CUBA AND BELIZEAN CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND LIFE STYLES

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CUBAN LIFE AND BELIZE LIFE

Was talking to some Cubans this morning. They were describing their life in Cuba with nostalgia. While in Cuba, people are owned by the state, they do not own property and food is rationed as a control mechanism, nor are they allowed to travel abroad and often not within their own country. Most people make like $10 a month, but everything is supplied by the Cuban government system. You lose free will and choice, in return for security. A by-product of that is that Cubans have been quoted as saying "the Government pretends to pay me - and I pretend to work!" Slavery more or less!
That said the two Cubans were nostalgic about the life of partying the younger crowd experience in Cuba. Mostly their children, who stay out all night sometimes. How they can know all their neighbors and stay out on the porches and streets late at night, chatting and socializing with friends. They say they miss that camaradi in Belize and the social life. I was explaining that we like to travel and my children and grandchildren had been to European countries, North American countries and most Belizeans had at least visited neighboring countries like Mexico and Guatemala. Asked if there were Cuban tourists, they admitted not. Different views and the capitalist style of living scared the Cubans I spoke too. The idea you have to work and get money to support yourselves and any luxuries you may buy was difficult to expect.
It is a bit like traveling and going to a very poor country. People tend to share when they are poor. They have to combine effort to accomplish things, lacking money. Life was more sociable on Caye Caulker I remember when younger. We were all poor fishermen and shared hauling up our boats, lending tools to each other, sending over extra food when you had it, like a few extra fish. It isn't that way anymore in a CASH type society. But we have a lot more luxuries and opportunities as well. Which life is better? Darned if I know, but I'm pretty happy in my old age.

DIFFERENT CULTURES, DIFFERENT LIFE STYLES!