Any person that has visited Cuba can relate when I say that it looks like a postcard from 1950’s. From the buildings, cars, and infrastructure, it all looks like a movie set stuck in the past. This got me curious in terms of what Cuban lifestyle was like, because if they didn’t even have updated cars, I wondered if they had anything updated at all. Curiosity led me to a conversation with a taxi driver. I asked him if he had phones or wifi, something I personally consider basic. He responded proudly, that mobile phones were existent in Cuba, but I was struck when he showed me his Nokia--it reminded me of my first phone back in 2008. In terms of Wi-fi, it was only available in hotels ONLY for tourists, and it was very expensive. That got me real worried, because nowadays Internet is the crucial in any part of the world to access information and be informed. Whether it’s about worldwide issues or simply information of any sort, it is important for citizens to be updated. I wondered then, if there wasn’t internet because it wasn’t feasible for the government financially? Or because the government didn’t want Cubans to be informed?
I realized that I hadn’t questioned their level of happiness and fulfilment yet, but I was guessing they were frustrated at the government for not giving them freedom. But I was struck when he answered the following: “I love Cuba, it's the best country. With 100% free education, best medics in the world with free hospitals, free food, free houses, free cars and the best beaches in the world.” I didn’t know how to respond then, because I knew this went far beyond happiness, being stuck in time, or access to information. It was about political strategies being used to satisfy the people, but leaving me wondering: “How long will it take people to past comfort and start standing up for their freedom?”