The Early days
I was born and raised in the UK. Growing up, I knew I was half Jamaican and part Trinidadian. But what I didn’t know, was that I also had Cuban heritage.
In secondary school, I discovered that my great-granddad was Cuban and everything changed. As I started researching, I discovered a world of vibrant music, color, and culture. Such a contrast to the “grey” routine of daily life in the UK. That realization hit me hard: I didnt know anything about my heritage. I couldn’t even speak Spanish (neither could my mum nor my nan).
You see, my great-granddad had been a traveling musician and wasn't around often for my grandma to pick up much from him, though she did remember him singing in Spanish.
The culture and language had just slipped away — and that left me disappointed.
But also determined...
Hola! I'm Renée
getting started
From that moment, I made it my mission to learn Spanish and revive Cuban culture in my family. Somewhere along the way, I became a little Cuba-obsessed.
It was my dream to travel there. Until I could, I made do with every immersive opportunity I could find in London. I even learnt Spanish!
And then one day, that dream became a reality...I flew to Cuba!
Yes, I saw the old cars, the colorful buildings, the mojitos, sun, sea, and salsa. But my experience wasn’t that of a typical tourist. I also got to see another side of Cuba..
The warmth and generosity of the people, their daily rhythms, their resilience despite challenges and struggles. The life lived beyond postcards. The moment I left, I knew I wanted to return.
Unfortunately I couldn't return as soon as I would have liked. Life had other plans for me. But the desire to return never left my heart and I felt compelled to share all I had seen and heard with the world.
So I began writing — seven short stories to help you learn Cuban Spanish and experience the culture as if you were really there.
a community
What started out as just a small collection of stories, soon grew into something bigger. I found myself dedicating more and more time to helping others who also wanted to reconnect with their Cuban roots.
Many people began reaching out to me on social media saying they were in the exact same boat. They were born outside of Cuba, far from the culture, but felt that same pull to reconnect. I also met people with no Cuban heritage at all, yet just as curious and passionate about the island.
That’s when I knew… we needed a community.
So I created Learn Cuban Spanish — a platform for anyone who wants to:
✨ Visit Cuba.
✨ Reconnect with their roots.
✨ Or simply embrace Cuban culture from home.
Here, you’ll learn the unique Cuban dialect and immerse yourself in authentic culture — without leaving your house. (Though I’ll always encourage a trip if you can!)
This is just the beginning. There’s so much more to come.
If you have something to contribute, want to collaborate or have ideas for resources, please do reach out. I’d love to hear from you. (hola@learncubanspanish.com)
- Renée