Separated from Her Husband for 3 Years: Immigrant Interview

Material Information

Title:
Separated from Her Husband for 3 Years: Immigrant Interview
Series Title:
Immigrant Voices: New to Middlesex County
Creator:
Daroff, Brianna ( interviewer )
Alvarez, Digna G. ( interviewee )
Espinoza-Wulach, Cristóbal ( advisor )
Dias, Nicholas ( videographer )
Place of Publication:
Edison, NJ
Publisher:
Middlesex College
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2023
Language:
English
Spanish
Physical Description:
PDF transcript, audio recording .mp3

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Cuban Americans -- New Jersey -- Middlesex County
Immigrants -- United States ( lcsh )
Middlesex County (N.J.) -- history
Genre:
oral histories ( lcsh )
Temporal Coverage:
Fall 2023 ( 1971 - 2023 )
Spatial Coverage:
New Jersey -- Middlesex County

Notes

Abstract:
Topics covered include: Cuba, family, husband, marriage, work camp, Bay of Pigs, Spain ( , )
Abstract:
This is a transcript [and/or recording] of an oral history interview that took place as part of the class projects for Middlesex College's History 221H class in the Fall of 2023.
General Note:
(Biographical) I was born in Cuba, but my parents were originally from Spain. I technically have Spanish blood since my parents are from there and all my past family members are descendants. I did my schooling there at a Catholic School and graduated. At 18, right after I was done with school, I met my husband who was 25 at the time. We dated for 3 years then got married on October 6th, 1968. My husband was helping hide soldiers that were trying to kill Fidel Castro, during the Bay of Pigs. As known, the plan did not work out, and Castro’s people were trying to kill him. My husband and I had to flee the country as soon as possible. 4 days after we got married, on October 10th my husband left for Spain. We did not even get to plan a wedding ceremony because of how rushed it was, we were just able to sign the marriage papers. I tried to legally leave Cuba too to be with my husband, but they punished me when they saw. I was placed in a camp in Cuba to work. There I mostly farmed potatoes and other crops. It was so hot during the day because of the strong sun rays, so we wore hats called “Pamelas” that had a super far brim to protect our faces. After 3 years of traveling from the camp to where I lived back and forth, my papers were cleared so I could leave for Spain. August 1971 was when I got to Spain and reunited with my husband. It took another 3 months for some more documents to get approved so we could both immigrate to the U.S. I was even able to have a proper wedding ceremony at the church and I was super excited. We then started our life and family in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
General Note:
(Venue) Recorded on December 11, 2023 at their home.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Middlesex College
Holding Location:
Middlesex College
Rights Management:
This item is licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivative License. This license allows others to download this work and share them with others as long as they mention the author and link back to the author, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.