It's a cold but sunny day today, and if you're out of the wind, quite pleasant. I went for a smoke outside, and was chatting with one of the gentlemen who works at a food service place in our office complex. He's in a wonderful mood, looking forward to his New Year vacation and enjoying the sunny day. I noticed he had a really intriguing accent, and I asked him, "where are you from"? He answered, "Cuba". Then, I got some education.
I couldn't possibly relate everything he told me, but it was certainly eye-opening. In Cuba, doing the same work he does here in Canada, his rate of pay was $15 (Cuban) per month. To buy one litre of milk costs 2 Cuban dollars. Adults go without and keep the milk in the freezer to make it last, so their kids can have milk at least before they go to school in the mornings. The average Cuban goes without shoes, and wears the oldest of clothes - and of course in Cuba it's scorching hot, all the time. He told me that when working outside, he would often feel as though he was going to have a heart attack from the heat, but he must work.
He told me of a friend he has, who is in his words, "ignorante". This other man loves Fidel Castro, Fidel is all good and makes Cuba all good. He told me, Fidel is no good. Fidel lives in a huge mansion, huge table, loads of food with $700 bottle of wine with his dinner, while the common Cuban people go hungry. But, he is optimistic. Now that Fidel's brother is president, things are slowly starting to change. The Cuban people (if they can afford it) are now allowed on the land of the resorts which we North Americans flock to - before, they were barred. There are plans for casinos to bring more money and jobs to the country. But, he told me, after living there for 24 years, he came to Canada and HIS eyes were opened.
"The first time I went to buy groceries, there was a wall of milk. All this milk, I thought it was just a display. 'No,' my wife said, 'it is all real, all to buy.' So much food! Incredible." He is grateful for his job, for his home and for the ability to buy warm clothes for our cold winter. He is happy that his wife and daughter are healthy (and all three of them have milk to drink). His daughter goes to school with a good breakfast and sleeps in a soft bed with no bugs or leaks. He told me, "After I lived in Canada one year, I went back to Cuba. I saw my house, my family - I cried. I cried because before Canada I thought that was all there could be. And then, then I hate Fidel. The people are not free. Canada is free, we are very lucky here." I agreed with him, wholeheartedly. We ARE incredibly lucky here.
This smiling man, enjoying a cigarette break from his job in the sunshine, looking forward to his vacation. "People work hard, but they need to rest. I'm going to relax, enjoy myself a few days." So right.
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