Health, Economics and Travel
Family, Connection and Economic Challenges
By: Gabriel Toledo
Prior to my trip to Cuba, my grandmother explained how hard it is to get hold of certain commodities in Cuba such as shampoo, deodorant sticks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair ties, disposable razor blades, etc. So she gathered two plastic bags filled with them and instructed me to give them to our family in Cuba. Upon arriving in Cuba, I immediately got a sense of the hardship just by looking at how run-down the entire city of Havana is. It was just my third day in Cuba and I already had experienced some heart breaking moments. I step out of a taxi with a soda in my hand and an old lady who appeared to be malnourished was attempting to kneel before me. I did not let that happen as I gently grabbed her by her arms. I asked her what was wrong and she looked at me with a face of despair. The only thing she could do was point towards her mouth and throat. With hand signals, she was telling me that she was so thirsty that she was incapable to talk so I immediately cracked open the soda can and handed it to her and gave her some CUC’s so she could grab something to eat. After that encounter, I walked away absolutely grief-stricken.
Another occurrence that left me stock-still is when my peers and I were walking around the Cathedral Square and a young man bumped into me by accident. Out of natural instinct, we instantly both apologized to each other. I noticed his attire at that moment. He had no shirt, no pants, no socks and no shoes. The only thing he had on was mucky underwear. Since I speak Spanish I proceeded to ask him how old he was and he replied, 21. He confessed to me that he hasn’t eaten in three days and for one dollar. Without giving it a second thought, I gave him enough CUCs to buy himself some food and clothes. All I can think about was placing myself in his shoes and wondering what my life would be like if I was as underprivileged as he was. These experiences were very sorrowful but at the same token, it really made me appreciate the little things we take for granted in life.
"Children go to school hungry, and hungry children don't learn," says Marta Beatriz Roque, an economist with the National Association of Independent Economists of Cuba. One of the realizations I concluded while meeting my family in Cuba was that they are in desperate need of support. In our first meeting I suggested that we all go out for dinner. They stared at each other with faces of confusion as they do not have money to enjoy the privilege of eating out. I spoke then and indicated that I will pay for the dinner. Once our food made came, it seemed as though I witnessed a pack of hyenas on the attack for food. I did not eat all day and being so startled by what I saw made me lose my appetite. As each passing minute went by I started to fathom the reality of how poverty-stricken my family really is. We soon returned to the hotel and just sat in the lobby talking. Throughout our long conversation I noticed that despite how little my family has, they are wonderful people. The things we take for granted are things they are praying for. Plain everyday things such as having a bed to sleep in, the means to eat three meals a day, having access to a phone to use at your discretion, being able to shower without having to worry about the water cutting off.
In the back of my mind, I remembered the instructions my grandmother gave me. I politely excused myself and proceeded to retrieve the bags from my room. With a beamed-smile, I grabbed the bags and quickly made my way downstairs back to the lobby. I approached my family and placed both bags on the laps of my cousins. I stood there with uncertainty. They slowly opened the bags and all had the same reaction. They quickly closed the bags, looked at each other, looked at the rest of the family and me, then rose to their feet all while trembling. My beamed-smile quickly turned to a face of unsureness. Both of my cousins approached me with tears running down their faces. The other seven members of my family looked bewildered. In our embrace, I noticed the rest of my family collectively gathered around the bags, flooded with emotion. Just moments after, we were all locked in a family hug. They all started to confess the actual reality:
“I haven’t showered in 14 days and I can’t remember the last time I used soap.”
“My children have only heard about deodorant.”
“What is Tylenol? Colgate?”
“I have been shaving with knives for the past six years.”
“I don’t remember what washing my hair feels like.”
“Our prayers have been answered.” …….
These are only a few of the confessions out of the many that my family shared with me. Other confessions are simply far too explicit to share. My heart was stabbed and I told myself, “They needed me, just as much as I needed them.” I reached into my pocket and grabbed my wallet, took out every dollar to my name and handed it to them. With two properties to account for, one in Güines and one in Havana, I made sure the rent for both houses were covered for at least a year and a half. This changed my life forever. The love of family is life’s greatest blessing and this experience was a testimony to it. “Let us not be broken, but joyous for the better days ahead” I addressed my family. Alleviating their struggle is my top priority and as long as I am alive, their worries will lessen and their smiles will illuminate.
