| I’m a third-year PhD student at Vanderbilt studying Sociology. My interests include immigration, race and racism and languages. I graduated with a BA in Spanish and History from Belmont University in 2008 and received a FLAS (foreign language acquisition studies) fellowship to study Portuguese in the Center for Latin American Studies at Vanderbilt. I graduated with an MA from the CLAS in 2010 and entered the Sociology program that same year. | Estoy en el segundo año de mi programa de doctorado en Sociologia en Vanderbilt. Mis intereses son inmigración, migración internacional, demografia y lenguaje. Me gradue con un titulo en español y historia de la universidad de Belmont el 2008 y recibi una beca de FLAS (adquisición y estudios de las lenguas extranjeras) para estudiar Portugues en el Centro para Estudios Latinoamericanos en Vanderbilt. Me gradue con un magister de ese programa el 2010 y entré en el programa de Sociología ese mismo año. |
| I like to dedicate most of my spare time to photography and music. Javier and I started my photography business in 2009 and I’ve had a few wonderful opportunities to photograph weddings, families, events and portraits. I’ve traveled a bit for photography and met some wonderful, very photogenic folks along the way. My dad and I have been playing music together since I was 7 or 8 years old. When I was 12 we started playing in local open mic nights all over Louisville and by the time I was in high school we had a few regular gigs around town at places like Brownings and Cumberland Brew. In 2004 my whole family moved to Nashville, so my dad and I were suddenly thrown into one of the greatest music scenes in the country. We have played all over the city, including the Bluebird, Puckett’s in Leiper’s Fork, the Family Wash, 12th South Taproom and various coffee shops. In 2006 we released an album entitled “The Santiago Set” and in 2008 we released a second album entitled “Back Home to You.” I wrote all of the songs on the first album while I lived in Santiago de Compostela, Spain in 2006 and I wrote most of the songs on the second. My dad recorded both of the albums in his home studio and he plays most of the instruments and sings backup harmonies. You can listen to some of our music below – we sing Americana/folk, bluegrass and blues.In addition to playing music with my dad, I’m also singing with two Nashville-based bands – Humming House and Hickory Slims. Hickory Slims is an offshoot of a college band I played with called Angus Whyte and the Irish Rednecks – we love sitting on the porch with a few beers and playing raucous bluegrass tunes. I recently joined up with Humming House and I already absolutely love hanging out and playing with these talented musicians – and traveling the country to play some sweet venues! | Me gusta dedicar el tiempo que sobra a mi fotografía y musica. Javier y yo comenzamos nuestro negocio de fotografía el 2009 y he tenido muchas oportunidades maravillosas para sacar fotos de matrimonios, familias, eventos y retratos. He viajado un poco para la fotografía y he conocido a mucha gente genial y fotogenica de esa manera. He estado tocando musica con mi papa desde que tenia 7 u 8 años, y cuando entré en el colegio ya tenía shows regulares en lugares como Brownings y Cumberland Brew. El 2004 mi familia se mudo a Nashville y de repente mi papa y yo nos encontramos en la mejor ciudad para musica en el pais. Hemos tocado nuestra musica en muchos lugares en la ciudad, incluyendo el Bluebird, Puckett’s en Leiper’s Fork, the Family Wash, 12th South Taproom y otros cafes. El 2006 nuestro primer disco salio con el titulo “The Santiago Set.” El 2008 hicimos nuestro segundo disco llamado “Back Home to You.” Mi papa gravó los dos discos en su estudio en su casa, y también tocó muchos de los instrumentos y cantó algunas harmonias. Puedes escuchar a algunas canciones aqui – cantamos Americana, musica folklorica, bluegrass y blues.A demas de tocar musica con mi papa, tambien canto con dos grupos en Nashville – Hickory Slims y Humming House. Hickory Slims es un reencarnacion de un grupo con que yo tocaba en la universidad – Angus Whyte and the Irish Rednecks. Nos gusta sentarnos en el porch, beber unas cervecitas y tocar musica bluegrass. Recien me uni con el grupo Humming House, y lo encuentro dificil creer que puedo pasar tiempo tocando música con unos de los mejores musicos en Nashville – y viajar con ellos para tocar música en lugares muy especiales! |
| I’m a double PK (both of my parents are ordained ministers) and I grew up in the Presbyterian Church (USA). My mom is currently a chaplain for Alive Hospice in Nashville and my dad is the Charles G. Finney Professor of Preaching and Worship at the Vanderbilt Divinity School. My brother works for the world’s first financial exchange focusing on IP (intellectual property) rights – IPXI, or Intellectual Property Exchange International. All that to say, I grew up in an amazing family that raised me well. In 2008 I was lucky enough to meet the most amazing, caring and understanding man I could ask for and we got married in 2009. We take the utmost advantage of our time together, enjoying life with our dogs, fixing up our new house and enjoying time with our respective families as much as possible. Together we are carving out the Los Rodriguez Life. | Soy un PK doble (que quiere decir que mis dos papas son ministros de la iglesia) y crecí en la iglesia Presbiteriana (USA). Mi mama ahora es una pastora en Alive Hospice en Nashville y mi papa es el Charles G. Finney Professor of Preaching and Worship (profesor) en el seminario en Vanderbilt. Mi hermano trabaja para el primer intercambio financiero en el mundo que se enfoca en los derechas de propiedad intelectual – la compañía se llama IPXI, o intercambio internacional de propiedad intelectual. Crecí en una familia maravillosa que me crio muy bien. El 2008 conocí al mas increible, cariñoso y paciente hombre que pudiera imaginar y nos casamos en 2009. Hacemos todo juntos, disfrutando el tiempo con nuestros perros, arreglando nuestra casa nueva y pasando tiempo con nuestras familias lo mas posible. Juntos, estamos creando Los Rodriguez Life. |
i absolutely ADORE the last shot of you! guapisima. inside and out.
Thank you lady!
What an amazing and wonderful life you lead. I loved your music and I am so glad I have found your blog. Thanks
Joy
Thanks so much Joy! I loved your post on the KY Derby – I always miss Louisville around this time of year. The Derby hats look like such a fun project!
Interesting blog and life! Appreciate your stoppin’ by my site today, thanks.
Leslie, I’m thrilled to have found your blog. Your life is so colorful! I’m originally from New York, where I received a master’s degree in English, but I’ve always had a Latin soul. Three years ago, my husband and I moved to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. It’s certainly different than what I was used to, but we get along just fine and have met wonderfully hospitable people. Please stop by my blog if you want a taste of my life!
Un abrazo, Erica
HI Erica! I’m so glad you like our blog! I would LOVE to move to South America – I’m so jealous! I love your blog!
Hi Leslie. Thanks to FP, I discovered your blog. You are such a talented woman and pretty too. I am also married, doing my PhD, studied sociology in undergraduate and loves the Spanish language. I don’t know, but I feel a bit of connection to what you do and your interests. And I love your photography, as if each photo tells a story. Anyway, this is getting long. Keep sharing your talents and adventures.
Hello Dahlia – thank you so much, you’re so kind! I just checked out your blog and it’s beautiful. You’ve traveled so much – what a life! I look forward to reading about your future adventures!
Oh my goodness, I live in Nashville also!! I love your blog and love that we are in the same city!
hey cool!! Nashville bloggers unite!!
It’s a great place to be! We’re actually trying to get a nod in the “best of Nashville” blogging category this year but there are SO many great Nashville blogs out there. Some of my favorites are tinybootblog.tumblr.com, bethmathews.com, marycrimmins.com and owlreally.blogspot.com. Check them out if you get a chance – they are wonderful!
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I really like what I am reading on yours. I do at times share in civil rights topics and various “social issues”. My first blog award came from a gal that left a domestically violent relationship. I was so touched by her honoring me.
This is the link to one of my blog posts: http://alesiablogs.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/are-you-homeless/
Thanks for taking a look at our blog today…..Glad you enjoyed the Gardening article by Sabatino. He works for the Royal Horticultural Society so we were very pleased that he wrote the beginners guide to Gardening for us. Great blog too….Cheers…..
Hi, Thank you so much for taking the time to read our blog and liking the posts!! I hope you enjoyed reading it!! You have a great Blog!!
I love the bobby McGee cover. Your in Nashville correct?