Marta here: My heart was aching as I first read Edilia's story. Imagine being a newlywed in Castro's Cuba and looking for a chance to get out and start a new life. By Edilia Beltran Pinero My full name is Josefa Edilia Beltran Bermudez de Pinero. I was 13 years old when Castro came into power. I did not understand much ...
Cuban-American Life
I hope you enjoy my posts about my crazy and wonderful Cuban-American life.
Cuando Sali de Cuba – Silvia’s Story
Marta here: Silvia shares her story today forthe first time. It was very emotional for her to travel back in time to those last painful years her family spent waiting for the Freedom Flight that would bring them to the America. I'm grateful to Silvia's daughter, my online friend, Maribel, for convincing her mom to finally share her ...
From Marta. With Love. (MBFCF Giveaway #6)
First, I want to thank you all for your extraordinary participation and engagement this past week as I celebrate my 6th year in the land of Blogging. Today, I want to share some of my own memories of “Cuando Sali de Cuba.”The times that I remember the most from my childhood, come to me in the form of grainy super-8 film and fading snapshots. ...
Cuando Sali de Cuba (or not) – Christina’s Story (MBFCF Giveaway #4)
Marta here: I first met Christina, author of The Red Umbrella, a couple of years ago at Cuba Nostalgia in Miami. My first impression of her was that she was "the real deal." She cares deeply about her subject matter because, in the case of The Red Umbrella, it is very close to her family's story. She has been gracious enough to share ...
Cuando Sali de Cuba – Elena’s Story
Marta here: Most Cubans are familiar with Santayana Jewelers. They are a mainstay of the Cuban exile community in Miami. I'm delighted that Elena Santayana has graciously agreed to share her family's stories. Her memories of growing up Santayana are both hilarious and poignant. (Translations to her Cubanisms are marked with a red * and are at the ...
Habana Brand Clothing – The Winners!
I hope you've been enjoying all the "Cuando Sali de Cuba" stories from the various contributors. I know I certainly have. I always tell people that there are as many amazing escape-from-the-island stories as there are Cubans in the U.S. Thanks for proving my point. I'll be sharing more stories in this space in the coming ...
Cuando Sali de Cuba – Roland’s Story
Marta here: This story is really about Roland's mother. I love how totally genious she was in preparing her young son to leave Cuba at any given moment. as told to Lucy Vega In 1966, little Roly Vega was just 4 years old, born in Habana and living in Camajuani, Las Villas in Cuba. Castro had been in control of Cuba for over 5 years and his ...
Cuando Sali de Cuba – Estrella’s Story
Marta here: Estrella was 10 years old and part of the historic Mariel Boatlift which happened 32 years ago and brought more than 125,000 (!) Cubans to America's shore and to freedom.Mariel: Remembering the Boatlift By Estrella Diaz-Quibus My parents and I were part of the Mariel boatlift, where hundreds of thousands of Cubans ...
Cuando Sali de Cuba – Carmen’s Story
Marta here: Carmen tells a beautiful story about her family's many and painful losses after the Cuban Revolution and about their personal triumphs here in America. (Get tissues.)by Carmen McPherson I was born on July 23, 1960 in Santiago, on the beautiful island of Cuba. My parents were born and raised in Cuba. My father had attended ...
Cuando Sali de Cuba – Henry’s Story
Marta here: Today's entry in my continuing series of "coming to America" stories contributed by readers, Henry tells about his family, who are proud Americans with Cuban roots and his memories of growing up Cuban in Little Havana in the 70's.by Henry J. CelorioI was born in Miami, but my family was from Cuba. My mom and ...
