1

Minor point... this is not the first time she has left Cuba. She emigrated to Switzerland back in 2002 and lived there for a couple of years. Her husband and son joined her in Switzerland before they decided to return to Cuba.

Cheers,
Terry

2

16 countries, 3 continents, 80 day trip. Wonder who's bankrolling this extravaganza?

3

Good point Steve- now, how do we keep this apolitical? I wonder which airline she will be using? what gifts she will return to Cuba with? How many more ( or fewer) tourists will visit Cuba as a result of her trip?

4

In terms of tourism, I'm betting zero impact one way or the other.

Cheers,
Terry

5

ditto Terry and I hope they lock the door after she leaves. She maybe the best thing since Che in the minds of a few posters.

6

I know of many of Cubans that have left the Island and have move back to Cuba after living 2 to 5 years outside of Cuba. They just can not make the adjustment.

7

Like #6 above, we know Cuban friends who have moved to Chile and some of their relatives, after visiting to see if they like it, have decided to stay in Cuba- just don't want to make the adjustments I guess, which is one of the best things about Cubans and the recent ability to travel- there are places in the world where life is a lot worse than in Cuba and this was not as clear before the recent travel easing.....

8

#7 Maybe, but i still think the main reason is the culture. Most cubans have all their life lived with one of two generations in their house or very close to them. Then they move to another country and are suddenly alone with a wife or a husband and a life very unlike the one with them in cuba where they always do something, eat at restaurant most days and visit bars etc.

So now they sit there all alone when the husband/wife is working, no family or friends and when the husband/wife does come home it's not the first taxi to a restaurant or bar. No it's dinner at home and a relaxing evening before a early bed. It's very easy to understand how many can't handle a huge change like that.

9

This is the sort of problems I see in Canada. Besides being cold, a much greater concern is the lack of sunshine. It is depressing. Cubans I know are naturally "up" people, and used to making the best of what is often not good situations. Often Canadians are not so optomistic--to say the least.
Also, although most constantly complain about the system while in Cuba, they speak in positive terms about "FREE" education, and health care once confronted with the costs in Canada.
However, I do agree that it is FAMILY that causes the greatest hardship to those that I know live outside Cuba. Not just the extended household of numerous generations (by necessity), but the neighbourhood in general, where everyone knows each other, and have known each others families for years. They grow up partying together--and all the older ones protect the younger ones when they start going to dances and parties----they are like older brothers and sisters--and actually feel that way with each other. This they miss, and can't replace in Canada.
Of course there are other things as well, and I actually marvel at the ones that CAN adapt. It isn't easy for them.

10

What you say is generally true, imo.

There is also some responsibility on the Cuban(s) part. Many have unrealistic expectations. I once heard, second hand, of a Cuban that got terribly depressed after realizing that he could not buy a car after working only 2 weeks.

My wife also "defends" Cuba but she has come around. She defends the free health care, education but I always come back with the rebuttal "but at what price...no food, no clothes, no money to improve poor accommodations, no, this, no that". You can live better here (Canada) on welfare than you can working in Cuba. That part she knows, having met quite a few immigrants that are living that way.

Someone told me, it takes about 5 years to adapt I have come to realize that. In the first 5 years, she would talk, albeit rarely, of going back to Cuba. In the last year or so, she has specifically told me, she does not want to go back to Cuba, to live. Quite a turnaround considering that I retiring early, in Cuba, has crossed my mind, recently.

I am surprised when a, younger, Cuba returns to Cuba. There is a huge stigma attached to that. You had an opportunity and you "failed". That is usually far stronger than any hardships they may face in their new country.

Nevertheless, some are just not cut out for it, for various reasons.

11

Gres,
The goal of some of those who don't find things as they dreamed, is to stay long enough to get citizenship. Then they can come and go, and the stigma problem is not a concern.

12

+I am surprised when a, younger, Cuba returns to Cuba. There is a huge stigma attached to that. You had an opportunity and you "failed". That is usually far stronger than any hardships they may face in their new country. +

Good point.

. In all fairness, most Cubans emigres I know are doing very well abroad, making good money (in many cases more than their spouses) and enjoying life. I'd say Cubans adapt much better than your average immigrant, very resourceful, hard-working and they have skills most immigrants couldn't dream of and it's not just education I'm talking about.

13

Yorgos most of that certainly applies to my wife (except the part about her earning more money than me - and I don't even work unlike her lol!) but it does not as a generalisation match my observations of other Cubans here in Oz - although most have stayed here. Perhaps the tyranny of distance - lot more difficult/expensive c.f say .Canada to flit backwards and forwards.