During his first full day in Cuba on Monday, President Barack Obama met with Cuban President Raul Castro behind closed doors before they held a joint news conference in Havana.

As the historic meeting unfolded, Martha Robles, of Haverstraw, thought of her deceased Cuban-born mother and the joy that her mother would have felt at the sight of the thawing of U.S.-Cuba relations.

"She came at the tender age of 17," said Robles. Her mother, who died two years ago, never returned to Cuba. "Mama better be proud! The doors are open," said Robles, referring to the U.S.-Cuba dialogue that exists now.

Robles doesn't believe that Cuba's government will change overnight, but she applauds Obama's visit as a vital step in the right direction to potentially bolstering trade and fostering a new future between the two Cold War-era foes.

On Monday, Castro said U.S.-Cuba relations can only be normalized when embargoes end and when the U.S. leaves Guantanamo Bay. Obama said the U.S. and Cuba have a lot of catching up to do, and he pushed on the country's human-rights record.

"By helping Cuba with Internet, with technology, with aid and making them part of the global economy, I think people will see change," said Robles.

"My hope is that the day will come that the people from Cuba will be able to elect a government that's for the people," she said.

Robles also hopes that people like herself will be able to reconnect with their Cuban roots. "I can't wait to get there," she said with a laugh.