Introduction to Oregon Cuba 2013 Summer Experience

Student Presenters from: Oregon State UniversityThe University of OregonPortland State University

What we learned over the Past 10 days and how it connected to Spring Class

Lynda ParmeleBess Miller

Community

•Pleasantly surprised with the community aspect

•“Take responsibility for yourself!”

• Psycho Ballet

• ELAM Medical School

• Community Transformation Project in Pogolotti

• Children’s Home

• Solidarity Inspired Us

Lynda ParmeleBess Miller

Michelle Pray

Healthcare

Crowning achievement that is recognized worldwide

CUBA USACARE Preventative Curative

COST Free Insurance 200 – 800Extra costs

RUN BY State Private

MATERNITY LEAVE 1 year Average 12 weeks (unpaid)

• Other Highlights• Women’s health• Psychology

• Social Gain–opportunity for underprivileged

• Political Gain–Countries send people to study system–Countries ask for help from Cuba

• Economical Gain–Export of doctors is #1 contribution to GDP

• Own Experience

Jorge MichelAndrew JamiesonKatelyn Stevens

Transportation Infrastructure

Not Just Yank Tanks

Personal Perceptions of Cuban Transportation

Vintage vs. New Cars

Tourism Influence

Public Transportation

Accessibility

Different Transportation Techniques

No Public Transportation in Varadero

Car OwnershipUnintended Consequences

Maintenance: Parts and Gas

Economic Disparities

Colin Woekel Dani Smith

Perceptions of the Cuban People Towards Their American Neighbors

Cuban Youth

PreparationSkeptical Friends

ArrivalSkeptical Me

IntroductionsIntrigue

Friendship

Professional• Most encountered groups during our visit to Cuba• Professors, guides, taxi drivers, community members• Highly educated professionals working in the tourist

industry• Concerned with hardships brought about because of

the bloqueo• Want to get to know Americans, improve Cuban

economy• Problem in relations is political, it is not the Cuban or

American people.

Psycho BalletWhat is the one

thing you would like me to tell my brothers and sisters back home about their Cuban neighbors?LoveFamilyJustice

Dylan DornfeldAndrew Seng

Tourism of Cuba

Negative and Positive Impacts

Dual Economy

Segregation between tourists and locals

¿Authéntica Cuba?

Educational Tourism

Comparisons and Contrasts:

• Veradero vs. Habana

• Five Star Hotel Tourism

• Sex Tourism

• Implications of future tourism

Quortni FambroCeleny Gonzalez

The Impact of Religion in Afro-Cuban Culture

What we experiencedWe have all visited a number of sites that have shown us Afro Cuban Religions on an academic level •San Severino Fortress •Cultural Project Afro Cuban Drumming Performance •Casa de Africa

Unexpected encounters•Organic Garden in Alamar•William Solar Hospital•Regla at the Community Center •Daily interactions with people in bars, restaurants and on the street.

Yemaya at San Severino FortressGroup Tour of the Afro Cuban Orishas.

What we experiencedWe have visited a number of sites that have shown us Afro Cuban Religions on an academic level •San Severino Fortress •Cultural Project Afro Cuban Drumming Performance •Casa de Africa

Unexpected encounters•Organic Garden in Alamar•William Solar Hospital•Regla at the Community Center •Daily interactions with people in bars, restaurants and on the street.

Afro Cuban Religion TodayThe power of these various Afro

Cuban religions have given people the ability to identify themselves, as Cubans first and as a believer second.

Whether through medicinal medicine, music, dance, language or culinary foods the impact of these religions on Cuban culture is a sign of resistance.

Esmeralda Flores and Tawny Garcia

Women in Cuba

What we have learned…

The White Man´s Ladies

Slave Mothers and White Fathers family in Cuba

Observations…

• Leadership Roles• Medical: more women• Education: more women in the liberal arts• Community outreach: La Marina in Matanzas

• Everyday Women:

QUESTIONS???

GRACIAS! THANKS! CUBA