Ximena Cifuentes

I am a NY'er at heart from upstate Yonkers, and later raised in Elizabeth, NJ with hot n spicy Colombian S.A., blood constantly flowing through me! I suppose to have always claimed way more Colombian self of me in every way possible beginning with my upbringing, morals, values, music YUMMY FOOD, and how can I forget the massive RESPECT when I was growing up?! Incredible how things truly change through time itself...

I grew up playing piano for almost 10 years and later found out here in Florida as I was so humbly touched that my last Instructor of 5&1/2 years, was a huge worldly Cuban iconic by the name of Zenaida Manfugás! She was coincidentally from Miami, Florida but had decided in the early years of her career, to move up north, and so it was that both my younger sister and I wound up in her strong and strict, yet precise and eloquently smooth hands to have taught me for as long a time as she did, to the point that I was later brought to Carnage Hall, and it was all in humble thanksgiving to Zenaida, herself.

I have since stopped playing as I wanted to learn different genres and avenues of music, being still the teenager that I was so I have no regrets; yet I will forever be grateful to my parents for their hard earned sacrifice to have brought me, and on the process helped me to keep both sides of the brain tickin' despite my Seizure Disability growing up--- they NEVER allowed that to interfere with anything I wanted to achieve! Quite the contrary, I was ALWAYS raised with so much positive reinforcement, beyond the type of 'The Little Engine,!' that I credit both my parents for the continual strength, determination as well as perseverance that I've felt in all the obstacles that I come across in my lifetime.

Now that it's finally MY TURN to enjoy what I've always loved so very much, but kept hidden I suppose and that is my WRITING and TRAVELING! I keep being told that I have a story to tell and share, yet it has been my first time ever to put it out there, since I'd never imagined just how much the editing and publishing was really going to cost?!... Ouch. Nevertheless, I also know that God will never leave me orphan, so here I am, and it has never felt any better than to simply express myself and be able to just release the beauty of the world, and my deepest passion of all my surroundings, whatever they may be.

You do indeed have lots to find out about me; within time though you shall see...😉🌟