Author: Francisco Castro

I am God when I give life to a character in the flesh of an actor and when I make that character have conflicts, confront them and either resolve them or not.

Though this might seem like an avalanche, it’s not, because these issues are addressed with such superficiality and indifference that they’re soon forgotten. In addition, the characters represented in Cuban fiction (on TV broadcasts) cannot commit the sin of touching each other – much less kiss or portray characters in sex scenes.

When will we put into practice all the theory that has been instilled in us? When will we see the fruits of so many years of effort? When will we stop underestimating ourselves?

I never realized —until today— that the whole thing was a plot cooked up by my grandfather. It was all far from my understanding as a young, innocent and basically good kid that this was a war against the story of “Papa at night.”

On my birthday I went to the Cuban Radio Human Resources Department. I had to wait for the woman who was supposed to assist me to finish laughing at me, along with the station’s trainer, as I -full of apprehension and a bad premonition- sat in front of her desk.

On the third day of working at the radio station, I was in called in by the Human Resources Department. The head —with much regret, which I felt was sincere— returned all my papers to me and said they had canceled my contract until the address change issue was resolved. He told me I would have to go to the Department of Human Resources of Radio Cubana and speak with the boss.

Starting from there began a quite embarrassing discussion, him arguing about the need for an address change so they could hire me, and me refuting him with the new law. This first collision, though violent, didn’t prepare me for what would come later.

A question immediately crossed my mind: Had I already obtained my change of address? No I hadn’t. I had had no way of obtaining a job placement in the capital, and -though I dearly wanted it- I hadn’t done anything to arrange this.

In Cuba, university education is “free,” as are all mandatory studies. It’s free in the sense that it is unnecessary to pay with money for the years of coursework received. However, once someone graduates, it’s necessary to repay with work for the knowledge acquired in the classroom. This is known as fulfilling social service.

Cuban pride is demonstrated by hoisting the flag in every public space and workplace; however, I think they are going a little too far by singing the national anthem at the morning meetings carried out once a week in the workplaces before beginning work.