#FemaleFridays with Nina Ramirez

Episode 66: Female Fridays with Nina Ramirez

Happy Friday, Female emPOWERED listeners! My #FemaleFridays guest this week is Nina Ramirez — my own mom! I was so honored to have her join me on the podcast to share her powerful story as she has overcome so many things that still impact me to this day. 

Cuba in the 1950s-60s

My mother was born in Cuba in 1949 and lived there until 1960 when she, along with her 3 siblings were able to flee to the United States. We discuss her childhood in Cuba and what life was like prior to Castro taking over in 1959 when she was only 9 years old along with afterwards. 

My mom Nina arrived in Miami in January 1960 with her 3 siblings. They lived there until relocating to New York two years later. Nina shares her experience with the foster care homes and how it was transitioning into American schools. We talk about what it was like to reunite with her parents (my grandparents) in 1962 and how lucky they were to all be together. Finally, we wrap up the conversation discussing her favorite memories from her childhood in Cuba and returning to Cuba someday. 

In this episode we discuss:

• [01:37] Meet Nina, my mom!
• [05:00] What life looked like in Cuba in the 50s and 60s
• [08:01] The impact changes in Cuba had on her day to day life
• [12:27] Nina’s mom’s involvement with underground groups
• [15:42] Her uncle’s imprisonment
• [16:38] Peter Pan flights
• [20:36] Preparing to leave Cuba for the United States
• [29:11] Arriving in Miami on January 17th, 1960
• [34:00] Foster care and school in New York
• [40:59] Reuniting with her parents in October 1962
• [47:26] Current state of Cuba and when Nina will return
• [53:37] Nina’s favorite memories of Cuba

This was an emotional interview — one that I hope you listen to and enjoy. I think it’s so important to think about the people who’ve helped us get where we are, and my mom is definitely one of those people.

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Interested in being a guest on a future Female Friday episode? Email me at Christa@pilatesinthegrove.com!