Cubans and Masks

By Nike

HAVANA TIMES – When I go outside every morning, I run into lots of people I know, all of them hiding behind their masks. In addition to greeting one another and saying good morning, we also compliment the masks we wear.

We say, “How are you? Your mask goes so well with your clothes,” and the thing is, Cubans are so vain that this protective garment we wear out of necessity, has now become a fashion item.

I know women who have masks in every color and match them with their outfits.

Young people like wearing black ones. Older people prefer the ones we call culeros (disposable diapers) here, which were the first models used here in Cuba.

It’s a good thing, but it’s also incredible how formal Cubans are with this item. They take more than one with them when they go outside. I don’t think it’s just because of the fine they risk if they are caught without one, which ranges between 1200-1500 pesos, or because of the protection they offer, of course. But rather because, in spite of everything we have endured, we are still a disciplined people, even though we doubt this.

Another point worth raising is how masks affect our displays of affection. Not being able to hug each other, or kiss each other once or a thousand times, is almost torture for us. Not being able to see the expression on another person’s face, to see them smiling or get angry… this is one of the greatest problems we face wearing masks.

A new greeting has also been adopted as a consequence, which I don’t agree with. It has been taken from a documentary about parasites: bumping fists. I have seen lots of people touching their face or nose with the back of their hand after this greeting.

I know that this situation is hard for all of us. But I think that if we don’t have any physical contact for a while, we can put this crisis behind faster. It’s what we all want.

Read more from Nike’s diary here.