I am Not from Here | Coach Olga

After two productive, exciting and vibrant mornings at the bagel shop, in North Raleigh, Chicks Who Know signed on a new, guest author for the Blog Site–Coach Olga aka Me!

I am a native Cuban, who has lived in Raleigh, NC for a half of a century.  My parents and I moved directly from Havana, Cuba (May 20, 1960) to Raleigh, NC due to Fidel Castro’s takeover of our country.  Silvio (my dad) studied at North Carolina State University (NCSU), in the 1950′s and chose this area to settle our family.

I grew up speaking only Spanish, at home with my two younger sisters (Hilda aka Hildi and Isabel).  Life within our household was a microcosm of Cuban Society.  Even when we went out into the community, we all spoke Spanish.  Back then, people in Raleigh didn’t know what to think of us!  All they knew was–They are NOT from here!  We thought it was pretty sneaky to get away with saying whatever we wanted about anything or anyone because no one understood.  Once Wake County stopped ‘Brown Bagging’ Laws and the population expanded; that privilege diminished.

The most significant learning in this experience is the contrast in biculturality over my lifetime.  I used to consider myself ‘misplaced’ and, due to the never-ending revelations resulting from my upbringing, now consider myself blessed with ‘opportunities.’

Barbara and I met at Bikram Hot Yoga of Raleigh.  We have become closer since participating in the most recent 30-day (now evolving to 60-day) challenge.  We practice 90 minutes of 105+degrees/ 26 postures EVERY DAY!  Between our sweat, effort and sparkles, we became ‘sisters’ immediately.  Each occasion with Barbara offers a gem of similarity that we share.  At first it was the draw of like-minded positive and joyful chicks.  Then came the mutual love for gems, jewelry and all the finer things in life. Barbara frequents my favorite part of Raleigh.  It is the area that I was raised in–Five Points, Hayes Barton, Glenwood Ave.  Whatever it’s called, that’s all we used to know as Raleigh!  I still own the first condominium ever built-in that area in the Bishop’s Park Complex.  Thank you Tiddly Hernandez Whitehead–my blonde Cuban -American Realtor!

Throughout the ‘Half Century’ I lived in Manhattan and Miami as well as travelled to many places throughout the world.  I have many blessings to draw on and promise to share with you!  It’s an honor to be a part of this blog and I welcome your comments and questions.  One of those like-minded traits that Babs and I share is transculency and transparency.  Shine the light on the truth and create a brighter reality!  I look forward to the interchange with all of you.  In the meantime, I leave you with this…

“What we think or what we know
or what we believe is, in the
end, of little consequence.
The only consequence is what we do.”
…John Ruskin

What will you do?

Tags: Havana