Author: Rosa Martínez

Let Me Explain…

Even though I read all of the comments people leave on some of my articles, I can almost never respond (because of limited Internet access), much less write to everyone who might reject or support my ideas.

Hitching and Rides in Cuba

Who hasn’t hitched a ride before? Asking for a ride, spending countless nights on local and interprovincial transport forms a part of our everyday routines, at least here in Cuba. I am already well over forty and I have spent half of my life hitching rides.

Ah Mom, That Was Before

When they say “go to your classrooms”, these uniformed bodies all look the same: clean, ironed, straight, tight; apparently there’s no difference between one young kid and another. But, if you take a look at their shoes, their cell phone, watch or any other personal item, you begin to see differences.

May Showers

There is a popular belief, at least here in Oriente, which says that everyone (adults and children) should drink water from the first downpour in May, Cuba’s wettest month, and if you don’t, you’ll suffer from terrible stomach cramps and diarrhea.

When Wages Aren’t Enough to Get By…

If there’s one subject I don’t like writing about it’s about our financial needs, read here: our food, clothing and everyday situation, because it feels like whining, like the Spanish say, and I really don’t like whining.

Be a man!

Those who follow my articles (which I hope are quite a few) should know that I live in a suburb of Guantanamo city, the fifth most populated city in Cuba.

Don’t Ask for Permission, Woman

I have a neighbor who can’t even leave to go to work before she’s told her husband where she’s going. And when she needs to run a few errands, she has to go into great details about the places she’s thinking of going to.