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Cuando Sali de Cuba – Mica’s Story

October 19, 2011 By Marta Darby 6 Comments

 Marta here. I hope you're enjoying this series:  Cuando Sali de Cuba, stories of courage and hope.

 Every time I receive an email with "Cuando Sali de Cuba" in the subject line I get super excited. I seriously love that you are all so generous to share your lives with this blog. I know so many of these stories resonate with you because they speak of your own experiences. Thank you so very much.

Today, Mica tells the story of the bravery of her parents and how they left everything behind for a new and better life here in the U.S. I particularly love that she has included those beautiful old photos which depict a perfectly ordinary family caught in a terrible political predicament and having to make some truly difficult decisions.

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Cuando-sali-de-Cuba-for-web

I remember being very jealous of the mystical, magical world my parents, brother and sister came from.  Hearing stories of the large homes, perfect weather, amazing foods and idyllic parties and gatherings. 

Fam_9

Instead, I was witness to living in a cold, busy, noisy city where snow and slush made my parents miserable.  You see, I was born in Brooklyn, NY to Cuban immigrant parents who bravely came to the United States with two small children and not a dime in their pockets.  Their story was repeated to me day in and day out, time after time as a reminder of their sacrifices and all that they gave up so that we could all live a better life in freedom.

Fam_2

My father had business ties with the Icelandic government and through them he was able to secure a temporary visa and passage to the United States.  Instead on continuing on to Iceland as his visa allowed, he stayed in Miami looking for a job and home for my mother and siblings as they waited in Cuba. 

Fam_3

It was 1961 and jobs in Miami were hard to find.  He had some leads that lead nowhere.  Desperate and missing my mother he told her his visa was about to expire and he was thinking of going back home.  She decidedly told him, "You can return if you wish but I am leaving for the U.S. as planned with my children.  I refuse to let them grow up in communism."

Fam_4

So, thanks to my mother’s determination and clear thinking, my father decided to try his luck in the Big Apple.  He found a job and an apartment just in time to accommodate the arrival of the family.  They arrived, with no one to welcome them, help them or guide them.  They left every single relative behind.  How brave they were, how lucky I am to have had them do such amazing things.  

Fam_8

Slowly, one by one, they brought all of their immediate relatives to the States.  The list included parents, siblings, nieces and nephews.  By my count in 7 years they received 27 people, with no extra money or space to house them.  It didn’t matter because it was the right thing to do.  They breathed a sigh of relief when the last one finally came over.

Fam_7

As I recount this story I realize it is not much different than others. Sadly this story has repeated itself now for over fifty years.  Other stories are worse, for escape meant Castro’s prisons or death.  But I don’t minimize the importance of what that generation did for all of us.  Their stories are a living example of determination, desire for liberty and an unending faith in God.

 I will never forget when my parents reached their 33rd anniversary in the U.S., so bittersweet as at that point they lived away from home longer than they had lived in it.

Fam_1 

This August marks the 50th anniversary of their trip to my homeland and I am not jealous anymore but forever grateful for giving me the gift of living and being born in such a wonderful country. 

Gracias Mami, Papi, Olgui and Armandito.  I love you. Happy Anniversary. 

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Thank you, Mica, my friend, for sharing your family's beautiful story.

To those of you who are still thinking about it, please send me your own "coming to America" story. Send it to me via email to mdarby(at)cox(dot)net and put Cuando Sali de Cuba in the subject line. Please include photos. 

Thank you all, again. I am honored and humbled to be able to post these stories of such beautiful ordinary courage.

You might also like:

Cuando Sali de Cuba – Anna’s story Cuando Sali de Cuba – stories of Courage and Hope Cuando Sali de Cuba – Margaret’s Story Cuando Sali de Cuba – Lillian’s Story

Filed Under: Cuando Sali de Cuba Tagged With: Cuando Sali de Cuba, Cuban exiles, Cuban family, Cuban immigrants, Cuban stories

Previous Post: « Cuando Sali de Cuba – Lillian’s Story
Next Post: Cuando Sali de Cuba – So many stories… and a giveaway »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maria says

    October 20, 2011 at 9:51 am

    Marta,Wonderful series! I love reading these touching stories of love and sacrifice that so many of use Cuban immigrants share.

    Reply
  2. Marta M. Darby says

    October 20, 2011 at 11:52 am

    Thanks, Maria.I’m hoping everyone is at least learning about what happened to the Cuban community because of communism.
    Besos,
    Marta

    Reply
  3. Olga Fernandez says

    October 21, 2011 at 10:43 am

    Hi Marta:My sister Mica surprised me with this piece and I must say that although I wanted to wring her neck for some of the pictures she chose, I was crying like a baby while reading the story. To give a brief description of where these pix where taken, the first one was in Varadero, second at a Park near the place we lived on Amsterdam Ave and 168 St. Manhattan, third was sitting on the porch of the Hotel Torres in Varadero, the next near the Hotel nacional in Habana, the other in the house we lived in Cojimar and last one was in Soroa the year we left Cuba. I feel bad Mica did not share these with us and wish that my brother and I could take her back there one day and show her all these great places the way we enjoyed them. Thank you and God Bless you.

    Reply
  4. Marta M. Darby says

    October 23, 2011 at 12:09 am

    Hi Olga,Welcome to MBFCF! Thank you for letting me share your story. And I appreciate the captions for the photos.
    We all look forward to the day that Cuba is free. One day, my friend….
    Besos,
    Marta

    Reply
  5. Olga Elena Chavez says

    September 15, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    Hi Marta,I am Mica’s friend and knew her loving parents. Her parents as well as mine and countless others made the ultimate sacrifice for the benefit of their children and families. To leave their beloved homeland and their love ones in a blink of an eye seems unreal but that is a reality we Cubans have seen and felt in our hearts. These stories must be told to bring awareness of our hardships, struggles and the love of family and faith that unites us. I have been inspired by Mica’s story and hope to bring you mine one day.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  6. Gisela Shidiak Capote says

    September 16, 2012 at 9:42 am

    I, GIsela, proudly belong to MBFCF and also am related to Mica and Olga. Mica’s story brought tears to my eyes as I can relate and am a part of this story. Although I was only a year and a half when my parents made the brave decision to leave the comfort and security of their home to seek the freedom this great country has provided for us and soooo many other immigrant families.

    Reply

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