A New Life in Tampa Bay

Food logs, furniture inventory, and the invalidation of a college degree are foreign concepts to some of us. But to a refugee from Cuba, these things are part of life and made worse if you decide to oppose the government and political establishment.

Each year 70,000 refugees flee their homes out of fear of persecution, based on race, religion, nationality, or political opinion. In Tampa Bay, Refugee Services of Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg works with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to welcome these refugees and provide them with shelter.

Albernay 41, Beatriz 41, Lius 15, and Lis 10 arrived in Tampa on November 1 leaving behind  loved ones; parents, aunts, and cousins. In Cuba, Albernay graduated with a degree in education and then went on to become a director at a local school. “Things were fine for a while,” he says. But that quickly changed when he spoke up at against the government run school. Afterwards, he immediately felt the consequences.

“I was demoted and transferred to another school,” he states. “Working for the establishment at the other school was unbearable; eventually the government invalidated my degree. I went to school five years, and just like that, I had nothing.” 

Albernay looked for anything he could do to continue to support his family like making pottery and working in the fields. But says getting work became challenging after he spoke up against the government. And that they continued to keep close tabs on him and his family in a small town where everyone knows everything.

In addition to being persecuted because of his political beliefs, Albernay and his family explained that life in Cuba was difficult. He says the government makes everyone keep a food log, only allowing families to purchase a dedicated amount of food; 5 lbs of rice for a family of four for a month; water diluted milk for the kids and only until the age of seven; and no beef.

The family is grateful for having been given this amazing opportunity to start their lives over in Tampa Bay. His children have started school and are happy with their new friends. Lius 15, used to attend an overcrowded school in Cuba with no air conditioning. “The room was small, hot, and over-crowded,” her mom says. “There were times I was told Lius had fainted.”

Both Albernay and Beatriz have enrolled in English classes and are learning to adapt to the American lifestyle. “Both my girls walk into our kitchen, open the refrigerator, and are amazed at the amount of food we have, Beatriz says. “We have meat mom,” one of them states.

Catholic Charities is in need of donations year round. To make a financial contribution go to: ccdosp.org or mail to: Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, 1213 16th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33705.

We are also in need of basic essentials to help us furnish the apartments of newly arrived refugees, (shower curtains, towels, sheets, pillows, pots and pans, rice cookers,) go to ccdosp.org to find a drop-off location near you or call 727-893-1313 ext. 208.

The family is still in need of food and clothing donations. To drop off a donation for the family call, Mariana: 813-631-4370 x 202.