"Culture, Gastronomy, and Entrepreneurship: My Journey from El Salvador to the UK"
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I was born in El Salvador, a country full of history, color, and traditions. However, life led me to migrate to Guatemala at the age of 22, where I matured, grew, received academic training, and created new memories. During that time, I studied at INTECAP to become a Beauty Specialist, but my curiosity for gastronomy led me to take various courses in areas such as barista skills, oenology, French cuisine, salads, bakery, and pastry making.
My interest in languages also inspired me to study Italian at the Dante Alighieri Institute, French at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, and English at the European Academy. Eventually, I decided to pursue a degree in Diplomacy and International Relations at Galileo University in Guatemala. Thanks to these experiences, I developed a broader vision of the world and strengthened my passion for culture, politics, and international relations.
My love for the diversity of our region led me to travel throughout Latin America, exploring and enjoying the unique flavours of countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Belize. I also visited North America, exploring 15 cities across beautiful Mexico and 13 cities in the United States. Each destination was an opportunity to learn more about the identity of our people and the importance of gastronomy in our traditions.
Back in El Salvador, I decided to invest everything into the biggest project of my life up to that point: the bohemian Popol Vuh, a bed & breakfast and restaurant in San Salvador. However, COVID arrived and we had no choice but to close our business. I still had a stable income: my job as the general administrative manager of a hotel chain with seven hotels in El Salvador. I had it allāeconomic stability, good weather every day, respect, an excellent team, and a strong drive to do things right. But destiny had other plans for me and my family. Due to social instability, we were forced to leave our country and migrate to the United Kingdom, leaving behind our home, our people, family, friends, house, and a large part of what had been our lives.
Being new arrivals in the UK was not easy. Making new friends, understanding a new culture, learning a new language, and adjusting to a much colder climate than the 30āÆĀ°C we were used to took time. We made the most of that period by volunteering to give back to the community for everything the UK had given us. We volunteered with organizations like Zero Food Waste and RWC (Refugee Women Connect), both based in Liverpool, as well as the Olio app and our beloved CafĆ© Laziz in St Helensāa project that teaches English to immigrants newly arrived in the UK.
During this time, we also studied. I enrolled in college and took a course on beauty and hair care, as well as Caring for children and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). Although the distance is big, I carry my roots and the cultural richness of my homeland with me. Today, in this new country, I continue sharing our essence and traditions through my business: Latin Products UK. This initiative has become my way of connecting with my roots and sharing them with other Latin Americans. Through it, I bring a little piece of our countries closer to those who, like us, miss our food, our flavours, the warm weather, and our essential cooking ingredientsābut above all, our colourful, joyful, lively, and beautiful culture.
While we cannot change the weather in the UK, having these flavours fills us with happiness and transports usāif only for a momentāto the warmth of our countries of origin.