By Jesse Chaney Brush News-Tribune Staff Writer
Posted: 10/06/2009 02:52:07 PM MDT
From left, Timothy, Kathy, Becky and Matt Brasby of Fort Morgan visit a
banana plantation on a farm outside of Havana, Cuba. (Courtesy photo)
Though the island of Cuba lies within about 100 miles of American soil,
life in the Caribbean country bears little resemblance to what people
have come to expect in the United States.
Morgan County resident Matt Brasby, who took his family to Cuba in July
2008 to film a promotional video for a group of seminaries, said
residents of the socialist country have no choice in where they will
live or work.
"Those decisions are made for you," he said during Friday's installment
of the monthly Sack Lunch program, hosted by the Brush Area Museum and
Cultural Center.
After being assigned a job by the Cuban government, Matt said, a person
will typically stay in the same position forever. He said the government
creates a number of menial jobs to combat unemployment, and it was
common to see 10 people working on a task that would be completed by one
employee in the United States.
Matt said he spent some time with a Cuban doctor, who received her house
and much of her food from the government. Her salary of $26 per month
was among the highest in the country, he said.
"They have figured out a way to do life reasonably, even though they may
do it without much money," he said.
When the family first arrived in Cuba, Matt said, they were required to
exchange their American money for Cuban currency, known as CUC. In the
exchange the family instantly lost 20 percent, which went directly to
the Cuban president.
Matt said the family again lost 20 percent when they exchanged the Cuban
currency for American dollars, and they were required to pay an exit fee
to leave the country.
The local family first arrived in Cuba's capital city of Havana, where
they discovered that the vehicles, restaurants and other landmarks were
all of a 1950s American style.
"When we flew to Havana, it's almost like we went back in time," said
Matt's daughter, Becky.
She said the historic appearance of the city is a result of the Cuban
Revolution, in which Fidel Castro halted all trade with America and much
of the world in 1959.
Anyone who owned a car before the revolution was allowed to keep it,
Becky said. But government approval was required on any vehicles
purchased after the revolution, so people did what was necessary to
keep their older cars running.
It was common to see vehicles with doorknobs for door handles, light
bulbs for blinkers or four different types of tires, said Becky's
brother, Timothy. Some cars in the area were made from two different
types of vehicles welded together, he said.
Those without cars would often use tractors, horses or oxen for
transportation, Timothy said. It was also common to see rows of
hitchhikers along the roadways waving money at passing drivers.
Matt's wife, Kathy, said the Brasby family spent much of their time in
Cuban seminaries, which were not recognized or authorized by the
government. Since all official churches had at least one government spy
within the congregation, she said, many Cuban people practice organized
religion privately from their homes.
"There's a large number of those house churches, which are just flying
under the radar," she said.
Though the house churches and seminaries were operating without the
government's permission, Kathy said, members felt safe worshipping
loudly with the doors open.
"We were very impressed with the passion of the people that were
involved in those," she said.
Kathy said the Cuban government fiercely pushes its resentment of
Americans, and it seeks to control perceptions about America through
limiting exposure to information and technology. Until 2008, the use of
microwaves, cell phones and computers was strictly illegal, she said.
"The doctors were the only ones allowed to have any kind of Internet
access, but they could only go into a very controlled portal," she said.
However, Kathy said many Cuban people do not accept the government's
propaganda. She said a number of Cuban people even displayed American
flags, maps and other paraphernalia in their homes.
She said the Brasbys were treated as honored guests in every Cuban home
they visited.
"The people in Cuba either love Americans or they hate them," she said.
Local family experiences socialist Cuba - Brush News-Tribune (6 October
2009)
http://www.brushnewstribune.com/ci_13498756
No comments:
Post a Comment