Pot and Pan Polishers are a Valued Skill in Cuba
HAVANA TIMES – I’m not sure if passing down kitchen utensils from generation to generation might seem surreal in other parts of the world, but in Cuba, it’s a form of heritage.
In my home, the pots, pans, and kettles belonged to the heroic women of my family. These were women who toughened their hands through hours of using scouring pads, sandpaper, and sharp knives. Hours of dedication spent scrubbing away layers of grease, convinced that their labor would be more gratifying for the family, and that they would save more kerosene, gas, or electricity.
They never imagined that 40 years later, my mother and I would be using the same pots, relics from a time when these magical kitchen items were produced with quality and were available in stores and hardware shops. Even less could they have imagined that we, like so many other Cubans, would need the skills of polishers.
Skills for which we pay between 100 to 200 pesos, depending on the level of grime.
One of the most respected and valued jobs among the people of Old Havana is that of a pot polisher. It’s a job that demands great concentration and skill. Being exposed to heat and fire just to meet basic needs tells us of the painful journey Cubans must endure to survive. It also speaks to the eternal inability of the State to stock markets with essential goods.
Convincing my mother to use the services of a polisher took her through an arduous process of introspection. It wasn’t easy for her to internalize that if there’s little food, how can they sell pots? In the end, reusing is the only option in the face of shortages.
Letting go of any trace of hope and entitlement. Giving the best of ourselves for the well-being and apparent comfort of the family, in a desperate attempt to live like human beings, and in doing so, contributing from our scarcity to the survival of others, this is just one of the many ways of living in today’s Cuba.
Read more from the diary of Ester Zoza aquí en Havana Times.
I always remember Cuban kitchens as an explosion of emotions, the way Cubans cook is so dedicated and full of inventions, love and a lot of effort. And this is also transmitted to the utensils.
Cubans, like many people in developing countries, have a vogue for continuing to use many household essentials, and repurposing many items for longevity out economic necessity. ‘Old school’ pots and pans were often made with a heavier gauge metal, unlike the more ‘tinny’ pots and pans of today. I have even noticed disposable cigarette lighters being injected with a strong metal hypodermic needle attached to a large gas cylinder for refilling purposes! However, there can be a down side to shortages. Some ten years ago I hired a small Korean Daewoo Matiz car for travel from Havana to Santiago, Guantanamo and Moa. The car was brand new and I was fortunate, or so I thought! On the road to Cienfuegos I had two punctures on the back tyres. After crawling on two rims to a local ‘Ponchero’ workshop I discovered that both tyres had multiple punctures and patches. The car rental garage in Havana, owned by the state, had removed two brand new tires and innertubes, and replaced them with second had well used replacements! Undoubtedly the new tires and innertubes were sold onto the ‘mercado negro’ for US Dollars! Such are the realities of life in Cuba! State owned bars and restaurants with no toilet seats etc. etc.