Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who is Isabel's mother?
Who is Isabel's mother?
Teresa Padron de Fernandez
Who is Isabel's father?
Who is Isabel's father?
Geraldo Fernandez
What was the cause of the riot in Havana?
What was the cause of the riot in Havana?
Running out of food way too quickly
How many times did Geraldo try to flee from Cuba?
How many times did Geraldo try to flee from Cuba?
Why had it become so difficult to escape from Cuba?
Why had it become so difficult to escape from Cuba?
What is the American policy "Wet foot, Dry foot"?
What is the American policy "Wet foot, Dry foot"?
Why does Lito tell Geraldo there is no point in throwing himself in the ocean?
Why does Lito tell Geraldo there is no point in throwing himself in the ocean?
What did Fidel Castro's message say that interrupted the Industriales game?
What did Fidel Castro's message say that interrupted the Industriales game?
What did Lito tell Papi about why he couldn't leave Cuba?
What did Lito tell Papi about why he couldn't leave Cuba?
Describe Fidel Castro.
Describe Fidel Castro.
What were Isabel's father and grandfather arguing about?
What were Isabel's father and grandfather arguing about?
Why did Lito say Isabel's family could not go to Cuba?
Why did Lito say Isabel's family could not go to Cuba?
Who was home when Isabel visited the Castillos?
Who was home when Isabel visited the Castillos?
What did the Castillos make their boat out of?
What did the Castillos make their boat out of?
What was Isabel trying to convince Senor Castillo to do?
What was Isabel trying to convince Senor Castillo to do?
What equipment does Rudi say they lack to sail to America?
What equipment does Rudi say they lack to sail to America?
Where did Isabel go to fix the problem of them having no gasoline?
Where did Isabel go to fix the problem of them having no gasoline?
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Study Notes
Character Overview
- Isabel's Mother: Teresa Padron de Fernandez, central to Isabel's family dynamics.
- Isabel's Father: Geraldo Fernandez, suffered physical consequences from a riot, indicated by welts on his back, treated with iodine.
Events and Context
- Cause of the Riot in Havana: Caused by rapidly depleting food supplies, leading to civil unrest.
- Geraldo's Escape Attempts: Made two unsuccessful attempts to flee Cuba, first with a raft during a tropical storm, and second with a motorboat before getting caught by the Cuban navy.
- Increasing Difficulty to Escape: More food shortages funneling desperate Cubans towards the U.S., tightening escape routes.
American Policies
- Wet Foot, Dry Foot Policy: Cuban refugees captured at sea ("wet feet") are taken to Guantanamo Bay, while those who reach U.S. soil ("dry feet") gain refugee status and a path to citizenship.
Family Dynamics
- Lito's Advice: Encouraged Geraldo to stay low instead of risking his life by jumping into the ocean, suggesting a hiding place in the cane fields.
- Familial Confrontations: Tension between Isabel's father and grandfather about responsibilities tied to freedom and the impact of dictatorship on family life.
Fidel Castro's Message
- Castro addressed the public, linking U.S. activities to riots in Cuba and announcing that anyone wishing to leave Cuba could do so legally, signaling a shift in government policy.
Arguments Over Leaving Cuba
- Lito's Reluctance: Expressed the difficulty of leaving due to family ties. Isabel countered Lito's points by highlighting dire conditions in Cuba, noting the U.S. offers food, freedom, and a safe environment for her family.
Boat and Escape Plans
- Boat Construction: The Castillos built a makeshift boat from metal advertisements, road signs, and oil drums, designed to carry eight people.
- Isabel's Plea to Senor Castillo: Attempted to persuade Castillo to take her family on the journey to America, arguing about the potential imprisonment of her father if they stayed.
- Gasoline Shortage: Rudi cited lack of gasoline as a major hindrance to their escape plan, but Isabel volunteered to solve the problem by negotiating with a fisherman for fuel, offering her prized French trumpet as barter.
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