Born in one country: Spain, Raised in another: Cuba.

From age 18, Mercedes has lived in the USA (except for 16 months in Winnipeg, Canada, legalizing her documents to become a US citizen). She also spent 7 months in Paris and Aix-en-Province studying French.

Mercedes has traveled over every continent to 72 countries, some to study courses offered by the University of Calgary, Canada; Florida International University, Miami; and UCLA, California. She has lectured at the University of Miami in Coral Gables; Chipola College in Marianna; and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida; as well as Vienna, Austria, and Australia.