A PERSONAL JOURNEY

 

  Jose was only 13 years old during the Mariel Boatlift of 1980. He wanted to leave, but knew he was a kid, being raised by his grandmother and had to stay. Around the age of 25, he was desperate to leave. The Soviet Union had suspended trade with Cuba, which left Cuba in a dismal economic situation.  "As a result, the government instilled a rationing system to deal with food, electricity, and gasoline shortages". Many Cubans desired economic and political freedoms, as many also desired fleeing their country for those freedoms. If Cubans got caught fleeing Cuba when the gates are closed, they go right to jail. If they come within 10 miles of U.S shores their free. Jose made two attempts, but failed.

     He than heard that Fidel Castro was going to be opening the gates and knew this was his chance. Since Cuba was deteriorating everyday, Cubans found whatever material possible to build a raft, that would float. On that day in Aug 1994, known as the Belsero Rafters Crisis, Tens of thousands of Cubans fled to the waters in hope of freedom.

     Jose had shared a raft with 7 other people. This was it, there was no turning back. His determination to have his freedom and make a better life for his wife and daughter at that time gave him no fear to the journey ahead of him. 
     Jose recalls being on a raft floating in the middle of the ocean with nothing around him, except the deep blue waters and sharks. They picked up 4 more Cubans along the way, that lost the majarity of their raft. They were just clinging to a piece of their raft barely keeping their heads up because hyperthermia was setting in. In the distants he heard the screaming of other Cubans that were attacked and killed by the sharks. The smell of blood was all around.

     When they were preparing to leave, oil was a necessity. They kept a 3 to 4 foot long trail of oil in the water behind the raft to cover up the scent and keep the sharks away. They could only do this in the back because having it along the sides, the direct sunlight would cause the material they were carring the oil in to pop. After spending 7 days in the water, they were finally starting to see land. Before they got close enough, the U.S. Coast Guard was ordered to gather up all that survived and take them to Guantanamo.
     After spending a year and a half in Guantanamo, Jose was brought to Florida and given his temporary papers.

     

 

REFERENCE:

Jose Calichs (Cuban)