RWC Art and Visual Communications Professor Patrick Schreiber went to Cuba around Thanksgiving last fall with a group of other designers from around the country. The visit lasted for almost two weeks.Cuba is a communist country and as a result of the U.S. trade embargo on the country, Professor Schreiber says the country is struggling to make do with deteriorating buildings, old automobiles, and few modern conveniences. All the food is imported from other countries such as China, he said, and most meals consist of beans and rice. No boats are floating in the water at all, considering that Florida is only 90 miles away, and Cuba won’t allow its citizens to flee.
To have a car in Cuba, people have to get permission from the government and might have to wait a long time, Schreiber said. The cars that the residents do have are very old ones. It’s the same way with some of the technology there.
Professor Schreiber describes Cuba as a very poor country that is still very much a communist place. “Halfway there, I began to feel depressed because of how fortunate and lucky we are and they don’t have anything like we do.”
The people are poor and don’t have anything. They don’t have any of the same things Americans have. For example, if you get sick or break a bone, there might not be anything that can be done for you. There was no medicine or remedies for an upset stomach.
Professor Schreiber described how members of his group brought their own over the counter things for personal use if needed and they were allowed to keep these items in their rooms.
Buildings in Cuba are also very run down and falling apart. The Cuban people were welcoming and nice, Schreiber said, but since they’re poor, they begged and asked for money.
The water is also not safe to drink. Professor Schreiber’s roommate got sick from ice used in his iced coffees.
In the hotel rooms supplies of toilet paper were very limited. Luckily they had some antacids to help the stomach, but the toilet paper was an issue, Schreiber said, because paper in general was in short supply.
“My experience in Cuba was unique and unusual,” he concluded, “but I’m not sure if I would go back there again.