The Real Cuba for Locals – Interview with Marco

Managing in Cuba as a Local

Marco: “The food is expensive right now. It’s very expensive. We work for 15 CUC’s a month (relates to around USD$15) “.

Me: In Cuba there are two currencies aren’t there.

So for me, it’s very confusing because you’ve got the CUC, which you can use to buy imported items – a lot of your good items such as meat, rum, your other foodstuffs, your sauces, and so on.

And with pesos, you’re just buying mainly vegetables on the street and coffee in the cafes. How does it work with the currency?

Marco: Yes, it’s very difficult because Cuban money is usually used to buy things on the street, but not in other places like in shops or maybe, I don’t know, clothes shops …

Me: I went into a shop, I was thinking of buying a shirt and I saw a shirt that I wouldn’t normally think of buying, and they wanted 30 CUC for what looked to me to be a normal, not fancy shirt.

So that like thirty dollars (about twenty sterling pounds) for a shirt.

Things seem quite expensive, nor just for tourists but for locals also.

So people do not seem to have a lot of available and disposable income and things are expensive right?

I mean, you were saying to me before that many people need to do two or even three jobs, and even to buy a shirt, you might have to decide between buying a shirt or food.

Marco: Oh yes. It is very difficult the situation and it is hard to get by. It could cost me two months’ salary just to buy a shirt and you can see the difficulty.

And we Cubans take great pride in the way we dress and present ourselves, but of course, we have to eat too.

It is really very expensive and hard to survive on the wages here as a local.

There’s a lot of poverty here and I really hope things are going to get better soon with the new American Embassy here and the recent changes.

Me: And the other thing I notice, is that because of the American trade embargo on Cuba, there are so many family members, until now at least, they have been unable to make contact with.

That is your situation also I understand Marco?

Family

Marco: Yes, that is right. It’s been a very difficult and emotional situation for me.

I have two sisters in Florida and I have not seen them in person for many years now.

It is fifteen years now since I have seen my oldest sister and it’s tough. I think now that there are signs of this situation improving with the talks between the USA and Cuba but I live in hope.

She left when she was seven years old when I myself was three years old.

So we have not even had the chance to grow up together. I really hope to be able to see them in the USA soon or for them to be able to visit me here.

It’s my dream now to just to be able to see my family again.

Me: Are you able to contact them at all?

Marco: We are in contact by mail. We letters.

We write to each other every month and they have sent me photos of my new nephews and nieces, who have been born in America.

As you probably know, we cannot use the Internet here. Internet usage is very limited and from what you told me earlier, the Internet is fast and everyone has it in the UK, right?

The Internet

Me: Yes, that’s true. Except in some rural locations, most people have fast and easily accessible internet connections.

Being here in Havana for the last few weeks, it has felt like stepping back twenty years for me in terms of technology here.

As a traveler who used to have access to the Internet wherever I travel, I have found it really hard here to connect with the outside world online.

I found a couple of hotels with acceptable Internet service but only a few. It’s not cheap either at around 8 CUC an hour.

Me: What I have found amazing though Marco, is that whatever the problems that exist here, people seem so happy, so vibrant, so very friendly, and always singing and dancing and they always seem to be having fun and embracing life.

Marco: It is true that we often have many problems and difficulties but we have what I would perhaps call a gift.

That gift is that we are unified, we like to help each other.

Me: You need to right?

Just to get by you all have to help each other.

Marco: Yes. We have to help each other to push forward and to enjoy life despite all the problems here. We try to make the most of it.

Me: So what do you expect for the future of Cuba?

Marco: I am genuinely very hopeful.

I think things have changed a lot even in the past few years but there is still so much poverty here in Cuba but I see the trade embargo completely being abolished eventually and this island will not become rich but will develop and change and wages should improve.

I am hopeful. I am Cuban!

I am always hopeful!

Me: Well. thank you for the interview, Marco.

Marco: No problem. It is a pleasure and make sure to spread the good word about this beautiful island!