aren’t they too little? They barely speak English, etc. I will always answer that it’s the best time to learn anything, absolutely anything.
Finally, after another couple of years teaching the little ones I got the best job ever: Spanish teacher at St. Gregory Elementary School. This is my 4th year here, and let me tell you that it wasn’t until I began working at St. Greg’s that I realized teaching was my calling. I come to work with a big smile and leave with an even bigger one. I am so blessed.