Cuban exile family makes plans to return

(3 Aug 2006)
1. Wide of family
2. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Carmen Valdes, Voxpop
"My body has been here for 36 years, but not my spirit, my spirit is in Cuba."
3. Still photograph of church where couple married in Pinar del Rio, Cuba
4. Still photograph of hill in Pinar del Rio, Cuba
5. SOUNDBITE: (SPANISH) Carmen Valdes, Voxpop
"We're very grateful to the U.S. for everything it has given us, so much help, but we want to return to our homeland, one day."
6. SOUNDBITE: (SPANISH) Divaldo Valdes, Voxpop
"As soon as the situation normalises, I immediately want to go to Cuba. I just can't wait to go."
7. Various of the couple's wedding picture from Cuba
8. SOUNDBITE: (SPANISH) Carmen Valdes, Voxpop
"Our unending dream during 30-some years has been one day to return to Cuba."
9. SOUNDBITE: (SPANISH) Divaldo Valdes, Voxpop
"It's such a marvelous dream, to be able to go to your country. Your homeland is something that's sacred."
10. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) Daniel Valdes, Voxpop
"Everything is going to be so chaotic at first, that you worry a little bit. They make it seem that it's going to be so easy for them to go over there, but they are going to miss, especially their grandsons, they are going to miss us, so it's not that easy for them I think, but I know they long to go back tremendously, and it is something that I would love to see them be able to do."
11. Pan of family sitting on couch
STORYLINE:
The news of Fidel Castro's failing health gives some families in Miami hope that one day they may be able to return to their homeland.
Carmen and Divaldo Valdes have lived in Miami for 36 years.
They got married in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, and had one son there before they migrated to the U.S.
The Valdes thought they may stay for a month or two, but more than three decades later they are still in Miami.
They had another son, and now also have three grandchildren.
But the hope of returning to their country has always been with them.
"My body has been here for 36 years," says Carmen Valdes, "but not my spirit, my spirit is in Cuba."
Their son Daniel, who was born in the U.S., says his parents don't realise that it's not going to be easy moving back to Cuba after all these years. He worries about their decision, but cannot deny them their dream.
"They are going to miss us, so it's not that easy for them I think," says Daniel Valdes, "But I know they long to go back tremendously, and it is something that I would love to see them be able to do."

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