On Saturday, Pope Francis arrived in Cuba, hailing the detente between the United States and Cuba as a model of reconciliation. But for Cuban national Denia Correa, who came to the United States as political refugee, the Pope’s visit is just one more sign that after 19 years, she may soon get to see her family again. “My childhood was very good. I grew up in the country, rode horses and learned to drive a tractor,” Correa said. “But I always knew I wanted to leave Cuba.” Her father worked as an engineer for the government and Correa said the boarding school she attended was “the best of the best on the island.” But life in Cuba was far from idyllic for many. “There was no freedom of religion. We couldn’t travel freely and if you were homosexual or mentally disabled you were jailed,” Correa said. “Deep down we knew there had to something better. There had to be something outside of Cuba”/Cindy Hval, SR. More here.

Question: Have you ever visited your homeland?

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