Diaries

The Havana Authors of Don Quijote

I recently viewed the latest underground video that is shaking up Havana. It wasn’t like the typical TV programs produced in Miami, like those of Oscar Haza, Maria Elvira or the delightful Alexis Valdez and Carlos Otero.

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Thanks for Your Concern

At the moment I am not completely without work, since I’m still under contract as a professor with a night school. Through this I’ve been able to untangle myself without problems and have even been able to contract for more hours of classes than previously.

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Struggling, You Gotta Struggle

“To struggle” is one of the essential expressions of Cuban political speech of the last 50 years. You struggle against imperialism, against immobilism, against wasting energy, against work delays and absenteeism, against marabu weeds, against the bureaucracy. And you struggle for the Revolution and for socialism.

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More Cuban Doctors in Venezuela

A couple weeks ago, a news item appeared in the press that may have been of interest to a considerable number of Cubans. The headline in the October 9 edition of the Granma newspaper announced, “Chavez Receives New Advance Team of Cuban Doctors.”

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The Prognosis

Yesterday I visited my aunt Mamita; it was her birthday. Before knocking on their door, I imagined she’d be in a festival mood, celebrating with friends and relatives.

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From Uncritical to Social Chauvinist Art

My intention is not to get into a superficial debate about why this figure -so popular with reggaeton fans (of whom there are many)- has so drastically “veered” in his ideological outlook, as has been announced by certain media sources.

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A Spiritual Gathering

These are not the usual kind of parties, but spiritual gatherings, part of the Santería religion. Santería is an offshoot of the religions that the black slaves from Nigeria brought to Cuba with them in the 19th century, which later blended with the Catholic religion.

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Hershey, Cuba (The last model town)

Amarilys Ribot’s book Hershey has several virtues. Written in an unconventional style for a research study -the book at times reads more like a poem or a story than a scientific text-, the essay tells the story of the multifaceted social vitality of the town under the patronage of Mr. Hershey.

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