Belquis Gonzalez works at a butcher shop in a small Serbian town. While most Cuban citizens want to emigrate to the United States or to Spanish-speaking nations, Gonzales and her husband chose Serbia, a country in Europe where they didn't need visas. The photo was taken by Darko Vojinovic.
Belquis Gonzalez and her family fled Cuba five years ago and now live in a small town in Serbia.
While most Cubans emigrate to the United States or Spanish-speaking countries, Gonzales and her husband decided to go to Serbia, a country in Europe that does not require visas.
At the family's home in Lajkovac, a town about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of the Serbian capital, Belgrade, Gonzales told The Associated Press that they didn't know anything about Serbia. We had many doubts and fears, but things have been better than we had expected.
Serbia is far from a promised land for people who fled violence, oppression or poverty at home to rebuild their lives after the wars and sanctions of the 1990s.
Most of the refugees and migrants who have arrived since the big migration wave into Europe in the summer of 2016 were only on their way to wealthy European Union nations further north and west.
In Serbia, just 3,700 people have applied for asylum in the last five years, while 212 have received it, according to Mirjana Milenkovski.
Among them are seven Cubans, including Gonzales, her husband, and their daughter.
They are a good example of integration. One of the greatest success stories we have here is this one.
As Serbians emigrate in large numbers for more prosperous countries, her family is happy with its new life.
The family left Cuba because of political problems and lack of opportunities.
Cuba resembles a Caribbean paradise to outsiders, but the system does not favor the people at all. It limits them.
After arriving in Serbia, the family stayed in a center for asylum-seekers before being granted refugee status in 2019. The couple moved to Lajkovac after being helped by the Serbian authorities.
In a small apartment with her husband and a butcher shop nearby, Gonzales works at construction sites and a butcher shop. She didn't miss the Caribbean sunshine on a cold, windy day.
"What I like most about this country is that you can see all the seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter," he said.
The Cuban family was not familiar with the way of life in Europe. People do stare at you, but it's like out of curiosity.
Despite long hours at work, they have been able to make friends and socialize.
She said that they enjoy each other's company and get along with everyone. Everyone knows that we are from Cuba.
Some locals have commented on the good relations between Serbia and Cuba that existed when Serbia was part of Yugoslavia.
The residents of Lajkovac were surprised that someone moved from Cuba to their drab looking town of several thousand people, and have stopped by the butcher's shop to see "Belka", as she is affectionately known.
"They want to know if the weather in Cuba is nice and if she would take them there," said Dragana Isailovic, who works for Gonzales.
You can follow AP's global migration coverage.
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