Meet La Cubritánica
and discover how Learn Cuban Spanish was born
The Early days
I was born and raised in the UK.
Growing up, I knew I was part Jamaican and part Trinidadian. But what I didn't know was that I also had Cuban heritage. That changed during secondary school.
At the time, I was learning Spanish and had even received a commendation for doing well in class. Excited, I went home and proudly shared some of the Spanish I had learned with my nan.
She smiled and said, "Well done Ren-Ren. It reminds me of when my dad used to sing to me in Spanish."
I was confused. "What do you mean?"
That's when she casually mentioned that her father, my great-granddad, was Cuban. It was the first time I had ever heard this. Yet it changed my life forever.
My great-granddad had been a travelling musician and wasn't around often while my grandmother was growing up.
Although she remembered him singing songs to her in Spanish, she never learned the language herself. Neither did my mum. Neither did I.
Somewhere along the way, the language and culture had simply slipped away. And that left me disappointed.
But also determined...
Hola! I'm Renée...
...also known as la Cubritánica 🇬🇧🇨🇺
getting started
From that moment, I wanted to learn more.
I began researching Cuba and discovered a world of vibrant music, colourful streets, and traditions that felt completely different from the grey routine of everyday life in Britain.
I made it my mission to learn Spanish and reconnect with a culture that had been lost over generations.
Until I could visit Cuba myself, I took advantage of every immersive opportunity I could find in London.
I learned salsa.
I attended Rueda de Casino classes.
I listened to Cuban music.
I visited Cuban restaurants.
I practised Spanish whenever I could.
Little by little, I started piecing together a part of myself that I hadn't even known existed.
And then one day, that dream became a reality.
I flew to Cuba.
More Than Mojitos and Old Cars
Of course, I saw the colourful buildings, the classic cars, the mojitos, the sea, and the salsa.
But my experience wasn't that of a typical tourist.
I also got to witness another side of Cuba.
The warmth and generosity of the people.
Their resilience despite everyday challenges.
The creativity and resourcefulness needed to make things work.
The rhythms of ordinary life beyond the reels travel influencers post
I left Cuba with a full heart and one thought in my mind.
"I need to come back."
Unfortunately, life had other plans, and I wasn't able to return as soon as I would have liked.
But the desire to reconnect never left me.
Sharing Cuba With Others
I felt compelled to share what I had learned and experienced.
So I began writing.
I created seven short stories designed to help learners experience Cuban culture and improve their Spanish as if they were really there.
What started as a small collection of stories soon became something much bigger.
People began reaching out to me on social media.
Some had Cuban parents or grandparents but had never learned Spanish.
Others had grown up outside of Cuba and felt disconnected from their roots.
Some had no Cuban heritage at all, but had simply fallen in love with the culture.
And many of them were asking the same question:
"Where do I start?"
That's when I realised we needed a community.
learn cuban spanish
Learn Cuban Spanish is for anyone who wants to
✨ Visit Cuba
✨ Reconnect with their roots
✨ Or simply embrace Cuban culture
Here you'll learn the unique Cuban dialect, discover authentic culture, and connect with native Cuban teachers and resources designed to help you sound more like a local.
This is only the beginning.
There is still so much more to come.
If you'd like to collaborate, contribute resources, or simply say hola, I'd love to hear from you.
Renée 🇬🇧🇨🇺
La Cubritánica x