Lakeshore Advance, 2013-04-03, Page 2120 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Comfortable in Canada
Dream come true for
Cuban family
Lynda HIIIman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
It is a dream come true for a family
of four who have recently moved to
Canada, to Grand Bend in fact.
Marley, his wife Olguita and their
children Carlos, 8 and Marion 3 can't
believe the warm welcome they have
received since coming to the Grand
Bend community late last year. To
say they are thrilled to he here is an
understatement.
This family has always lived in
Santa Clara, Cuba. To come to Can-
ada they would be leaving Marley's
father and Olguita's mom Gild brother
and stepbrothers but they wanted a
better future for their family.
The process was not only costly but
it took three years. "It was worth it,"
said Marley in broken English, a chal-
lenge he knew he would face when
he got here. Ile graduated from a
four-year Professional School of Arts
and Olguita from a four-year Profes-
sional School of Music. Ile was work-
ing for the government restoring old
buildings and she worked for a sym-
phony orchestra.
once they were approved to live
here, they had to decide where. Mar-
ley's brother lives in 'Toronto and
Olgulta's brother Pedro and his wife
Marcie live in Grand Bend. They
decided the small community would
be hest for the kids- and they have no
regrets with that decision.
As would anyone coining to it new
country, these parents were con-
cerned about how their young chil-
dren would adapt and he accepted.
"It has been amazing," said Pedro.
When Carlo entered the school a staff
member was waiting for Ilial avith a
big welcome. Marion began the Early
Years program and she can't Wak to
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www. we Ironlewagon.ca
go school. "The Grand Bend school
is so good."
Marcie explained that (:ado's
teacher Karen Schram called to make
sure they were doing enough for him
in his efforts to fit in and learn" Mar-
ley said Cuba schools are so rigid and
regulated while this new school is so
relaxed and make's them feel so
comfortable.
Carlos, like his dad, loves art and
has found friends with the same
interests. The language barrier does
not seem to be an issue when you are
having fun.
In Cuba, Marley worked for the
government refurbishing buildings.
Ile began as a sculpture when he was
16 and has advanced over the years
to create incredible interior of build-
ings. Ile is also an artist. In Cuba, he
said, you were not permitted to sell
your own paintings. Ile had to have
an agent of sorts to sell your work,
making on it percentage of the price.
Ile was amazed that he was able to
get his work into the jutted Paint
Ontario and thrilled when one of the
paintings sold.
"It would have taken three years to
make that money in Cuba," he said.
fiery in Canada Marley works for
Grand Bend Produce and Olguita
works with her brother at Grandpa
Jimmy's in Grand Bend, where she is
learning so much from "such won-
derful owners Bob and Ruth;'
The couple is learning to speak
English at the Adult Learning Centre
in Exeter and the musicians of the
family are slaking time to participate
in concerts. Easter Sunday they
joined ten other musicians at the
United Church in Strathroy and have
a concert in (:orunna April 28th.
Olguita platys the cello
Marley hopes to have a web page
of his works up and running very
soon. "Goering to Canada Will bring
us and our children so many oppor-
tunities," said Marley with great
appreciation of what they have
already experienced.
lirlij LIoN
BRANCH 498, GRAND BEND
BINGO Tiiesday - 7pm
MEAT DRAWS
Friday - 5pm-7pm
ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, April 13th 3-6pm
"BEN SHANE & BOBBY K"
"You're only a stranger here once."
EVERYONE WELCOME
KIDS & ALL
Call: Sharon 519-238-6865
PARK
TRE 3011%. s.r,.11.
GODERICH 524.1811
Fri & Sat
6:45 & 9:15
Sun - Thur
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Sun - Thur 7:30
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www.movielittks.ca ,,,,,1.,.,,„ 1-800-265-3438
Lynda HIIIm1+n•Rapley 111kosholo Advance
Marley shows Marclo Walker his works
at Paint Ontario 2013, Now to Grand
Bond (Above: Carlos, Marloy,Olgulta and
Marion have boon welcomed by family
Pedro and Marcia as well as tho Grand
Bond community.
Kirteto Theatre
Forest
"QUARTET"
RATING: PG
DATUt APR. 5,6,7,9
STARRING: MAGGIE. SMITH. MICHAEL GAMOON,
OIL LY CONNOLLY
,lt) All Svats All 11,1v.c
;IkAV 11k11 111'A1 • ;;p, .`.103
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