Rosa Martinez’s Diary

I don’t like to give my opinion about things I’m not an expert in or things I haven’t lived firsthand, so I prefer to remain on the sidelines of commenting on what is happening in Venezuela.

Dori is 23 years old. She has just graduated from university and it would seem that a bright future awaits her in a country, where being a professional was a safeguard for having a decent life many years ago.

Several days ago Irina Echarry wrote a post related to gender violence, specifically about the denunciation made by Dianelis Alfonso -known as La Diosa de Cuba-, and the way in which that case had impacted on Cuban society, which, as Irina rightly says, is a country accustomed to defending and justifying the abuser and offending the victim.

It’s said that solitude doesn’t make good company, but I don’t agree with this saying as I manage to write the few articles I do here on Havana Times in those moments of solitude, and it’s also when I get ideas for other projects, for a dessert, sewing…

The first Sunday of the summer rolled around in Cuban households last weekend. Nearly every student in the country is already on their school holidays, and nearly half of public sector employees too, the other half will have their break in August.

In Cuba, women are normally courageous. And, it’s not a matter of them being more courageous than other women in the world or anything like that; but the thing is, here they have no other choice but to be brave, because if they aren’t, they won’t be able to give their children a decent life.

A few days ago, my younger daughter (my loyal companion) and I wanted to visit some very dear friends of ours. Vain as she is, she decided to put on one of her best outfits; but she had quite a surprise…

A friend called me from Canada asking how things were here, especially in my Guantanamo. In love with Cuba, and its people, he is up-to-date on our beloved Island’s current situation and knows about the food shortages that have increased in recent months and the uncertainty that takes over many families’ lives.

I have written about my experiences as a mother on more than one occasion and I’ve received both criticism and praise in response. I’m not looking for either, I’m just another mother, another Cuban mother, with all of her ups and downs.

I can’t be the first, or the last, person a foreigner has asked in Cuba: how much money does a family of 4-5 people approximately need to live a decent life in this country.