Yonkers resident Dr. María Roel is an educator, author, and international education professional whose life has taken her from Spain to several parts of the United States and Europe. Now she is sharing that journey through her book, My Sand Castle, also published in Spanish as Mi Castillo de Arena.
Originally from A Coruña, Spain, Roel has worked in education for more than 20 years in the United States and Europe. She currently teaches in Brooklyn and holds degrees in Law and Education as well as a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a concentration in International Education. She is also the founder of Roel International Education, an organization focused on international educational opportunities and cultural exchange.
My Sand Castle is a deeply personal story about immigration, family, identity, belonging, and the uncertainty that can accompany building a life far from home. The title comes from the central metaphor of the book: a person can spend years carefully building a life, a career, a home, friendships, routines, and a sense of stability, only to discover how quickly an unexpected change can make everything feel as fragile as a sandcastle facing an incoming wave.
Although immigration is at the center of the story, Roel says the book is ultimately about much more than immigration.”It is about family, resilience, identity, perseverance, and what it means to create a home,” she says. “Many people have experienced a moment when the life they carefully built suddenly felt uncertain. You do not necessarily have to be an immigrant to understand that feeling.”
Yonkers has become an important part of Roel’s own sense of home. After living in many different places throughout her life, she says she has learned that belonging is often created through ordinary experiences rather than major events.
She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, walking and running with their dogs, exploring the parks and gardens of Yonkers and Westchester, and biking along the South County Trailway.
She also enjoys discovering local restaurants and businesses. One favorite is a Spanish and Basque restaurant that reminds her family of the food and culture of Spain.
For Roel, living in Yonkers offers a balance she particularly appreciates: proximity to New York City while still having access to quieter neighborhoods, green spaces, and the Hudson River.
Through My Sand Castle, Roel hopes readers will not only understand more about the emotional realities of immigration, but also reflect on their own experiences of change, uncertainty, family, and belonging.
My Sand Castle and Mi Castillo de Arena are available on Amazon.
English: https://a.co/d/0a5s3I8O
Spanish: https://a.co/d/05BGfflr