Nedelka Martinsen Pitti-AKA: "La Niña Internacional"
Panamanian American, entrepreneur, visual and performing artist, photographer, designer, life improvement and inspirational motivator.
I was born in the beautiful country of Panama. The magical and beautiful little town of Boquete, Chiriqui, with its vast flora and fauna, inspired me to become an artist, at the tender age of 6. My name was given to me by my mother, which is a Yugoslavian/Servian name.
Both of my great-grandparents, from my father's side, immigrated to Panama, during the construction of the Panama Canal. My grand mother's last names Pitti-Pitti from Italy, (marriage between cousins was very popular among cousins, after the migration to Panama, to preserve the last name Pitti)
My paternal French grandfather's name was Claude and known in the small town of "El Frances", as Claudio. My grandfather was very kind and nice to us children, always inviting us for tea, after coming back from school when stopping by his "Citio", a wonderful orchard full of fruit trees of every variety out there, my grandfather hand-crossed pollinated himself. My grandfather, however, was very private and very reserved, so not much information was shared with us about his own family.
The name of the small and beautiful town of El Frances "The French" was given in honor of my great grandfather. My great grandfather along with a few other people founded the beautiful, small town of Boquete.
My mother of Spanish and native indigenous ancestry, better known as Hispanics or Latins. My grandmother had those very prominent, high cheek bones, very lush and strong black hair and very beautiful black eyes. I never saw a photo of her as a younger person, but my mother features look a lot like my grandmother now, so I can only imagine a very beautiful native indigenous "princess"
I learned to appreciate amazing cuisine because of my gran-mother, as well as many more crafts she passed along to her grand and great-children.
My mother's father was a very charismatic, outgoing and always smiling and energetic, happy Spanish man. Always telling jokes. I know he truly lived up to his name. (His given name was Florencio, which means to bloom)
Because I lived in Panama, "Center of the World and Heart of the Universe" as it was known by many, back in those days, I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. I have also traveled to many countries and places in the world, and I love culture and some traditions.
I have lived, visited, and interacted with many people from all over the world and that has allowed me to become familiar with many cultures and ways of life, and that has also allowed me to learn a lot about other cultures, and understand, there are different points of view and different ways of living life, out there.
I absolutely love music and dancing and I dance every day, to different rhythms, beats and music, from all over the world.
And last, but not least, and what I enjoy, and love most, is animals, not only spending time with them, but loving, admiring, and respecting them, especially the "abandoned" street animals, cats and dogs equally. (You can read more about this under "Animal Tales" Blog section)
