Not long ago, I saw a guy on a bus wearing a cap with the Confederate flag on it. Plus, written across the front was the motto “Confederacy border patrol: Keeping Yankees north since…” (followed by an absurd date from American history). The man – a Cuban, white and mustached – was also wearing a US Marines t-shirt.
Read MoreAnytime anyone mentions reincarnation, I immediately think of the experiences my girlfriend and I have gone through for more than six months. We’ve had to haul boxes over here and boxes over there. When we couldn’t stay at one place anymore, we’d have to look for another place to rent.
Read MoreA 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.
Read MoreIt’s been around three years since I’ve been back to Argentina, owing to money factors and certain personal priorities. This long stretch has made my mother want to me to return home, as is logical.
Read MoreIt’s true that other ways exist for relaxing, but those too have become somewhat difficult given the lack of money, the shortage of things and the deterioration our society is suffering in terms of services.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreWho should control the content of philosophy classes? Sparks fly when this question is raised in Cuba. In this hot corner of the world, this leads us directly to the question of how and under what standards the issue of education is conceived; or better yet, what is the function of education and who is it for? Let’s begin at the lowest rung -the students- and then move up.
Read MoreI feel nostalgia for a sonorous city that I’ve never known. Havana -according to a friend- is full of jazz, son and bolero singers, who crone equally for lost love as for the pleasure of good rum. That is a Habana located far removed from what I experience; it is one with a projected image that makes us appear to be what in fact we are not.
Read MoreWhen self-employment was authorized in 1990s, the walkway in front of the Naval Hospital was soon filled with food stands of all the sizes and colors offering orange juice, pastry, pizza, sandwiches, coffee, sodas, fried bananas, boxed traditional Creole takeout, etc.
Read MoreAt first sight, one notes how salsa and reggaeton have taken over broadcasting media, while there is a void of critical art, like performers Ray Fernandez y Los Aldeanos. This latter group, a hip hop band, was mentioned by Juanes when it was not present at his Havana Peace Day concert. A coincidence or not?
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