This article is about Alena Holbrook, a local resident of Wise, VA. When she was a child, she lived in Czechoslovakia, a state in Europe This is how Alena came to escape communism and live in the United States.
After 1948, Czechoslovakia was under communist government. In 1967-68, the Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia wanted their country to be free, or neutral, which meant to have democracy. Well, Russia would not stand for it and on August 21, 1968, they occupied Czechoslovakia. Alena and her family waited until September, 1969, and since it did not look promising, her parents decided to escape. For her, at 13 years old, it seemed like an adventure. For her parents, however, it was a nightmare. The day they left, Alena's best friend came over and she could not tell her goodbye. The whole family had to keep quiet about their escape, so nobody would report them to the secret police. It was sad for them to leave all their friends, family, and animals behind. They did not know if they would ever see their friends or family again.
The countries Alena and her family had to pass through on their escape were Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Then from there they took a turn to Romania and Yugoslavia. They stayed there in Yugoslavia for about a week, then they continued to Austria. They waited for about a month for their Visa's to Sweden, where they lived for six months. They then decided to go back to Germany. Then after 5 years, her mom, dad, and her brother moved to Canada while she stayed with a friend, and in 1977, she moved to the good 'ole U.S. of A. When she got here, she was driven to Clintwood, Virginia to live with her veteran fiance, whom she met when he was called over seas to fight Hitler.Yes, it was a bit of a culture shock for her, but she has grown to love it here!
When I spoke to Ms. Holbrook for this interview, I asked her if she would ever want to go back. She said " I would LOVE to go there for a vacation and see my relatives, but to live there? No way!" Ms. Holbrook also added a piece of advice: " Unless you have lived it, you never know what a communist government is. Most Americans do not know how lucky they are to have freedom, freedom of speech and the right to bear arms."
After 1948, Czechoslovakia was under communist government. In 1967-68, the Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia wanted their country to be free, or neutral, which meant to have democracy. Well, Russia would not stand for it and on August 21, 1968, they occupied Czechoslovakia. Alena and her family waited until September, 1969, and since it did not look promising, her parents decided to escape. For her, at 13 years old, it seemed like an adventure. For her parents, however, it was a nightmare. The day they left, Alena's best friend came over and she could not tell her goodbye. The whole family had to keep quiet about their escape, so nobody would report them to the secret police. It was sad for them to leave all their friends, family, and animals behind. They did not know if they would ever see their friends or family again.
The countries Alena and her family had to pass through on their escape were Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Then from there they took a turn to Romania and Yugoslavia. They stayed there in Yugoslavia for about a week, then they continued to Austria. They waited for about a month for their Visa's to Sweden, where they lived for six months. They then decided to go back to Germany. Then after 5 years, her mom, dad, and her brother moved to Canada while she stayed with a friend, and in 1977, she moved to the good 'ole U.S. of A. When she got here, she was driven to Clintwood, Virginia to live with her veteran fiance, whom she met when he was called over seas to fight Hitler.Yes, it was a bit of a culture shock for her, but she has grown to love it here!
When I spoke to Ms. Holbrook for this interview, I asked her if she would ever want to go back. She said " I would LOVE to go there for a vacation and see my relatives, but to live there? No way!" Ms. Holbrook also added a piece of advice: " Unless you have lived it, you never know what a communist government is. Most Americans do not know how lucky they are to have freedom, freedom of speech and the right to bear arms."
Thank you to Ms. Holbrook for taking the time to tell me her life story, and thank you all for reading this!
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