Diaries

Being Disabled in Cuba: Waning Dreams

Some time ago, when I was interviewed by the Havana Times, I spoke of my disability and shared some of my experiences and aspirations. Today, like back then, the most pressing problem I face is my housing situation and the repercussions this has on my health and quality of life.

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FIART Crafts Fair Opens in Havana

Cuba’s largest artisans fair, FIART, opens Monday to the public in its new location at the fortress overlooking the Havana harbor entrance. It will run through December 22. [The fair was scheduled to open Sunday but was put off a day for the national mourning declared for the death of Nelson Mandela.] (21 photos)

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Glory to the Indispensable Mandela

Many tribal religions celebrate a birth with mourning and death with song. They believe that human beings are born to struggle and find it sad. When they die, they believe that their souls rest and rise to another dimension, so they celebrate.

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Venezuela: Power Cuts, Elections and Shopping Sprees

As the Venezuelan government recently “realized” that product prices at many stores are sky-high and announced a battle against speculators, and shoppers go wild looking for bargains, preparations are in place for the Sunday December 8 municipal elections throughout the country.

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Another Gay Film Made in Cuba

A new local film titled “Fatima, or Fraternity Park” is about to be released in Cuban theaters, a new addition to the shy list of Cuban films dealing with gay issues. Renowned actor and director Jorge Perugorria (who played a homosexual intellectual in “Strawberry and Chocolate”) is the director.

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Cuban Television’s Self-Sabotage

When I was a teenager, I read Curzio Malaparte’s book Coup d’etat: On the Technique of Revolution. In it, this energetic and multifaceted Italian author advised all who aspired to stage a coup to make use of scientific breakthroughs and to involve experts practically in all strategies.

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Cuba’s Primary Schools in the Mirror of Art Education

Not long ago, a friend of mine went to pick her kid up at his primary school and I tagged along. In the hallway, I saw the collages that are always hung on the hallways or at the back of the classrooms in these schools. Only one of them was more or less acceptable, the rest displayed tasteless information and decorations.

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Cuba’s Insensitive Fathers

Being a mother has been the greatest, most beautiful experience of my life. I feel proud of the sacrifices – both joyful and sad – that I’ve had to make over these past 12 years, trying to give my Carlos Adriel the best, shield him from the worst and give him a childhood happier than the one I had.

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Curious Things about Cuba

Some time ago, I found out there’s an Internet site about Cuba where people upload photos of things we Cubans are very familiar with. I thought that, without being downright imitative, Havana Times could create a space where people can upload these types of pictures.(16 photos)

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How Cubans Emigrate (There’s Always More to Tell)

When I began writing my first post about the ways in which Cubans emigrate, I knew from the start that I was dealing with one of those issues that cannot be encompassed in a single commentary. This is why I planned a three-post piece on the subject. I am going to begin today by telling you a story about an incident I know about first-hand.

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