What it Means to Live in Cuba Essay Example

Cuba is a beautiful country that has a rich culture and an eventful history. Cuba is one of the islands located in the Carribean, south of Key West, Florida. Cuba is considered to be a part of Latin America. With over two million residents Havana is one of the largest cities in Cuba and it is also the country’s capital. Cuba’s population is 10,996,124 (2017). The official language of Cuba is spanish and some people also speak Haitian Creole. The country is multiethnic and it has diverse customs.

Cuba was originally inhabited by indigenous tribes. Eventually Cuba was colonized by the Spanish. After wars and revolts Cuba gained independence. There was a new progressive constitution in the 1940s. After that there was a rebellion and Fidel Castro rose to power. Cuba has been a communist political state since the system was changed in the 1960s. The current president of Cuba is Miguel Diaz-Canel. The currency used there is the Peso. 

In the 1990s there was a tourism apartheid in Cuba. Tourists were separated from Cuban inhabitants. Today Cuba is more involved with Carribean tourism and tourists are no longer separated from residents. Cuba is a secular state with religious freedom. Majority of the people in Cuba are christian. 

The Cuban government controls Cuban media. There are many music styles in Cuba like salsa and mambo. Reggaeton became a popular music style a few years ago. Some reggaeton songs have been banned because the government says they are inappropriate. Famous musicians from Cuba include Gloria Estefan and Celia Cruz. Dancing is also a big part of Cuban culture. 

Cuban food is a mixture of Spanish, Carribean, and African cuisine. Carribean foods are usually flavorful and they use many spices. Food is rationed in Cuba currently. Traditional Cuban foods are rice, beans, and plantains. The Cuban Sandwich became a staple lunch item in the late 1800s and people still enjoy it today. 

One of my closest friends is half Cuban and she always shares parts of her culture with me. She always tells me about her trips to Cuba and she talks about her family in Cuba. I love the geography of Cuba and all of the buildings there. I think Cuba is a beautiful country and I would love to visit it someday.