digsite

Having had so many of my aunts, uncles, and cousins step off the rafts onto this country’s soil, I often tried to put myself in thier shoes.

What does this country look like to someone fresh off the boat from an opressed country like Cuba? What goes through their minds when they see all these newer cars on the streets, all this traffic because SO many people have cars especially in this state where public transportation isn’t all that great? And what emotion do they experience when they go to our supermarkets for the first time and see the isles and isles of food of all kinds stocked up to the ceilings?

I imagine they may feel awe, shock, wonder. Maybe even anger and sadness that they’ve left so many people behind who won’t have access to it.

Today my sister in law didn’t step off a raft from Cuba but she stepped off an airplane from DR which is still a pretty bleak country. She is, at this moment, in Miami probably being driven around to see the sights. Probably at a mall shopping for warm clothes. Probably at my uncle’s house just shooting the breeze. No matter where she is or what she’s doing she’s got to be thinking to herself something like .. ” I knew this existed but I didn’t really know this existed “.

I’ve been to visit in DR and when you leave the airport (which is quite an experience all on its own) and start driving through the various towns to my dad’s house, I’ve always felt this feeling like I’ve suddenly left my world, my reality, my planet… and entered into some twilight zone of noise and confusion.

It must be the opposite for them.   I’d say where I live is like a twilight zone of comfort and order.  LOL