Seven Things

After publishing the previous post, I considered the fact that I made some assumptions regarding how much my readers know me. Then I realized that I made references that I've probably never mentioned before in my blog. Coincidentally, I was tagged for a "Seven Things" challenge by The Duchess which will give me the opportunity to let you know a little more about me.

This is how it works: Post a link to the blog that challenged you and add these rules to your post.

Share 7 things about yourself. Challenge 7 other blogs at the end of your post through naming their blog, and post a link to it. Let them know they've been challenged by leaving a comment in their blog.

1. Though I consider myself to be Cuban-American since my parents are Cuban exiles and I've grown up in Miami, I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on July 18, 1980. We lived there until I was almost five, in a house across the street from "La Quinta Presidencial," a weekend home for the Argentine President. From our balcony, we could see into the backyard where Peron had buried Evita in a mausoleum before she was moved to her public grave. Halloween in Buenos Aires, 1983.

2. I have an older sister named Maria, actually my parents named her Graciella Maria, but when I began to talk, I shortened it to just Maria and that's the way it stayed. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Our father was a banker at the time and got moved around a lot. She now teaches children suffering from autism which I find extremely remarkable, and is the mother of two.

3. I have a younger sister named Victoria, 11 years my junior. The true "baby" of the family she is just getting ready to go off to college next year. She is a violinist and wants to major in musicology. She attends an all-girls Catholic high school and in an effort to differentiate herself from the status quo recently lopped off most of her hair.

Victoria and her niece Sofia.

4. I attended boarding school at The Harid Conservatory, in order to train full-time to be a professional dancer. Prior to that I trained at the Miami City Ballet School and the School of American Ballet in NYC. Over four years, I performed every children's role in Miami City Ballet's The Nutcracker, including the lead role of "Marie" in 1991. After high school, I spent a summer at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in Canada, during which I decided to quit ballet altogether. Except for a handful of classes here and there, I've never danced since.

5. I speak French and Italian in addition to my native English and Spanish. I spent an entire year in Europe working on becoming a polyglot. I lived with a family in Chambery, France for 4 months and 7 months on Florence, Italy. I did quite a bit of traveling on my own during that year, going to Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Stockholm, Venice, and many more cities....all by myself! Who says women can't travel on their own?

Back in Florence, May 2008.

6. Upon my return from Italy, I attended Davidson College in North Carolina. This was a major culture shock for me. I had never been to the South, and for once I understood what it meant to be a "minority." I enjoyed my two years there, majoring in Religion...a really useful degree :).

7. After a few futile attempts at finding a job in the non-profit sector, I succumbed to the charm and benefits of Alhambra Antiques, and the rest is history! I'm now married and have three wonderful children. I LOVE to travel and eat good food.

Marcelo, Cecilia, and Paola Granda-Scott.