As a newcomer Venezuelan journalist in a country with a different methodology and accent and with only $ 100 in my pocket, working on my career was my dream, but as I achieved it, I had to look for a “temporary” job.
Three years ago, I decided to become a Zumba instructor in Buenos Aires and, to be honest, I didn’t believe in myself. I was locked in the thought of: “I am a graduate of mass communications and this temporary job will be my salvation in this country only for some time.“ And for some time has lasted very long, so much so that I don’t want it to end, and so this how my story begins.
My name is María Verónica Montiel Valles or “Marivé”, as most people know me. I am a marabina (from Maracaibo), journalist, singer and Zumba instructor.
Between gaitas and the media
I think I am more maracucha (from Maracaibo) than a patacón (fried plantain sandwich). I was born at Zulia Medical Clinic; I lived in Amparo, near el Angelito (city landmark), and also in El Saladillo. I am a singer-songwriter, and I owe Maracaibo and our folklore my closeness to the musical world from a very early age.
My aunt Lupe had a group of gaitas (music genre) called “Alborada Marabina”, I started singing with them when I was 5 years old. Then, in school, I discovered my singing talent and started participating in intercollegiate competitions.
At 16, I was already recording my first song, but at that time I didn’t understand much about the music world. My parents and teachers did what they could to help me achieve those musical dreams that, since I was little, vibrated within my heart.
My first experience in the media was in “Talento y Valor” (talent and courage), a televised singing contest. Similarly, studying Audiovisual Journalism at the University of Zulia was a wonderful tool. I could not deny my passion for the radio and for creating audiovisual material. That, without a doubt, was the way to understand the media.
At 19, I was working on the radio and at 20 I was already hosting a television program on a regional TV channel. These experiences, which gave me valuable insights and brought wonderful people into my life, helped me plan the next step: a media tour.
Organizing a media tour is always easier when you already have the contacts. In 2014, I had recently graduated, I had in my hands a musical single with its audiovisual production to start the media tour, in addition to the production of a music festival for emerging bands and talents.
I achieved everything with tons of sacrifice and perseverance. I began to add new experiences to my list, to take part in musical theater and I continued doing radio until the economic situation in Venezuela became unsustainable for me.
Parallel to my work in the media I had an alternative job, and every day it was more difficult to imagine my future in Venezuela. I did not want to leave my country, my dream was to work and grow there, but a breakup and the possibility of starting from scratch and going after my dreams impulsed me to decide to emigrate to Argentina in December 2016.
A maracucha in Buenos Aires
My story as a migrant is not as harsh as others I have read, perhaps because I was used to working on things parallel to my career and knew that the beginning would be difficult.
I arrived in Buenos Aires on December 17, 2016, and 48 hours later it was my first day of work. In 2 weeks I was a waitress in a pizzeria, a flyer distributor on Florida Street, and a cashier in a restaurant in Nuñez, a nice area located north of Buenos Aires. This last job was the first “legal” job I had, in less than a month I was already working under a relationship of dependency in this country of opportunities.
As an assistant cashier, I had to know a little about being a barista and assist in the delivery of orders, supervise waiters, among other tasks. I only lasted in this job for three months since I was fired for the first time in my life, but I am proud of that, and today I’ll explain why.
A few blocks away from the restaurant, in front of the stop where I took the bus home, there was a gym that caught my attention because of its colors and infrastructure. One day I dared to ask the price of the classes. In Venezuela, I had trained in groups, and even a few times, I had taught dance lessons.
Coincidentally, I was welcomed by the owner of the gym, who asked me if I was a dancer (the rest of the world thinks that you are a dancer because you come from the Caribbean) and that was how the possibility of getting a Zumba instructor certificate came up to me (Zumba is a fitness brand that combines aerobic exercises with dance steps).
I completed my certification on a Sunday even though I didn’t have permission from the restaurant to attend. Still, I took a chance and paid for the certification, hoping my boss would take pity on me. As I was not granted permission, I decided to skip work, and 2 weeks after that, I was fired.
Although they made fun of me and told me that I could not live off the dance lessons, nowadays I can say that I have been living off Zumba lessons for almost 2 years. This job has made me live unique experiences and the most satisfying of all things is that I have been able to combine them with my passion for music.
In these three years, I have had the opportunity to meet artists that I greatly admire, such as Nacho, Ricardo Montaner, and Jorge Luis Chacín. All this has made me grow on social networks, specifically on Instagram where my community of followers becomes greater every day.
I was a member of a group called Girlpop Argentina, and I joined Gaiteros de CABA, a gaita music group with which we have traveled and taken our traditions to other lands.
I currently have two solo musical singles on all digital platforms, “Come kiss me” and “Connect”, this last song that was released in the context of the Covid-19 quarantine in order to encourage people to stay motivated and dance at their houses.
I work as a creative of advertising jingles from home, I have a group of Zumba hosts along with my manager, Meiris Dubois, who is also Venezuelan. I teach virtual lessons every day through the Zumba platform which helps me bring joy to people in this difficult situation we are going through.
These times have helped me create new projects and sources of income. Nowadays I work on a series of Disney covers for my YouTube channel and Ig TV, and people have been very welcoming.
My goal has always been to bring joy with my voice and songs to the hearts of the people, and although I have dedicated myself to many aspects of the entertainment world, I think I have managed to combine these passions.
I believe that God knows our desires and hearts; He knows how to get us towards those goals we dream of accomplishing and I am so grateful that this is his way of helping me reach a goal that is much bigger than a college degree.
We are what we want to be. Inevitably we attract what we want with our thoughts and actions that take us to those places where we need to be. Believe in yourself. God takes care of the rest.
Translated by: Pascual Díaz
