Diaries Archives - Page 547 of 646

My Mother’s Letter

Today I received another letter from my mother in Santiago de Cuba. I didn’t read it until after lunch, and I was surprised with how much it paralleled a situation I just experienced with my aunt here in Havana.

Organizing Ourselves for Ourselves

I had heard talk about the issue, but I thought these were more exaggerations that we Cubans tend to make; I figured someone was just pulling my leg.

Divorce Cuban Style between Health and Humanity

An argument began between the two physicians over which patient should be given priority. Each was citing their specialties and competence in the matter, which they tried to prove by referencing I don’t know how many years of work and experience. But what about my mother?

Thinking of the Almighty $

My friend Paolo told me that Cubans attach too much importance to money. “I know that the wages in Cuba aren’t enough,” he told me, “but at least you have things here that can’t be compared with what we have in my country.” He mentioned the facts that education and health care are free.

God Pushes and Others Drown

I have a friend who up to this moment hasn’t lost her job; nonetheless, she’s worried about the future. She’s been working for a short time as an editor, and though she’s worked on no more than two or three books, I’m sure she’s up to the task.

November 6: A New Anniversary in Cuba

This past November 6 marked the first anniversary of the “March against Violence” that was led by a group of young people along Havana’s 23rd Avenue.

Quiet and Surreptitious Gambling

Quite a few people have always been involved in the numbers. In Cuba it survives despite everything. It’s both concealed and open at the same time, as a level of permissive complicity serves to expand it.

Getting to Cuba

Getting to Cuba for a US citizen involves many questions and few answers. It is an illegal adventure for most Americans, an utterly bureaucratic one for those with family in Cuba, and, so exceedingly complicated for those of us with special licenses that someone with professional knowledge must do it for us.

Chinks in the Armor

“Cubans complain a lot about health care because it’s free.” Those were the words of a physician, who’s a friend of our family when I told her, “Maria, every day I hear more negative comments from people related to health care services, especially concerning doctors.” She added that those people who complain so much about health care in Cuba should go to any Latin American country for a few weeks.

Old Havana

When I walk through the historic district I get this strange impression that they’re never going to stop making repairs. They finish renovating one building and the previous one has already fallen into disrepair.