Nedelka Martinsen Pitti-AKA: "La Niña Internacional"

 

Panamanian American, entrepreneur, visual and performing artist, photographer, designer, model, blogger and dancer.

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 grandmother’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.

What I enjoy, and love most, are animals, not only spending time with them, but loving, admiring, and respecting them, especially the "abandoned" street animals, cats and dogs equally. And I am so blessed, fortunate and privileged, by receiving the greatest, truest and the most unconditional love every day, from 2 precious, innocent, loyal and genuine souls that share my life at this moment. My two puppies are truly angels.

So, this is me in a nutshell and to make it very simple: What you see is what you get. What I say is what I do, and I am a very highly creative artist and individual that resolves pretty much all issues in my life with creativity, that’s all.

I am very sweet, nice, polite and very respectful to other people, however, I do not take crap from anyone (Pardon me for the language) and I do not let anyone abuse me, harass me, intimidate me and/ or, walk all over me, otherwise, you will hear me scream and yell from the top of my lungs, if you try to cause harm to me, in any way,, shape,  or form. And then you will say I am very rude.

I believe in justice for all, and I believe we all have the right to live a happy, peaceful and comfortable and dignified existence, no matter how different our own personal beliefs are from each other. 

I fight for justice and for my rights to be whom I want to be, without others thinking I need to live up to their unreasonable expectations.

And finally, I have a clean record. I do not get involved in shady business with anyone, especially known or proven or people that try to “play” the system. And this is nothing new,, it has always been my way of life, since I was a little girl.

And if I encounter anyone with questionable choices and character, then I promptly go my separate ways. My integrity and reputation remain two of the most important assets I have, and I will never compromise them for anything, ever!!

I work hard every day to earn a living and to provide for me and my little family, sometimes even holding 2 or 3 jobs at the same time, if I want extra money, and I am also very thrifty, so I really know how to save money. 

I do not like to receive free things, and I take pride in the wages I get paid from my employer, because I am exchanging money for a well-executed job, I do for them every day.

Finally, for all of those people that follow me everywhere, several times a day, and at night, around my aartment, by foot and by car, everywhere I go. 

To the so called “elderly” and “fragile” people, following me slowly inside stores, only to race so fast past me in their cars when I caught them.. 

And to the “middle age” men and women, that put me at risk in the streets, specially late at night, by following me so close,, and the ones receiving government benefits, parking in handicap zones, to spy on me, and stock me while enjoying their meals and ice cream, and the ones that do not say anything when I confront them, go and get productive!!

Dance like me, move like me, work like me. Contribute to society the way I do and find a purpose in life and something that fills your heart and your life and makes you happy as I am most of the time, when you are not intruding in my life and in my space, for no reason at all!!

If middle age, weight gain and the bad early life has finally gotten to you, then you need to turn around and start doing the opposite you are doing right now, to become an attractive and beautiful, happy person like me!! (I hope my high self esteem does not offend you even further)

Jealousy and envy are not traits anyone seeks but signs an individual is very unhappy with themselves and needs some sort of fulfillment in their lives. 

Someone who is happy, satisfied,, fulfill, and at peace with oneself, does not have a need to hurt others and to dig to find faults where there are none, and specially when trying so hard!!

I really hope you all take time to ponder, and  meditate about what you are involved in, and you better yourselves, especially physically, so you all can feel happy. 

Do that instead of eating all that unhealthy stuff that makes you want to affect the lives of other people like me, especially when you do not know anything about me, what I am all about and the kind of person I am. (A lot of times the outside package says a lot about the content inside. What are you full of?)

And I hope that one day when you reach my age, or if you are my age,, you can dance away like I do and do cart wheels several times a day and everyday, instead of wasting time, tax dollars and many other people's resources, on what you are doing right now. 


-La Niña Internacional-