Introduction to Oregon Cuba 2013
Summer Experience
Student Presenters from:
Oregon State University
The University of Oregon
Portland State University
What we learned over the
Past 10 days and how it
connected to Spring Class
Community
Lynda Parmele
Bess Miller
• 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
Healthcare
Lynda Parmele
Bess Miller
Michelle Pray
Crowning achievement that is recognized
worldwide
CUBA
USA
CARE
Preventative
Curative
COST
Free
Insurance 200 – 800
Extra 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
Transportation Infrastructure
Jorge Michel
Andrew Jamieson
Katelyn Stevens
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 Ownership
Unintended Consequences
 Maintenance: Parts and Gas
 Economic Disparities
Perceptions of the Cuban People
Towards Their American Neighbors
Colin Woekel
Dani Smith
Cuban Youth
 Preparation
 Skeptical Friends
 Arrival
 Skeptical Me
 Introductions
 Intrigue
 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 Ballet
 What is the one
thing you would like
me to tell my
brothers and sisters
back home about
their Cuban
neighbors?
 Love
 Family
 Justice
Tourism of Cuba
Dylan Dornfeld
Andrew Seng
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
The Impact of Religion in Afro-Cuban
Culture
Quortni Fambro
Celeny Gonzalez
What we experienced
We 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 Fortress
Group Tour of the Afro Cuban Orishas.
What we experienced
We 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 Today
 The 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.
Women in Cuba
Esmeralda Flores and Tawny Garcia
What we have learned…
 The White Man´s Ladies
 Slave Mothers andWhite 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:
GRACIAS!
THANKS! CUBA
QUESTIONS???