December 05, 2003
What it's like to be Cuban...
I just went out for a smoke and saw this person loading one of those long duffle bags into the truck of a car and realized yet another irony of my Cuban diaspora.
Back in the early days of the revolution, Cuban's that exiled were called Gusanos. Worms. This is one of the few things I remember from of the island where I was born.
When we were leaving for Havana from our little town in Oriente to catch our Freedom Flight, the only transportation we were able to get was on the back of a dump truck. I remember my father shielding us from the rocks and bottles and trash that some of our neighbors were throwing at us while yelling "Gusanos!!! Gusanos!!!" at the tops of their lungs.
Ten or so years ago, possibly more, when Castro opened up the gates to allow exiles back in plentitude to visit their families you would see the long lines of people at the airport with not only three or four layers of clothing on, but two or three large duffle bags stuffed to the gills. All carrying goods to their families in the island.
The irony is, in Spanish, we call those duffle bags gusanos.
Posted by Val Prieto at December 5, 2003 03:45 PM
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Comments
Los Gusanos vs Las Cucarachas
In recent correspondence with some Cuban friends on the east coast, I have suggested that the term El Gusano be adopted by those who have anti-Castro views. On my TV program I often use the term, and I hand out Gummy Worms to the studio personnel, as long as they ask for them in Spanish, Un Gusano.
And for Casto, why not always refer to him as La Cucaracha. His followers: Las Cucarachas. Harry Belafonte and Danny Glover, Las Cucarachas. Why not?
I was unaware of your Blog site until tonight. I'll write more as soon as I hear from you.
Posted by: Howard E. at December 6, 2003 01:49 AM
Howard,
Aqui tienes tu casa. You are welcome to come and help me stamp out all the cucarachas any time.
Love the Christmas poem btw.
Posted by: Val at December 6, 2003 07:08 AM
