Maria Veronica Salame Rine:  

I was born in Santiago, Chile and was raised in Valencia, Venezuela, I started in CIC in 1960 and graduated Class of 1970. After I graduated from high school I studied a semester of medicine in Colombia and then I went to Chile and studied English Teaching, met the father of my children and got married. Had two beautiful girls who are the pride and joy of my life. Both of them are professionals, the oldest is a Computer Engineer and married to a wonderful young man who is a computer Engineer as well, they have two boys, the oldest and first grandson Sebastian who will be 4 in October, and my sweet Oliver who just became 9 months old. My youngest daughter is a Biologist and works in Atlanta in Emory University she is happily married to a wonderful young man and they just had an adorable baby boy, Neilan who is 9 month also, can you believe that my two daughters had their babies on the same day in different states? I am very proud of both of them because they are excellent daughters. My first marriage did not work so we got divorced. Some twenty years ago I moved from Venezuela to Miami and 2 years later I met who became my husband from Enid, Oklahoma and who turned out to be an excellent and loving husband but who unfortunately I lost to a long sickness. He had four children from his previous marriage and due to health circumstances we were not able to have children of our own.. We lived for 10 years in Miami and moved to Orlando, Florida where we lived until my husband passed away. When we first moved to Orlando I worked for Universal Studios and 1 1/2 later I moved to work for Walt Disney Travel Company where I worked for 8 years. I resigned and moved back to Miami. During 2009 I lost my dad to cancer and in 2011 I lost my sister Mirtha to cancer as well. But I am blessed I still have my mom who is 85 years old and lives in Miami. I miss Valencia, my home town but unfortunately now it is not a good time to think about going back, I think that my time expired. My life is here now, so that is why I decided to become and American citizen because I directly and indirectly owe a lot of what I am and what I have, to this country. School I started in CIC in 1960. Since I didn't know any English I felt very shy and out of place. I was placed in 4th grade with Mrs. Mc Whorter, the then principal's wife who taught me the multiplication table by hitting me very hard on the palm of my hands everytime I missed one. I wanted to gain her appreciation and told my mother it was her birthday and I needed to buy her a present, my ...Expand for more