| a Telecommunications Building, Downtown Havana, | | | | jewel, there is a beautiful park with tropical flowers, |
| Thursday, April 13, 2005, 3:32 pm | | | | shadowy trees and benches. And almost all the |
| I really gotta hurry, I only have about 28 minutes left | | | | benches are missing their wooden slats, on the seat, |
| on my Internet card so I am going to try to be brief | | | | the backrest or both. And these benches are located |
| here. | | | | right outside Cuba´s most famous building! |
| The last few days have been extremely interesting. I | | | | Today I received the explanation that quality wood is |
| am not a political expert, but in a city like Havana you | | | | extremely difficult to get and that people simply help |
| can´t help but be confronted with politics. | | | | themselves..... |
| Everywhere you see billboards with political slogans, | | | | The number and types of private entrepreneurial |
| monuments of heroes that were significant in | | | | schemes is too large to mention. Only a few are |
| Cuba´s history, pictures of Che Guevara and | | | | legal, for example the paladares (private restaurants |
| Fidel Castro, and the Cuban Revolution as well as the | | | | in private homes), the casas particulares (bed and |
| present economic circumstances are omnipresent | | | | breakfasts) as well as various types of private taxis. |
| topics of conversation. | | | | But apart from this small number of officially |
| I have read a lot about Cuba and tried to talk to as | | | | permitted private enterprises, virtually everybody in |
| many people as possible and there are a few things | | | | this country has turned into an entrepreneur. Any |
| that have crystallized in my mind as general | | | | person that owns a car, and car ownership is |
| impressions of Cuba. Once again, these are my | | | | extremely restricted here, uses it to give a lift to |
| personal impressions and they are definitely not | | | | people, picks up passengers at a street corner and |
| based on scientific fact, but nevertheless I will share | | | | drops them off 20 minutes later in return for 10 |
| them with you. | | | | Pesos, all money made under the table. |
| Cubans are a fiercely proud and independent people | | | | All these things are strangely ironic to me, since Cuba |
| and more than anything they insist on preserving | | | | officially is a Communist country, where private |
| their national independence and sovereignty. At | | | | property and private enterprise is all but forbidden, |
| various times throughout history Cuba was | | | | but in order to survive the entire population has |
| dominated by the Spanish, the English or the | | | | turned into an army of entrepreneurs. |
| Americans and since the Cuban Revolution in 1959 | | | | On the other hand, Cuba has achieved tremendous |
| Cubans have had self-determination for the first time | | | | accomplishments, for a small, third-world Carribean |
| in history. Obviously, Cubans avowed political enemy | | | | country. Close to 100% of Cuba´s population |
| is the US goverment, but I have heard numerous | | | | is literate, public education is available to everybody. |
| people say that they have nothing against the | | | | Black people and women in particular have benefited |
| American people, their issues are with the US | | | | from the effects of the revoluation. The health care |
| government, and in particular the embargo and the | | | | and education system are among the most |
| travel restrictions for Cubans living in the US. | | | | developed systems in the 3rd world, and |
| Apparently, relatives of Cuban families are now only | | | | Cuba´s life expectancy and infant mortality |
| allowed to travel to Cuba once every 3 years, so the | | | | rates are among the best of the world. In addition, |
| policites were tightened significantly by the US | | | | post-revolutionary Cuba has also dedicated itself to |
| government in recent times. | | | | promoting sport and athelticism and today Cuba |
| The results of the embargo and the economic | | | | excels in many different sports (track and field, |
| shortages are visible everywhere, buildings are | | | | baseball, basketball, volleyball, fencing and others) on |
| crumbling, there is not enough construction material, | | | | an international level. |
| hospitals are lacking in equipment, and personal | | | | So all in all, the Cuban Revolution has had some |
| income is extremely low (eg. between $ 8 and $20 a | | | | astoundingly positive effects on the country, despite |
| month...). As a result, everybody is forced to open a | | | | all the hardships that people still experience. However, |
| little side business. During the last few days I have | | | | it seems that there is a little bit of optimism in the air, |
| heard that it is extremely common in Cuba to steal | | | | since Cuba signed trade agreements with Venezuela, |
| resources from the State since all economic activity | | | | various other Latin American countries and China. And |
| including retail is nationalized. | | | | of course great hope is placed in Cuba´s |
| People steal cosmetics, hygience products, cement, | | | | tourism industry. |
| wood, computers, cigars, everything that is not | | | | However, on the other hand, you have to keep in |
| absolutely nailed down. Then they sell the products | | | | mind that Cuba is still a dictatorship, a totalitarian |
| privately under the table. It is strangely ironic that in a | | | | regime and human rights and personal freedoms are |
| Communist country, everybody has turned into an | | | | restricted here. There is a palpable paranoia here |
| entrepreneur... The phrase that I have heard is | | | | among people in that they are afraid of publicly |
| ¨hay que inventar¨, you have to invent | | | | criticizing the regime. And organizations like the CDR, |
| things - be creative in order to survive. | | | | the Comite de la Defensa de la Revolution, often act |
| This mentality manifests itself in some very obvious | | | | as watchdogs and informers on the people. Travel is |
| ways: yesterday Pedro and I tried to get into the | | | | extremely restricted, or impossible, and there are no |
| Partagas Tobacco Factory since I wanted to go on a | | | | official methods of criticizing the government. |
| tour. The security guard told us that an employee | | | | This short little bit of time has been great in giving |
| had died and that therefore the factory was closed. | | | | me an insight into Cuban culture, politics and |
| Then, under his breath, he asked us if we wanted to | | | | economics, and my classes at the university are |
| buy a box of cigars. How amazing: the security guard | | | | great since my colleagues also add to a very |
| protecting the tobacco factory is selling (stolen) | | | | interesting discussion. We discuss and compare the |
| cigars on the black market. | | | | Scandinavian, Cuban and Canadian health systems, |
| Also, just outside the Capitol building, Havana´s | | | | political systems, mass media and economic policies |
| most astounding and most well-known architectural | | | | and all this has truly been an eye-opening experience. |