Summary Of Post-Revolutionary Economy In Cuba
Post-Revolutionary Economy in Cuba occupied
Petkus
Elaine
The author met Elaine through her son, Carlos, who was helping the author hunt through some of Havana’s less enthusing apartments. Elaine headed the Reyes family as a practical, but caring, matriarch. She came from a small city and married her husband, Nicolas, at a young age.
Carlos went to his mother as she was a landlady herself, who used her various contacts to help the author search for convenient accommodations while studying in Cuba. Fortunately, Elaine stepped in when the Author failed to find a living place and agreed to rent their spare room to her, formerly occupied by a Cuban girl. The previous tenant had left the country and it was doubted she would return. …show more content…
Tourists enjoyed luxuries reserved for those holding CUC. Many of the most lavish services and products in Havana are used exclusively by non-Cubans, as the locals are not nearly wealthy enough to afford them. However, attaining an ‘amigo’, a client who sponsors her jintera, presents an opportunity to enjoy the excess secondhand. She spent her nights in lavish hotels and received gifts unattainable for the average Cuban. Even spending time with the author meant opportunity for Sandra. She frequently requested favors of Julia, to utilize her status as an American. Sandra asked for stretch cream, a letter of sponsorship, and even for Julia to act as Godmother to her child. The hope of jintera’s like Sandra was that an amigo would take a particular interest in them and whisk them away from Havana, although such occurrences were not frequent. She dreamed of a luxurious life, afforded all the comforts the CUC could …show more content…
She used connections to help her as a jintera and to acquire cheap yogurt for vending. The state controlled Cuban economy, which selected a particular occupation for her, forced or at least incentivized a young girl to pursue a precarious living. In the United States economy, Sandra would have a variety of potential employers to choose from, most of whom would offer much more than $20 a month. The States are also less permissive with sexuality and had she not been forced into sex at such a young age, she may have avoided becoming a sex worker. However, she also failed to make decisions responsibly for her future, such as foregoing protection or seriously considering her prospects with Bong. Even in America it is hardly unusual to hear about young people making these kinds of unfortunate decisions. Hopefully, the opportunity of an open economy would reduce the pressure to pursue illegal or risky careers, but if Sandra’s American family failed to raise her better than her Cuban one, she would suffer many of the same
Petkus
Elaine
The author met Elaine through her son, Carlos, who was helping the author hunt through some of Havana’s less enthusing apartments. Elaine headed the Reyes family as a practical, but caring, matriarch. She came from a small city and married her husband, Nicolas, at a young age.
Carlos went to his mother as she was a landlady herself, who used her various contacts to help the author search for convenient accommodations while studying in Cuba. Fortunately, Elaine stepped in when the Author failed to find a living place and agreed to rent their spare room to her, formerly occupied by a Cuban girl. The previous tenant had left the country and it was doubted she would return. …show more content…
Tourists enjoyed luxuries reserved for those holding CUC. Many of the most lavish services and products in Havana are used exclusively by non-Cubans, as the locals are not nearly wealthy enough to afford them. However, attaining an ‘amigo’, a client who sponsors her jintera, presents an opportunity to enjoy the excess secondhand. She spent her nights in lavish hotels and received gifts unattainable for the average Cuban. Even spending time with the author meant opportunity for Sandra. She frequently requested favors of Julia, to utilize her status as an American. Sandra asked for stretch cream, a letter of sponsorship, and even for Julia to act as Godmother to her child. The hope of jintera’s like Sandra was that an amigo would take a particular interest in them and whisk them away from Havana, although such occurrences were not frequent. She dreamed of a luxurious life, afforded all the comforts the CUC could …show more content…
She used connections to help her as a jintera and to acquire cheap yogurt for vending. The state controlled Cuban economy, which selected a particular occupation for her, forced or at least incentivized a young girl to pursue a precarious living. In the United States economy, Sandra would have a variety of potential employers to choose from, most of whom would offer much more than $20 a month. The States are also less permissive with sexuality and had she not been forced into sex at such a young age, she may have avoided becoming a sex worker. However, she also failed to make decisions responsibly for her future, such as foregoing protection or seriously considering her prospects with Bong. Even in America it is hardly unusual to hear about young people making these kinds of unfortunate decisions. Hopefully, the opportunity of an open economy would reduce the pressure to pursue illegal or risky careers, but if Sandra’s American family failed to raise her better than her Cuban one, she would suffer many of the same