the network for
Operation Pedro Pan

Jorge L de Jesus's Story

arrived on a rainy afternoon august the 8th 1962; remember trip to florida city like it was yesterday,the driver wanted to drop me off in camp matacumbe but when we got there, he was told to take me to forida city,Amen to that. finally got to florida city, was taken to see some nuns , was given a sandwich and chocolate milk, while eating, some kid screamed through the window "aprovecha que eso no se da todo los dias".They were right, to this day i cannt eat mashed potatoes.After that they took me to aria's house,they were great house-parents.Remember having to help clean the house,helping take care younger kids, sort the laundry, marching single file to all the meals, my first weekly $1.25 and mail stamp,working on week-ends at front office,playing outside with other kids just as freaked-out as i was, lying about a cousing in camp matacumbe so i can take the bus and get out of there for a while. after a few months they sent all of us to the Baldor house,poor guy , that house was for girls and now he had to put up with us,boys.Well, in retrospect, i cried like everybody else, took food from cafeteria so i could snack at night, loved the friday night dances ,hated the nuns and daily ration mashed potatoes, but thank God everyday i was there, with some good people that really looked after each other . To all my fellow florida city alumni ,God Bless and stay young. ps:i still hate Mashed Potatoes!