Maria Trzcinski and Megan Murray

00:04 My name is Megan soszynski Marie. I am 30 years old today is April 30th 2016. We are in Washington DC and the relationship to my partner is she is my mother.

00:17 My name is Maria. Do you stress and ski, I am 66 years old today is April 30th 2016. We are in Washington DC in my relationship to my partner. I'm her mother.

00:36 So Mom, I wanted to interview you and get something on tape because Monica your other daughter my sister and I we we know some of the story about you leaving Cuba, but we don't know a lot about it. And so I wanted to ask you a few questions about leaving and coming to the u.s. Of course. How old are you when you left Cuba when I left Cuba, I was 18 years old and how old are you when Castro took over I was staying here. So you remember anything about like the day he took over or life during the time that he took over? Well, keep in mind that I was sitting here. So but it was such a poignant moment for the country that I do. Remember I remember

01:36 The joy that the Cubans have when Castro took over he was a wonderful charismatic man. And at the time the government was, you know corrupted so having a new government was wonderful. Everybody was very happy. And so yeah, it was a happy time at that time. Were you at all scared cuz of the Revolution that and of course, you know, we were happy that he going to want me and came to the country but during that period of time it was a scary time because yes, it was kind of like a civil war not too horrible like you see in the movies, you know, you hear that shooting people disappear that was incarceration. Yeah, that part was confusing no more. Not much political City.

02:32 Not much police

02:38 How do you call it the you know, we just were then half a lot of policemen that could further not a structure. It's dropped her off, but everyone was really excited at first when did people start?

02:57 When did excitement downtown when did it start going South the excitement start coming down when he started airing little by little his ideas thinks that he we thought that we were able to vote for a new president and soon will realize that no one had the right to vote our president an hour later. Our everything was Custer. There were no really lost written. It was the laws that the government that he has formed with the side to the cave and they usually go change month by month sometimes day by day.

03:53 We saw our families and week even start losing the right off.

04:01 Speech we we couldn't talk against the government at all. What happened? Cuz your family Papa your father or was involved in a lot of businesses. What happened to those? Well, actually it was my grandfather. You know, your grandmother's Father Dad owned a at the time. He owned a hotel and come away Hotel cologne, but he had already sold it at that time. And then he open a family Factory the day did insecticide cuz we have a lot of mosquitoes. So he thought that will be a good thing to do. And so of course little by little the government of Castro claimed that they were socialists in in their way as socialist.

05:01 Everything is wrong and owned by the government. So they just will come to your place of work and will say for now on we own your company and they will give you or anything that you have and at that time they will give you the choice in the choice was you can stay and work for us.

05:29 Or you can leave one of my grandfather was so he decided to retire there was no way he was going to work for them at that time. My father was working for Spanish company as a sale representative, but he had lost the job because all Foreigner company said that time had left Cuba because Castro would not support them. So I that time he lost his job. And since my grandfather had the factory he went to work.

06:09 At the factory with the family my father choose to stay he had two and you told me once that you were in private school, and it was run by the nuns and

06:22 Yeah around that time honey, The Nut Job just the government broke.

06:35 Relations with United States. They also when and close all the private schools. My school was closed. I used to go to an all-girls Catholic School Murio Celia Lora

06:52 And it was wrong by nouns and not only the religious is school work clothes all schools. They all the schools have to be wrong by the government. So I cleared without that was very hard for every long because I mean your school at that time you grew up the law if your teacher switch that were the nuns and watching our school clothes and wood used to have a little chapel and I remember the Anansi know what to do with the statues because all the churches to start getting loaded littering because it loaded because they wanted to close all the places to wash for worship.

07:45 So that was a very scary time and very

07:51 Set time for many but you just have to go with the flow because if you fight it, you know that you know my parents or the other day, they they they didn't fight it because they needed that could mean incarceration or that you know, they will kill you that it's thing was serious, you know.

08:16 Sew-in people were like your friends in school and stuff. We're leaving during the day. Yeah, everybody was you know, when all this happens a lot of people were able to leave before or after the of course, everybody was hoping that at the time I think I remember it was when the Bay of Pigs or something like that. So they were hoping that you're not state will call me and I'll be just like a little war kind of like what Castor did a democratic government and everybody will be fine because see if you if you leave you lose everything you have to leave what you got on. So a lot of people will take him with me be soon. This will be over cuz this this just cannot be through this is but it is just sitting and they are fixing working. So my parents this

09:16 Might as well. Maybe it's time to go you and you had

09:21 The opportunity to leave without your family.

09:24 Well, that was the time that they called the Peter Pans. I'm not going to go through that. I mean you can look at it. Then you can Google it. The the Peter Pans were at the time that they was worse that the damn key what has become allies with Russia and there was rumors that they were going to take children are certain age take them to Russia to indoctrinate them. So don't panic was the United States decided that they could put some flights for children of certain age. Bring them to United States that was in between England thinks they think things were going to change, you know, cuz everything everything was every day was a different the Rama.

10:21 So every day you have to figure out why what am I going to do now? And then if you figured out that the next day, of course, it was different. So whatever you decided that you know yesterday you had started so I don't even mind say to the word the oldest boy in the family. So they were the family chose to send them and I was the following Alder and by then I just don't know cuz I'm sure that I was not even fifteen. I probably was he love

11:04 Yeah, right. It was 13 and some girls were Santo. They had Catholic schools that left Cuba that they were centering in Miami to get some children and some families that are really laugh will will keep the children. I cannot explain too much cuz I was a child. But anyway Papa.

11:35 Ask me if I wanted to go and of course I didn't and I start crying. I remember that literally and panic and sell Papa said he just couldn't do it zip-up. I was an orphan at the age for 9 mother and father. So he I don't think he just could do it feel like that why you didn't want to leave cuz nobody even nobody even said that to my children. I mean but I but I remember people is just imagine if you think that thinks that really going to get bad. I cannot leave but they tell me that my child can leave and have a better life and maybe when he's there then they can claim me for me to go out. But if they take my child to Russia or they take I mean that was what they were telling us, then they'll converting them into communist and when they

12:35 Come back, who is my child? I mean, it's just that theory and so I know that are all people say how can a parent leave a child?

12:51 But there are times that a parent has to do the incredible just to save the child and you had a younger brother Louis. Yeah, but of course, he he was not at the age that they could do that. Yeah, so what happened, but I want you to know that might relate to Grandpa my took me to Havana.

13:19 To say goodbye to turning my seatbelt and I tell you that Mark Call Saul for every mark them to because they put the children in the used to call it the fish tank and they put them in this.

13:34 Room that was glass in so they were sitting there in the parents were outside. And at that point you could not stop them or talk to them or anyting.

13:47 And I remember all the parents crying and I remember my seat though. He was the youngest and he was sitting there quietly cry not nobody was making a scene you could feel the pain.

14:02 Damn

14:04 And then they just open the door and took them and at that point will the parents that left the children went crazy and you know, they finally find waste believe they work their way Miami. They took them to Miami some children went through all the states, but don't remind see to say Miami and then

14:28 I don't know what happened. You know, this is not happening to me what happened to the family and naturally it affect us all whores. And what they did was they it came a time that I don't know the United States made a pact with Cuba that they will send medicines in a boat and then the exchange for the parents that the children were there. It and then that's wouldn't feel my hand the other honey. And Rosa left what they had on you ever liked. Was there ever a moment in your mind that you were like, I'm never going to leave like I'm going to die here thought that I would die there. I thought that they were sticking happen would it would have been terrible that I will take it that I'm a communist and so I can go to college or I can leave in and I'll try my best, you know is survived.

15:27 Yeah, but yeah, we pray everyday that we were able to leave Papa. I remember there was no free them off.

15:38 Depressed and thought my father was able there was a radio station and you're not stay The Voice of America think they still have it. But anyway, the boys have America. I had a problem in Spanish and it was Taylor it to tell the people in Cuba. Tell the people in Cuba.

16:07 The truth of what was going on outside the country in ways in which they could do to leave Cuba and it's so he used to he used to close the bathroom and sit in the room and listen to radio very quietly and we children knew that we could not tell anyone because if

16:32 If the government and they have militants in the neighborhoods that they like, you know, I was almost became and chance at the wood that and so this people they will give them more food or when a family leaf that will give them the house and pay them without and they thought they were doing a great thing from that for the country and I respect that that's the way they felt but there were the ones that our job was to wash

17:14 The neighborhood's any day what I hear my father listening to The Voice of America they were to go until

17:26 Whoever was in charge and it will come in the rest of my life. I'll never get probably more mail come or steaks, you know, that's how they look so something like that. So that's how my father decided it start figuring that out hot to leave Cuba.

17:45 As a 13 year olds, how would you feel about this you feel strongly that you want to believe strongly that you wanted to say. You should have just listened to your parents like it was your dad Issa a very good question when something like that happen in a country or a in anybody's life.

18:09 You're not a thirteen-year-old anymore.

18:12 You lose your childhood in.

18:18 I tell you the truth. I did lose my childhood maybe right after 10 years old 11:13 because you can see the pain that your parents are going in. My pivotal moment was when they charge they closed the places of worship. I couldn't even say the word god. They stopped Christmas. No one was able to put a Christmas tree. If you put a Christmas tree, you have to hide it in the back of your room and make sure that nobody will see the lights.

18:58 There was no food to celebrate Christmas and that was little by little, you know, not like the first Christmas day. They just gradually

19:09 That was dumb and we just imagine not being in them purposely. Not that we had anything because there was a blockade they didn't have money to work. I mean was an ion we will depend on selling sugar tobacco because nobody will buy it and they didn't have money to do anything. I mean they

19:38 They brought that early to themselves see how they I think that's personal you were never like so, you know for Christmas we celebrated horse Christmas just like you celebrate it here me and Cuba was just like United States. So that turns station for me was you know normal, but what we have costumes in Spain in Spain, you celebrate the children get the toys when the three wise men come to give presents to Jesus.

20:14 But there were no presents. There was nothing to buy and there were no toys so Christmas.

20:23 Then I just kind of like this is story or no Christmas. I don't know what they do. Now. Do you ever have to it? Cuz Luis was much younger than I ever have to like explain to him. What was going on with everybody knew it. I mean, you know, what's up with life when you Louis was going to the all-boys Catholic school. So, you know the music Doobie Brothers were going to Maurice the school. I mean everybody knew that was what it was and he knew that he was not that little by them. I mean

21:04 But then he was dangerous all something but

21:11 He knew that we were leaving and I don't know what you trying to do exactly. As I was 10 years old and Christmas was there I mean perhaps I have a full understanding because I see with you meaning.

21:31 If people maybe got creative and leave something to the children or probably, you know, try to find some food but you know, then I guess if you'll find out that the three wise men didn't really bring you your gift was your parents or Santa Claus for that matter. I mean kind of had it take care of him a lot, especially when the power went to work in the sugarcane when he was forced to go. Yeah. Well there was a time when we are ready my parents finally presented their papers that they wanted to leave and they will 4 tons of time get the head of the family.

22:26 Sometimes both parents about that time Lita Lita your grandmother. I will later had was sick and she had to go to the hospital and I have some surgery. So Papa was the one that was chosen to go to the forced labor.

22:43 Divorce labor was for like I said people that if you wanted to leave you are just telling the government and I'm not with you and so they will I guess I have to be a form of punishment probably to show the other people. Hey, look what it do. We doing with this guy. So if you want to follow them, that's what's going to happen to you. I mean might open you.

23:14 So

23:16 Papa was taking and he was they were living in barracks and their food was boiled potatoes, but boil sweet potatoes and they will take them to the cane fields and they caught came from day tonight and then they will come back and go to sleep and do it all over again until they decided to send them home for a little while. Do you remember when he came back the first time? Yes, I'll never forget that.

23:52 He

23:53 He was a physical change.

23:58 Spiritually never and wait

24:06 Black 1999 bands 95. I mean he was switches think about its flavoring his hair has turned white.

24:17 And we just

24:21 Speechless when he walked through the house it was Daddy.

24:25 He went to the bathroom and she didn't have mirrors in the back. So I remember I follow him to the bathroom cuz he wanted to look at himself in the mirror. That's just what he wanted to do. And I remember when he sticks his chart and look at himself in the mirror. You can see all the bones in his chest. He was something and he looked at himself for a long time. He said

24:52 I feel like a picture of somebody in a concentration camp.

24:57 Cuz he lost so much weight. So yeah, I am so that it's scary. I mean like I don't remember exactly our life.

25:11 If you don't yes, it was sad that was hard, but it was our life. So you just need that. You just have to keep on going with you know, and if we couldn't go anymore, we we just

25:27 Enrolled in the party and move on with our life, you know pretty good spirits what you're hot though. I didn't my parents. Did you go that do too many things do the desire off the free do it The Sire of half a dream desire to know what's right and what's wrong Tire of being able to live the life that you feel that you need to leave.

26:05 And encouraged

26:07 To do it because I was scared. Do you know when you left you left everything you are behind you left with what you got on and they they made they being the soldiers they made really good. They're very sure that you were leaving everything behind cuz you told us when you were kind of approved to leave that they would come to your home and take an inventory of all the things that you had to make sure that you weren't been going to give like a piece of furniture went to a neighbor or right they once we presented the paper to see if we left a will after Spain ever ever give them has a different story because like I say every day just about something change so they will send at that time the

26:57 I think they just to call it the the meteor Millie siano's the militia and they'll come and they will bring the committee from the neighborhood that they were the ones to watch her and there was wrong an inventory of everything you have. And then when it was time for us to Lisa, we have to be very careful than nothing will break. My mother didn't even want to play the record player cuz it was working when they can, you know, they came to see it and she was worried that it was not going to work when they came to check it then just because that you could lose.

27:40 The chance to leave the country. So we make sure that we had everything just perfect. And then at that time that used to send you a telegram, sorry telegram arrived and then you have

27:56 Two or three days to leave they made it quick. So I don't remember if it's just like it was so much that sometimes you just block. Yeah, you were so obviously I was so nervous all the time. That's why I'm so nervous and so they came

28:24 And they counted everything and we buy them. We have packed the little things that we're going to take and

28:33 I remember they came with rifles and I was thinking to myself why why they come from with rifles, you know, because they took the girl from the country didn't have got me a lonely people that had gotten swarthy.

28:50 Government, so I was thinking it but it was it was just too.

28:58 Verify you, you know to aim for other people in the neighborhood to realize that a no.

29:08 Women business so we loved with my father contract today.

29:16 A driver that he knew we went we laughed through in a car new where they get the money. They pay my father working in the factory. They pay you very little they still do.

29:34 And so everything has very little in the food was rationalize. So they did I pronounce that right Russian and they you had a book every family had a book and so my family was 5 at the time cuz I wasn't there was a life he died before we left and that was another has another story was not good and

30:04 In that book you will go to the store every week and you percent the word the book.

30:13 And they give you the amount of food that they supposed to eat was basically fries beans.

30:23 Meet maybe once a week whatever said they had, you know, the food was very control. Was there anything that you left behind that you were at me? Obviously, there are several things you'll find that you were upset about but it was a boyfriend I believe.

30:38 Yes, it was a boyfriend.

30:41 That was sad.

30:44 I feel like I was so in love and he was so in love with me. But you know, he even asks for me to marry him and my father nearly had a heart attack because leaving me in the country at the age of 18. Merry with no other occasion. That would have been the end of my life in there because if you were lucky and they accept you in the University, at least that was the little better for you.

31:19 So

31:21 I remember one night. My father came to the room God we make our father cry so much and my mother but my father was the one that we always did it and he sat there and took me in his arms, and he said I beg you.

31:41 That because see if I would say I'm not going the government will be happy. Right? Right. So my father didn't have control of that until he said please don't leave and then he told me that he said, can you imagine how your life is comfy it said in will will be deaths by state at then. You are never be able to get you out. We may never see each other again and said it's not that I don't want you to marry him his to find guy but he was kind of ticked off to that. He was asking from me that but then he says I promise you that the first thing we do when we get to United States is collect money in the first thing I'll do if he still loves you and you still love him. We'll do everything we can to get him out of Cuba. Actually. I really didn't want to marry him.

32:41 But I was so confused cuz I mean you about y'all making all those decisions since you 10 years. So I mean I was worked by then and I really wanted to leave but I kind of felt bad telling him I didn't want to marry him I was going to see is you so the fact that my father said I couldn't that was great. So you got over him quickly. Oh, yeah.

33:07 When we arrived this thing, it was fine. It was too scary to cuz we we were refugees in Spain. But since my father was born in Spain remember, I worked and sisters are for naught we leave that while we were waiting for the United States Visa. We went to leave with our family first in Madrid and then to a studious but when I write this story was so nice and she made sure that I I meet a lot of young people in the village and I'm at this

33:47 Good-looking blonde hair guy with long hair. He was going to the university to be an engineer in heat on a Vespa motorcycle riding around for the mountains and it's bleeding have you know, we were friends of God, but it was easier if I knew I was only going to be there for a few months. I think we're really really liked each other but we never talked about it cuz when it was impossible and then y'all solution, right? Yeah, we left from when the Visa came about in United States said we could come then we we we flew from Madrid to New York. Of course at that point when we enter United States, we were we were not refugees. We were we had the you know, you had a Visa working Visa.

34:47 So, how did you let help it rest of them to come here in the government said come on over but they don't have money and no place to live. So what they govern is United States coordinated agencies and I were agency because we were catholic my father the Catholic Charities. So the Catholic Charities help us.

35:16 Damn, so like flying in teenager. So you were 18 Louis was 12. How old was he when he was five years younger than me will make some yeah. He was right because he that was the other thing when we left. Well, we have 5 minutes anyway.

35:42 How did you feel like at Lions United States felt I felt so excited and in to tell you the truth knows not only a felt excited but arriving to New York was like so beautiful. All the lights is something when we arrived in Madrid, I mean so different so I just felt like

36:08 We made it. Then you flew into Richmond. Then I flew into Richmond. Richmond is my home. It'll always going to be my home but a 1968 Richmond they have money lights at night time. And so when the the difference in New York and Richmond was like we're going to be really in a quiet town, but that's okay. We did it we did well in Richmond open their arms to us and we had jobs.

36:44 Lewis became an architect my mother who had a doctorate degree in literature and

36:54 And was a professor was able to teach for sometimes and then work for a company and said interpreter and translator Papa was much older Papa was in his 40s when I was born. So he working in a company that did the publishing books and he packed the books and everything he retired and he work till he was 70 years old and I got to go to college to and had a good job. We worked all the time. I mean, do you know if they doesn't happen and we were blessed we were we didn't get sick. We we were just able to

37:45 Do encounter.

37:48 Positive people people that get lend us a hand and that's why when you have something like that, I like to help other people too because I feel like they're right. That's what I always think you all that always help those who don't have much because you never know when you are going to need somebody that ain't you a ham.

38:16 Very true is very true is very true. I think one of the things cuz we've been talking about this now for a few days and I think one of the things that I stuck with me is you are the one when you guys got to Richmond. You were the first person to get a job and then after a year or your parents or your hair thing. After job and then they told you that you needed to go to school. I had a thought that was really like, well, you know, I thought it was very I mean

38:44 Smart of your parents to say he'll do you know, of course, you know, you know that I was blessed to in lucky to being part of a family that college was very detailed location. Not just colleges is very important. It is very important. So they did know that and the recent to start working for us cuz they were older my father, you know came to the United States and you know, I found a job and I work in a factory and and then my mother say some of the money and

39:27 You didn't go to school.

39:29 Thank you for sharing these moments with me. I know that it's not always easy to talk about it talk about the things that you left and what happened, but I appreciate you.

39:40 Yeah, it's important to talk about it this important that my children and your children's children know what it's like.

39:54 I believe without freedom freedom is very important freedom of speech and ability to for you to choose.

40:03 Is something that we all must preserve always?

40:12 But your stump speech. Well, I see did you know is it's my life. I know when you once you feel unless there's something like that. Do you realize how important it is.