...first because then I can ask them for help. Couple of days later, half of the people went and all received C’s and below. My good friend, Victoria, she got a D, and she was one of the smartest people in my class. When I asked her and many of my friends who went before what their report was about, they said they have no idea what they did wrong. I panicked and automatically thought ‘I am going to fail’. Also, how was I to pretend to be a Cuban immigrant when I know nothing of Cuba? And even talk Spanish fluently for five minutes straight? With all those questions alarming in my head wildly, I just froze and thought about my next move. Was I to just blab nonsense about what I know about Cuba- which is nothing, and receive a D like everyone else or to work for at least a B? I am not a quitter and since I have not even started on the report, I decided to give it a try. I sat awkwardly on my desk with my laptop humming silently in front of me, waiting for me to give it a tap. First, I googled what life would be like if you are a normal Cuban. I never realized how corrupt the government is and how the people have to...
Words: 946 - Pages: 4
...and its population is 10.8 million. The main language used by most cubans is spanish and the currency used there is a Cuban Peso, which is equal to one U.S. Dollar. Cuba is a communist state and its president, since December 1976, is Fidel Castro Ruz. The main objective of this paper is to talk about the economic and political side of Cuba during the reign of Fidel Castro. Fidel Castro was born on August 13, 1926 in Oriente. The schools that he attended were Catholic and located in Havana. He entered the University of Havana in 1945 and graduated with a law degree in 1950. In 1948 he married Mirta Diaz Balart but they were soon divorced in 1954. His son Fidel Castro Diaz Balart became the head of Cuba's atomic energy commision. Castro was a very good vocalist and he brought himself national prominence by leading an attack on Moncada army barracks. Due to this attack he was sentenced to 15 years in prison, which only lasted for 2 years. After being in exhile in Mexico, Castro returned with 81 others, including Che Guevera, to Cuba and launched a successful guerrilla war. Castro became a strong leader and many other countries begun to fear him. In Cuba the state is the head of the economy and controls almost all trade between foreign countries. Many reforms have been undertaken by the government so that the labor incentives would increase and so that there would be no shortages of food or goods and services. Liberalized agricultural markets were introduced...
Words: 1265 - Pages: 6
...corporations and wealthy individuals owned almost half of Cuba’s sugar plantations and the majority of its cattle ranches, mines and utilities. Batista did little to restrict their operations. He was also reliably anticommunist. Castro, by contrast, disapproved of the approach that Americans took to their business and interests in Cuba. It was time, he believed, for Cubans to assume more control of their nation. “Cuba Sí, Yanquis No” became one of his most popular slogans” (History.com, 2009). This was just the start of a war between the U.S. and Castro. After Castro started taking over Cuba, some of the citizens were upset and exiled into Florida. The exiles were a key component to the invasion in April of 1961 along with the CIA of the United States. Before the Invasion It is important to understand some of the events that ensued prior to the actions of the U.S. in the Bay of Pigs. This is vital to...
Words: 2419 - Pages: 10
...CEO Wiederhorn states "Since Fatburger opened its first international location in Canada in 2006, the chain has gained a reputation for opening in unexpected places, such as Pakistan, Libya and Iraq.” (Taylor.2015) On what he foresees as a possible deterring agent to the franchises’ success, Wiederhorn points to the economy, and the spending abilities of the people there. Hopefully the economy will see a boost with the embargo being set aside, and this franchise can do good things to the Cuban people. From a social science perspective, I believe it is also a morale booster. While Mcdonlads is an american Company with locations all around the world, I do not believe the Cuban people are ready for that kind of corporate involvement. Moreover, having a relatively small franchise move into the company could help in keeping certain relations under boundary. Additionally, the name of the franchise, FatBurger, also proves as a way to establish positive change thinking in the country. Since many Cuban citizens have had issues with sustenance due to the embargos, the namesake of the franchise would prove as a beacon of hope for better things to...
Words: 297 - Pages: 2
...Year 11 Preliminary English Assessment Task Task: Motorcycle Diaries Question Two: Define Communism. Discuss its origins and how and where it was spread. In your discussion you must refer to at least 3 countries, which have adopted communism and examine its success and failures and the reason behind both. You must also examine the role Marxism plays in Communist ideology. Communism is an economic and social system in which all, or nearly all, property and resources are collectively owned by a classless society and not by individual citizens. It’s an ideology theory of government where all wealth is shared equally so there is no class system, that is, no poor class and no wealthy class. Everything is shared and everyone is equal, whether you’re a doctor or a factory worker. In such a communist society, the wealth and resources were to be regulated according to the needs, abilities and contribution of the people. Differences between manual and intellectual labour and between rural and urban life were to disappear, opening up the way for unlimited development of human potential. Based on the 1848 publication ‘Communist Manifesto’ by two German political philosophers, Karl Max and his close associate Friedrich Engels, it envisaged common ownership of all land and wealth and the withering away of the power of the state. Max and Engels believed that capitalism (private ownership of all property) should be diminished and that uneven distribution of wealth and resources should...
Words: 3249 - Pages: 13
...Fidel Castro’s Influence on the Cuban Revolution, 1953-1959 The year was 1953 and Fidel Castro was a dashing and daring reformer that was determined to make a impact in a country that was ruled by an unjust president. With the Movement strong and confident, Castro delivered these strong words to his group of men: “In a few hours you will be victorious or defeated, but regardless of the outcome – listen well, friends – this Movement will triumph. If you win tomorrow, the aspirations of Martí will be fulfilled sooner. If we fail, our action will nevertheless set an example for the Cuban people, and from the people will arise fresh new men willing to die for Cuba. They will pick up our banner and move forward... The people will back us in Oriente and in the whole island. As in '68 and '92, here in Oriente we will give the first cry of Liberty or Death!” These words by Castro illustrates what type of leader he was and still is to this day. Castro is one of the most polarizing figures in Cuban history, with many natives of Cuba arguing that he was the central cause of the destruction of Cuba, while others consider him to be the visionary that saved Cuba from the destruction that would have come about if a capitalist system had been instituted instead of a communist one. Actions taken by Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution shaped Cuba politically and socially to what we know it to be today. Fidel Castro was born in southeast Cuba, in the Oriente Province on August 13, 1926...
Words: 5057 - Pages: 21
...A year ago, I was driving around and listening to a local news station talking about the price increase for use of public buses. The general public did not make a big deal and complain about the price increase. Miami is a city where most people have their own means of transportation, so most people here don't use the public buses. The majority of the community was not affected by the price increase, and because it did not directly affect them, they are unable to see how it affects the minority. I am Cuban, and many Cuban people want to visit our island but the cost of tickets is absurd. The Airlines are basically charging whatever they want for luggage. Despite the astronomical costs of traveling to Cuba, Cubans are still going to Cuba and do not really complain much about the costs. Another issue that people have ceased to complain about is the raise in the cost of rent. Every day many people are losing their jobs, and they have not money to satisfy their principal needs. Despite all of this, the cost of rent is increasing every day. Another example is how the country is going through an economic crisis, and as a result people feel pressure to keep jobs that they may be unhappy with. Because of this, employers take advantage of their employees. Many companies are only offering part time positions and not paying medical insurance and overtime. Yet despite all of this, low salary is an issue that our society rarely complains about...
Words: 259 - Pages: 2
...their minimum financial needs (equivalent to CUC 50 per day for the duration of the stay). Airport Tax There is a mandatory airport tax of CUC 25 payable only in Cuban convertible pesos. =========================================== When reporting a crime to local police, you should insist on receiving the Comprobante de Denuncia as confirmation that a report has been made. Police officers may speak only Spanish. Passports and Visas A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Cuba. The passport must be valid for at least one month beyond the date of your expected departure from Cuba. Canadians must also carry a tourist card (or visa), or a business or student visa. The tourist card is generally provided by tour operators or airlines, or can be obtained from a Cuban government office in Canada in the case of privately organized flights. It can also be purchased at certain airports in Canada. Health Insurance Since May 1, 2010, travellers must present proof of health insurance in order to enter the country. Upon arrival, travellers may be required to present an insurance policy, insurance certificate, or medical assistance card valid for the period of their stay in Cuba. Those who do not have proof of insurance coverage may be required to obtain health insurance from a Cuban insurance company when they arrive. Temporary residents also have to hold valid health insurance policies. Although proof of Canadian provincial health insurance...
Words: 1524 - Pages: 7
...According to Sergio, a developed person is someone who is cultured and educated and moreover someone to whom he could equate himself as an intellectual (Underdevelopment). As previously stated his wife Laura is depicted as superficial like most Cuban bourgeois women at his time; hence, it did not work out between Sergio and Laura (Underdevelopment). Sergio failed in trying to educate both Laura and Elena (Underdevelopment). The film suggest that women in Cuba are underdeveloped intellectually and culturally, unlike the “mature” Hanna who is of European descent, since Laura and Elena are both Cubans of two different classes (Underdevelopment). Notably, Hanna the ideal European woman was portrayed to be very fair with fine, pale blonde hair while Sergio’s Cuban bourgeois class wife Laura had coarse hair streaked with blonde and the Cuban working class Elena is even darker than Sergio, comments on how class differences often match color...
Words: 1387 - Pages: 6
...Cuba Country Profile International Business Cuba is an island in the Caribbean. (Discuss it's culture) The island is located only 90 miles from Florida and is alligator-shaped. It's the biggest island in the Caribbean. The total population is 11,061.886. It's official language is Spanish, and 95% Cubans are Roman Catholic. The major ethnic groups include mulattos, which consist of 51% of the population. The remaining groups include 37% of white or European decent, 11% black, and 1% Chinese (Aguirrie, 2007). In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the island, and conquered it for Spain. Spain ruled the island until 1902, when it became independent. Cuba's independence was short lived. In 1940, Fulgencio Batista was elected as President. Under Batista's rule, Cuba was a Republic. It had a political system similar to the U.S. It consisted of “three branches, a President, a cabinent, and a Supreme Court.” In 1959, Communist dictator, Fidel Castor, and 11 members of his group, including Ernesto “Che” Guevara, overthrew Cuba's government, resulting in the Cuban Revolution (Crooker, 2002 p. 69) Prior to this revolution, things weren't much better in Cuba's economy. Under Batistas's rule, “Cuba had become like a vacation resort” for many affluent Americans, many of whom would “pass their time doing illegal things like gambling and prostitution” (Crooker, 2002 p. 10). It was a place where organized crime bosses invested...
Words: 1204 - Pages: 5
...an Argentine equivalent of "pal") broke off his studies in order to set out with a friend on a transcontinental trip which included motorcycling to Chile, riding a raft on the Amazon, and taking a plane to Florida. He returned to Argentina to resume his studies, graduating with a degree of doctor of medicine and surgery in 1953. Late in 1953 Guevara left Argentina, this time for good. He moved to Guatemala, where he had his first experience of a country at war. He supported the Jacobo Arbenz regime, and when it was overthrown in 1954 Guevara sought asylum in the Argentine embassy, remaining there until he could travel to Mexico. It was here that Guevara met the Castro brothers. At the time Fidel Castro was planning an expedition against Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista, and Guevara agreed to go along as a doctor. On Dec. 2, 1956, the expeditionaries landed in eastern Cuba, becoming the nucleus of a guerrilla force which operated in the Sierra Maestra Mountains. The guerrillas contributed to the crumbling of the Batista regime on Dec. 31, 1958. In January 1959 Guevara was one of the first rebel commanders to enter Havana and take control of the capital. He held several posts in the Castro government: commander of La Cabaña fortress, president of the National Bank, and minister of industries. But always, most important of all, he was one of Castro's most influential advisers. Guevara visited Communist countries in the fall of 1960 to build up trade relations with the Soviet bloc...
Words: 554 - Pages: 3
...of World War II until the mid-eighties, most Americans could agree that communism was the enemy. Communism wanted to destroy our way of life and corrupt the freest country in the world. Communism is an economic system in which one person or a group of people are in control. The main purpose of communism is to make the social and economic status of all individuals the same. It abolishes the inequalities in possession of property and distributes wealth equally to all. The main problem with this is that one person who is very wealthy can be stripped of most of his wealth so that another person can have more material goods and be his equal. The main reason for the Bay of Pigs attack on Cuba was the change to communism. On January 1, 1959, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista fled the country for the safety of the Dominican Republic. Fidel Castro and his guerrilla warriors overthrew the old government dictated by Batista. During the next couple of weeks, Castro established a new government and on February 16, he was officially declared premier. The United States accepted this new regime as a relief from the harsh, corrupt, and unpopular government of Batista. Soon after everything settled down, Castro and his men made a rapid move to change...
Words: 2143 - Pages: 9
...Emmanuel Mensah Nathaniel C. Leonard English 144 6 – 3 – 2011 Medea in the Mirror The story Medea in the Mirror was written by Jose Triana in the early 60s during the period of the Cuban revolution. The play clearly explores some thoughts similarly to the Roman edition of Medea myth written by Euripides. Medea in the Mirror furthermore represents Latin American plays base on Greek novels, because they all contain a sequence of similar elements such as, the outline of both plot, the task of the characters and the intrusion of songs. It can therefore observed that Jose Triana wrote Medea in the Mirror to shed light on the racial, gender, social, spiritual and economic disparities during that era of Batista rule. Jose Triana main character known as Maria a black woman of high social class in pre- Revolution Cuba, is posed to accept discrimination imposed by her society, but fights against them with her status within her nuclear family. Maria faced eviction from Perico while her husband Julian was chasing after a newly a white woman as his new bride. All these circumstance in which Maria was going through made her feel alienated. However Maria is able to identify herself via her position within her nuclear family. Maria’s role in her society as well as her household makes her speak in commanding tone of voice to others in her environment making...
Words: 624 - Pages: 3
...after her parents had fled from Cuba in 1964 during the Cuban Revolution. Her family having first settled in Los Angeles, California, Menendez could not speak any other language apart from Spanish until she enrolled in Kindergarten. However, she later moved with her family to Florida where she attended high school and thereafter joined Florida International University from where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts in 1992. Her story Traveling Madness basically involves four main characters who are all “dreamers”. The story is based on and highlights the plight and disillusionment visited on the Cuban population by the communist party and the ways in which different people dealt with the economic and social adversities that typified the era of communism in Cuba. Self-aware of the dangers that confronted them, some wished to fly away to the moon; others desired to set sail and vanish; and others actually thought they could drill a hole from Havana to Miami (Delbanco and Cheuse) From the foregoing, while self-awareness is a critical aspect of personal development and self-exploration, it does not always bear positive fruits – sometimes it acts as a source of frustration, conflict and stress. In spite of her age, Menendez has proven herself to be a prolific fiction writer; a fact attested to by her works of fiction such as In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd, Loving Che, and Adios, Happy Homeland. Borrowing from her Cuban heritage, Menendez employs a repertoire of literary tools...
Words: 1792 - Pages: 8
...poverty, hunger, and disease observed in those countries. This experience inspired him to become a revolutionary. He later joined a group of Cuban revolutionaries with Fidel Castro in Mexico. Even nowadays, he remains the symbol of rebellion and revolution all over the world. However, recent research has proved that he was a murderer. So can we consider Che Guevara as a hero? In order to answer to this question, we will first explain why Che is a hero and then why he was also a villain. First of all, a hero is a person who is admired for his courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. So now I am going to explain why we can consider Che as a hero. Che Guevara was a revolutionary and as I said before he joined a group of Cuban revolutionaries with Fidel Castro. His goal was to fight against the Batista dictatorship (who was a Cuban dictator close from the Americans) and to establish a Marxist regime in Cuba. He proved himself to be both a good soldier and a leader. He was fearless and courageous. By May 1958, Guevara became the second-in-command of the large group of revolutionaries. Castro’s group had grown in size and strength during few months. Using guerrilla tactics, Castro and his men successfully took over town after town. Guevara was very known for is strategies. Finally, on January 1 of 1959, Batista fled Cuba. The Cuban Revolution was now over and Che was seen has a figure for revolutionaries against imperialism oppression all over the world. He is the founder...
Words: 537 - Pages: 3
