The Cuban Love Story

by Jesus Castañon

In 1996 in Cuba, in the Cohiba Cigar Factory, I met Xenia Hernandez. When I saw her, I said to myself "If only she were mine". It appears that God granted my wish because the spot where I was assigned as a professional cigar roller was right next to her. I wish to take this opportunity to thank her; she was the first person to approach and offer me help in learning how to prepare a cigar. After nine months we passed our evaluations, and we continued working at Cohiba until sometime during the year 2000.

At that time Xenia's father was chosen by a program for political refugees in Cuba, to emmigrate to the USA with his family. Xenia was three months pregnant with our first child. It was a very difficult decision to make. After many conversations she decided to go with her father, who was worried that she wouldn't go with him. I appreciate very much that she did not wish to leave me behind; it was a sign of her love for me.

Xenia traveled to the USA in March 2000, with our first child in her womb and with the conviction that at any price she would get me out of Cuba. I continued making cigars and  was attending classes to train in retail. I finished the classes and started working as a manager in a textile warehouse store called Puntex. Later I worked in a store that sold construction materials, and made cigars at home, all the while trying to find a way out of Cuba. Which is something extremely difficult, but is a dream of 98% of Cubans.

In 2001 a friend of mine who lives in the Bahamas acquired two invitations for her brother and me. We traveled to the Bahamas with the objective of reaching the USA by sea. Due to the tragic events of 9/11 our departure for the USA became too difficult and our travel visas expired, leaving us as illegal aliens awaiting an opportunity to leave for the US. Days later an opportunity presented itself, but it required that we travel to Biminis Island in a commercial jet and from there leave for the US. The immigration officials returned us to Nassau because we did not present our passports; we couldn't because they had expired. Bahamian immigration officials were waiting for us with the intentions of deporting us back to Cuba. We spent 3 days in a detention center before we were sent back. With that objective lost you cannot imagine the sadness that Xenia and I felt.

During my first stay in the Bahamas I had met some nice people who owned a club and gave Latin dance classes. They had offered me to stay there and teach, because they were fans of the unique style of dance I had. It was unfair to them and I turned them down because my desire was to go the US and be with my family. After returning to Cuba a second chance arose when they offered a new invitation for me to travel to the Bahamas and become a dance teacher in their club. They knew what my objective was this time and that I would not be there long. It was a long and tough process, but after months of hard work and pressure I was able to secure all the documentation and permits to leave Cuba once again and return to the Bahamas.

During my short stay in the Bahamas I gave Salsa lessons and continued making cigars for a local factory. It was a short time though and finally the opportunity presented itself for which I had been fighting so long, for without my family, my life had no meaning.

The night before we left I actually slept on the small twelve-foot boat in which I was to travel to the US the following day. During the night the boat got loose and I was set adrift in the bay. The next day we left and our trip lasted 22 hours, a trip that normally should have taken around 7 hours, but one of the two propellers broke. On top of that we hit a rock and the boat tipped almost throwing me into the water. The whole time we pretended to be fishing.  Suffice to say that was the most dangerous experience of my life, yet it saved me from depression and disillusionment. However to be reunited with my wife and son I would cross the seven seas. They were difficult times being separated, but our love was always alive.

We arrived in Miami around 5:20 am. No swimming, no beach, we pulled right up to a dock and got off. As soon as we arrived, family members of some of the refugees were waiting, but not for me. My Xenia and her family were in Pennsylvania. A Cuban couple took me to their home and gave me a great big breakfast. I called Xenia on the phone and she was relieved I was safe and sound. She hadn't slept worrying about me.

I stayed in the couple's home until 7:00 am, and then they took me to a restaurant where we called the authorities. They came and picked me up and took me to a police station, where they surprised me by giving me some clothing and $50.00 that they had collected between them. I was the only one that didn't have someone waiting for them so they kept me in a detention center. Later some friends of Xenia's came and got me out. She sent me money and the ticket to be reunited with her and my son in Pennsylvania. This all seemed like a dream, to be in the United States, a free man, and to be with my wife and son whom I love so much. It was a dream that took two years to become a reality.

During her time in the US, Xenia had been working in a vegetable and fruit packing company, saving every penny to help facilitate my departure from Cuba. I would write Xenia poems and letters, and she would call me every Friday. We would talk about trying to find a better job when I got there, so that she would feel better. When I got there I began to work in the same packing company until one day I said, "We are cigar rollers and we have always done well with that."

One afternoon we came across a tobacco warehouse and inquired. They informed us that they only stored tobacco. We continued walking and came across Domestic Tobacco Company and Mr. Geoffrey Ranck. He was interested in us and liked the idea and we exchanged numbers and remained in contact. Not long after he called us and we began to make samples.  After much practice and different blends, we began making the Demuth 1770's Premium Cigar, right here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

I would like to thank Mr. Ranck and all my co-workers and friends for making Xenia and me feel at home and a special thank you to my loving wife Xenia, who deserves the credit for me being here.