Fluent in English. Fluent in Spanish. She speaks her mind in any language.
Gema Robledo Zahonero is brutally honest about some of the most personal things in her life. Not many people would tell you that their mother considered having an abortion.
Always opinionated, Gema said her mom mixed antibiotics with the pill and did not realize she was pregnant. When she realized she was, she considered terminating the pregnancy.
“She wasn’t religious, so she was cool with aborting, you know?”
Gema is a petite, bubbly, ball of energy, who speaks English faster than the average American! She has long brown hair, a huge smile, and piercings in her nose, ears, and tongue. Currently working as a communications consultant for students studying abroad, she interprets and plans various activities for them, and helps solve any problems.
She was born 24-years-ago in Seville, Spain. The first two-years of her life were spent on a farm where money was scarce and opportunities small. Her mother brought her to Valencia as a toddler, because of the opportunities and family she had there.
Her dad stuck around for a bit, but only came around when it was convenient for him. He would make plans to see her, but then not show up.
“He shouldn’t have been a father. He was a really good person, but he was not responsible.”
Gema recalls her mom saying, “Hey, she’s not a toy. When you say you are going to come, she waits for you, so you need to come.”
He never showed up again.
“My mother is scary- very very very scary to everyone.”
As time went on, Gema’s mom started dating Paco, who she eventually married.
“Paco was way younger than her, and he was so fun! He was a cook, so he had a lot of free-time. He brought me everyday to the beach. He bought me any candy I wanted, and then I would throw up and my mother would get mad at both of us!”
Laughing, Gema says, “I kind of had a father figure in Paco.”
She became a big sister at five, when her sister, Ana, was born. Her and Ana are very close to one another.
“We are close in the sense that we really love each other in a healthy way.”
Gema left home at 19 when she decided to study abroad in China for 5 months. As a linguistics major, she was required to learn a non European language.
She had planned to live close to a friend of a friend in Xi’an, but later found out the woman actually lived 4-hours from Xi’an, so Gema ended up alone.
“She was in a village 4 hours away, but for her it was Xi’an!” She shakes her head, “Chinese people…”
While in China, Gema met Tommaso, whom she still lives with today. Tommaso is originally from Rome, but moved to Valencia to be with her until she’s done with school.
crazy?”
Laughing, she explains the fact that Tommaso gave up everything in Rome to come live with her in Valencia proved everything she needed him to prove.
She doesn’t know where she will end up, but Gema has a driving passion for discovering new things and traveling to new places. Her outgoing personality and sense of humor help keep her on her toes; she’s confident she will end up wherever she needs to be.
“I really see myself doing lots of stuff. I do [translating and interpreting], and I love it! I could do it everyday. I’m a waitress, and I like it too.”
