Carlos Miyares, Raul Miyares, and Haydee Vader
Recorded
February 11, 2020
41:17 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id:
atl004248
Description
Siblings Haydee Vader (65), Carlos Miyares (68), and Raul Miyares [no age given] talk about leaving Cuba in 1960, and immigrating to the United States.Subject Log / Time Code
Haydee Vader says their family immigrated to the United States from Cuba on December 4, 1960.
Raul Miyares remembers being told not to kick any bags on the street because a bomb could be in them.
Carlos Miyares remembers a public bus being hi-jacked and driven to the palace. He says their father, who worked for the bus system, had called in sick that day and was taken prisoner. He says a palace nurse who lived near the family vouched for their father, and he was released.
Carlos remembers being happy when Batista first fled Cuba. He says they were expecting things to be better when Castro took over.
Raul talks about their family having valid visas through 1961, which prompted their immigration in 1960. He says they already had some family in New York and Miami.
Haydee talks about having to leave your house intact when you left Cuba. She says it had to look like you were coming back. Carlos talks about the concept of Big Brother being very real.
Carlos remembers a sense of unease when packing started weeks in advance. He says things like photo albums were being packed which you don't take on a typical vacation.
Carlos says that once Christmas was over, they found themselves enrolled in public school in Florida. Raul says the only class that made sense was math.
Carlos talks about their dad getting a job as a janitor at the local church. He says his father stayed with the job for 19 years and was grateful.
Haydee says their parents were able to buy a home in August of 1963. She says their youngest brother was born in Florida on December 15, 1963.
Raul talks about the opportunities they have had by coming to the United States. Carlos says he is forever grateful.
Participants
- Carlos Miyares
- Raul Miyares
- Haydee Vader