In Cuba children receive an education from kindergarten into their college years as a gift of the state. Children who have talent and a desire to learn about the arts go to specialized schools. On another glorious sunny day we visited the Beny More Art School for children ages nine to fifteen to attend a musical concert. We filed into the Assembly Hall, no different from assembly halls remembered from our childhood. We were seated with a few teachers, other students and proud, smiling parents like those the world over come to see their children perform. What happened on the stage was nothing like the band concerts my sons played in, or my grandson just last fall.The young pianist sat down at the piano back held erect, adjusted the seat, shot the cuffs of his shirt sleeves and played with the mastery of a symphony orchestra soloist. He didn’t quite sound like one yet but he knew where he was going – at age fifteen. A group of girls and boys playing string instruments with an accompaniment of brass and drums played very properly a few classical pieces. The tempo changed and they swung into contemporary music with a Latin beat – the kind of music where your body can’t keep still. My face broke into a huge grin to see the little girls had the same hip movement as the dancers at the Senior Center. I think they are born with it.
In the afternoon we went to a city square in Old Havana to visit the book sellers. There were stalls after stalls set up selling second-hand books. The titles ranged from old classics and encyclopedias in hard cover to modern best sellers of many categories mostly in paper back. All were in Spanish or English. With the country’s total literacy scored at 99.8 according to UNESCO – a result of their education system – it is no surprise that Cuban book sellers are not likely to run out of business.
Wandering in the town square where there were bound to be tourists were people begging. Many of them were older women who wanted cosmetics and hand lotion because Cuban ration books were not designed to cover such frivolous purchases. They were the most courteous and pleasant begging folk I had ever encountered. We learned that they prized any old thing we carried in our handbags – used lipsticks, hotel-sized hand lotion, mouthwash, hand sanitizer. We gladly cleaned out our purses. Getting replacements was no problem for us. We had not noticed how rich we are. These Cuban begging ladies are distinguished from other beggars I have met in the noticeable health care they receive. According to Cuba’s health care system no one is denied medical care. The women we met sported shining white casts, canes in good working order, eye glasses, Ace bandages and whatever else was appropriate to their needs.
At the end of the day I reflected that no matter what the people suffered living in the political and economic climate of Cuba, they are given two of the three things that enrich human life. With health and a good education the people have seeds to sow for a different future. What they lack is freedom. And I believe in my deepest heart that freedom is on the horizon.
poetrybyheart.me 
I hope, along with their eventual freedom, they are able to retain the other things they so badly need for survival. I also wonder if the price of freedom will take much away from them. ❤
Yes, living in a free society is a many faceted thing. Look at the mess in the US at present. My hope is that the Cuban spirit I encountered which has gotten them this far will prevail.
I so agree with you. I know my long ago Cuban friend wanted to be free to choose her own way and the way of her people. I worry that technology and the love of money will destroy us all…
I worry about the love of money, too, and what it can do.
I wonder if freedom will take away all these advantages discussed, as you say education and health are indeed good seeds to plant , I need to find out more about Cuba and their government and all . You have introduced me to such a splendid place , I thirst now for more knowledge , your writing is both knowledgeable and interesting , it also opens doors that would otherwise have been left closed and for this I thank you sincerely. Kathy.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Kathy. It is certainly possible the people will lose their health and education benefits. But no one can take away the education they have already absorbed. I’ve always been hopelessly optimistic so I hope that in time there will be a positive outcome. The government is repressive and communist.
What a nice piece. I went right along with you. Loved the image of the old women begging for things like lipstick and hand lotion! What an interesting experience it must have been. And an interesting take on education given what a mess our own educational system is struggling with. Thank you.
I’m so glad you liked it. I just had a thought about those old women. Road Scholar sends a “Person to Person ” tour group about every two weeks. The begging women have a lot of experience meeting people from the U.S. that they would not otherwise have. This exchange goes both ways.