Ada I   

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Experience the World Through Language: From Havana to Mérida, Let's Learn Together with a Multilingual Master!

What is your favorite word in your language and why?

My favorite word in Spanish is “ojalá.” I love it because, in just five letters, it conveys a whole world of desire, hope, and longing. “Ojalá” expresses something we deeply wish for, but that does not depend entirely on our own will. It is an emotionally rich word, closely linked to uncertainty, dreams, and possibility. Its Arabic origin (in shā’ Allāh, meaning “God willing”) also reflects the historical and cultural depth of the Spanish language, shaped by the encounter of different peoples, languages, and traditions. For Spanish learners, “ojalá” is often a revealing word: it not only introduces the subjunctive, but also a very Hispanic way of seeing the world, where emotion, desire, and expectation are central to everyday communication.

What is your favorite dish from your hometown? If you no longer live there is there a good local restaurant that serves it?

My favorite dish from my hometown is "ropa vieja". It’s a traditional Cuban dish made with shredded beef slowly cooked in a tomato-based sauce with onions, garlic, bell peppers, and spices. I love it because it combines deep, comforting flavors with a strong sense of home, family, and shared meals. For me, it represents Cuban warmth, hospitality, and the importance of gathering around the table. Although I no longer live in Cuba, I’m lucky to find excellent versions of ropa vieja in some local Cuban and Caribbean restaurants, as well as to cook it myself. Whenever I eat it, it immediately brings back memories of my childhood and the everyday life of my hometown.

Besides the languages you teach, do you speak or study any other languages?

Besides the languages I teach, I also speak French and English, and I have studied Catalan. Learning and using different languages has deeply shaped my understanding of cultures, communication, and identity. It also allows me to better anticipate my students’ challenges and adapt my teaching to their linguistic backgrounds. For me, languages are not just tools for communication, but gateways to new ways of thinking and seeing the world.

What are your interests outside of teaching at Strommen?

Outside of teaching at Strommen, my main interests revolve around film, language, and culture, especially Cuban cinema. I am currently completing a PhD in Cuban cinema, focusing on questions of gender, discourse, and sociolinguistics, which allows me to combine academic research with my passion for storytelling and cultural analysis. I am also deeply involved in organizing and leading immersion exchanges with my students, creating real-life learning experiences where language, culture, and everyday interaction come together. In my free time, I enjoy reading, writing, traveling, and exploring local culture, especially food, traditions, and daily life, which constantly inspire both my teaching and my research.

What do you consider your hometown? Why do you love it?

I consider my hometown to be Havana, Cuba. Even though I no longer live there, it remains the emotional and cultural center of my identity. I love Havana for its extraordinary human richness, its creativity, its contradictions, and its powerful sense of life. It is a city marked by history, resilience, humor, and imagination, where language, music, and everyday interaction are full of expressiveness and meaning. Havana shaped the way I speak, think, and relate to others. Its rhythms, its voices, and its stories continue to influence both my teaching and my academic work, making it an endless source of inspiration.