Carmen is from the Dominican Republic and has one son. She has been in Charlotte since 2008, and previously lived in New York, but said it was too cold for her. She is currently working at a printing products warehouse. When she was younger and still living in the Dominican Republic, she remembers her Grandmother making and selling plates of Spanish Rice, Beans, Chicken, Lasagna, Meatloaf, Plantains and Empanadas and different kinds of salads. She continues making traditional Dominican food at home, but now she prefers making desserts. Her favorites include cake, bread pudding, cheesecake and tres leches cakes. Coming to CCSC is her first experience learning at a cooking school. She says that it’s been really good, and she’s learned so much and already developed more skills. Currently, her biggest obstacle is speaking and comprehending English, but she is utilizing a lot of great resources and developing her English language skills everyday. After she graduates, she wants to go to CPCC and take additional advanced culinary arts classes. She eventually wants to become fluent in English, and then work on getting a higher paying job with benefits working in the kitchen of a hospital, hotel or country club.