An Everyday Cuban Hero Who Repairs and Resolves

By Laura Gomez

HAVANA TIMES – In contrast to a university career that requires years of study, the vocational schools offer short-term training aimed at the needs of the labor market. Despite the existence of many such schools, however, most Cubans learn their trades by watching. Orestes Ramos, 56, is such an entrepreneur, a man who acquired his practical skills through observation and now has a deep mastery of repairing household appliances.

How did you get into the world of repairing household items?

It all began when I was living in Guanabo. I had a neighbor there who fixed all kinds of defective appliances: fans, rice cookers, washing machines and radios, among others. One day I decided to sit down beside Skinny, as they called him, and I began watching every detail. When he saw my interest, he hired me to help with his work.

Do you think you have a special talent for learning by watching?

I didn’t know it was called a talent, but it’s what I’ve done since I was little. I remember my mother telling me they’re called mirror neurons, but I didn’t pay any mind to that. But that’s how I learned bricklaying, plumbing, restorations. From just hearing the sound of a malfunctioning appliance, I can tell what the difficulty is. Necessity pushes you to perfect your skills, and also I believe that everyone has the ability to learn from what they see. That’s how we begin life, by watching our parents.

When did you decide to set up your own workshop?

It wasn’t easy. On the one hand, I felt ready to take on a workshop myself and take it seriously; but on the other, there was always something that would confound me, and that I’d have to study and ask about, until I could finally hit the nail on the head. When I met Yaneisy, my wife, I didn’t realize my life would change so much. She had two small children, and I decided that I had to start my own small business, so I went to live in Alamar and began to construct my workshop in the back patio.

How did you take on the responsibility of being the non-biological father to her children?

I’ve always liked children, but I never saw myself becoming a father. With so many things lacking in this country, you question that move a lot. The boys are from two different fathers who didn’t want to assume their paternity. At first, our coexistence was complicated. There were days when I wanted to run away – I wasn’t used to that whirlwind of shouts, ruckus, and so much mess in the house. Then a few months after I moved, Yaneisy told me she was pregnant and we decided to have the baby, which was a little girl.

It’s ever more difficult to survive in Cuba. Were you able to grow your business before what was coming hit?

Everything went by so quickly. Luckily, the layette was the same that the boys had used earlier, and we didn’t have to invest money in that. Afterwards, my wife would go out to drum up clients for me when the baby was sleeping. Some said they were going to come by, others that they already had a repairman. Those were very hard times that I don’t even want to remember. Many times, we opted to eat nothing but rice and leave the protein for the kids.

Later, a neighbor lent me a lawn mower and I was able to earn a little money cutting the grass. Another hired me as a bricklayer’s assistant; then I worked as a loader in the market, pulling down the bags of rice; until eventually, clients began to come to the house with their fans, washing machines, radios and rice cookers.

How much do you charge, and how do you get the spare parts?

I’m the cheapest mechanic in the area, I assure you. Maybe that’s why they come to see me. I charge 300 pesos for a fan, even if I have to spend a whole day finding a way to get it going. It’s 500 pesos to fix a washing machine – they’re the hardest. With the rice cookers and the radios, I always tell customers to pay me whatever they want. I also make home visits for repairs, since it’s not easy to move a washing machine or an air conditioner. I’ve never bought spare parts. I try to fix the ones that are defective, and often the clients themselves give me them. I’ve even found some in the street, and when I’m done, they’re like new.

A friend who works at the polyclinic brings me the discarded vein catheters, which I use as insulators since Teflon gets more expensive by the day. They’ve brought me Orbit fans, from when the Russians sent us everything, and these come out like they were just taken off the shelf. Then there are fans with motors from the Aurika washing machines (also from the 1980s) that blow more air than the modern ones, and even VEF 206 radios that are practically relics. Everything can be made use of. Here, we’re not doing this to spare the environment or avoid consumerism, but because there’s no choice but to repair what we have. When a burned-out motor needs to be rewound, I send the client to a colleague’s house, and they do it there.

Do you feel you’ve acquired skills in your years working independently?

I have no other choice. I owe it to my wife that I’ve bettered myself – it’s because of her that I’m an innovator. I really admire her. She trusts me a lot, and that’s something that gives you strength. In addition, I don’t know how she manages to attend to the kids and cook at the same time, as well as cleaning, picking up after everyone, and washing the clothes. When I don’t have any pending customers or jobs, I also do the daily work of the home. Almost nobody really values the work housewives do, but we’re a real team – each one doing something necessary.

Is the money you get from your work enough to live on?

A lot of times we’re squeezed. We don’t live in luxury, but we try to have the indispensable. Now that classes are starting, we had to buy new shoes for the two boys. Their backpacks will last until the next grade. It’s all a question of planning and of thinking about them, the ones that are growing. Almost all the money that comes in is used for food. A few months ago, I had to invest in a cellphone, because it’s one way of communicating with the clients.

What are the best months economically?

In the summer, because of the continual use of air conditioners and especially fans, I fix over five a day. It’s the season when I earn a lot, like the shoemakers do when it rains in May and all the shoes come apart. Not everyone can buy a new fan, a washing machine, an air conditioner. They’re too expensive.

If they gave you the chance to study, what field would you choose?

Well, I could think about a lot of careers. We’d all like to have more education, to better ourselves, go around looking nice, clean, sweet-smelling. In my case, my fingernails are always full of grease, and my clothes sweaty, since I spend the whole day working.

I always wanted to be a pilot; or, right now I’d like to work in a hotel, as a doorman, or be a tourist guide, because those jobs bring in the most money. When I see a man in the street dressed all elegantly, I feel admiration. How would I look dressed like that?

I’d like to go with my family to a hotel, invite them to a meal, without having to limit ourselves. I’d be thrilled to make love with my wife in a room with all the necessary conditions, without having to worry about waking up the children. But I face my reality with honor. My family depends on me, and working for them, to give them what they need, consoles me.

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